---

Super Work: Sheppard Tops Short Track SuperNationals 15 at Utica-Rome

Written by Chris Moore

VERNON, NY – Super Work.

The ‘Short Track SuperNationals saw its first-ever repeat winner on Saturday night when Matt Sheppard led the last 49 laps of the 50-lap main event to claim the $4,000 top prize.

The race was a non-points event under River Valley Builders North Region rules.

The win for Sheppard was his 12th Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco of the 2024 season and the 50th of his career.

Sheppard became the first driver to reach the 50-win mark, and the first driver to win the “Working Man’s Race” for the second time.

“We weren’t even supposed to be here,” Sheppard smiled in Bicknell Racing Products Victory Lane. “We definitely jumped at the chance to come back to Utica-Rome, I love racing here so much.”

The 15th edition of the ‘Short Track SuperNationals’ took place at Utica-Rome Speedway for the first time and Sheppard took full advantage.

The Savannah, N.Y., driver started from the third starting position following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw.

Watertown, N.Y.’s Tim Fuller led the opening lap, but Sheppard raced around Fuller, who was hugging the bottom groove, to lead the second lap.

Shortly after the pass, Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen raced around Fuller and into the runner-up spot.

The opening 28 laps clicked off without a caution, as the lead duo fought their way through lapped traffic, but Friesen was never able to get close enough to offer a serious challenge.

Despite a handful of yellow flags in the second half of the race, Sheppard remained flawless on every restart and Friesen was never able to get by the leader.

Friesen settled for the runner-up spot.

“We could pace with him a little bit,” Friesen explained. “We just weren’t good enough to get close enough to make a challenge.”

Fuller rounded out the podium finishers.

“It’s always a pleasure to race here,” Fuller proclaimed. “I knew I was in trouble with Sheppard and Friesen starting right behind us. Sometimes the pole starting spot is a curse.”

Guilderland, N.Y.’s Marc Johson came from the 12th starting position finish fourth and Elizabethtown, N.Y.’s Mike Mahaney completed the top five.

Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Saratoga Springs, N.Y.’s Jack Lehner aboard the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet No. 02; Baldwinsville, N.Y.’s Michael Maresca who came from the 25th starting position; Vernon, N.Y.’s Willy Decker who ran in the top five for much of the early portion of the race; Schnecksville, Pa.’s Tanner Van Doren who started back in 21st; and Fonda, N.Y.’s Danny Varin in the Ed Monger owned No. 93.

Heat winners were Lehner, Friesen, Pat Ward, and Sheppard. Consolations were topped by Tanner Warner and Danny Tyler.

Forty-one STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds signed for competition in the ‘Working Man’s Race.’

The Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman season finale was claimed by Eric Jensen. Jensen used a late race restart to slip around Jeff Bobilin and claim his third win of the season.

Bobilin settled for the runner-up spot with Maddy Broedel, Adam Tranka, and Lance Hill completed the top five in a caution plagued event.

The Fonda Fair Four Cylinder victory was claimed by Corey Valade, who started on the pole and led all 15 laps in dominating fashion for the victory.
Bruce Liddle finished fifth overall, good enough to claim the Single Cam victory.

The Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds were on hand for the finale with entertaining battles throughout their four separate features during the matinee portion of the program.

Andy Graves (Modified), John Roese (Late Model), Jipp Ortiz (Sportsman), Joe Rando (Mystique), and Jimmy Fugel (Antique) all claimed victory in the season finale.

The STSS returns on Thursday, October 24 at the Orange County Fair Speedway to kick off the historic ‘Eastern States Weekend.’ The ‘Hard Clay Finale’ will be the Championship Round of the River Valley Builders North Region.

The ‘Short Track SuperNationals’ concludes the 2024 season at Utica-Rome Speedway. Keep up to date with everything over the offseason on the speedway website and the Utica-Rome Speedway Facebook page.

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.

Utica-Rome Speedway is located at 5591 NY-5 (Seneca Turnpike) Vernon, NY 13476. The official website is www.uticaromespeedway.com and the speedway can be reached by phone at 315.953.4097. Like Utica-Rome Speedway on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @UR_Speedway.

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.

SHORT TRACK SUPERNATIONALS NIGHT NO. 2 RESULTS SUMMARY – SEPTEMBER 28, 2024

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco “Working Man’s Race” Feature Finish (50 laps): 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard[3]; 2. 44-Stewart Friesen[5]; 3. 19-Tim Fuller[1]; 4. 9-Marc Johnson[12]; 5. 35M-Mike Mahaney[7]; 6. 02-Jack Lehner[10]; 7. 7MM-Michael Maresca[25]; 8. 01C-Willy Decker[2]; 9. 27-Tanner Van Doren[21]; 10. 93-Danny Varin[6]; 11. 42-Pat Ward[9]; 12. 7Z-Zach Payne[16]; 13. 6B-Danny Bouc[14]; 14. 1-Rocky Warner[11]; 15. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[13]; 16. 101-Billy Pauch Jr[17]; 17. 25R-Erick Rudolph[18]; 18. 43-Keith Flach[8]; 19. 23-Brandon Loucks[22]; 20. 98-Tanner Warner[23]; 21. 82S-Will Shields[28]; 22. 27J-Danny Johnson[20]; 23. 12B-Addison Bowman[26]; 24. 11T-Jeff Taylor[15]; 25. 28-Matt Janczuk[4]; 26. 97T-Danny Tyler[24]; 27. 66X-Carey Terrance[27]; 28. 77-Alan Barker[19]; 29. 20C-Craig Hanson[29]

Did Not Qualify: Bobby Hackel IV; Jim Becker; Kevin Stevens; Geoff Quackenbush; Jake Dgien; Tim Mayne; Justin Holland; David Marcuccilli; Brian Calabrese; Daniel Morgiewicz Jr.; J.R. Hurlburt; Adam Coots.

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Danny Varin (10th) & Pat Ward (11th)
ATL Fuel Cell ‘Hot Lap Hero’ ($100): Stewart Friesen
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Marc Johnson (fourth) & Tanner Van Doren (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Jack Lehner (Redrew 10th)
Eibach Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Jack Lehner (sixth) Elite Welder Training & Testing Halfway Leader Bonus ($150): Matt Sheppard
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Pat Ward (11th)
PEM Engineering Bonus (Quick Change Gears): Tim Fuller (third)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Matt Sheppard (first - $150 certificate); Matt Sheppard (second - $75 certificate); Tim Fuller (third - $50 certificate); Marc Johnson (fourth - $25 certificate)
Schultz Racing Fuel Cells Bonus ($100 Certificate): Danny Varin (10th)
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Michael Maresca (seventh)

Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. 57-Eric Jensen[3]; 2. 1B-Jeff Bobilin[8]; 3. 26B-Maddy Broedel[9]; 4. 44J-Adam Tranka[4]; 5. 92C-Lance Hill[5]; 6. 79-Eric Winsor[12]; 7. 22A-Avery Decker[7]; 8. 13J-Jim Mallia[2]; 9. 78-Stephen Winsor[16]; 10. 98S-Savannah Simmons[14]; 11. 77-Collin Kenyon[11]; 12. 21-Destry Scribner[18]; 13. 76-Grayson Soper[17]; 14. 12-Hayden Coons[10]; 15. 71-Jason Shedd[1]; 16. 11-Connor Hearn[13]; 17. 16-Terry Falter[6]; 18. 538-Gus Kamburelis[15]

Fonda Fair SCDRA Four Cylinder Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. 21VD-Corey Valade[1]; 2. 0D-Jason Peck[6]; 3. 736D-Matt Bukovan[2]; 4. 97JD-Jay Ingersoll[4]; 5. 47S-Bruce Liddle[3]; 6. K1S-William Liberatore[14]; 7. 17RD-Joseph Bouck[11]; 8. 9D-Kamrin Krause[8]; 9. 22D-Dan Valade[5]; 10. 29S-Dale VanAllen[7]; 11. 31D-Jeff Connolly[13]; 12. 212S-TJ Marlitt[9]; 13. 54S-Wayne Russell Jr[12]; 14. 13D-Kyle Simmons[16]; 15. 3D-John Napoli[10]; 16. (DNS) 223S-Josh Beals

Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Series Modified/Late Model Feature Finish (15 laps): ANDY GRAVES, Jim Mahaney, Anthony Cardamone, Joe August, Darrell Hulburt, Tom Fletcher, Pete Nowicki, JOHN ROESE (Late Model), Will Reed, Dennis Joslin, Chris Pedro.

Did Not Start: Eric Gifford

Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Series Sportsman Feature Finish (15 laps): JIPP ORTIZ, Steve Longo, Don Briggs, Adam Doll, Tim Hegarty, Jon Trudeau, Greg Perron, Ed Lawrence, Craig Chism, Gary Reynolds, John Constantino, Merv Blackwell.

Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Series Mystique Feature Finish (15 laps): JOE RANDO, Harry Baldwin, Jay Havaland, Ray Preston, Kevin Montayne, Tom LaBarr, Jeff Mitchell, Don Karl.

Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Series Antique Feature Finish (15 laps): JIMMY FUGEL, Mike Wheeler, Jimmy Hyde, Doug Matthewson, John Wood, Tony Kamburelis, John Orsini, Speedy Niedhammer, Tom Church, Mike Reynolds, Mark Reardon, Tim Blake, Dan Haslun.

Did Not Start: Mike Gray

Back to News