SEEKONK, Mass. – For the third time this season, the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series is ready to light up the track this Wednesday, June 29, at Seekonk Speedway.
The 17th annual Open Wheel Wednesday will mark the third of seven events on the 2022 Tri-Track calendar, and the first of two at the Massachusetts third-mile oval.Â
And this one has $10,000 on the line to the winner.
The entry list, just over 30 cars, is stacked with talent. Former Open Wheel Wednesday winners in the field include Matt Hirschman (four), Doug Coby (three), Tommy Barrett, Chris Pasteryak, Richard Savary, Ronnie Williams, Kirk Alexander and Ron Silk.Â
Hirschman also leads the series point standings after two races, sitting just four points up on Chase Dowling. Hirschman and Dowling split the first two races of the season – with Hirschman winning on the high-banks of Monadnock on April 30 and Dowling winning the inaugural Granite City 100 at Thunder Road Speedbowl on Memorial Day weekend. Dowling won the Haunted Hundred to end the 2021 season at Seekonk.Â
Hirschman and Coby both are no strangers to victory lane – and both come into Seekonk with momentum on their side. Hirschman is a proven winner, already capturing double-digit Modified wins this season across multiple divisions and tracks. Coby has two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wins with Tommy Baldwin Racing this season, and will return to the seat of his own No. 10 for Wednesday’s special event coming off top-10 finishes in all four of his starts with Baldwin on the Tour in 2022.
Silk, set to return to the seat for Bob Horn, who he won Open Wheel Wednesday with in 2019, is expected to be a major contender. Savary and Stephen Kopcik have teamed together for 2022 and have shown speed, specifically at Monadnock in the season-opener. Williams and team owner Gary Casella always seem to get to the front when the big money is on the line, while Pasteryak will look to get back to Seekonk’s victory lane for the first time in just about 10 years.Â
Kirk Alexander impressed many at Thunder Road, leading laps and contending for the win. Barrett, driving for the Davini family, will look to turn his season around at a track where he knows how to get to the front.
Outside of the above names, the entry list also includes winners and champions from across New England.Â
Multiple-time Stafford Motor Speedway winner Woody Pitkat, who recently won the Bud Light Open Modified 80 at Stafford earlier this month, has committed to the remainder of the Tri-Track schedule with team owner Doug Dunleavy, and their quest for the front begins on Wednesday night. Young gun Austin Beers will sit behind the wheel of the No. 3 Boehler Racing entry, while Sam Rameau, Kyle Bonsignore, Max Zachem, Brian Robie, Austin Kochenash, Matt Swanson and Anthony Nocella are also expected to compete.
There will be a little bit of hometown flavor in the field – as Jake Johnson – a two-time Seekonk Legends Cars champion – and Rob Murphy – a former track Sport Truck winner – will both attempt to qualify into the 100-lap event.
With just over 30 cars registered, the race will be on in qualifying to make the starting lineup. Heat races will begin at 6:30 p.m.Â
Joining the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series will be two special support divisions. The 350 SMAC Supermodifieds will make their second appearance at Seekonk Speedway, while the NEMA Lites are also back on track for a 50-lap special.
Through five races of their 2022 season, Jake Trainor leads the NEMA Lite point standings over Avery Stoehr, Dylan Coutu and Joey Bailey. With the division set to compete in 50 fast laps around the third-mile, fans won’t want to blink much – as this division flies around the Action Track of the East. In the only other 350 SMAC Supermodifieds event at Seekonk, Jeffrey Battle went to victory lane last year. As the division hits the midway point in their year, Scott Watts Sr. leads James Witkum in their championship battle.