MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – Matt Sheppard dominated the field in the 50-lap Hard Clay Open on Saturday night, continuing his incredible run at Orange County Fair Speedway.
“I don’t know if it was pretty, but we’re here in victory lane and we’re really excited about that,” proclaimed an elated Sheppard said to the crowd.
Sheppard’s triumph netted the Savannah, N.Y., driver a $25,362 payday in the second round of the Halmar International Elite Series for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco.
The win was Sheppard’s twenty third of his STSS career, and his second consecutive at Orange County Fair in STSS competition.
“It was just a good night for us,” Sheppard said. “This place has been good to us recently and hats off to the track crew, we could race all over for all 50 laps.”
Mooresville, N.C.’s Max McLaughlin came home with a runner-up finish in the Heinke-Baldwin Racing No. 8H.
“There was no passing him (Sheppard) tonight,” McLaughlin said. “I did everything I could to get a good run off turn two and by the time we were coming off the corner he was two car-lengths ahead of me.”
The finish:
Feature (50 Laps): 1. Matt Sheppard 2. Max McLaughlin 3. Mat Williamson 4. Danny Creeden 5. Ryan Godown 6. Andy Bachetti 7. Anthony Perrego, 8. Alan Johnson 9. Michael Maresca 10. Mike Gular 11. Alex Yankowski 12. Larry Wight 13. Jack Lehner 14. Stewart Friesen 15. David Schilling 16. Jimmy Horton 17. Richard Smith 18. Danny Tyler 19. Brett Haas 20. Billy Decker 21. Rocky Warner 22. Ronnie Johnson 23. Billy Pauch Jr. 24. Ryan Watt 25. Jeff Taylor 26. J.R. Hurlburt 27. Brian Calabrese 28. Billy Van Inwegen 29. Bobby Hackel 30. Jerry Higbie 31. Mike Mahaney