INDIANA, Pa. – After a summer full of racing at 14 facilities in four states, the American Racer Cup presented by Sunoco champions have been declared.
Matt Sheppard (Modified) and Doug Hendricks (Sportsman) lead this year’s contingent. Competitors at tracks utilizing American Racer tires in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania vied for supremacy in the home track program presented by American Racer Tires, Lias Tire Company, Sunoco Race Fuels and Insinger Performance.
A total of 299 competitors registered and earned points during the season: 173 in Modified and 126 in Sportsman.
The American Racer Cup utilizes a driver’s best 10 finishes to determine the overall standings with bonus points figured in for each track’s year-long average starting field.
A total of $51,450 in cash will be distributed to top performers in addition to hundreds of tire certificates which have been handed out during the season in addition to many more to come this fall.
Using Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, N.Y., as his home track, Sheppard is the American Racer Cup Modified champion for the third consecutive year.  Sheppard assembled a perfect 10 on the season, winning 10 feature events at Tyler Siri’s facility and accrued 670 total points.
The overall American Racer Cup title is worth $10,000 for Sheppard.
Duane Howard, representing Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa., tallied 660 points – just 10 shy of Sheppard – and finished second overall, worth $5,000.
Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway joined the American Racer Cup family this season and Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., placed third overall ($4,000) calling the Track of Champions home around his NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series schedule. Friesen totaled 650 points.
Grandview’s Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa., rallied to fourth with 542 points ($3,500) with Jordan Watson of Milford, Del., calling Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, Del., home placing fifth (640 points – $2,500).
Craig Von Dohren of Oley, Pa., tied Watson with 640 points for his Big Diamond Speedway (Minersville, Pa.), season. But Watson’s six wins to Von Dohren’s five relegated Von Dohren to sixth ($2,000).
Hendricks put his name in the history books as the American Racer Cup Sportsman overall champion. Hendricks raced weekly at Big Diamond Speedway and used seven wins in his best 10 finishes to rack up 655 points. The overall Sportsman championship pays $1,500.