11/1/2020
Georgetown Speedway
Matt Sheppard & Rick Eckert Lead Georgetown Mid-Atlantic Winners Saturday
Written
by Chris Moore
GEORGETOWN,
DE - Matt Sheppard of
Savannah, N.Y., added another track to his lengthy Modified racing resume on
Saturday night. For the first time in his career - after several close calls – ‘Super
Matt finally grabbed his first-career Georgetown Speedway win.
Despite
drawing 10th during the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw and getting a flat tire
during the 44-lap main event honoring the late Tom Perrego, Sheppard was not
going to be denied his first win at the famed half-mile in southern Delaware
during Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend.
“Georgetown
has always been a thorn in my side, so what a fitting way to get the first win
here than to have to come from the back,â a relieved Sheppard said in Victory
Lane with the Hurlock Auto & Speed No. 9s.
The
race rounded out the Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision
and Sunglass Central for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series
(STSS) Fueled by Sunoco Modifieds.
Sprakers,
N.Y.s, Stewart Friesen clinched his second-career STSS South Region championship,
his first since 2016, and picked up the $10,000 check to go with it. Friesen
and the Halmar International team took the title by a mere 10-point margin.
Contrary
to Sheppard, Friesen drew the pole, and led the field to green alongside
Hellertown, Pa.s, Rick Laubach. Laubach would use the outside groove to take
the lead and set the pace in the early going.
Sewell,
N.J.s, Richie Pratt Jr. began to really move in the early going, climbing to
third and consistently pressuring Friesen for second before a yellow on lap
six. The yellow was for, among others, Matt Sheppards left-rear flat tire.
Pratts
charge would falter shortly after, as he also fell victim to a left-rear flat
tire. A longer green flag run would follow that yellow, and that was where
Friesen flexed his muscle on Laubach.
In
heavy lapped traffic, Laubach chose the wrong lane, and Friesen used the bottom
lane to move ahead of the “Quaker Shakerâ on lap number 20. Sheppards recovery
from the rear of the field became noticeable on a 21st-lap restart when
he lined up ninth.
A
couple of restarts later Sheppard had climbed to second and the battle was on
between the sports top competitors again. Sheppard found the top lane off turn
two on lap 30 to surpass Friesen.
Sheppard
never relinquished the lead in the remaining 14 laps, as he cruised to his 12th
career STSS Modified victory and third of the season. Sheppard took the $100
Stockley Materials “Gamblers Challengeâ making the win worth $7,000 total plus
$50 as an Ad-Art Sign Company heat winner, $44 from KBs Racing Photos in
memory of Tom Perrego for a cash total of $7,094 and a pair of sunglasses from
Design for Vision and Sunglass Central.
Milford,
N.J.s, Billy Pauch Jr., and Middletown, N.Y.s Anthony Perrego both spent the
entirety of the main event in the top-five, finished second and third,
respectively. The runner-up finish gave Pauch Jr. and the Rick Holsten team the
Georgetown Speedway $2,500 Sunoco track championship and second in the STSS
points chase, just 10 points behind Friesen.
Friesen
faded to fourth late, but it was enough to hold onto the STSS South Region
title while earning a $544 Halfway Leader bonus from Superior Remodeling, a $440
Hurlock Auto & Speed Tom Perrego Memorial Award and a $50 Ad-Art Sign
Company heat-race victory.
Wallkill,
N.Y.s Tyler Dippel came from a provisional 27th starting spot to
finish fifth and received a $544 Hard Charger Award from Superior Remodeling
and an additional $50 from First State Mobile Dustless Blasting.
Danny
Creeden of Wurtsboro, N.Y., finished sixth in a rare Georgetown Speedway start,
ahead of Rick Laubach rebounded from a left-rear flat for seventh with Ryan
Kerrs No. 1K. Boyertown, Pa.s, Mike Gular held onto eighth in Terry Fasnachts
No. 2A with another Boyertown resident - Ryan Watt - following him in ninth.
Neshanic Station, N.J.s Matt Stangle rounded out the top-10.
The
Super Late Models made their one and only appearance for 2020 at Georgetown
Speedway and Rick Eckert made the tow south from York, Pa., worthwhile as he
grabbed the win in the 40-lap feature event.
Eckerts
victory was a breakthrough at Georgetown, where ‘Scrub had two near-misses in
the tracks Super Late Model events in recent seasons.
Eckert
and Max Blair put on a phenomenal show at the mid-race point, changing lanes - and
the lead – back-and-forth. Blair took the lead away on a lap-16 restart, using
the outside to his advantage.
Following
a lap-26 yellow, Eckert regained the lead back for good, driving around Blair
through one and two to take the $7,000 payday after taking the $100 JD Shuckers
Georgetown “Gamblers Challengeâ prior to the start of heat races.
Kyle
Hardy had a back-and-forth night, but he it ended on an upswing, as he drove
back from ninth to third, after taking the initial green in third. Michael
Maresca challenged the top-two for a short period before the lap-16 restart,
and the Potsdam, N.Y., native came home fourth. Georgetowns own Ross Robinson
worked the inside lane to a top-five finish.
The
Bob Hilbert Sportswear STSS Crate 602 Sportsman South Region concluded in
dramatic fashion in the race for the championship. Belle Mead, N.J.s, Justin
Grosso allowed for little drama up front, as the youngster led all 25 laps for
his second Georgetown win of the year, worth $1,500.
The
race for the championship was not as simple. Dagsboro, Del.s Scott Hitchens
drove from the rear of the field twice to finish in seventh position. Hitchens
rally was good enough to win the STSS championship by one point over Niskayuna,
N.Y.s, Tim Hartman Jr., who finished in fourth position.
Newtown,
Pa.s, Joe Toth finished in second position, which was good enough to earn him
the 2020 Georgetown Speedway Chesapeake Paving/J.W. Brown Trucking $750 track
championship. Whitehouse Station, N.J.s, Sammy Martz Jr. came from 17th
starting position to finish third and take the $100 Dirt Modified Nostalgia
Tour Hard Charger. Tim Hartman Jr. grabbed fourth and Vineland, N.J.s Anthony
Tramontana rounded out the top five.
Kerry
King won another 12-lap Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Car Club Modified
feature, his third since joining the division. D.J. Cameron and John Burton
were the top-three.
Andy
Cassel won the Sportsman race for the Southern Delaware Vintage Cars with
Robert Blann and David Tucker II following him to podium finishes in the 12-lap
event.
Matthew
Smith, who joined the Delaware Super Trucks halfway through the season, got
another Georgetown win in impressive fashion. Matt Esham held onto second over
Matthews brother, Robert Smith who finished third in the 12-lap event.
Joe
Waters won a wire-to-wire 12-lap Delmarva Charger feature, continuing the
dominance he and Chris “Tippyâ Martinez, have had over the Chargers in 2020.
Geoff Carey charged for second and Ashley Merritt rounded out the top-three.
Saturday
was ultimately the only day of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend to be run
due to weather issues. Persistent rain and flooding forced Fridays program to
be postponed to Sunday. A late weather shift brought rain into the area Sunday
and the event was canceled.
Next
up for the Short Track Super Series is the inaugural ‘Cajun Swing through
Louisiana November 11-14 with two nights of racing at Ark-La-Tex Speedway in
Vivian, La., (Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 12) and Qualifying Night
for the ‘Mods in the Marsh 75 paying $20,000 to win on Friday, Nov. 13 at Chatham
(La.) Speedway followed by the main event on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Georgetown
Speedway will play host to Thanksgiving weekend action on Saturday, Nov. 28
including the L&J Sheet Metal Modifieds, Chesapeake Paving/J.W. Brown
Trucking Crate 602 Sportsman, RUSH Late Models and 12-lap features for the
Delaware Super Trucks, Delmarva Chargers and Little Lincolns. Further
information is coming soon.
Georgetown
Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the
intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from
the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A website is
live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on
Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at
302.563.GTWN (4896).
To learn more
about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series
on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by American
Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert
Sportswear, Halmar International, Velocita-USA, Design for Vision/Sunglass
Central, Rob Sherlock Roofing, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrents Performance
Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest,
EIBACH Springs, Escape RV, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henrys Exhaust, Hig
Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, MJK
Home Maintenance, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Racing Optics, Superior
Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, Velocita, WELD Racing & Wilwood.
MID-ATLANTIC
CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND RESULTS SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31
Bob
Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified
Velocita-USA South Region Event No. 8 Feature Finish (44 laps): MATT
SHEPPARD, Billy Pauch Jr., Anthony Perrego, Stewart Friesen, Tyler Dippel, Danny
Creeden, Rick Laubach, Mike Gular, Ryan Watt, Matt Stangle, David Van Horn,
J.R. McGinley, Matt Peck, Joseph Watson, Andy Bachetti, Kevin Sockriter, Ryan
Krachun, Michael Maresca, Neal Williams, Richie Pratt, Jr., Scott Hitchens,
Tyler Siri, Jordan Watson, Brandon Grosso, H.J. Bunting, Jordn Justice, Carson
Wright, Danny Bouc, Jimmy Horton.
Did Not
Qualify: Ryan Riddle,
Clay Tatman, James Hill, Brett Ballard, Skylar Sheriff, Eric Williams, John
Willman, Steve Young, Danny Hieber, Tom Moore Jr.
Bob
Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South
Region Champion ($10,000): Stewart
Friesen
Georgetown
Speedway Sunoco Championship Series L&J Sheet Metal Modified Champion
($2,500): Billy Pauch
Jr.
Ad-Art
Sign Company Heat Winners ($50 Each): Anthony
Perrego, Andy Bachetti, Stewart Friesen & Matt Sheppard
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Mike Gular
(eighth) & Matt Peck (13th)
Behrents Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Stewart
Friesen(fourth) & Ryan Watt (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bucks ($50): Mike Gular (redrew 12th)
Bill Brown & Company Heat-Race Hard Charger ($50): Rick Laubach
(gain of seven positions)
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Winners Shades (FREE Sunglasses): Matt
Sheppard
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Danny Creeden (sixth)
First State Mobile Dustless Blasting Hard Charger Award ($50): Tyler
Dippel (27th to fifth)
First State Roof & Exterior Cleaning Top Delaware Driver ($250): Joseph
Watson (14th)
Henrys Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): David Van Horn Jr. (11th)
Holly Hill Farms Tom Perrego Memorial Hard Luck Award ($444.44): Danny
Hieber (DNQ, flip in heat race)
Hurlock Auto & Speed Tom Perrego Memorial Bonuses ($440 Each): Stewart
Friesen (fourth), Joseph Watson (14th) & Brandon Grosso (24th)
KBs Racing Photos Tom Perrego Memorial Winners Bonus ($44): Matt
Sheppard
Loud Pedal Podcast/W.T.F. Consolation Winners ($100 Each): Tyler Siri
& Ryan Watt
Stockley Materials “Gamblers Bonusâ ($2,000): Matt Sheppard
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Billy
Pauch Jr. (second), J.R. McGinley (12th) & Tyler Siri (22nd)
Superior Remodeling Halfway Leader ($544): Stewart Friesen
Superior Remodeling Hard Charger ($544): Tyler Dippel (27th
to fifth)
Tom Perrego Memorial Redraw Bonus from Tommy & Kayla Conroy ($44): Anthony
Perrego (redrew fourth)
Wilwood Brakes Bonus ($75 Certificate): Rick Laubach (seventh)
Super Late
Model Feature Finish (40 laps): RICK
ECKERT, Max Blair, Kyle Hardy, Michael Maresca, Ross Robinson, Jason Covert,
Amanda Robinson, Gary Stuhler, Danny Snyder, Trevor Collins, Chad Myers, Robert
Smith, Robert Paczkowski, Mark Pettyjohn, Mike Wharton, David Dill, Donald
Lingo, David Pettyjohn, Derek Magee,
Nathan Long, Bryan Bernheisel, Rob Schirmer, Deshawn Gingrich.
Del Made
Apparel Hard Charger Award ($250): Amanda
Robinson (21st to seventh)
First State Roof & Exterior Cleaning Top Delaware Driver ($250): Ross
Robinson (fifth)
JD Shuckers Georgetown “Gamblers Bonusâ ($2,000): Rick Eckert
Kruger Trailers Halfway Leader ($200): Max Blair
Bob
Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602
Sportsman South Region Event No. 6 (25 laps): JUSTIN GROSSO, Joe Toth, Sammy Martz
Jr., Tim Hartman Jr., Anthony Tramontana, Tanner Van Doren, Scott Hitchens,
Adam White, Richie Walls, Nick Sapp, Sean Weiss, John Stevenson, Michael White,
Dylan Swinehart, Erik McKinney, Jeff Marker, David Jenkins, Nico Flammer, Rick
Wegner Jr., Paul Mancini, Stephen Kemery, Robert Dutton, Ryan Higgs, Greg Reed,
Greg Humlhanz, Duane Rust.
Did Not
Qualify: Brandon
Edgar, Chris Grbac, Brett Kern, Maverick Eldridge, B.J. Joly II, Rocky Whitley,
Justin Riley, Sean Metz.
Bob
Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602
Sportsman South Region Champion ($1,500): Scott Hitchens
Georgetown
Speedway Sunoco Championship Series Chesapeake Paving/J.W. Brown Trucking Crate
602 Sportsman Champion ($750): Joe
Toth
American
Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire Certificate): Adam White (eighth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bucks ($25): Stephen Kemery (redrew 12th)
Dirt Modified Nostalgia Tour Hard Charger Award ($100): Sammy Martz Jr.
(17th to third)
ERK Steering Repair 16th at Halfway Award ($100): Nick Sapp
First State Roof & Exterior Cleaning Top Delaware Driver ($100): Scott Hitchens
(seventh)
Southern
Delaware Vintage Modified Feature Finish (12 laps): KERRY KING, D.J. Cameron, John Burton,
C.J. Schirmer, Dave Parsons, Jeff Paulson, Roscoe Clough, Charlie Moore, George
ONeal.
Southern
Delaware Vintage Sportsman Feature Finish (12 laps): ANDY CASSEL,
Robert Blann, David Tucker II, David Tucker I, Don Davidson, Terry Chaney, Todd
Miller, Glenn Lyon, Jamie Eicholz, Chris Killen, Pete Morris, David Schamp.
Delaware
Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): MATTHEW
SMITH, Matt Esham, Robert Smith, Dale Elliott, Jerry Hill, Clay Vincent,, Ryan
Efford, Cory Sapp, Bill Dean, Dick Beauchamp, Mark Townsend, Tyler Rodearmel,
Michelle Jackson, Thomas Jackson, Tristin Townsend.
Delmarva
Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): JOE
WATERS, Geoff Carey, Ashley Merritt, Chris Carroll, Chris ‘Tippy Martinez,
Chris Myers, John Chandler, Randy Merritt, Jay Lowman, John Bailey, Caleb Ball,
Paul Carey.