Jun 9, 2016 01:29 AM EST
Sheppard, Guererri, Winslow & Kreidler Win Big At Outlaw
Media Contact: Steven Ovens - pr@outlawspeedwayllc.com or (315) 729-3825
For Immediate Release – June 8th, 2016 – Don Romeo photo -
(Dundee, NY) – ‘Super Matt’ Sheppard had luck on his side during the redraw of Wednesday night’s Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series event, drawing the pole for the ‘Ultimate Outlaw 50’ at Outlaw Speedway.
The fourth round of the Halmar International North Region Series saw Sheppard and Sprakers, NY driver Stewart Friesen occupy the front row for Steve Kellogg’s green flag. Sheppard, as he often is, was the rabbit out front in the Norm’s Save Station No. 357 leading Friesen during the opening laps.
Sheppard had already caught slower traffic on lap eight of the fifty-lap feature. Danny Johnson pulled off the track on lap twelve, as his Outlaw Speedway woes seemed to have returned. Joe Dgien put the field under caution on the next lap with a flat left rear tire.
At the lap thirteen yellow it was Sheppard leading Friesen, Andy Bachetti and Danny Creeden in the Smoker’s Choice No. 16x. Sheppard ran off again on the restart, keeping Friesen back at an arm’s length behind him in the Halmar International No. 44.
Anthony Perrego had to take a provisional to get into the feature event, with his night ending on lap eighteen when he took the New York Truck Parts No. 55 to the trailer. Penn Yan, NY driver Derrick Podsiadlo would encounter trouble just two laps later when his Penn Yan Express Stop 21 car came to a stop in turn two. Tommy Meier had nowhere to go and slid into the side of Podsiadlo, drawing the yellow.
Eight-time Outlaw Speedway track champion Steve “The Hurricane” Paine had charged from his twelfth starting spot to the top five by lap twenty-four. But a flat left rear would see his Swarthout Recycling machine slow and bring out another caution. Paine would change the tire and return to finish eleventh.
The next mechanical casualty was Mike Mahaney in the Buzz Chew powered No. 88, as Mahaney broke a shock coming down the front stretch. Mahaney also appeared to have lost the spring on the bottom of the frontstretch, would take his car to the hot pit lane for repairs and return to finish sixteenth.
As Sheppard led the field back to green on lap twenty-nine, he would start to put some distance on Friesen as Sheppard was wicked fast on the bottom lane. Sheppard could seemingly put the car anywhere he needed to as he also made the cushion work through turns three and four.
Friesen’s great run in second would be dashed on lap forty-two, as he would come up lame with a flat right rear tire. He would get the tire changed on the hot pit lane without losing a lap and rejoin the field with eight to go to recover to a twelfth place finish.
With eight laps to go, Erick Rudolph had quietly manipulated his way into the runner-up spot- capitalizing on the Friesen flat tire. Rudolph won the last Modified feature this past Friday and would have one more shot at Sheppard in the lead. He would not catch him.
Outlaw Speedway regular Billy Van Pelt also made big moves in the second half of the event, moving up to a top five finish from his twenty-first starting position coming from the Consi.
Out front it was all Matt Sheppard, all the time, as Sheppard pulled away in the closing eight laps to score another victory at the ‘Fast Four-Tenths Mile’ and his first at Outlaw with the No. 357 ride. The win in the ‘Ultimate Outlaw 50’ was also the first Short Track Super Series event held at the dirt track nestled in the village of Dundee.
“You know it’s a long drive for those guys to come up here,” said Sheppard of the team he moonlights with in the No. 357. “I kind of talked them into it, I’m just glad it was worth their drive because they bring such a potent car for me to drive. We picked that good number- I didn’t want to let them down.”
Sheppard spoke to pulling out away from Friesen early, only to get bunched back up with yellow flags.
“This thing was just flawless tonight. It was fast on the restarts and just ran good all fifty laps. That’s where I felt the most comfortable (on the bottom). The few times we did get into lap traffic, it felt like I could move around, but that wasn’t really a chance I was going to take.”
For Rudolph, it was a solid second place run, his best so far on the STSS North Region schedule for 2016.
“I think we were about a second place car tonight,” said Rudolph. I don’t think I had anything for Matt tonight. Hats off to him and his team, they were the car to beat. Not sure we really had anything for Friesen either, not sure what happened to him late there.”
Sheffield, MA driver Andy Bachetti ran third for most of the event and came home with a solid effort behind Sheppard and Rudolph.
“What a great racetrack Tyler and the whole gang has done here,” complimented Bachetti. “If I didn’t live so far away I’d love to race here, but it was a lot of fun. (We had) a good starting position, great run there for Matt, but third is a great run for us.”
Danny Creeden and Van Pelt filled the top five finishing positions. Billy VanInwegen, Matt DeLorenzo, Brian Malcolm, Vic Coffey and Brady Fultz completed the top ten positions.
In the Super Gen Products Grit Racing Series thirty-lap feature it was Nick Guererri picking up his first career Grit Series win as well as his first career Crate Sportsman win at Outlaw Speedway.
Guererri has had well-documented struggles the past two seasons with his team, affectionately known as “The Back Row Gang” at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. But on one Wednesday night in the little old town of Dundee- lady luck decided to dance with the driver of the ride sponsored by Super Gen Products, Pampered Parents and Mohawk Northeast.
Guererri started in lucky position number seven and made quick work of getting that car to the front. It would be Mike Jackson and Tim Guild who led the field to the green, in a race that was littered with cautions and a red flag all before lap number eight.
The red flag was for a spinning Boyd McTavish who collected the Doug Kline No. 56x. Kline went up on two wheels before making contact with McTavish and coming to rest on four wheels before going all the way over. Jake Dgien also got a big piece of the melee, with Dgien being injured in the altercation drawing the red flag.
Dgien climbed from his car under his own power, talking with the medical staff on-site. He would get the complimentary trip back to his trailer in the speedway ambulance for a check over and released.
While Jackson led the first four circuits, it was last Friday’s winner AJ Lloyd who was faster and took the lead as the field clicked off lap number five. Lloyd would lead on the lap eight restart, but Guererri was on a mission.
Guererri made quick work of Guild and Jackson, working the extreme bottom side of the speedway. Even jumping up onto the inside ridge a few times in turn two. Guererri would tuck in line behind Lloyd, who caught slower traffic with ten laps to go.
The race changed for good on lap twenty-four as Lloyd got way to low in turn four in traffic, getting sideways on the frontstretch and handing the lead over to Guererri before the yellow came out as they crossed the line.
“I think he got a little too low down there, he got out of his line when the lap cars came and it looked like he grabbed a piece of the yuke tire,” said Guererri of the exchange for the lead. “We were there to take advantage, I don’t know if we had anything for him, but I’m glad we didn’t have to find out.”
Guererri would have to hold off Outlaw Speedway dominator in Casey Pavlick to get the victory and he would do so. The ironic thing you ask? Pavlick loaned Guererri a carburetor to even compete in the feature event, showing a tremendous amount of sportsmanship.
“Casey loaned us that carburetor and we just came out and beat him with it. I have to thank those guys for being good sportsmans and helping us out.”
Guererri also reflected on a team of people and dedicated sponsors that have been with his No. 25G through the highs and relative amount of lows of late.
“It’s been a hell of a ride and I’m kind of emotional about it. We had a rough two years and my guys and sponsors all stuck with me. I owe it to those guys right there.”
Pavlick finished second, Lloyd third, Rocky Warner fourth and Brett Buono with a solid top five effort after problems early in the event.
Chuck Winslow had to be a favorite going into the Fight Night All Star Street Stock Series event on Wednesday night. Winslow was the Outlaw Speedway point leader and came off a dominating victory in the make up feature just 5 days previous. The Elmira, NY resident delivered on those odds.
Winslow started in the pole position after his wife drew him the pole. The same wife that told him to try “something different” on the rear end of his car last Friday- which saw him park the No. 61 in Outlaw Victory Lane.
While Winslow and JJ Kreidler raced for the lead up front, calamity ensued in turn two on lap number eight. The back end came around on Teddy Morseman’s No. 44, leaving Jared Hill nowhere to go in the No. 93. Hill was then T-Boned by Tyler Yeagle in his No. 33, who also had nowhere to go.
Several cars spun to the bottom of turn two with Steven Deinhardt and Nate Daggett becoming entangled in one another. Both cars would be pulled apart and continue on.
When Kreidler had problems on his mount, Dylan Cecce moved his way into the runner-up position with Jon Carpenter and CJ Guererri in tow. Cecce gave Winslow everything he could in the No. 7, but Winslow was just too strong on this night.
Winslow goes down as the first Fight Night feature winner, since their Chad Sindoni ‘Full Nelson’ feature event on May 29th was lost to rain at Thunder Mountain.
Winslow will now lead both the Outlaw points standings and Fight Night points standings over Cecce, Carpenter, Guererri and Deinhardt the top five.
“The car ran just great tonight and my wife drew us the pole, so we had a great view for the start,” said Winslow. “Between her and my two boys, they’ve put a lot of effort into making us go fast these last two weeks.”
In the 4 Banger Shootout, it was JJ Kreidler bringing out his four cylinder mount for the first time in 2016 and beating out Ray Hyer in a classic battle between two veterans of the division.
Jarod Brown and Desi Force brought the field to the green flag with Brown taking the early advantage. Brown would lead the first four laps, but it was a Flyin’ X that would take over the top spot from him on lap five.
Rich Sharpsteen purchased back the car he won two championships with in 2015, just days before this event and put it out front on lap five. While Sharpsteen paced the field, Ray Hyer was advancing quickly from his twelfth starting spot.
Hyer would assume the lead on lap nine and looked to potentially pull away for the $600 victory. Kreidler would have none of it, as he pulled up alongside Hyer for the lead on lap fourteen.
The Dundee, NY pilot would work his magic in the outside lane, taking over the top spot from Hyer on a lap seventeen restart. Officially taking the lead on lap eighteen, Kreidler pulled away by two car lengths over Hyer at the checkered flag for the $600 victory. Hyer settled for a $300 pay day in second over Codie Baker, Sharpsteen and Phil Byrnes, who started twenty-fourth on the grid, to finish in the top five.
“It feels good as we’ve been working on this thing late at night and finally got it put together,” said Kreidler of the win.
Coming up Friday at Outlaw Speedway, Friendly Dodge and Ford will present Dundee Food Pantry Night with fans paying just $5 for general admission with a donation of two non-perishable canned food items.
The Friendly Dodge & Ford Big Block/Small Block Modifieds will join the Crate Sportsman, RUSH Crate Late Models, Creekside Entertainment Street Stocks, Four Cylinders and Winners Circle Deli Bandits. The Farmer Insurance IMCA Modifieds have the night off for the Empire State Series race at I-88 Speedway. Race time is set for 7:00PM with the grandstands opening up at 5:00PM sharp.
For more information race over to www.outlawspeedwayllc.com follow Outlaw Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OutlawSpeedwayLLC or follow us on Twitter @OutlawSpeedPR and Instagram @OutlawSpeedway
Outlaw Speedway is located at 82 Main St in Dundee, NY and holds dirt track racing weekly on Friday nights from mid-April through Labor Day Weekend in September. The speedway also hosts special events on the grounds with special races run during the fall months of September and October. A new era is being ushered in for 2016 as Tyler Siri takes over ownership of the Yates County oval nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes.
Outlaw Speedway Short Track Super Series Night Quick Results 6/8/2016:
SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES MODIFIEDS, 35 cars (50 Laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Erick Rudolph, Andy Bachetti, Danny Creeden, Billy Van Pelt, Billy VanInwegen, Matt DeLorenzo, Brian Malcolm, Vic Coffey, Brady Fultz, Steve Paine, Stewart Friesen, Justin Wright, Joe Dgien, Donnie Lawson, Mike Mahaney, Tommy Meier, Nick Nye, Colton Wilson, Tyler Siri, Ron Cartwright Jr., Craig Hanson, Derrick Podsiadlo, Anthony Perrego, Danny Johnson, Alan Johnson, Ryan Jordan DNQ: Eldon Payne Jr., Cory Costa, Marcus Dinkins, Mike Bills, Jeff Hoetzler, Ryan Darcy, Lee Bills, Dillon Groover
Heat Race Winners: Brian Malcolm, Joe Dgien, Tyler Siri, Danny Creeden
Consi 1 Winner: Vic Coffey
Consi 2 Winner: Justin Wright
Lap Leaders: Matt Sheppard 1-50
GRIT RACING SERIES CRATE SPORTSMAN, 28 cars (30 Laps): NICK GUERERRI, Casey Pavlick, AJ Lloyd, Rocky Warner, Brett Buono, Dale Welty, Mike Jackson, Tim Guild, Chris Fisher, Tommy Collins Jr., Bobby Peoples, Loren Lincoln, Ray Bliss, Kevin Weaver, Dustin Jordan, Doug Smith, Brent Ayers, Boyd McTavish, Jamie Batzel, Jake Dgien, Doug Kline, Josh Keesey, Stacey Jackson, Donnie Lawson, Mike Buchanan, David Mayo DNQ: Bob Johnson, Todd Hayward
Heat Race Winners: Mike Jackson, Dale Welty, Stacey Jackson
Consi Winner: David Mayo
Lap Leaders: Mike Jackson 1-4, AJ Lloyd 1-23, Nick Guererri 24-30
FIGHT NIGHT ALL STAR SERIES STREET STOCKS, 25 cars (20 Laps): CHUCK WINSLOW, Dylan Cecce, Jon Carpenter, CJ Guererri, Steven Deinhardt, Tom Savercool, Earl Zimmer, Darrel Krebs, Quinn Sutherland, Nate Daggett, Nick Robinson, Teddy Morseman, John Burritt, Jayson Smart, JJ Kreidler, Carl Cleveland, Jeremy Potrzebowski, Kurt Stebbins, Tony Harris, Jared Hill, LaVerne Knickerbocker, Tyler Yeagle, Dennis Cummings, Doug Stack DNS: Brett Marlatt
Heat Race Winners: Kurt Stebbins, Chuck Winslow, Jon Carpenter
Lap Leaders: Chuck Winslow 1-20
4 BANGER SHOOTOUT, 25 cars (20 Laps): JJ KREIDLER, Ray Hyer, Codie Baker, Rich Sharpsteen, Phil Byrnes, Erica Bell, Jarod Brown, Craig Mahrt, Bruce Kinner, Chad Ayers, Dan Smart, Chris Mashewske, Steven Perkins Jr., Mike Stone, Billy Bowers, Scott Bradley, Dave Whetham, ShiAnn Labar, Desi Force, Chris Bonoffski, Chris Percy, Jordan Keefer, Adam DelGrosso, Jamie Radley, Rich Wagner
Lap Leaders: Jarod Brown 1-4, Rich Sharpsteen 5-8, Ray Hyer 9-18, JJ Kreidler 19-20
