Sep 22, 2024 10:00 PM EDT

MATT SHEPPARD TAKES CAL LANE MEMORIAL FALL NATIONALS MODIFIED VICTORY AT OUTLAW SPEEDWAY

Davie Franek claims ESS 360 Sprint win with late race heroics. Carter Crooker sits in winners circle after huge Crate Sportsman triumph.  Dylan Cecce takes home Street Stock cash and invaders rule Hobby Stock Division as Doug Slack Jr. walks off victorious.

Story by Kenny Shupp Jr.

(Dundee, NY) For only the fourth time in 2024 Matt Sheppard rolled into the Outlaw Speedway looking to take the $5,220 winners check back to his Savannah, NY home.

After successfully picking up the opening night win on April 19, 2024, Sheppard looked like a sure bet to claim the Short Track Super Series victory on July 11 only to succumb to a flat tire with just a few laps remaining handing the win to Stewart Friesen.

Sheppard placed second to May 16 event winner, Ajay Potrzebowski as part of the High Limit Series Event.

However, on this night Super Matt was not going to be denied a trip to the Outlaw Speedway victory lane as he took over the lead from Potrzebowski on lap fourteen of the thirty-five lap 9th Annual Fall Nationals Modified Gunslinger event and from there cruise to the win.

After picking up an earlier evening qualifying heat win, Sheppard did not re-draw well and was relegated to the tenth starting spot on the opening feature grid as Willy Decker and Ajay Potrzebowski would bring the twenty-one-car field to the opening bell with Decker leading lap one before Potrzebowski would assume control on the second circuit.  

Once in clean air, the Elmira, NY third gen speedster would stretch the margin to several car lengths over Kreg Crooker who was comfortably in the runner-up spot after drawing the third starting pill.  

The first of three caution flags would wave on lap twelve for the slowing machine of two-time 2024 Outlaw Modified feature winner, Bobby Varin as his night would come to a close.

On the following re-start heading into turn one, Will Shields got sideways and was collected hard by Brady Fultz and Adam Coots with all three suffering a lot of damage with none of the trio able to continue.

On the next retake, Tommy Collins would slow on the front stretch ending his drive and it was on lap fourteen that Sheppard would make his move on Potrzebowski after very methodically working his way into the runner-up spot by the first caution on lap twelve.

Once out in front Sheppard could use the entire width of the Fast 4/10 of a Mile Dundee, NY oval to his advantage and would begin to put plenty of daylight between himself and Jeff Daugherty of Elmira who had worked past Potrzebowski and was now into the runner-up position after starting seventh on the opening grid.  

August 16 Outlaw Modified feature winner, Jim LaRock was good on a lengthy green flag run as he was able to work past Potrzebowski in the closing laps to get to third, but that is where his drive to the front would end after starting eighteenth. 

From lap fourteen until the double checkered flags would fly, Sheppard kept a comfortable two and a half second lead over Daugherty with LaRock now third and that is how they would finish the Gunslinger 35 lap affair with Sheppard claiming victory chased across the line by  Daugherty with LaRock ending a masterful performance rounding out the top three podium finishers.

Potrzebowski was able to hold on for fourth with last weeks feature winner and Outlaw Speedway owner/promoter, Bossman Tyler Siri rounding the top five advancing from inside the seventh starting row after failing to make the re-draw and like LaRock, Siri was able to use the mid race caution flags to keep the lead group in sight.

Six through tenth went to Mike Maresca, Cory Costa who was making his first appearance since midseason piloting the Bill Domineck owned machine finished seventh.

August 30 feature winner and Tyler Siri hired gun; Stacy Jackson would finish eight after beginning the event outside row ten.

The Doctor of Modified Racing, Danny Johnson who like LaRock and Jackson was buried deep in the opening grid would cross the line ninth with Kreg Crooker fading in the closing laps to round out the top ten after running second in the opening laps.

The Empire Super Sprints were part of the 9th Annual Fall Nationals card as twenty-two of the wonderful, winged creations would converge on the historic Yates County oval coming from as far away as Quebec, Canada and central New Jersey.

Davie Franek is no strange to Outlaw Speedway after previously having claimed a Track Championship when track owner, Tyler Siri added the 360 Sprints to his regular weekly agenda for one season several years ago.

Matt Farnham and Shawn Donath would bring the field to green for the twenty-five lap A Main Event with Farnham immediately flexing his muscle and assuming control leading the opening ten circuits before being overhauled by Jason Barney who came from outside row two.

Once out front Barney was hugging the very bottom of the speedway as the first of two yellow flags would wave on lap fifteen, however on the re-start Barney was able to maintain the lead over Donath, Farnham and Franek who was now up to fourth after lining up sixth and was flying around the top side.

The final caution would wave on lap twenty and that would be Barney’s undoing as he never really came back to full chirp allowing Franek, who was now up to second a chance at victory.  With the lead duo in clean air Barney was still glued to the bottom with Franek tip toeing around the cushion and with the parallel sticks up Franek made his move around Barney to take away the lead and from there go on to the win.

Donath was also able to get by Barney on the last lap to take home the runner-up spot with a disappointed Jason Barney crossing the line third.  

Fourth and fifth went to Billy VanInwegen who raced within the lead group throughout the entire distance after starting fifth with current ESS Point Leader, Jordan Poirier advancing from seventh to complete the top five.

For a concise wrap up and a fully detailed report of the entire ESS portion of the 9th Annual Outlaw Speedway Cal Lane Memorial Fall Nationals log on at www.empiresupersprints.com.  

The Sunrise Insulation/Knapp and Schlappi Lumber 602 Crate Sportsman Division saw a full field of twenty-five machines take the opening green flag for their thirty-lap feature with Brent Ayers and Jared Green leading the pack to green with Ayers getting the early jump.

However, it was the 2024 Track Champion, Carter Crooker who would steal the show and go on to win number five on the campaign after starting the event outside row three.

For the Savona, NY fourth generation teenage competitor it was a huge $2,220 victory as he was able to hold off Brent Ayers who had put on one of his best performances of the 2024 season finishing in second.  

Completing the top three podium finishers was many times Outlaw Speedway Sportsman Track Champion, Chris Fisher of Branchport who began the event right where he finished.  

Fourth went to Daryl Krebs who moved up one spot from opening grid starting spot of fifth with July 19 feature winner, Ben Feldman completing the top five finishers.

Niagara Frontier driver, Boyd McTavish was making a rare Outlaw Speedway start as he would lead the charge of the second group of five across the line chased there by Addison, NY competitor, Cayden Lawson who was looking to back up his July 26 feature win.

Completing the top ten it was Tim Guild in eighth who finished where he began the event with Frank Guererri Jr. and last weeks winner, Matt Brewer in tow.

Dylan Cecce returned to the Outlaw Speedway where he had a tremendous amount of success earlier in his career having come through the ranks first in the Youth Bandit Division before moving up the food chain into full time competition in the Super Late Model Division.

However, Cecce would strap into his potent Russ Clark Motorsports Street Stock for the night of competition, and he would make the trek from his home near Williamsport, Pa. worthwhile as he would take home the $1767 winners check and hardware in claiming the Cal Lane Memorial twenty-five lap Swarthout Recycling class sponsored feature event.

Jared Hill along with Jimmy Grant would lead the fourteen-car field to the opening green, however it was Cecce who would take command from his outside row two starting position and go on to claim his second trip to victory lane at Outlaw after a previous August 16 victory.

Once out in front Cecce was able to comfortably maintain a two second advantage over Grant along with CJ Guererri who had moved into third after starting fifth.

With the top three well out in front the battle was on for fourth with 2024 Track Champin, Gene Sharpsteen holding off two time “24” winner, Shane Wolfe as the pair would complete the top five.

Six through tenth went to Willy Easling who advanced from tenth to sixth as he was chased across the line by pole starter, Jared Hill in seventh.  Brett Crawford moved forward from twelfth to eighth followed by July 5 feature winner, Joe Giardina. 

Veteran Campbell competitor, Tony Harris would go on to complete the top ten.

The Addison, Corning, Hornell and Wellsville NAPA Auto Parts Stores Hobby Stocks rounded out the five card Cal Lane Memorial order of events with a very solid nineteen cars taking the opening bell.

Third generation driver, Daniel Kerrick along with track regular Jesse Balance would bring the field to green however, for Kerrick his quest at victory would end on lap one as both he and TJ Grady would exit the event.

Doug Slack Jr, who began the twenty-lap, $1,220 to win feature outside row two would dispose of both Balance and inside row two starter, Eric Beach and go on to his first trip to the Outlaw Speedway Victory Lane in 2024 just barely holding off Beach in a real thriller.

Brian Rhodes would round the podium finishers after lining up fifth on the opening grid.

Don Slack Sr. and Kyle Spoor would complete the top five after beginning the feature in starting positions four and six, respectively.

For the NAPA Hobby Stocks it was a clean sweep of invaders with the highest finishing Outlaw Speedway regular, Justin Eldredge claiming eighth at the finish.

Congratulations to all competitors.

The 9th Annual Outlaw Speedway Fall Nationals was named in Memory of the late Cal Swivel Lane who passed away just over two years ago on September 16, 2022, at the age of eighty-two.

Lane, who was always a fan favorite throughout his entire career at the famed Yates County oval began his driving career in the 1960’s in the six cylinder Modified Division prior to making the move into full blown V8 Modified competition.

Lane also had a career in Motorcycle Racing wee he traveled across the United States.

In his memory, the company that Cal Lane help co-found, Lane’s Yamaha of Watkins Glen would see most the remaining family members in attendance including his younger brother and multi-time ESS Sprint Champion, Malcolm who was summoned to pace the ESS Feature field in a replica 360 Sprint once piloted by his son, Craig.

It was without question a historic moment at Outlaw Speedway for the Lane Family which has supported the track for some seven decades. 

Mal Lanes youngest son and former ESS Crew Chief of the Year recipient, Keith Lane was also in attendance.

Over 100 cars representing the five classes of competition jammed into the Outlaw Speedway pit area where drivers and fans were once again treated to a smooth and wide racing surface allowing drivers multiple lanes to choose from.

With the 9th Annual Outlaw Speedway Cal Lane Memorial Fall Nationals now safely into the record books, the track will lay dormant for a month prior to the season ending Hoag Memorial, which is set for Friday and Saturday, October 18-19, 2024.

Named in honor of both the legendary Dutch Hoag along with his son and former Black Rock Speedway track owner, Dean the two-day event will feature a mix of multiple classes including ESS Sprints, Modifieds and Sportsman just to name a few.

For more information leading up to the Hoag Memorial keep a watchful eye on the tracks Facebook account by going to www.Facebook.com/OutlawSpeedwayLLC/.  

OUTLAW SPEEDWAY RESULTS.  CAL LANE MEMORIAL FALL NATIONALS.    Friday, September 20, 2024

The Night presented by Lanes Yamaha of Watkins Glen.

FRIENDLY CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM MODIFIEDS.  (21 cars) 35 lap Gunslinger Feature.

MATT SHEPPARD (2), Jeff Daugherty, Jim LaRock, Ajay Potrzebowski, Tyler Siri, Mike Maresca, Cory Costa, Stacy Jackson, Danny Johnson, Kreg Crooker, Billy Paine, Tommy Paine, Jake Dgien, Willy Decker, Ron Cartwright Jr., Tommy Collins, Will Shields, Brady Fultz, Adam Coots, Bobby Varin, Tyler Yeagle.

ESS 360 SPRINTS.  (22 cars) 25 lap feature.

DAVIE FRANEK, Shawn Donath, Jason Barney, Billy VanInwegen, Jordan Poirier, Jonathan Preston, Matt Farnham, Ligan Crisafulli, Jordan Thomas, Kyle Drum, Jared Zimbardi, Matt Tanner, Chare Moran, Dave Axton, Trevor Years, Evan Reynolds, Dan Bennett, DJ Christie, Will Glover, Dan Craun, Kyle Smith, Jeff Haligan.  

SUNRIUSE INSULATION/KNAPP AND SCHLAPPI LUMBER SPORTSMAN.  (25 cars) 30 lap feature.

CARTER CROOKER (5), Brent Ayers, Chris Fisher, Daryl Krebs, Ben Feldman, Boyd McTavish, Cayden Lawson, Tim Guild, Frank Guererri Jr., Matt Brewer, George Schweigart, Colllin Brown, Greg Crooker, Justice Mayo, Jared Green, Evan Nugent, Blake Parsons, Devon Green, Bill Sauve, Bryan Rhodes, Kalysta Demark, Justin Schenck, Quintin Buchanan, Billy Shoemaker.  DNS, Scott Torbitt.

ADDISON, CORNING, HORNELL, WELLSVILLE, NAPA HOBBY STOCKS.  (19 cars) 20 lap feature.

DOUG SLACK Jr., Eric Beach, Brian Rhodes, Doug Slack Sr., Kyle Spoor, Charlie Towner, Josh Towner, Justin Eldredge, Jason Rhodes, Bubba Peters, Ely Mangiarelli, Jared Hill, Isiah Murphy, Kevin Lloyd, Jesse Ballance, Marc Minutolo, Daniel Kerrick, TJ Grady, Rich Sharpsteen Sr,  

SWARTHOUT RECYCLING STREET STOCKS.  (14 cars) 25 lap feature.

DYLAN CECCE (2), Jimmy Grant, CJ Guererri, Gene Sharpsteen, Shane Wolfe, Willy Easling, Jared Hill, Brett Crawford, Joe Giardina, Tony Harris, Carl Cleveland, Scott Bennett, Ryan Krause, Dave Yehl.  

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