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Championship Friday: Hard Clay Finale™ Concludes North Region Title Fight Oct. 21

Written by Chris Moore

MIDDLETOWN, NY  Championship Friday.

With the Speed Showcase™ weekend in the rear-view mirror, the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco turns its attention to the Hard Clay Finale™ presented by Rapid Tire at the Orange County Fair Speedway (OCFS) in Middletown, N.Y., this Friday, Oct. 21.

The STSS invades the legendary fairgrounds with a $10,000 top prize on the line at the end of the 50-lap shootout, with $1,000 reserved for 10th and $500 just to take the green flag.

The event kicks off the historic Eastern States Weekend at OCFS.

The Hard Clay Finale™ represents the final race of the $15,000 championship chase for the River Valley Builders North Region.

Savannah, N.Y.™s Matt Sheppard (850 points) holds a commanding lead entering the North Region finale, heading the class by 121 points.

Sheppard™s advantage means his only requirement is to attempt to qualify for Friday night™s Hard Clay Finale™ and he will secure his fourth career STSS championship.

St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada™s Mat Williamson (729) resides in the runner-up spot in North Region points heading into the 10th and final round. Williamson like Sheppard will lock up his place in the standings if he attempts to qualify for Friday night™s event.

Wurtsboro, N.Y.™s Danny Creeden (613) maintains third in the North Region point fight, just one marker ahead of Middletown, N.Y.™s Anthony Perrego (612). Sheffield, Mass. native Andy Bachetti (595) rounds out the top five, 18 points behind Creeden.

Sitting through 10th in North Region points, respectively are Elizabethtown, N.Y.™s Mike Mahaney (587); Sprakers, N.Y.™s Stewart Friesen (548); East Greenbush, N.Y.™s Bobby Hackel IV (508); Mooresville, N.C.™s Max McLaughlin (463); and Pittsfield, Mass., resident Brett Haas (405).

The STSS will invade Orange County Fair Speedway for the second time this season and for the 12th time in its history.

Stewart Friesen leads all STSS competitors with four wins at the House of Power.™ 

Matt Sheppard has three wins, including each of the last two STSS events.

Andy Bachetti is the only other multi-time winner with the STSS at Orange County Fair Speedway. The Wild Child™ has been triumphant on two occasions.

Other STSS winners at OCFS include Waldwick, N.J.™s Tommy Meier and Boyertown, Pa.™s Mike Gular.

For the October 21 event, Grandstand gates open at 10 a.m. STSS load-in occurs at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps begin at 6:15 p.m. and racing follows at 7 p.m.

General Admission is $30 for Adults and Seniors and Children 12 and under are admitted for $10. Reserved seating is available for $35. Call 845.342.2573 to reserve.

Party Deck seats (tables of four) are $300. Call 845.342.2573 to reserve.

Drive-in admission is $110 (three-day passes only).

Pit admission is $50.

A complete General Information Sheet is available at the following link: https://shorttracksuperseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HardClayFinaleGeneralInfoSheet.pdf

The entire night of racing, along with every STSS race in 2022, will be broadcast LIVE on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv).

Orange County Fair Speedway is located at 239 Wisner Avenue in Middletown, NY 10940. To contact Orange County Fair Speedway, e-mail info@ocfsracing.com or call the speedway office at 845.342.2573. The speedway website is www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.

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, FloSports, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, River Valley Builders, Hurlock Auto & Speed, Velocita-USA, St. Lawrence Radiology, Design for Vision & Sunglass Central, Belmont™s Garage, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, Prime MAC Tools, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Behrent™s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH, Elite Welder Testing & Training, Flach Performance Products, Henry™s Exhaust, Hig Fab, Penske Racing Shocks, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, Spyder Filters, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, Wegner Automotive & Wilwood.

PAST EVENT WINNERS: ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY

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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