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STSS Race Day at OCFS: ‘Hard Clay Finale’ Storylines, Stars & Sleepers

MIDDLETOWN, NY – Title time.

Tonight (Oct. 24), the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco decides its first of three Modified 2024 point champions at Orange County Fair Speedway (OCFS). The ‘Hard Clay Finale’ serves as the kickoff to Eastern States Weekend No. 63 at the Legendary House of Power.

A 50-lap, $10,000-to-win main event is on deck for the STSS Modified competitors, the first appearance of the season at OCFS, which operated on a limited schedule this season.

Matt Sheppard leads the standings by 71 points over Stewart Friesen with $15,000 on the line.

Tonight’s event operates on a 150-point schedule (championship points).

STORYLINES

The championship – and top 12 point positions with a combined point fund of $46,450 – are at stake tonight at OCFS.

Sheppard and Friesen have separated at the Head of the Class with their 71-point spread, while Mat Williamson, Anthony Perrego and Jack Lehner are just 37 points apart in third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.

Drivers can gain or lose as much as 90 points with the 150-point schedule.

STARS

Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard has accrued 12 STSS Modified victories this season, including five in a row in the North Region. Sheppard aims for a ‘Hard Clay Finale’ checkered flag tonight to wrap up his championship in style.

Anthony Perrego literally grew up around Orange County watching his father, Tom, race at the House of Power. Perrego has enjoyed his own successes there including a series win and will be a factor with Bob Hentschel’s No. 4 tonight.

The richest-ever winner’s share in dirt Modified history was won by Mat Williamson at Orange County driving the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse No. 3 in 2019. That combination returns tonight with victory on their mind.

SLEEPERS

Guilderland, N.Y.’s Marc Johnson enters OCFS with back-to-back top-five finishes on the STSS North Region, including a brilliant 32nd-to-third drive in the 200 at N.Y.’s Fonda Speedway. Johnson is back tonight looking for more in the S&S Asphalt No. 9.

Long Island’s Dillon Steuer has shown speed at OCFS this summer in the track’s ‘Big Series’ events and hopes to translate those performances into a series victory tonight.

First-year STSS regular Jack Lehner of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on the heels of a Fonda 200 runner-up finish, loves racing at OCFS. Last season, he was a top-five finisher in the Eastern States 200. Can the ‘Ginga Ninja’ pick up his first series win at the House of Power?

ALSO IN ACTION

Qualifying for the Eastern States Weekend Crate 602 Sportsman competitors will take place with time trials, heat races and consolations.

ON THE HORIZON

One more series race remains in 2024: Del.’s Georgetown Speedway hosts the STSS Modified NJ Quality Drywall South Region and STSS Belmont’s Garage Crate 602 Sportsman South Region finales Nov. 1-2 during Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend. The Ollie’s Overall Championship for the Modifieds also concludes in the First State.

DIRT DRAFT

Don’t forget to set your Dirt Draft lineups before the night’s first heat race begins.

Visit www.dirtdraft.com or download the app to join Dirt Draft and compete against thousands of others for the entire 2024 STSS season. A subscription is just $5.99 a month with plenty of prizes up for grabs in the Dirt Draft Speed Shop.

Following along with the STSS on Dirt Draft throughout the ‘24 season will pay one lucky fan dividends at year-end.

The STSS Dirt Draft Champion receives two tickets to the STSS year-end banquet and will be honored with a custom trophy presented by Dirt Draft.

GATES AND PRICES

For tonight’s program, pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 3 p.m., with the series drivers’ meeting at 5:15 p.m. Hot laps take place at 6 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 p.m.

General admission is $30. Children (ages 12 and under) pay $10. There is a $1 parking fee for the Drive-In.

Pit admission is $40.

HOW TO WATCH SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES

The entire night of racing will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) via the annual subscription.

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, @ShortTrack_SS on Twitter or @ShortTrackSS on Instagram.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by Bob Hilbert Sportswear, FloRacing, American Racer, Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, BDR Speed, NJ Quality Drywall, River Valley Builders, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Saint Lawrence Radiology, Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches, Bicknell Racing Products, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Madsen Overhead Doors, Belmont’s Garage, Wegner Automotive, DIG Race Products, ATL, Dirt Draft, Swagger Factory Apparel, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel LLC, Beyea Custom Headers, Design for Vision, Sunglass Central, Dirt Track Digest TV, DKM Fabrication, EIBACH, Fastline Performance, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Systems, JK Signworks, JLR Technologies, Dave Prime Jr. MAC Tools, PEM Engineering, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, Superior Remodeling, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.

PAST EVENT WINNERS: ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY

November 12, 2023: STEWART FRIESEN – Anthony Perrego – Andy Bachetti – Alex Yankowski – Max McLaughlin

April 8, 2023: MATT SHEPPARD – Larry Wight – Mat Williamson – Dillon Steuer – Jack Lehner

October 21, 2022: ANTHONY PERREGO – Matt Sheppard – Marc Johnson – Mat Williamson – Mike Mahaney

April 2, 2022: MATT SHEPPARD – Max McLaughlin – Mat Williamson – Danny Creeden – Ryan Godown

October 22, 2021: MATT SHEPPARD – Anthony Perrego – Mat Williamson – David Schilling – Larry Wight

October 24, 2019: STEWART FRIESEN – Anthony Perrego – Andy Bachetti – Matt Sheppard – Billy Decker

April 7, 2019: MATT SHEPPARD – Stewart Friesen – Anthony Perrego – Brett Hearn – Mike Gular

October 18, 2018: MIKE GULAR – Mat Williamson – Anthony Perrego – Tyler Dippel – Mike Mahaney

May 8, 2018: STEWART FRIESEN – Rick Laubach – Jerry Higbie – Brett Hearn – Billy Decker

October 19, 2017: STEWART FRIESEN – Andy Bachetti – Rick Laubach – Craig Mitchell – Jeremy Smith

April 9, 2017: ANDY BACHETTI – Stewart Friesen – Brett Hearn – Billy Decker – Tommy Meier

April 2, 2016: TOMMY MEIER – Danny Johnson – Mike Ricci – Andy Bachetti – L.J. Lombardo

April 11, 2015: STEWART FRIESEN – Jerry Higbie Jr. – Danny Johnson – Tommy Meier – Brett Hearn

April 6, 2014: ANDY BACHETTI – Tim Hindley – Danny Tyler – Danny Johnson – Jeff Heotzler

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