Sheppard scores first STSS win in Diamond State 50
DELMAR, DEL. » After a pair of runner-up efforts in the first two Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco events, Matt Sheppard is no longer a bridesmaid.
The Waterloo, N.Y., driver had finished second in the two opening Velocita-USA South Region events.
On Thursday night, Sheppard drove the Hurlock Auto & Speed No. 9s to victory in the ‘Diamond State 50’ at Delaware International Speedway, pocketing $5,000 for his efforts.
Sheppard had competed at Delaware in mid-April for an unsanctioned event to tune up for the STSS stop, a race he ultimately won. Now, he’s two-for-two at the Cathell family’s halfmile track.
Sheppard complimented his Pro Power/Bicknell combination.
“Ryan (Watt) came rolling around the outside there,” offered Sheppard, who remained steadfast on the speedway’s lower lane. “Our car was really strong, I kept working the bottom. It looked like our groove came in as the race went on.”
Sheppard started the 50lap main from third and wasted no time taking the top spot. He swept past the front row of Joseph Watson and Rick Laubach to press into the lead almost immediately.
Watt, meanwhile, charged swiftly toward the front utilizing the speedway’s upper lane.
Lap after lap, Sheppard and Watt thrilled the First State fans racing wheel-towheel for the top spot. Following the event’s lone yellow on the 13th lap, Watt was able to clear Sheppard.
But he couldn’t shake him.
Sheppard pursued Watt, diving to the inside through the sweeping corners, while Watt’s momentum allowed him to reclaim the edge down the straightaways.
Ultimately on lap 27, Sheppard powered off the inside lane to take a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
Sheppard negotiated lapped traffic flawlessly through the final 23-lap run, opening up a lead of more than a straightaway en route to his fourth career STSS win and first in the series’ South Region.
Boyertown’s Watt turned back repeated advances by Ryan Godown and Craig Von Dohren to earn a $3,000 runner-up finish. Ringoes, N.J.’s Godown, aboard the Mike Petruskaowned Atlas Paving No. 66, placed third after starting ninth, followed by Von Dohren, of Oley, and David Van Horn of Harmony, N.J., in the Fred Vahlsing-owned No. 323ov, up from 10th.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Hard Charger Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., after starting 20th; Rick Laubach of Hellertown, Pa., in the Ryan Kerr No. 1K; Duane Howard of Oley, Pa., driving for Norm Hansell; Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, in the Glenn Hyneman No. 126; and Anthony Perrego of Montgomery, N.Y., who recovered nicely for 10th after being forced to spin in lapped traffic while running third on lap 13.