Billy Pauch Jr. Shines In Short Track Super Series’ Diamond State 50 Wednesday At Delaware Int’l

Story By: CHRIS MOORE / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – DELMAR, DE – Billy Pauch Jr. found glory with the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco at Delaware International Speedway on Wednesday night for the first time since 2021.

The ‘Diamond State 50’ win – the seventh of Pauch Jr.’s STSS career – netted the Frenchtown, N.J., native a $5,200 payday and the points lead in the Rent Equip/Party Central South Region.

“We’ve really struggled so far this year. Last Saturday was one of the most depressing days of my life,” Pauch Jr. stated of his performance at his Saturday night home track New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway. “It feels really good to be back in (Bicknell Racing Products) Victory Lane.”

‘The Kid’s Kid’ fended off several challenges from one of the Northeast’s hottest drivers in Danny Bouc on numerous restarts to grab his first career STSS win at the half-mile oval on the Delaware-Maryland state line.

“Danny’s hot right now, it’s his time and it hasn’t been ours lately, but this one feels good,” Pauch Jr. smiled.

A caution-plagued 50-lap race saw Hellertown, Pa.’s Rick Laubach start on the pole with Pauch Jr. alongside following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw.

Pauch Jr. quickly shot to the lead and brought East Greenbush, N.Y.’s David Schilling with him who took the runner-up spot.

Pipersville, Pa. native Danny Bouc wasted no time however, racing by Laubach and then by Schilling for the runner-up spot in the early going, with Schilling settling into a ferocious battle for the final podium spot with Potsdam, N.Y.’s Michael Maresca.

The numerous yellows played to the benefit of Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard, as he rose from the eighth starting position into third in the opening 13 laps.

Sheppard’s luck would drastically change however on the 14th circuit, as ‘Super Matt’ glanced off the infield jersey barrier in turn two. The contact sent Sheppard spinning and causing minor front-end damage.

Sheppard’s No. 9s machine returned to race from the back.

More yellow flags throughout the mid portion of the race – including one that took out Maresca who entered as the South Region point leader – played into the hands of Covington Township, Pa.’s Alex Yankowski.

‘Kid Rocket’ had risen from the 14th starting position into the top five and eventually to third by lap 34.

Neshanic Station, N.J.’s Matt Stangle was on the move as well. After starting in 23rd, Stangle found a rhythm for the 50-lap feature and marched his way to fourth following a lap 34 restart.

Yankowski used a slide job to get by Bouc for second with less than 10 laps to go and set his sights on Pauch Jr. up front.

The final lap would be a one lap dash to the finish following the race’s last caution for a spinning Jimmy Horton on the home stretch.

Pauch Jr. would again hit his marks and drive off with the ‘Diamond State 50’ triumph.

“That was a lot of restarts. There’s only so many ways you can start a race before you just have to go for it,” Pauch Jr. explained.

Yankowski ended his drive from 14th in the runner-up spot.

“We haven’t won a Short Track Super Series race yet,” Yankowski stated following his runner-up. “That’s really bugging us, but I promise to everybody that’s pulling for us that we’ll get one sooner or later.”

Following a post-race disqualification of Bouc for being 10 pounds light at the scales, Matt Sheppard’s tumultuous day ended up with a podium finish.

“I almost called it quits for the night the front end was so messed up,” Sheppard explained after his run-in with the turn two wall. “The guys did the best they could, but it’s still pretty bent up, but we’ll take it after today.”

Schilling, after falling into the second half of the top-10, rallied late and recorded a fourth-place finish in the BDR Speed No. 20 and Boyertown, Pa.’s Ryan Watt, powered by a Wegner Automotive ‘Weekend Warrior’ Engine, rounded out the top five after starting 15th.

Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Matt Stangle, who’s sixth-place run moves him to second in South Region points and earned him $250 as the BDR Speed Hard Charger; Rick Laubach, who raced back forward after fading in the early going to salvage a seventh-place run; Milford, Del.’s H.J. Bunting who avoided all of the mishaps throughout the race to come home eighth in the Blue Hen Racing No. 30; Milford, Del.’s Jordan Watson who started in 17th; and Langhorne, Pa.’s Danny Hieber who rebounded from an early flat tire to round out the top-10.

Twenty-nine STSS Modifieds signed in for competition in the ‘Diamond State 50.’

Heat winners, receiving $50 each courtesy of FloRacing, were Pauch Jr. Schilling, and Ryan Godown.

The consolation winner was H.J. Bunting.

‘Diamond State 50’ Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Rent Equip/Party Central South Region Round No. 2 Feature Finish (50 laps): BILLY PAUCH JR., Alex Yankowski, Matt Sheppard, David Schilling, Ryan Watt, Matt Stangle, Rick Laubach, HJ Bunting, Jordan Watson, Danny Hieber, Jimmy Horton, John Willman, Mike Gular, Joseph Watson, Mike Mahaney, James Hill, Carson Wright, Brandon Grosso, Ryan Krachun, Bobby Watkins, Ryan Riddle, Andy Bachetti, Michael Maresca, Ryan Godown, Austin Hubbard, Jeff Strunk.

Disqualified: Danny Bouc

Did Not Qualify: Drew Simmons, Tim Millman

Ad-Art Sign Company Spec Bonus ($250): None Registered
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): H.J. Bunting (eighth) & Joseph Watson (14th)
BDR Speed Hard Charger ($250): Matt Stangle (23rd to sixth)
BDR Speed Bonus ($50 Gift Card): Bobby Watkins (20th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): David Schilling (fourth) & Jordan Watson (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Brandon Grosso (Redrew 12th)
Bill Brown & Company Overall Heat-Race Hard Charger ($50): Jeff Strunk (sixth to third)
Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Halfway Leader Award ($200): Billy Pauch Jr.
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Bonus (Oakley Sunglasses): Billy Pauch Jr. (winner)
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Matt Stangle (sixth)
FloRacing Heat Winners ($50): David Schilling, Ryan Godown, & Billy Pauch Jr.
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Jimmy Horton (11th)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Billy Pauch Jr. (first – $150 certificate); Alex Yankowski (second – $75 certificate); Matt Sheppard (third – $50 certificate); Danny Hieber (10th – $25 certificate)
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Rick Laubach (seventh)