THOROLD, Ontario – For the second year in a row, ‘Super’ Matt Sheppard found himself in Super DIRTcar Series victory lane at Merrittville Speedway.
The Waterloo, NY product was untouchable on the bottom of the race track, snatching the lead on lap 71 from a returning Stewart Friesen. Sheppard would survive a lap 90 caution that forced the Super DIRTcar Series points leader into a mad scramble to avoid a spinning lapped car.
The ensuing restart would kick off a 10-lap battle that brought the capacity Merrittville crowd to its feet. With Friesen working the middle lanes of the speedway mere inches from his back bumper, ‘Super’ Matt remained planted along the bottom of the racetrack, clinching the victory by .214 seconds. Dale Planck, ‘The Doctor’ Danny Johnson and Brett ‘The Jet’ Hearn would complete the top-5 in the inaugural Bob St. Amand Sr. Memorial.
Upon climbing from his winning ride, Sheppard was quick to admit, “I was a little worried in the beginning. We didn’t take off very well”
The victor explained further, “It was around halfway that the bottom came alive. I was just going to commit to it, putt around and try to hang on”
“I know Stew [Friesen] would be coming, because when I got to the lapped traffic I was struggling. I wasn’t much faster than they were, so I knew he’d be right there at the end”
In J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Mod Lite action, Merrittville veteran turned Mod Lite rookie Randy Hollingshead picked up his first career division victory.
The Stoney Creek, Ontario driver held off a furious late race charge from divisional staple Josh Sliter to secure his trip to victory lane. Kory Howe, Dan Kviring and Ryan Grady rounded out the top-5 finishers.
Also in action were the widely popular and uber-competitive Hoosier Stocks for 25 side-by-side, fender rubbing laps.
The event’s early goings saw popular youngster Billy Bleich Jr. in firm control behind the wheel of his Astro Transmission sponsored #108. Bleich appeared poised for victory until a lap 23 charge by veterans Jason Fontaine and Ken Sargent forced a 3-wide battle that brought a chorus of cheers from the packed grandstands.
Finding enough cushion on the top of the racetrack, Smithville, Ontario`s Sargent was able to power past his 2 adversaries, to pick up the well earned victory. At the stripe, Bleich, Fontaine, Ron Loggie and Dolf Mccready picked up top-5 finishes.
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Showing posts with label Super DIRTcar Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Super DIRTcar Series. Show all posts
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