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Written by Chris Moore
GRANBY, QUEBEC – Conquering Canada.
Matt Sheppard continued his torrid stretch, claiming the first ever Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco event in Canada.
Sheppard took the lead on lap 44 and led the final 16 laps of the 60-lap affair to claim the historic victory and the $10,000 top prize to boot in the opening round of the ‘Lumberjack Swing.’
“This has gotta be the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen here at Granby,” Sheppard proclaimed of the Autodrome Granby faithful in Bicknell Racing Products Victory Lane. “I didn’t know if we’d ever come back here again after COVID.
“Here we are racing in front of a packed house, and it feels really good,” he continued.
Sheppard raced from the fifth starting position following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw and appeared early as if he didn’t have the car to win the race.
“We were tight early like everybody,” he explained. “I got to second and didn’t think we’d get by Mat (Williamson), but I tried the top and it was really good… I just was up there before he was and that was all it took.”
St. Damase, Quebec’s David Hebert and St. Hyacinthe, Quebec’s Francois Bernier occupied the front row following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw.
Hebert raced out to the early lead and paced the field for the opening 27 laps before Mat Williamson, of St. Catherines, Ontario made a move on the inside groove to take the lead away.
The race’s first yellow would fly on the next circuit, just shy of the halfway mark.
Williamson led the halfway mark, taking the $200 Superior Remodeling Halfway bonus.
Multiple yellows bogged down the middle of the race, before the second half got rolling again.
When racing got rolling again, Kings Ferry, N.Y.’s Mike Mahaney was making his presence known. After starting in 14th, Mahaney raced his way into the top five at the completion of lap 34.
One lap later, Mahaney was by Granby, Quebec’s Michael Parent and into the fourth spot, chasing Williamson, Sheppard, and Hebert.
Mahaney wasted no time getting by Hebert, grabbing the final podium spot at the completion of the 35th circuit.
Up front, Sheppard – who had slowly picked his way forward from fifth – was making his move toward the lead.
While Williamson paced the field on the bottom groove, Sheppard was maneuvering around the outer edge of the speedway and closing in on Williamson.
Sheppard used the slower car of J.R. Hurlburt as a pick and drove around Williamson to take the lead and ultimately the win.
A few laps later, Mahaney drove around Williamson for second, but the pair collided battling for second a short time later, ending Williamson’s night prematurely.
Mahaney’s finish wouldn’t fare much better, as fuel issues sent him to the pits before the race was over. He would return, but without the finish he deserved.
David Hebert reclaimed the runner-up spot and Michael Parent rounded out the podium finishers.
Yamaska, Quebec’s Mathieu Desjardins grabbed fourth and Granby, Quebec’s Steve Bernard rounded out the top five.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Francois Bernier; St. Hyacinthe, Quebec’s Steve Bernier; Hogansburg, N.Y.’s Carey Terrance; Bohemia, N.Y.’s Dillon Steuer; and Covington Township, Pa.’s Alex Yankowski, who advanced 12 positions to claim the $250 BDR Speed Hard Charger.
Heat winners, receiving $50 each courtesy of FloRacing, were Williamson, Sheppard, and Chris Curtis.
Yan Bussiere won the consolation event.
Twenty-eight STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds signed in to compete in the opening round of the ‘Lumberjack Swing.’
Racing continues for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco tonight at Le RPM Speedway for Round No. 2 of the ‘Lumberjack Swing.’
The STSS Modifieds race in Round No. 8 of the River Valley Builders North Region for another 60-lap, $10,000 payday at Le RPM Speedway.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, FloSports, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Rent Equip/Party Central, BDR Speed, Bicknell Racing Products, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Wegner Automotive, River Valley Builders, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, DIG Race Products, Velocita-USA, Franklin Products, Design for Vision & Sunglass Central, Belmont’s Garage, Quality Drywall, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, Prime MAC Tools, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel, Beyea Custom Headers, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH, Electric Neon Custom Signs, Fastline Performance, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, Spyder Filters, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO & Wilwood.
LUMBERJACK SWING RESULTS SUMMARY – AUTODROME GRANBY TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2023
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco River Valley Builders North Region Round No. 7 Feature Finish (60 laps): MATT SHEPPARD, David Hebert, Michael Parent, Mathieu Desjardins, Steve Bernard, Francois Bernier, Steve Bernier, Carey Terrance, Dillon Steuer, Alex Yankowski, Mike Mahaney, Felix Roy, Francois Bellemare, Even Racine, Kevin Hamel, J.R. Hurlburt, Yan Bussiere, Steve Turcotte, Mat Williamson, Marc Johnson, Erick Rudolph, Stewart Friesen, Chris Curtis, JF Corriveau, Samuel Charland, Mario Clair, Daniel Morgiewicz, Jr., Martin Pelletier
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Carey Terrance (eighth) & Francois Bellemare (13th)
BDR Speed Hard Charger Bonus ($250): Alex Yankowski (22nd to 10th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Mathieu Desjardins (fourth) & Dillon Steuer (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Steve Bernard (Redrew 12th)
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Francois Bernier (sixth)
FloRacing Heat Race Winner ($50): Mat Williamson, Matt Sheppard, Chris Curtis
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Mike Mahaney (11th)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Matt Sheppard (first – $150 certificate); David Hebert (second – $75 certificate); Michael Parent (third – $50 certificate); Alex Yankowski (10th – $25 certificate)
Reigel Promotions Bonus ($25): Steve Turcotte (18th)
Schultz Fuel Cells Bonus ($100 Certificate): Alex Yankowski (10th)
Superior Remodeling Halfway Leader Bonus ($200): Mat Williamson
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Steve Bernier (seventh)
