SEEKONK, Mass. -- With car counts expected to increase this season, Seekonk Speedway has changed the format for the 2017 edition of the Fast Friday series. At the top of the list of changes is the elimination of heat racing action, which will be something new for both drivers and fans.
Instead of heat racing, the track will add a third round of practice and will use the lap times from the final practice round into consideration when setting the lineup for the feature events. There will also be a handicapped points system in place that will officially set the feature lineup.
This season, there will be a maximum of 26 cars in the feature event for every division, with no exceptions. If more than 26 cars show up at the track on a Friday night, there will be a B-main feature race to start the evening. In the case of a B-main, the top 20 practice times will be locked into the field and there will be six transfer cars that will move from the B-main into the feature event. All others that don't make the field will have to head home.
The distance of the B-main will vary by division, but the minimum number of laps will be eight, with the maximum set at 15 laps. The track has set the following guidelines in place for B-main action:
7-9 cars = 8 lap B main
10-11 cars = 10 lap B Main
12-14 cars = 12 lap B Main
15 + Cars = 15 lap B main
This season, the lap distances for the Nick's Pit Stop Legends, Pure Stocks and Sport 4's will all remain the same as recent years. The Legends and Pure Stocks will run 25 laps, while the Sport 4's will compete in a 20 lap feature race. The Seekonk Youth Racing Association (SYRA), which will be known as the Minicup class this season, will compete in a 12 lap race each Friday evening.
The newly welcomed Bandolero class will be split up into two different divisions -- the Bandits and the Outlaws -- and both will compete in 15 lap feature events.
On a typical Friday night, the racing action will begin with any B-Main races that need to take place then the feature racing will immediately begin. The features will start with the 12 lap Minicup feature, then move to the 20 lap Sport 4 main event. The two Bandolero divisions will compete, followed by the Pure Stocks and the Legend Cars. Each week, the Pure Stocks and Legend Cars will alternate for the last feature race.
Seekonk Speedway's 2017 Fast Friday Series is expected to see increased car counts in all of the divisions. The Bandolero class, which is sanctioned by INEX, will be making their debut.
The Fast Friday season kicks-off next Friday, June 2nd, at 7 p.m. For more information, fans can visit www.seekonkspeedway.com.
New Fast Friday Race Format