News Director 
Story By: BRETT DEYO / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – MIDDLETOWN, NY – A champion crowned. With a second-place finish last Thursday night at Orange County Fair Speedway, Matt Sheppard became the 2024 Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco River Valley Builders North Region Modified champion.
The Savannah, N.Y., driver will receive $15,000 for his efforts. ‘Super Matt’ is now a five-time North Region champion, joining ’19, ’21, ’22 and ’23.
Sheppard waited until July 3 at N.Y.’s Fonda Speedway to win his first STSS North event of the season.
In the season’s second half, he was virtually unstoppable.
Sheppard won at N.Y.’s Utica-Rome Speedway on July 18, finished second at Quebec’s Autodrome Granby July 30, then rolled to five consecutive wins: N.Y.’s Mohawk International Raceway Aug. 6, Ont.’s Cornwall Motor Speedway Aug. 7, Sept. 2 at Utica-Rome, Sept. 14 in the $53,000 Fonda 200 and Sept. 28 at Utica-Rome (non-points).
The second-place effort at Orange County allowed Sheppard to clinch the title by 66 points.
Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., finished second in the standings with three victories: N.Y.’s Accord and Outlaw speedways in addition to the Orange County finale.
Placing third was Walden, N.Y.’s Anthony Perrego, a winner at Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, N.Y. in May.
Mat Williamson of Saint Catherines, Ont., finished fourth with a best finish of second at Fonda in July. First-year series follower Jack Lehner of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., ranked fifth in points with a pair of runner-up finishes, one at Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, N.Y., and another in the Fonda 200.
Finishing sixth through 12th, respectively, were Alex Yankowski of Covington Township, Pa.; Mike Mahaney of Elizabethtown, N.Y.; Michael Trautschold of Roscoe, N.Y.; Marc Johnson of Guilderland, N.Y.; Francois Bellemare of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec; Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.; and David Hebert of Saint Damase, Quebec.
This weekend (Nov. 1-2) at Del’s Georgetown Speedway, the STSS Modified NJ Quality Drywall South Region championship, Ollie’s Overall Championship and Crate 602 Sportsman Belmont’s Garage championships will be decided.
2024 STSS Modified River Valley Builders North Region Point Standings
- Matt Sheppard – 1162
- Stewart Friesen – 1096
- Anthony Perrego – 970
- Mat Williamson – 950
- Jack Lehner – 938
- Alex Yankowski – 869
- Mike Mahaney – 789
- Michael Trautschold – 649
- Marc Johnson – 606
- Francois Bellemare – 595
- Tim Fuller – 439
- David Hebert – 411
2024 STSS Modified River Valley Builders North Region Summary
- May 14 – Accord Speedway: STEWART FRIESEN – Rich Ricci Jr. – Mat Williamson – Alex Yankowski – Matt Sheppard
- May 30 – Airborne Park Speedway: ANTHONY PERREGO – Michael Maresca – Alex Payne – Mat Williamson – Stewart Friesen
- June 16 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway: MARC JOHNSON – Matt Sheppard – Mat Williamson – Jack Lehner – Stewart Friesen
- July 3 – Fonda Speedway: MATT SHEPPARD – Mat Williamson – Anthony Perrego – Alex Yankowski – Tyler Dippel
- July 11 – Outlaw Speedway: STEWART FRIESEN – Jack Lehner – Ajay Potzrebowski II – Bobby Varin – Anthony Perrego
- July 18 – Utica-Rome Speedway: MATT SHEPPARD – Stewart Friesen – Jimmy Phelps – Mat Williamson – Mike Mahaney
- July 30 – Autodrome Granby: DAVID HEBERT – Matt Sheppard – Stewart Friesen – Michael Parent – Alex Yankowski
- August 6 – Mohawk International Raceway: MATT SHEPPARD – Stewart Friesen – Chris Raabe – Tim Fuller – David Hebert
- August 7 – Cornwall Motor Speedway: MATT SHEPPARD – Stewart Friesen – David Hebert – Tim Fuller – Mat Williamson
- September 2 – Utica-Rome Speedway: MATT SHEPPARD – Alex Payne – Anthony Perrego – Jack Lehner
- September 14 – Fonda Speedway: MATT SHEPPARD – Jack Lehner – Marc Johnson – Anthony Perrego – Danny Varin
- September 28 – Utica-Rome Speedway (Non-Points): MATT SHEPPARD – Stewart Friesen – Tim Fuller – Marc Johnson – Mike Mahaney
- October 24 – Orange County Fair Speedway: STEWART FRIESEN – Matt Sheppard – Anthony Perrego – Billy Pauch Jr. – Alex Yankowski
