Stewart Friesen Takes First Short Track Super Series Feature At All-Tech Raceway Friday Night

Story By: CHRIS MOORE / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – LAKE CITY, FL – After Mother Nature intervened on Thursday night, the STSS crew gave the Florida faithful a double program for Friday night, and it lived up to the billing.

Friesen started the first feature on the pole starting position after the Beyea Custom Headers redraw with Phoenix, N.Y.’s, Larry Wight starting alongside.

Friesen would grab the early lead while Wight followed in toe as the guys continued learning the new track.

Waterloo, N.Y.’s, Matt Sheppard had quickly climbed from ninth and into the top five.

After a yellow on lap 13 for Queensbury, N.Y.’s, Demetrios Drellos slowing on the backstretch, things got interesting.

Friesen elected to restart on the bottom, giving Wight the top, and Wight took advantage, taking the lead at the exit of turn two. Two laps later, another came out giving Wight lane choice on the ensuing restart.

To everyone’s surprise, Wight chose the bottom, despite taking the lead from the top side on the previous restart. Friesen took advantage, snatching the lead back from Wight.

While the leaders traded spots back and forth, Saint Catherine’s, Ontario’s Mat Williamson had gone from fifth to third on the two restarts, and was challenged Wight for second the next several laps.

Another yellow on lap 24, gave us another double file restart, and again Friesen, the leader, chose the bottom. This time, it worked for him, as he maintained the lead.

It was “Money” Mat, grabbing another spot on a restart, this one moving him into the runner-up spot.

Another yellow two laps later would result in a single-file restart, but Williamson couldn’t do anything with Friesen, as he coasted to his 18th career STSS win.

Mat Williamson would finish second, with Matt Sheppard climbing to third late. Larry Wight faded back to the fourth spot, with Sidney, N.Y.’s, Billy Decker came from 16^th to round out the top five. Finishing sixth was Billy Dunn, with Middletown, N.Y.’s, Anthony Perrego finishing seventh, Brisbane, Australia’s, Peter Britten finishing eighth, Belle Mead, N.J.’s came home ninth, with Frenchtown, N.J.’s, Billy Pauch Jr. rounding out the top ten.

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): STEWART FRIESEN, Mat Williamson, Matt Sheppard, Larry Wight, Billy Decker, Billy Dunn, Anthony Perrego, Peter Britten, Brandon Grosso, Billy Pauch Jr., David Schilling, Danny Hieber, Andy Bachetti, Rusty Smith, Alex Yankowski, Kyle Weiss, J.R. Hurlburt, Dillon Groover, Jeremy Smith, Jordan Watson, Erick Rudolph, Rick Laubach, Ryan Krachun, Demetrios Drellos, Danny Johnson, Scott Hitchens.

Did Not Start: Mike Gular.

Did Not Qualify (Receive Mike’s Racing Heads $50 Tow Insurance): Justin Haers, Kyle Coffey, Matt Stangle, Robert Dutton, Clay Tatman, Nick Mady, Todd Neiheiser, Tyler Siri, Darren Smith, Billy Van Pelt, Marshall Hurd, Darwin Greene, Rick Regalski, Scott Van Gorder, Russell Morseman III, Cory Riffe.

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire): Peter Britten (eighth) & Rusty Smith (14^th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Larry Wight (fourth) & Brandon Grosso (ninth)
Beyea Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Kyle Weiss
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Bonus (Ray-Ban Sunglasses): Stewart Friesen (winner)
DIG Race Products Bonus ($100 Certificate): Anthony Perrego (seventh)
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Peter Britten (eighth)
ERK Steering Bonus ($50 Certificate): Kyle Weiss (16^th)
Henry’s Exhaust Bonus ($50 Certificate): David Schilling (11^th)
Ocala Restaurant Supply Hard Charger ($100): David Schilling (27^th to 11^th)
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Mat Williamson (second), Danny Hieber (12^th) & Rick Laubach (22^nd)
Wilwood Brakes Bonus ($75 Certificate): Billy Dunn (sixth)