Short Track Super Series’ Hard Clay Finale Kicks Off Eastern States Weekend For Third Straight Year
News Director 
Story By: BRETT DEYO / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – MIDDLETOWN, NY – For the third consecutive season, the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco hosts the ‘kickoff party’ to Eastern States Weekend.
On Thursday, October 24, the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse ‘Hard Clay Finale’ fires off with a fan-pleasing doubleheader of STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds and 360 Sprint Cars.
STSS Modifieds race in the eighth and final round of the Halmar International North Region, a 50-lap main event offering a massive $10,000 to win and $500 to take the green from a posted pay structure of $40,475. The series’ $12,500 North Region title will be decided at this event.
Joining the Modifieds are the 360 Sprint Cars in a 25-lap, $3,000-to-win event presented by Rapid Tire. This will mark the second appearance by the 360 Sprint Cars during the ‘Hard Clay Finale’ event.
The first ‘Hard Clay Finale’ hit the five-eighths-mile in the 2017 season as a precursor to Eastern States Weekend.
In the event’s first running, Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., charged through the field after pitting with 12 laps to go to earn the victory over Andy Bachetti, Rick Laubach, Craig Mitchell and Jeremy Smith.
A year ago, Boyertown, Pa.’s Mike Gular shocked the field and won the event which ultimately led to him racing weekly at Orange County Fair Speedway this season. Gular bested Mat Williamson, Anthony Perrego, Tyler Dippel and Mike Mahaney.
With an all-new ‘soft clay’ surface in place at the Legendary House of Power, the ’19 edition will be wide open.
Last year’s 360 Sprint Car debut saw Pennsylvania’s Lucas Wolfe invade and take the $3,000 triumph in a late-race battle with Davie Franek. Billy Van Inwegen, Justin Barger and Coleman Gulick completed the front five.
