RPW Exclusive: Matt Sheppard & Stewart Friesen Fought Hard But Came Up Short Tuesday At Ransomville

Column By: DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – RANSOMVILLE, NY – Thank God Tuesday night’s Super DIRTcar Series race at Ransomville wasn’t even one lap longer.  Just ask Matt Sheppard.

On the other hand, Stewart Friesen could have used that extra circuit.

Sheppard pulled to the frontstretch of the Western New York track post-race after finishing second to Mat Williamson in the annual Summer Nationals with a right rear flat tire.

It seems as though the current Series points leader got lucky.

However, it was not easy for Sheppard to keep second place in the 75-lap main event. The Savannah, NY driver, who started third, had to get around track regular Gary Lindberg at the start of the race if he wanted a shot at the $7,500 top prize.

From there, it was a battle of rubber and traffic.

Around the midway point, Sheppard was getting challenged by fifth place starter Stewart Friesen on the outside while trying to get around lap traffic.  With the track being locked down, though, he just kept it around the bottom and came home with the runner-up spot on the podium.

“I am looking at the tire and it still has tread on it,” Sheppard said.  “But, it’s flat.  I must have run over something.”

It was also a good points night for Sheppard as he gained very valuable points in his hunt for his 11th Super DIRTcar Series championship.

“Even though we didn’t win, we still gained points tonight,” he said.  “To come into Mat’s (Willliamson) home track, set fast time, win a heat and then finish second to him in the feature, it was a good night.”

Finishing third in the Summer Nationals was Stewart Friesen.  Friesen grew up at Ransomville and running well there always means something to him.  However, on Tuesday night, the was really locked down and there wasn’t much movement during the race.

As stated, Friesen started fifth on the field and made quick work to get into the show position so he could join the other two titans of Dirt Modified racing, Williamson and Sheppard, in a battle for the win.

While the Sprakers, NY pilot tried his hardest to get around both, with a few good attempts and even pulling even with Sheppard at one point, it was to no avail.

The podium marks Friesen’s sixth with the Series this year in his seven ’24 starts.

“The Halmar guys brought a good car tonight,” Friesen said.  “I want to thanks all of the fans for coming out and supporting this race in honor of a great man, Ron Martin.  I spent a lot of time with him when I was a kid.”

For Friesen, this was a homecoming for him, as his uncle, Alex Friesen, use to promote Ransomville back in the day.

“Uncle Alex started this race 40 something years ago,” he said.  “It’s always great to get back here and see a full house at the Big R.  Maybe next time we will have a cushion.”

Between Sheppard, Friesen, and winner Mat Williamson, these three powerhouses of the Northeast proved once again Tuesday why they’re some of the best drivers in the country.