Matt Sheppard Blazes To Short Track Super Series ‘Sunshine Swing’ Victory No. 3 At All-Tech
News Director 
Story By: CHRIS MOORE / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – LAKE CITY, FL – Super Sonic. On an extremely fast track on Friday night, Matt Sheppard won his third consecutive ‘Sunshine Swing’ feature event to kick off the 2024 season.
Sheppard rolled around the outer edge of the half-mile oval for the majority of the 40-lap event to claim the $8,000 top prize on the third night of the four-day affair presented by Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches.
The win for Sheppard was also the 41st of his Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco career, which ties him with Stewart Friesen for the most of all-time on the series.
Following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw, Sheppard fired from the sixth starting position with Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen and Horseheads, N.Y.’s Tyler Siri on the front row.
Friesen worked out to the early lead while Sheppard quickly worked to the outside groove, cracking the top five and challenging for more.
The early race was plagued with yellow fever, giving Sheppard multiple opportunities to slowly pick off spots on his way to the front.
Just three laps into the feature, Sheppard had already worked his way to the runner-up spot and alongside Friesen for the top spot.
Friesen chose the bottom on the restart, giving the top side to Sheppard, which was all he needed to take the lead away.
While Sheppard and Friesen began to scoot away, Phoenix, N.Y.’s Larry Wight was making hay after firing from the 11th starting position.
Wight had worked to fifth by lap 10 before another yellow flag flew on lap eight. When racing resumed, Wight worked by Hubbard and Erick Rudolph to move into a podium position.
The top three were Sheppard, Friesen, and Wight for the next several laps until Friesen’s night was cut short due to a left-rear suspension issue on the 22nd circuit.
On the ensuing restart, Sheppard trekked back to the lead and Ransomville, N.Y.’s Erick Rudolph raced in the runner-up spot by Wight for second.
Two laps later, another yellow flag flew, and Wight stole the second spot back away from Rudolph on the following restart. Wight, however, was unable to offer any serious challenge to Sheppard for the win.
Sheppard checked out for the final 16 laps on his way to his third consecutive win and an $8,000 victory.
“We came down looking for our 500th win,” Sheppard smiled. “I didn’t think we’d have a shot down here in Florida but we’re at 499 now.”
Wight once again settled for second but was still not deterred. Erick Rudolph rounded out the podium for his best finish of the week. Bobby Hackel came home fourth in the Godgart Motorsports No. 97 and Austin Hubbard brought the Blades HVAC Services No. 65 home with a top five.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Fonda, N.Y.’s Danny Varin in the BDR Speed No. 01 from 12th; Guilderland, N.Y.’s Marc Johnson in his S&S Asphalt Paving No. 9; Binghamton, N.Y.’s Darren Smith advancing 14 positions in the Jeremy Smith Racing No. 12; Brisbane, Queensland, Australia’s in his first top-10 of the week; and Quakertown, Pa.’s Rick Laubach from 20th in the Herman family-owned No. 7.
Thirty-two STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds signed in for competition on Friday night.
Heat winners were Hubbard, Rudolph, Marc Johnson, and Danny Hieber. Chris Curtis won the consolation.
Racing continues Saturday night with a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win STSS Modified main and a $2,500-to-win, 30-lap Crate 602 Sportsman event to conclude the week.
Feature Finish (40 laps): 1. 9S-MATT SHEPPARD[6]; 2. 99L-Larry Wight[11]; 3. 25R-Erick Rudolph[4]; 4. 97H-Bobby Hackel IV[3]; 5. 65-Austin Hubbard[5]; 6. 01-Danny Varin[12]; 7. 9-Marc Johnson[8]; 8. 12S-Darren Smith[22]; 9. 21A-Peter Britten[9]; 10. 7-Rick Laubach[20]; 11. 01VD-Tanner Van Doren[18]; 12. 34-Rusty Smith[16]; 13. 5*-Tyler Siri[2]; 14. 6B-Danny Bouc[23]; 15. 16X-Dan Creeden[10]; 16. 35C-Chris Curtis[21]; 17. 27J-Danny Johnson[14]; 18. 3-Seth Zacharias[19]; 19. 7Z-Zach Payne[24]; 20. 44-Stewart Friesen[1]; 21. 70A-Alex Payne[25]; 22. 38-Jean Mathieu Raymond[26]; 23. 11H-Danny Hieber[7]; 24. 22J-Bubba McPhee[13]; 25. 6-Mat Williamson[15]; 26. 28T-Michael Trautschold[17]
Did Not Qualify: 6S-Matt Stangle; 15M-Daniel Morgiewicz Jr; 35-Francois Bellemare; 29J-Julien Raymond; 11-Matt Caprara; 27-Jason Reome
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Peter Britten (seventh) & Rusty Smith (12th)
ATL Fuel Cell ‘Hot Lap Hero ($100): Matt Sheppard (19.715)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Bobby Hackel IV (fourth) & Peter Britten (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Danny Varin (Redrew 12th)
Eibach Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Danny Varin (sixth)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Tanner Van Doren (11th)
NPS First Car One Lap Down ($100): Dan Creeden (15th)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Matt Sheppard (first – $150 certificate); Larry Wight (second – $75 certificate); Erick Rudolph (third – $50 certificate); Bobby Hackel IV (fourth – $25 certificate)
Schultz Racing Fuel Cells Bonus ($100 Certificate): Rick Laubach (10th)
TV 12 Race Products Bonus (Two Wheel Covers): Rusty Smith (12th)
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Marc Johnson (seventh)
