Story By: CHRIS MOORE / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – PORT ROYAL, PA – Bob Hilbert Sportswear Qualifying night is complete in the ‘Speed Showcase’ weekend at Port Royal Speedway.
The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco ran their qualifying events, setting the stage for tonight’s ‘Speed Showcase 200.’
The STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds competed in four 20-lap qualifiers, locking 24 drivers into the $50,000-to-win main event tonight and sending the rest into the Last Chance Qualifiers.
Andy Bachetti, Matt Sheppard, Ryan Godown and Billy Pauch Jr. won the Dirt Track Digest Modified Qualifying Races, all picking up $750 for their Friday night efforts.
Sheffield, Mass., star Andy Bachetti started on the front row of Qualifier No. 1 and never faced a serious challenge for the top spot. Neshanic Station, N.J.’s Matt Stangle raced to second on a lap-14 restart and Boyertown, Pa.’s Ryan Watt rounded out the top-three.
Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard raced from the ninth starting position in Dirt Track Digest Qualifier No. 2 to win the 20-lap affair. Sheppard went from ninth to third in the opening three laps, before methodically working by Peter Britten and Joseph Watson to win the second qualifier.
Brisbane, Australia’s Peter Britten grabbed the runner-up position and Covington Township, Pa.’s Alex Yankowski rounded out the top three.
Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown dominated Dirt Track Digest Qualifier No. 3, driving by Duanesburg, N.Y.’s Ronnie Johnson on lap 10 and walking away with the qualifying win.
Ronnie Johnson held on to the runner-up spot, fighting off King Ferry, N.Y.’s Mike Mahaney, who started last and raced his way to third.
Frenchtown, N.J.’s Billy Pauch Jr. put on a clinic in Dirt Track Digest Qualifying Race No. 4, coming from the eighth position to dominate the final 20-lap affair. The ‘Kid’s Kid’ was to the lead by the halfway point of his qualifying race, and never looked back, winning by over two seconds.
Ransomville, N.Y.’s Erick Rudolph finished in the runner-up spot and Johnstown, N.Y.’s Rocky Warner rounded in the top three in the final qualifying race.
The top six in each STSS Modified qualifying race locked themselves into the ‘Speed Showcase 200,’ with the rest having to race through the last chance qualifiers.
Forty-nine STSS Modifieds took part in Bob Hilbert Sportswear Qualifying Night for the ‘Speed Showcase 200.
BOB HILBERT SPORTSWEAR QUALIFYING NIGHT RESULTS SUMMARY – PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY OCTOBER 15, 2021
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Qualifying Race No. 1 Finish (20 laps): ANDY BACHETTI, Matt Stangle, Ryan Watt, Mike Gular, Brett Haas, Kyle Coffey, JR Heffner, Jimmy Horton, Rick Laubach, Frank Cozze, Jacob Dgien, Joe Judge, Matt Smith
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Qualifying Race No. 2 Finish (20 laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Peter Britten, Alex Yankowski, Stewart Friesen, Joseph Watson, Alan Johnson, Brandon Grosso, Sammy Martz, Danny Hieber, Scott Hitchens, David Schilling, Aiden Grover
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Qualifying Race No. 3 Finish (20 laps): RYAN GODOWN, Ronnie Johnson, Mike Mahaney, Michael Maresca, Ryan Susice, Dominick Buffalino, Billy Decker, Dillon Steuer, Jim Britt, John Willman, Rusty Smith, Addison Bowman
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Qualifying Race No. 4 Finish (20 laps): BILLY PAUCH JR., Erick Rudolph, Rocky Warner, Tim Fuller, Larry Wight, Jeff Strunk, Jack Lehner, Ryan Riddle, Mat Williamson, Jessica Friesen, Jared Umbenhauer, Anthony Perrego