Westport man wins 2024 season championship after getting enshrined into Seekonk Speedway Wall of Fame

SEEKONK, Mass. — Radical Rick Martin was inducted into the Seekonk Speedway Wall of Fame on Saturday night, capping off his 50th season of racing with a special honor. While he celebrated that accomplishment, Martin had work to do on the track after — and he ended the night with the mission accomplished.

Martin rolled to victory in the 35-lap Chaz’s Auto Body Sport Truck season-finale – also capturing the 2024 championship in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The championship was Martin’s third in a row in the Sport Trucks and his ninth overall in Seekonk history — one of them came as a car owner, and now eight as a driver. While Martin captured both the race win and the championship, Mike Cavallaro finished in second, with Final Four contender Mike Duarte in third. Tim Bolger Jr and Dane Saritelli rounded out the top-five.

Jake Vanada, Amy Arsenault, Darryl Church, Jeff Belyea and DJ Thibeault rounded out the top-10.

Rick has been to Victory Lane over 111 times at Seekonk Speedway.

Over the time of his career, Rick has been one of the most exciting competitors to compete. From the first time he raced in 1975, his fan base started to grow. Today, they continue to be among the most loyal at the speedway.

His first win came on May 12, 1979 in the Late Model division, his first of two on the season. From there, he moved into the Pro Stocks in 1980, picking up his first win in ‘82, on the final night of points competition.

While the winning continued through the decade, it wasn’t until 1991 that he picked up his first championship, driving for Ray Manfredo and Dan Sweeney. He picked up his second Pro Stock title in 1996, and followed that up in ‘98 and ‘99, driving for Gil Lopes.

In 2000, he competed against his own car, and watched Fred Astle Jr. pick up the championship over himself.

Over the next several years, Rick would travel the Northeast, competing with the now defunct North East Pro Stock Association and then with the Pro All Stars Series, winning at tracks like White Mountain Motorsports Park and Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire. Whenever his schedule allowed, he would return to his home track and put on a show for the fans.

Later in the decade, he returned to weekly competition, coming back in the Sport Trucks, and returning to his winning ways. In 2010, he picked up the Truck title, his first of three titles, including back to back in 2022 and 2023.

In August of 2021, Rick picked up his 100th career win at Seekonk, in a tight battle, edging out Tom Scully Jr. Since then, he has added another dozen wins at Seekonk.

The 2024 season will also see Rick honored as a member of the N.E.A.R. Hall of Fame on November 3rd, closing out a spectacular half a century of competition.