7/6/2021
Ransomville Speedway
Matt Sheppard and Scott Kerwin Prevail on Tuesday Night at Ransomville
RANSOMVILLE, NY (July 6, 2021) “Super” Matt Sheppard from Waterloo, NY won the 36th running of the Summer Nationals for the Big-Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series at Ransomville Speedway Tuesday night. For the fourth time at the Big R in 2021, Newfane, NY’s Scott Kerwin was victorious in the inaugural Mike Bonesky Memorial for the Investor’s Service Sportsman in round one of the Western Region for the Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series. Stirling Lubricants, Wendt’s Propane, National Maintenance Contracting Corp (NMCC), Fisher’s Auto Repair, Lawns Unlimited, and Busch Beer presented the racing program.
“Money Mat” Mat Williamson and “Super” Matt Sheppard brought the field of Big-Block Modified Super DIRTcar Series to the green flag for the 36th running of the Summer Nationals with Williamson showing the way. With Williamson leading, Stewart Friesen quickly moved into the top three and would start to battle with Sheppard for second. Garrison Krentz would slow on the front straightaway to bring out the races’ first caution on lap 10. On the ensuing restart, Sheppard would take the lead by using the outside of the speedway to clear Williamson. Chad Brachmann would slow on the back straightaway to bring out the caution on lap 18.
Peter Britten would make his charge towards the front as “Batman” would pass Stewart Friesen to move into third place before lap 25. “Batman” would then start to challenge Williamson for second, as Sheppard started to pull away from the field. The field would encounter lap traffic by lap 40 and the leaders would get bunched up, allowing fourth place Stewart Friesen and fifth place Mike Mahaney to close the gap on the top three of Sheppard, Williamson, and Britten. Chris Hile would enter the top five on lap 42 as he passed Mahaney and then went after Friesen for fourth. At the halfway mark, Sheppard continued to show the way over Williamson, Britten, Friesen, and Hile, with Mahaney, Matt Farnham, Erick Rudolph, Demetrios Drellos, and Larry Wight racing in the top ten. The yellow flag would wave on lap 60 as Mat Williamson’s second-place run came to an end after shredding a right rear tire.
The battle between “Superman” Matt Sheppard and “Batman” Peter Britten would begin on the restart as Sheppard would start to pull away from the field again. The yellow would immediately come out as Kevin Root spun entering turn three on lap 65. Jordan McCreadie also went behind the wall on lap 65 after suffering damage to the left rear of his car.
Several late-race cautions bunched the field back up and, in the end, it was Matt Sheppard scoring the win over Peter Britten, and Stewart Friesen. Mike Mahaney and Erick Rudolph would complete the top five. Past Friday night’s feature winner Ryan Susice finished seventh after starting 20th on the grid. For Sheppard, it was his second career triumph in the Summer Nationals. He won his first in 2017.
Gary Tompkins used Dave Rauscher’s car to qualify for the event after having engine trouble with his number 84 entry.
Adam Hilton and Zach Sobotka brought the Investor’s Service Sportsman to the green flag for the Mike Bonesky Memorial with Sobotka taking the lead over Hilton, with Austin Susice, Dylan Duhow, and Scott Kerwin racing inside the top five. A multi-car incident involving Ricky Thompson, Derek Wagner, Clayton Cain, Justin McKay, and Mike McCarthy slowed the field down with one lap completed. Sobotka would take the lead on the restart as Susice and Kerwin went three-wide with Hilton for second place. Brett Senek would challenge Duhow for fifth place and would complete the pass on lap five, just as Susice would take over second from Hilton and Scott Kerwin would move into third. Sobotka, Susice, and Kerwin pulled away from the field as Brett Senek, and Hilton raced in the top five. As the lead trio pulled away, Senek would close the gap to make it a four-car battle for the race lead. After the race’s halfway mark, Susice and Kerwin would take off into the lead as Sobotka fell outside the top five. Susice and Kerwin put on a battle for the ages over the last half of the event. Kerwin and Susice would trade the lead several times over that span. On the final lap, Susice and Kerwin battled, and heading into turn four, Susice spun, and Kerwin would win his fourth feature of the season. Brett Senek and Brett Martin would complete the top three. Susice ended up crossing the line in fourth place and early race leader Zach Sobotka would complete the top five. Alex Payne drove from 25th to position number seven at the end of the 30-lap feature.
On Friday, July 9, VandeMark Chemical and East Coast Speed present “The Ones That Left Us to Early 30” for the RUSH Crate Late Models, as well as the Richard Wilkinson Memorial. Joining the RUSH Late Models will be the Krown Undercoating Modifieds, KiPo Chevrolet Street Stocks, Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stocks, and the Kevin’s Carpet Cleaning Novice Sportsman. The July 9th program will be streamed live on www.dirttrackdigest.tv Fans, drivers, and crews can listen to all the racing action on 96.5FM using their portable FM Radios while on the property.
RACE RESULTS: 36th SUMMER NATIONALS and Mike Bonesky Memorial Night
Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds: MATT SHEPPARD, Peter Britten, Stewart Friesen, Mike Mahaney, Erick Rudolph, Justin Haers, Ryan Susice, Matt Farnham, Larry Wight, Jimmy Phelps, Billy Decker, Max McLaughlin, Brandon Walters, Derrick McGrew, Demetrios Drellos, Jack Lehner, Mat Williamson, Rex King Jr, Kevin Root, Tim Sears Jr, Chris Hile, Adam Pierson, James Sweeting, Jordan McCreadie, Chad Brachmann, Garrison Krentz
Failed to Qualify: Todd Root, CG Morey, Dave DiPietro, Eric Gabany, Gary Tompkins, Kyle Coffey, Jonathan Reid, Steve Lewis Jr, Ricky Richner, John Smith, Olden Dwyer, Greg Martin, Robbie Johnston, Marcus Dinkins, Dave Rauscher
Qualifying Heats: Billy Decker, Matt Sheppard, Stewart Friesen, Mike Mahaney
Last Chance Showdowns: Derrick McGrew, Tim Sears Jr
Fast Time: Matt Sheppard (17.281sec)
Investor’s Service Sportsman: SCOTT KERWIN, Brett Senek, Brett Martin, Austin Susice, Zach Sobotka, Dylan Duhow, Alex Payne, Adam Hilton, Andrew Smith, Jordan Moden, Noah Walker, Dave DiPietro, Cameron Tuttle, Derrick Borkenhagen, Ricky Thompson, Brian Harris, Derek Wagner, Justin McKay, Tim Nies, Cliff Gregg, Mike McCarthy, Zach George, Clayton Cain, Jim Harbison, Tyler Murray
Qualifying Heats: Scott Kerwin, Brett Senek, Zach George
Article Credit: Steven Petty
Submitted By: Steven Petty
