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Unpredictable: Last-Lap Pass Lands Cory Costa in STSS Victory Lane at Outlaw

Written by Chris Moore

DUNDEE, NY Unpredictable.

After an action-packed 50 laps at Outlaw Speedway, Cory Costa took home his first career Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco victory.

Corning, N.Y., resident Costa becomes the 39th different winner in STSS history after a final-lap pass of Alex Payne to take home the win and a trip to Bicknell Racing Products Victory Lane.

Despite leading a handful of laps in the epic battle of two underdogs, Costa left the Dave Machuga Memorial $5,278.78 richer at the conclusion of the 50-lap affair.

œIt feels really good to come here to my home track with the STSS,? explained an overjoyed Costa. œI don™t think this is gonna set in until tomorrow.?

Following a caution with two laps to go, it appeared as though Alex Payne was going to drive away with the victory. That was until Payne slipped over the turn-two embankment, allowing Costa to slide by and lead the final half-lap for the upset win.

œAlex (Payne) was really fast, hats off to him he ran a great race,? proclaimed Costa. œI don™t think we would™ve got him if he didn™t make that mistake but I™m just ecstatic right now.?

Payne, of Canandaigua, N.Y., started from the pole position following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw with Elmira, N.Y.™s Ajay Potrzebowski II alongside.

After a yellow flag flew on the opening lap for a slowing Andy Bachetti, the field settled into a rhythm for the next 46 laps of action.

Payne shook off Potrzebowski for the lead while Costa snatched the runner-up spot away. The pair paced the field before reaching lap traffic on lap eight.

While the lead duo was separating themselves from the pack in lap traffic, Mat Williamson and Matt Sheppard were racing their way into the top five after starting 10th and 12th, respectively.

By the completion of lap 12, the pair ran fifth (Williamson) and sixth (Sheppard) as they continued to march forward.

As the race neared the halfway point, things began to heat up for the lead. Costa, despite multiple challenges, was unable to seriously offer a challenge in lap traffic until the field reached lap 25.

Costa, on the bottom groove, was able to muscle the lead away and snatch the $200 Superior Remodeling Halfway Leader Bonus.

Payne would wrestle the lead back for lap 26, and Costa returned the favor, leading laps 27-30.

Costa™s stretch at the top of the heap ended momentarily on lap 31, however, as Payne raced back around Costa and took the lead back.

œWhen he got back by me, I really couldn™t believe it,? said Costa of the epic duel for the lead. œI had a lot of fun racing and liked all the green-flag racing.?

Payne settled into the lead, turning the attention to a five-car battle for the final podium spot.

Middlesex, N.Y.™s Alan Johnson had the third spot with Williamson and Sheppard continuing their assault on the field.

The trio had snatched positions away from Potrzebowski II and had brought Phelps, N.Y.™s Danny Johnson with them to join the fray.

Sheppard cleared Williamson for fourth on lap 35, and then passed Alan Johnson at the completion of the 46th circuit.

The race™s second and final caution flag flew for Jimmy Zacharias who was running inside the top 10 getting into the turn-one wall and stopping with just three laps to go.

Under the caution, Sheppard™s right-rear tire went flat, forcing him to the pit area for a change allowing Alan Johnson to inherit the final podium position.

When green replaced yellow, Payne and Costa flexed their muscle as the top two cars, racing away from the field by a couple of car lengths, just enough for them to settle the battle royale for the win amongst themselves.

It appeared Payne was home free when the Behrent™s Performance Warehouse œOne to Go? white flag flew, leading Costa by three car-lengths.

Payne then slid wide in turn two, allowing Costa to drive by. Payne drove his racecar deep into the third turn hoping for a miracle but came up short.

Costa claimed his first career STSS victory at his home track.

A heartbroken Payne settled for the runner-up spot.

œIt™s a tough one to lose. We worked really hard, but we™re just gonna keep digging and see what we can do,? an emotional Payne said after the race.

Alan Johnson completed the top-three finishers.

œI was disappointed we couldn™t keep pace with the leaders, but we had a good car and we™re gaining on it,? Johnson said of Mark Spoor-owned No. 14J. œMaybe a few more changes and we™ll get there.?

St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada™s Mat Williamson snagged fourth aboard the Behrent™s Performance Warehouse No. 3 and Danny Johnson rounded out the top five from his 14th starting position in the Tim Gibson-fielded No. 27J.

Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Ransomville, N.Y.™s Erick Rudolph, who started in 15th; St. Hyacinthe, Quebec™s Steve Bernier, taking home his best career STSS finish; Guilderland, N.Y.™s Marc Johnson piloting the S&S Asphalt Paving No. 9J; Wurtsboro, N.Y.™s Danny Creeden in the RGH Construction No. 16x; and defending Outlaw Speedway champion Ajay Potrzebowski II.

Walden, N.Y.™s Anthony Perrego climbed from 23rd to finish 12th and received the BDR Speed $250 Hard Charger Award.

Thirty-six STSS Modifieds signed in for the Dave Machuga Memorial Outlaw Showdown.™

Heat winners, receiving $50 each courtesy of FloRacing, were Brady Fultz, Daniel Morgiewicz, Bernier, and Costa.

Michael Trautschold was the consolation race winner.

Next up for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco is a second ever visit to Mike Bruno™s Devil™s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt., for the Slate Valley 50™ on Sunday, June 18. The STSS Modifieds race in Round No. 4 of the River Valley Builders North Region for 50-laps and a $10,000 payday. The Sportsman, Limiteds, and Mini Stocks all join the affair under Devil™s Bowl Speedway rules & procedures.

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.

DAVE MACHUGA MEMORIAL OUTLAW SHOWDOWN™ RESULTS SUMMARY OUTLAW SPEEDWAY TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023 

Dave Machuga Memorial Outlaw Showdown™ Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco River Valley Builders North Region Round No. 3 Feature Finish (50 laps): CORY COSTA, Alex Payne, Alan Johnson, Mat Williamson, Danny Johnson, Erick Rudolph, Steve Bernier, Marc Johnson, Danny Creeden, Ajay Potrzebowski II, Matt Sheppard, Anthony Perrego, Brady Fultz, Will Shields, Michael Trautschold, J.R. Hurlburt, Bobby Hackel, Chris Curtis, Dillon Steuer, Tommy Paine, Jimmy Zacharias, Corey Cormier, Jim LaRock, Daniel Morgiewicz, Jeffery Daugherty, Tommy Collins, Andy Bachetti  

Did Not Qualify: Steve Paine, Mike Mahaney, Francois Bernier, Ron Holmes, Tyler Siri, Jake Dgien, Cole Youse, Josh Keesey, Ryan Jordan 

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Danny Creeden (ninth) & Brady Fultz (13th) BDR Speed Hard Charger Award ($250): Anthony Perrego (23rd to 12th) Behrent™s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Mat Williamson (fourth) & Danny Creeden (ninth) Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Matt Sheppard (Redrew 12th) EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Erick Rudolph (sixth) FloRacing Heat Race Winner ($50): Brady Fultz, Daniel Morgiewicz, Steve Bernier, Cory Costa Henry™s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Matt Sheppard (11th) Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Cory Costa (first $150 certificate); Alex Payne (second $75 certificate); Alan Johnson (third $50 certificate); Ajay Potrzebowski (10th  $25 certificate) Schultz Racing Fuel Cells Bonus ($50 Certificate): Ajay Potrzebowski (10th) Superior Remodeling Halfway Leader Bonus ($200): Cory Costa Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7™ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Steve Bernier (seventh) 

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