RPW Column: Matt Sheppard’s Now A Three-Time Short Track Super Series Hard Clay Open Winner

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – The phrase is it’s better to be lucky rather than good.

Saturday night during the 2023 edition of the Short Track Super Series’ Hard Clay Open at Orange County Fair Speedway, Matt Sheppard was both while Jimmy Horton was just the latter.

Sheppard was able to use a long green flag run during the middle portion of the 50-lap main event to drive around leader Larry Wight with just 10 laps remaining and went on to score the first “Elite” Series win of 2022 and his third straight in the event.

“I definitely felt like I needed green flag laps,” Sheppard said.  “I was a little bit on the free side.  For a long time, I just didn’t think we had it tonight.”

Things started out good for Sheppard but then he began to wonder if his car was good enough to win the event.

“We were pretty good on the first long green and I got up to fifth or so,” he said.  “Then, we hit that string of cautions and I didn’t feel like we had enough.”

Then, things started to fall into place for the driver of the 9s.

“Finally, we started to string some more green flag laps together and I felt like I kept getting better and better,” he said.  “Luckily, my car was maneuverable enough.  I got to the point where there was some moisture in the middle (of the track) and I could work the middle.”

As the race went on, and Sheppard was chasing down Wight for the lead, the two began to encounter lapped traffic.  Finding the middle played right into Sheppard’s hands.

“Finding the middle really helped with the lapped cars,” he said.  “It seems like you have to have a car that’s versatile here (at OCFS).  It’s one thing to be fast when you’re out front but when you get to traffic, you’ve got to be able to pass people.”

Everyone at the Orange County Fair Speedway had eyes on Jimmy Horton to take the $12,000 winner’s check home based on how his night was going.

From early on, the star of the Middletown, NY oval was the “Sensational One,” who was truly living up to his nickname, driving through the field of his Qualifier and advancing nine spots to finish second behind Billy Decker and make the redraw.

The driver from Neshanic Station, NJ ended up taking the green from the fifth starting spot while Sheppard fired from 12th.

Just passed the halfway point, Horton found his way around leader Larry Wight and looked like he was on his way to a very popular win.  However, just shy of 15 laps remaining, the Halmar 43 began to puff a little bit of smoke and slow as engine problems creped in.

He ultimately pulled off the speedway with eight laps remaining and finished 26th.

Could Sheppard have passed Horton if he didn’t have his troubles?

“Jimmy really had the car to beat,” he said.  “He was really good.  I got around him on the top one time and then he got back around me.  I kind of got jammed up on the bottom but I do think he was the car to beat.”

Second place on the night ended up being Larry Wight, who had one of the fastest cars on the track during the 50-lap main event but came up one spot short.

“We were just a little bit too good too early,” Wight said.  “Once the bite started to go away, I just didn’t have nearly the forward drive like he (Sheppard) did.”

While the 99L was fast, does Wight know where he was lacking?

“I felt like I could stay with Matt in and through the middle of the corners,” he said.  “However, from center off, he’d pick up a car or a car and a half on every corner.”

The battle between Sheppard, Horton and Wight was one of the best on track through the 50-lap affair.  It seemed like the Hard Clay was in prime shape and lived up to it’s name.

“This is probably the best I’ve seen this place in five years,” he said.  “It got dusty at the end but I think Monster did a phenomenal job.  He was working all morning on this place.  We camped out here so I saw him at the crack of dawn firing up the truck and hat’s off to those guys.  They really turned this place around.”

Third place on the night went to Mat Williamson.  After starting one spot behind Sheppard at the onset of the race, Williamson seemed to be mired in the middle half of the field, but then, as the race went on, the Behrent’s #3 came to life.

“We got rolling pretty well there,” Williamson said.  “However, that long green flag run hurt us and I couldn’t really do anything.”

The St. Catherines, ONT driver was pleased with how the surface was on this night.

“The race track was really good tonight,” he said.  “You could kind of go all over.  You’d be up in the dusty stuff and it was like it had grip.  Tip of the cap to the track crew to get this place racy after Eastern States last year.  I know with this new clay it’s tough for them to work with but tonight they did a good job.”

As the race went on, and Williamson’s car came to life, it looked like he was about to challenge Wight for the runner-up spot, but a late yellow with three-to-go put the kybosh to that.

“I think if we had a double file restart I may have had a shot,” he said.  “Sometimes, you can do well with them.  Sometimes, they can bite you in the butt.”

Finishing fourth in the main event was Dillon Steuer with Jack Lehner completing the top five.

HBR teammates Jimmy Phelps and Max McLaughlin were sixth and seventh, respectively, with Danny Bouc, Peter Britten and Billy Decker rounding out the top 10.

‘Hard Clay Open’ Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Ollie’s Elite Series Round No. 1 Feature Finish (50 laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Larry Wight, Mat Williamson, Dillon Steuer, Jack Lehner, Jimmy Phelps, Max McLaughlin, Danny Bouc, Peter Britten, Billy Decker, Marc Johnson, Andy Bachetti, Bobby Hackel, Alex Yankowski, Billy VanInwegen, Mike Mahaney, Danny Creeden, Neil Stratton, Corey Cormier, David Schilling, Tyler Dippel, Chris Curtis, Francois Bernier, Michael Trautschold, Tanner Van Doren, Jimmy Horton, Darren Smith, Craig Mitchell, Anthony Perrego, J.R. Hurlburt.

Did Not Qualify: Charles Loiodice, Richard Smith, Shane Jablonka, Josh Allen, Chad Brachmann, Mike Kolka, Kevin Root, Matt Janiak, Melvin Schrufer, Roger Henion, Jr., John Brown, Chris Stevens, Rich Eurich, Daniel Morgiewicz, Ryan Walther, Jerry Higbie, Steve Bernier, Tanner Siemons, Derek Bornt, Bob McGannon, Dylan Scribner, Joey Coppola, Shawn McPhee, Will Shields, Nick Plumstead

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Max McLaughlin (seventh) & Bobby Hackel (13th)
BDR Speed Bonus ($50 Gift Card): David Schilling (20th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Dillon Steuer (fourth) & Peter Britten (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Matt Sheppard (Redrew 12th)
CXM Floors Top Orange County Regular ($300): Matt Sheppard
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Jimmy Phelps (sixth)
Hard Clay Observer Hard Luck Award ($315): Kevin Root
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Marc Johnson (11th)
Midnite Auto Parts Hard Charger ($300): Marc Johnson (28th to 11th)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Matt Sheppard (first – $150 certificate); Larry Wight (second – $75 certificate); Mat Williamson (third – $50 certificate); Billy Decker (10th – $25 certificate)
Rock Fantasy Halfway Leader ($300): Larry Wight
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Max McLaughlin (seventh)