CHATHAM, La. – After several tries and close calls, Stewart Friesen conquered the state of Louisiana, picking up the $4,000 payday at Super Bee Speedway on Friday night.
Friesen’s 33rd career Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series was his first in the Bayou State and a rebound after falling out of each of the two features the prior nights.
“It’s been a tough week,” Friesen said. “I’m proud of our Halmar team, great to finally get a win down here. … Matt [Sheppard] made me work for that one.”
Friesen and Sheppard wrote another chapter in their long run of battles, trading the lead on multiple occasions the last 10 laps.
Willy Decker and Jack Lehner led the field to green, but Friesen’s opening-lap run on the bottom quickly moved him to the lead.
The first caution period came about on lap eight with Friesen leading, Lehner in second and Erick Rudolph riding third.
Four laps into the ensuing restart Rudolph moved into second and then challenged Friesen for the lead on lap 16.
Three laps later, Mike Mahaney slowed to a stop on the backstretch and while that happened Rudolph’s left-front tire went soft, sending him to the pits for a tire change.
Sheppard entered the battle for the lead on lap 21, and multiple yellows between laps 27 and 31 gave the New Yorker a clean shot at the win.
With nine laps to go, Sheppard pounded the outside groove, finally getting the momentum he needed to work around Friesen for the lead off turn two.
Friesen answered in the following corner, sliding in front of Sheppard to take the lead back at the start-finish line.
Sheppard led lap 37 until Friesen put the Super DIRTcar Series champion on lap 38.
Sheppard, however, wasn’t ready to quit and crossed the line a car short in second. Cajun Swing points leader Ryan Godown rounded out the podium finishers.
Racing concludes for the Short Track Super Series tonight at Super Bee Speedway for night five of the Cajun Swing.
The modifieds will race for 75 laps and $20,000 to win and are accompanied by the crate late models, street stocks and limited modifieds.
The finish:
Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Ryan Godown, Rocky Warner, Erick Rudolph, Jack Lehner, Derrick McGrew Jr., Tommy Rascoe, Dale Wester, Kodey Keimig, Eric Williams, Korey Keimig, Richard Holt, Darrell ‘Brother’ Fowlkes, Brent Buckley, Mike Krompegal, Jon White Jr., Willy Decker, John Lutes, Joe Boswell, Corey Oltz, Keith Badiali, Mike Mahaney, Steve Davis, Thomas Holt