PORT ROYAL, Pa. — From the back.
That was the story of Bob Hilbert Sportswear Qualifying Night for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco at Port Royal Speedway.
61 STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds signed in to compete in the 2022 ‘Speed Showcase’ at the ‘Speed Palace.’
Tyler Dippel, Max McLaughlin, Mike Mahaney, Ryan Godown, and Jimmy Phelps all topped their 20-lap qualifiers.
Dippel – of Wallkill, N.Y. – topped the first qualifier using a late-race restart to slide by Anthony Perrego and take the win.
“To run with these guys in just our third race of the year shows what kind of team we have and what we’re capable of,” proclaimed Dippel in victory lane.
Dippel raced by Perrego for the win, while the Middletown, N.Y. native came home second, locking himself into tomorrow’s redraw. Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard and Pipersville, Pa.’s Danny Bouc – who started 13th – rounded out the top four and locked into the 75-lap main event.
Mooresville, N.C.’s Max McLaughlin dominated qualifier No. 2 after starting from the outside of the second row. McLaughlin led all 20 laps to pick up the win.
“The 98H (Phelps) and the 35 (Mahaney) looked really fast out there so we’ve still got some work to do, but I think with some adjustments we’ll be able to run with those guys,” McLaughlin said following his Qualifier win.
Belle Mead, N.J.’s Brandon Grosso was the runner-up – recalling his 2018 performance at the ‘Speed Palace,’ and locked himself into the redraw.
St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada’s Mat Williamson and Boyertown, Pa.’s Mike Gular – who started 11th – rounded out the top four qualifiers to lock into tomorrow’s main event.
Elizabethtown, N.Y.’s Mike Mahaney was the winner of the third qualifier and led all 20-laps for the $750 win.
“We have an awesome racecar and this is an awesome place. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” said an elated Mahaney following his qualifier.
His brother-in-law, Billy Pauch Jr., was the runner-up in Qualifier No. 3. The Frenchtown, N.J. native started in sixth before falling to eighth in the early going and raced his way back to the runner-up position and into tomorrow’s redraw.
Mike Trautschold and Jimmy Horton rounded out the top four and secured spots into the ‘Speed Showcase 75.’
Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown won a hotly contested Qualifier No. 4, holding of Wurtsboro, N.Y.’s Danny Creeden for the win.
“If I had to do it over again we’d make some changes, but we held on and got the win and we’re in a good position for tomorrow,” explained Godown following his win.
Creeden pressured Godown for much of the 20-laps but ultimately came home second, still good enough to lock into the Saturday redraw.
Oley, Pa.’s Duane Howard and Pittsfield, Mass., native Brett Haas rounded out the qualified cars for Saturday’s race.
Baldwinsville, N.Y.’s Jimmy Phelps won the fifth and final qualifier in dominant fashion.
“I always wanted to come to Port Royal just to watch the sprint cars. Having a good hot rod and a chance to run up front is just a bonus,” explained a humble Phelps following the win.
Phoenix, N.Y.’s Larry Wight followed the theme of battling back, racing from the back half of the field to take the runner-up position.
Covington Township, Pa.’s Alex Yankowski and Duanesburg, N.Y.’s Ronnie Johnson rounded out the qualified cars.
The ‘Speed Showcase’ weekend concludes Saturday night as the STSS Modifieds and STSS Crate 602 Sportsman run in final consolation races before taking part in their respective main events.