News Director 
Story By: CHRIS MOORE / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – VERNON, NY – Super Work.
The ‘Short Track SuperNationals saw its first-ever repeat winner on Saturday night when Matt Sheppard led the last 49 laps of the 50-lap main event to claim the $4,000 top prize.
The race was a non-points event under River Valley Builders North Region rules.
The win for Sheppard was his 12th Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco of the 2024 season and the 50th of his career.
Sheppard became the first driver to reach the 50-win mark, and the first driver to win the “Working Man’s Race” for the second time.
“We weren’t even supposed to be here,” Sheppard smiled in Bicknell Racing Products Victory Lane. “We definitely jumped at the chance to come back to Utica-Rome, I love racing here so much.”
The 15th edition of the ‘Short Track SuperNationals’ took place at Utica-Rome Speedway for the first time and Sheppard took full advantage.
The Savannah, N.Y., started from the third starting position following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw.
Watertown, N.Y.’s Tim Fuller led the opening lap, but Sheppard raced around Fuller, who was hugging the bottom groove, to lead the second lap.
Shortly after the pass, Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen raced around Fuller and into the runner-up spot.
The opening 28 laps clicked off without a caution, as the lead duo fought their way through lapped traffic, but Friesen was never able to get close enough to offer a serious challenge.
Despite a handful of yellow flags in the second half of the race, Sheppard remained flawless on every restart and Friesen was never able to get by the leader.
Friesen settled for the runner-up spot.
“We could pace with him a little bit,” Friesen explained. “We just weren’t good enough to get close enough to make a challenge.”
Fuller rounded out the podium finishers.
“It’s always a pleasure to race here,” Fuller proclaimed. “I knew I was in trouble with Sheppard and Friesen starting right behind us. Sometimes the pole starting spot is a curse.”
Guilderland, N.Y.’s Marc Johson came from the 12th starting position finish fourth and Elizabethtown, N.Y.’s Mike Mahaney completed the top five.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Saratoga Springs, N.Y.’s Jack Lehner aboard the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet No. 02; Baldwinsville, N.Y.’s Michael Maresca who came from the 25th starting position; Vernon, N.Y.’s Willy Decker who ran in the top five for much of the early portion of the race; Schnecksville, Pa.’s Tanner Van Doren who started back in 21st; and Fonda, N.Y.’s Danny Varin in the Ed Monger owned No. 93.
Heat winners were Lehner, Friesen, Pat Ward, and Sheppard. Consolations were topped by Tanner Warner and Danny Tyler.
Forty-one STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds signed for competition in the ‘Working Man’s Race.’
The Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman season finale was claimed by Eric Jensen. Jensen used a late race restart to slip around Jeff Bobilin and claim his third win of the season.
Bobilin settled for the runner-up spot with Maddy Broedel, Adam Tranka, and Lance Hill completed the top five in a caution plagued event.
The Fonda Fair Four Cylinder victory was claimed by Corey Valade, who started on the pole and led all 15 laps in dominating fashion for the victory.
Bruce Liddle finished fifth overall, good enough to claim the Single Cam victory.
The Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds were on hand for the finale with entertaining battles throughout their four separate features during the matinee portion of the program.
Andy Graves (Modified), John Roese (Late Model), Jipp Ortiz (Sportsman), Joe Rando (Mystique), and Jimmy Fugel (Antique) all claimed victory in the season finale.
The STSS returns on Thursday, October 24 at the Orange County Fair Speedway to kick off the historic ‘Eastern States Weekend.’ The ‘Hard Clay Finale’ will be the Championship Round of the River Valley Builders North Region.
Modifieds
STSS Modified SuperNationals 15 15th Working Man’s Race 50 (50 Laps): 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard[3]; 2. 44-Stewart Friesen[5]; 3. 19-Tim Fuller[1]; 4. 9-Marc Johnson[12]; 5. 35M-Mike Mahaney[7]; 6. 02-Jack Lehner[10]; 7. 7MM-Michael Maresca[25]; 8. 01C-Willy Decker[2]; 9. 27-Tanner Van Doren[21]; 10. 93-Danny Varin[6]; 11. 42-Pat Ward[9]; 12. 7Z-Zach Payne[16]; 13. 6B-Danny Bouc[14]; 14. 1-Rocky Warner[11]; 15. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[13]; 16. 101-Billy Pauch Jr[17]; 17. 25R-Erick Rudolph[18]; 18. 43-Keith Flach[8]; 19. 23-Brandon Loucks[22]; 20. 98-Tanner Warner[23]; 21. 82S-Will Shields[28]; 22. 27J-Danny Johnson[20]; 23. 12B-Addison Bowman[26]; 24. 11T-Jeff Taylor[15]; 25. 28-Matt Janczuk[4]; 26. 97T-Danny Tyler[24]; 27. 66X-Carey Terrance[27]; 28. 77-Alan Barker[19]; 29. 20C-Craig Hanson[29]
Did Not Qualify: Bobby Hackel IV; Jim Becker; Kevin Stevens; Geoff Quackenbush; Jake Dgien; Tim Mayne; Justin Holland; David Marcuccilli; Brian Calabrese; Daniel Morgiewicz Jr.; J.R. Hurlburt; Adam Coots.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Danny Varin (10th) & Pat Ward (11th)
ATL Fuel Cell ‘Hot Lap Hero’ ($100): Stewart Friesen
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Marc Johnson (fourth) & Tanner Van Doren (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Jack Lehner (Redrew 10th)
Eibach Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Jack Lehner (sixth)
Elite Welder Training & Testing Halfway Leader Bonus ($150): Matt Sheppard
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Pat Ward (11th)
PEM Engineering Bonus (Quick Change Gears): Tim Fuller (third)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Matt Sheppard (first – $150 certificate); Matt Sheppard (second – $75 certificate); Tim Fuller (third – $50 certificate); Marc Johnson (fourth – $25 certificate)
Schultz Racing Fuel Cells Bonus ($100 Certificate): Danny Varin (10th)
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Michael Maresca (seventh)
STSS Modified SuperNationals 15 Consolation 1 (8 Laps): 1. 98-Tanner Warner[2]; 2. 7MM-Michael Maresca[4]; 3. 66X-Carey Terrance[3]; 4. 97-Bobby Hackel IV[5]; 5. 9J-Jim Becker[6]; 6. 83-Kevin Stevens[7]; 7. 53-Geoff Quackenbush[9]; 8. 24-Jake Dgien[1]; 9. (DNS) 8M-Tim Mayne; 10. (DNS) 280-Justin Holland
STSS Modified SuperNationals 15 Consolation 2 (8 Laps): 1. 97T-Danny Tyler[3]; 2. 12B-Addison Bowman[1]; 3. 82S-Will Shields[8]; 4. M1-David Marcuccilli[5]; 5. 55J-Brian Calabrese[2]; 6. 20C-Craig Hanson[4]; 7. 15M-Daniel Morgiewicz Jr[9]; 8. 6H-JR Hurlburt[7]; 9. 84JR-Adam Coots[6]
STSS Modified SuperNationals 15 Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 02-Jack Lehner[5]; 2. 01C-Willy Decker[1]; 3. 1-Rocky Warner[8]; 4. 11T-Jeff Taylor[3]; 5. 77-Alan Barker[4]; 6. 24-Jake Dgien[2]; 7. 66X-Carey Terrance[6]; 8. 28-Matt Janczuk[11]; 9. 9J-Jim Becker[9]; 10. 8M-Tim Mayne[7]; 11. 280-Justin Holland[10]
STSS Modified SuperNationals 15 Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 44-Stewart Friesen[5]; 2. 19-Tim Fuller[6]; 3. 9-Marc Johnson[8]; 4. 7Z-Zach Payne[2]; 5. 27J-Danny Johnson[9]; 6. 12B-Addison Bowman[4]; 7. 97T-Danny Tyler[10]; 8. M1-David Marcuccilli[7]; 9. 6H-JR Hurlburt[1]; 10. 15M-Daniel Morgiewicz Jr[3]
STSS Modified SuperNationals 15 Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 42-Pat Ward[2]; 2. 93-Danny Varin[3]; 3. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[6]; 4. 101-Billy Pauch Jr[4]; 5. 27-Tanner Van Doren[9]; 6. 98-Tanner Warner[1]; 7. 7MM-Michael Maresca[10]; 8. 97-Bobby Hackel IV[8]; 9. 83-Kevin Stevens[7]; 10. 53-Geoff Quackenbush[5]
STSS Modified SuperNationals 15 Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard[8]; 2. 43-Keith Flach[2]; 3. 6B-Danny Bouc[3]; 4. 25R-Erick Rudolph[7]; 5. 23-Brandon Loucks[9]; 6. 55J-Brian Calabrese[6]; 7. 20C-Craig Hanson[5]; 8. 84JR-Adam Coots[4]; 9. 82S-Will Shields[1]; 10. 35M-Mike Mahaney[10]
STSS Modified SuperNationals 15 Hot Laps 1: 1. 44-Stewart Friesen, 00:19.398[18]; 2. 28-Matt Janczuk, 00:19.473[41]; 3. 84Y-Alex Yankowski, 00:19.477[23]; 4. 280-Justin Holland, 00:19.526[37]; 5. 9S-Matt Sheppard, 00:19.742[32]; 6. 7MM-Michael Maresca, 00:19.755[39]; 7. 19-Tim Fuller, 00:19.782[22]; 8. 66X-Carey Terrance, 00:19.800[21]; 9. 55J-Brian Calabrese, 00:19.844[24]; 10. 9-Marc Johnson, 00:19.857[30]; 11. 27-Tanner Van Doren, 00:19.899[35]; 12. 97-Bobby Hackel IV, 00:19.917[31]; 13. 42-Pat Ward, 00:20.003[7]; 14. 101-Billy Pauch Jr, 00:20.144[15]; 15. 35M-Mike Mahaney, 00:20.296[40]; 16. 12B-Addison Bowman, 00:20.368[14]; 17. 1-Rocky Warner, 00:20.433[29]; 18. 01C-Willy Decker, 00:20.435[1]; 19. 43-Keith Flach, 00:20.455[8]; 20. 23-Brandon Loucks, 00:20.470[36]; 21. 02-Jack Lehner, 00:20.479[17]; 22. 25R-Erick Rudolph, 00:20.612[28]; 23. 6B-Danny Bouc, 00:20.715[12]; 24. 7Z-Zach Payne, 00:20.787[6]; 25. 97T-Danny Tyler, 00:20.834[38]; 26. M1-David Marcuccilli, 00:20.869[26]; 27. 27J-Danny Johnson, 00:20.937[34]; 28. 6H-JR Hurlburt, 00:20.982[2]; 29. 11T-Jeff Taylor, 00:21.068[9]; 30. 83-Kevin Stevens, 00:21.137[27]; 31. 77-Alan Barker, 00:21.153[13]; 32. 24-Jake Dgien, 00:21.315[5]; 33. 98-Tanner Warner, 00:21.426[3]; 34. 9J-Jim Becker, 00:21.449[33]; 35. 53-Geoff Quackenbush, 00:21.587[19]; 36. 20C-Craig Hanson, 00:21.591[20]; 37. 84JR-Adam Coots, 00:22.029[16]; 38. 8M-Tim Mayne, 00:22.108[25]; 39. (DNS) 82S-Will Shields; 40. (DNS) 15M-Daniel Morgiewicz Jr; 41. (DNS) 93-Danny Varin
Limited Sportsman
Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 57-Eric Jensen[3]; 2. 1B-Jeff Bobilin[8]; 3. 26B-Maddy Broedel[9]; 4. 44J-Adam Tranka[4]; 5. 92C-Lance Hill[5]; 6. 79-Eric Winsor[12]; 7. 22A-Avery Decker[7]; 8. 13J-Jim Mallia[2]; 9. 78-Stephen Winsor[16]; 10. 98S-Savannah Simmons[14]; 11. 77-Collin Kenyon[11]; 12. 21-Destry Scribner[18]; 13. 76-Grayson Soper[17]; 14. 12-Hayden Coons[10]; 15. 71-Jason Shedd[1]; 16. 11-Connor Hearn[13]; 17. 16-Terry Falter[6]; 18. 538-Gus Kamburelis[15]
Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 22A-Avery Decker[2]; 2. 26B-Maddy Broedel[6]; 3. 92C-Lance Hill[9]; 4. 44J-Adam Tranka[8]; 5. 16-Terry Falter[1]; 6. 77-Collin Kenyon[4]; 7. 11-Connor Hearn[3]; 8. (DNS) 538-Gus Kamburelis; 9. (DQ) 76-Grayson Soper[7]
Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 12-Hayden Coons[1]; 2. 71-Jason Shedd[6]; 3. 13J-Jim Mallia[5]; 4. 1B-Jeff Bobilin[9]; 5. 57-Eric Jensen[7]; 6. 79-Eric Winsor[2]; 7. 98S-Savannah Simmons[4]; 8. 78-Stephen Winsor[8]; 9. 21-Destry Scribner[3]
Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman Hot Laps 1: 1. 92C-Lance Hill, 00:20.514[17]; 2. 26B-Maddy Broedel, 00:20.614[1]; 3. 12-Hayden Coons, 00:21.759[2]; 4. 44J-Adam Tranka, 00:21.842[14]; 5. 71-Jason Shedd, 00:22.100[11]; 6. 78-Stephen Winsor, 00:22.579[16]; 7. 13J-Jim Mallia, 00:22.607[9]; 8. 22A-Avery Decker, 00:22.854[3]; 9. 98S-Savannah Simmons, 00:23.662[12]; 10. 21-Destry Scribner, 00:24.043[10]; 11. 11-Connor Hearn, 00:24.431[5]; 12. 76-Grayson Soper, 00:24.626[13]; 13. 79-Eric Winsor, 00:24.665[15]; 14. 77-Collin Kenyon, 00:24.880[8]; 15. 538-Gus Kamburelis, 00:25.157[7]; 16. (DNS) 16-Terry Falter; 17. (DNS) 57-Eric Jensen; 18. (DNS) 1B-Jeff Bobilin
Four Cylinders
Fonda Fair SCDRA 4 Cylinders A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 21VD-Corey Valade[1]; 2. 0D-Jason Peck[6]; 3. 736D-Matt Bukovan[2]; 4. 97JD-Jay Ingersoll[4]; 5. 47S-Bruce Liddle[3]; 6. K1S-William Liberatore[14]; 7. 17RD-Joseph Bouck[11]; 8. 9D-Kamrin Krause[8]; 9. 22D-Dan Valade[5]; 10. 29S-Dale VanAllen[7]; 11. 31D-Jeff Connolly[13]; 12. 212S-TJ Marlitt[9]; 13. 54S-Wayne Russell Jr[12]; 14. 13D-Kyle Simmons[16]; 15. 3D-John Napoli[10]; 16. (DNS) 223S-Josh Beals
Fonda Fair SCDRA 4 Cylinders Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 21VD-Corey Valade[2]; 2. 47S-Bruce Liddle[1]; 3. 22D-Dan Valade[8]; 4. 29S-Dale VanAllen[6]; 5. 212S-TJ Marlitt[7]; 6. 17RD-Joseph Bouck[3]; 7. 31D-Jeff Connolly[5]; 8. 223S-Josh Beals[4]
Fonda Fair SCDRA 4 Cylinders Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 736D-Matt Bukovan[2]; 2. 97JD-Jay Ingersoll[6]; 3. 0D-Jason Peck[5]; 4. 9D-Kamrin Krause[8]; 5. 3D-John Napoli[1]; 6. 54S-Wayne Russell Jr[3]; 7. K1S-William Liberatore[4]; 8. 13D-Kyle Simmons[7]
Fonda Fair SCDRA 4 Cylinders Hot Laps 1: 1. 97JD-Jay Ingersoll, 00:26.254[5]; 2. 54S-Wayne Russell Jr, 00:27.167[16]; 3. 3D-John Napoli, 00:27.643[9]; 4. (DNS) 223S-Josh Beals; 5. (DNS) 17RD-Joseph Bouck; 6. (DNS) 736D-Matt Bukovan; 7. (DNS) 31D-Jeff Connolly; 8. (DNS) 9D-Kamrin Krause; 9. (DNS) K1S-William Liberatore; 10. (DNS) 47S-Bruce Liddle; 11. (DNS) 0D-Jason Peck; 12. (DNS) 13D-Kyle Simmons; 13. (DNS) 21VD-Corey Valade; 14. (DNS) 22D-Dan Valade; 15. (DNS) 29S-Dale VanAllen; 16. (DNS) 212S-TJ Marlitt
