Seekonk Speedway announced on Monday a new race schedule for Saturday night competition for the month of August. Due to COVID-19 restrictions by the state of Massachusetts, who made a last second decision to not allow fans into the Speedway until the start of Phase 4, Saturday night racing will begin without spectators in the front gate. Fast Friday racing without spectators has been running for two weeks and has been successful.
Saturday night racing will begin on August 8, with Everett’s Auto Parts Late Models, Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment Sportsman and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks. The Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags and the Sport 4’s will also join the action that night. There will be a Saturday night only practice session on Saturday, August 1. Seekonk Speedway will rotate Fast Friday divisions into the Saturday night program for the month of August, with non-points events. However, this has no effect on what happens on Friday night — Fast Friday will remain the same. Seekonk Speedway will not be running under the NASCAR Sanction for the remainder of the 2020 season.
All three of Seekonk’s Saturday night divisions will run for the same purse they have been running for prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A full updated August schedule is below.
Seekonk Speedway will continue to abide by all CDC recommendations and state rules, including social distancing and masks. Face coverings are required when social distancing isn’t possible, especially walking through the Speedway pit area and midway. Masks are not required when teams are in their pit stalls, with their pit crew.
Seekonk Speedway is continuing to look at ways to put the top Pro Stock division on the track in 2020, with a race schedule of at least a few races hopeful to come for the months of September and October. However, they will not begin racing in August due to the large purse structure necessary. Seekonk Speedway also continues to work with the state of Massachusetts elected officials to attempt to re-categorize the Speedway in a different sector due to the seating capacity and capability to socially distance.
“Seekonk Speedway understands the costs involved in running a top-tier division like the Pro Stocks and we would not want them to compete for a less value than they deserve,” Ed St. Germain, Seekonk’s Director of Business Development, said. “We are in constant contact with the officials in the state of Massachusetts to get fans into the Speedway. We want to be categorized in a different sector and be able to operate just like any other responsible business that is currently open in the state. We appreciate everyone on Fast Friday working within the requirements given to us and look forward to continuing Friday night racing as it stands."
UPDATED 2020 SATURDAY NIGHT SCHEDULE:
August 1 — Saturday Night Only Practice Session (4-8PM)
August 8 — Everett’s Auto Parts Late Models, Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment Sportsman, Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags, Sport 4’s
August 15 — Everett’s Auto Parts Late Models, Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment Sportsman, Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags, Seekonk Grand Prix Bandoleros
August 22 — Everett’s Auto Parts Late Models, Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment Sportsman, Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags, Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment Pure Stocks
August 29 — Everett’s Auto Parts Late Models, Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment Sportsman, Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags, Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars
Saturday night competition will run for no points, due to the unknowns about the remaining 2020 schedule. With the fluidity around the COVID-19 pandemic, Seekonk Speedway is hopeful to be able to run race events through August, September and October. Saturday night race teams will be allowed to bring their entire crew, and any support crowd into the pit area for the pit price.
There will be an open practice for Saturday registered drivers only on Saturday, August 1, from 4-8 p.m. Pit gates will open at 3 p.m., and all drivers are strongly encouraged to pre-register by Thursday night. Anyone that pre-registers will pay $20 per person, while the price will jump to $25 on the day of the practice. Pre-registration is not required, but, it would be in the best interest of race teams to complete the process to make the entry process into the track quicker. When Saturday night racing begins, drivers will have the opportunity to pre-register and save $5 per pit pass.
“We want to get some momentum going for our race teams with hopes of getting fans in the grandstands very soon,” David Alburn, General Manager of Seekonk Speedway, said. “We want to get our Saturday night teams on the race track before the season is over. We will also continue to look for ways to get our dedicated Pro Stock race teams on the track in 2020."
Seekonk Speedway will release full race procedures, race day schedules and more information directly to race teams prior to August 8. Seekonk is hopeful to include Thrill Shows and special event races in the remaining 2020 schedule, however, all of those are on hold until Massachusetts begins phase four. Pro 4 and Pro 8 cylinder Enduro races are possible as part of a Saturday night program.
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