Story By: CHIRS MOORE / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – MIDDLETOWN, NY – The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco was finally able to lift the lid on the Northeast racing season last Sunday at Pa.’s Port Royal Speedway.
Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown claimed the Spring ‘Speed Showcase,’ and the $5,000-plus payday to open the Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply South Region.
Now, the STSS treks further North into the Empire State for the first round of the River Valley Builders North Region and the second round of the Halmar International ‘Elite’ Series. Godown also claimed the ‘Rebel 50’ at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., in the first round of the Halmar International ‘Elite’ Series.
Orange County Fair Speedway (OCFS) hosts the historic $25,000-to-win event – which holds a total purse of over $80,000 – in the 50-lap ‘Hard Clay Open’ on Saturday, April 2.
OCFS was the site of the first-ever STSS race in history back in April of 2014. Sheffield, Mass., star Andy Bachetti was victorious in the inaugural event, besting Tim Hindley and Danny Tyler.
Seven years later, the STSS returns to the historic Orange County five-eighths-mile oval for the 11th time in its history.
Bachetti claimed another STSS win at OCFS in the 2017 ‘Hard Clay Open,’ the second of his six career STSS triumphs.
Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen leads STSS competition at the House of Power, with four wins in the 10 events held at OCFS. His most recent win took place in the ‘Hard Clay Finale’ in 2019.
Matt Sheppard had never won at the Legendary House of Power before the ‘19 ‘Hard Clay Open’ when the Savannah, N.Y., native claimed the $11,919 victory. Since then, Sheppard has become a force at OCFS, including his victories in the 2021 ‘Hard Clay Finale’ and the ‘Eastern States 200’ just two days later.
Boyertown, Pa.’s Mike Gular and Waldwick, N.J.’s Tommy Meier are the other names found in the STSS history book as winners at Orange County Fair Speedway.
The STSS returns for its richest event ever at Orange County Fair Speedway on April 2. April 3 is reserved as a rain date for this event.