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Going Elite: Orange County Fair Speedway Kicks Off Ollie™s Elite™ Series April 8

MIDDLETOWN, NY Going Elite.

The Ollie™s Elite Series™ for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco kicks off this Saturday, April 8 at the legendary Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y.

The second Elite™ season and first with new title sponsor Ollie™s also launches the 104th anniversary season for Orange County Fair Speedway, the legendary five-eighths-mile House of Power.

After 50 laps at the Hard Clay Open™ the STSS Modified winner will receive $12,000, with $2,000 going to 10th-place and $1,000 just to take the green flag.

The Hard Clay Open™ serves as both the Ollie™s Elite™ opener and the first round of the River Valley Builders North Region. The Elite™ opener at Md.™s Hagerstown Speedway was postponed by weather in March.

Last week, Ollie™s - America™s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory was announced as the Elite Series™ title partner in addition to extending its Cajun Region™ involvement.

Matt Sheppard of Savannah, N.Y., is the defending winner of both the Ollie™s Elite Series™ and the River Valley Builders North Region. Super Matt™ also won the Hard Clay Open™ a year ago.

The Hard Clay Open™ served as the very first STSS event on April 6, 2014 and has been run annually since minus two years (2020 & 2021).

Past winners include Sheppard (2022 & 2019), Stewart Friesen (2018 & 2015), Andy Bachetti (2017 & 2014) and Tommy Meier (2016).

Joining the STSS Modifieds on the program are the OCFS Crate 602 Sportsman in an accompanying $1,000-to-win non-points event.

Orange County plays host to a pair of STSS events in ™23, with the Hard Clay Finale™ set for Eastern States Weekend in October.

For the Hard Clay Open™ pit gates open at 3 p.m. The grandstands and drive-in open at 4:30 p.m., hot laps begin at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6:30 p.m.

Admission is $35 for Adults, $30 for Seniors and Military and Kids 12 and under are FREE. Party Tables are available at $45 per person or $180 per table (maximum four people). VIP Booth seating is $70 per person.

Pit admission is $45 (non-members) and $40 (members).

An Open Practice takes place on Friday (April 7) from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. Friday and pit admission is $25. The grandstand will be open for practice, free of charge.

Complete Hard Clay Open™ event information has been posted on the series website at:

Orange County Fair Speedway is located at 239 Wisner Avenue Middletown, NY 10940 and can be reached by phone at 845.342.2573, via e-mail at ocfs1@yahoo.com or info@ocfsracing.com, or on the web at 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, FloSports, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Rent Equip/Party Central, BDR Speed, Bicknell Racing Products, Ollie™s, Penske Racing Shocks, Wegner Automotive, River Valley Builders, Behrent™s Performance Warehouse, DIG Race Products, Velocita-USA, Franklin Products, Design for Vision & Sunglass Central, Belmont™s Garage, Quality Drywall, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, Prime MAC Tools, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel, Beyea Custom Headers, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH, Electric Neon Custom Signs, Fastline Performance, Flach Performance Products, Henry™s Exhaust, Hig Fab, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, Spyder Filters, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO & Wilwood.

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