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Written by Chris Moore
GEORGETOWN, DE – Title time.
For the first time this season, Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco champions will be determined on the track.
This Friday-Saturday (Oct. 27-28), Del.’s Georgetown Speedway hosts the ‘Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend’ which serves as the final round of the Rent Equip/Party Central South Region.
The weekend of speed kicks off tonight with an action-packed night of racing. STSS Modifieds launch the South Region finale, and their pursuit of the $7,000 winner’s share (with JD Shuckers Georgetown $100 Gambler’s Fee), competing in heat races for tomorrow’s 40-lap finale.
THE STORYLINES
After both the River Valley Builders North Region and the Ollie’s ‘Elite’ Series Championship rounds were postponed due to rain, the South Region gets its crack to crown champions on the track.
Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard leads the South Region standings by a slim 17-points over Frenchtown, N.J.’s Billy Pauch Jr.
Sheppard is in pursuit of the North, South, and Elite Championships with the STSS for the second consecutive season.
THE STARS
Sheppard continues to roll along in another impressive season in 2023. Despite a rain-soaked season, Sheppard still boasts six wins on the STSS tour this season, and a podium finish in the ‘Blast at the Beach’ at Georgetown.
The winner of that ‘Blast at the Beach’ event? Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen claimed that $6,000 prize back in August. Friesen is also fresh off his third career ‘Fonda 200’ victory at Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway and a runner-up finish in the ‘Eastern States 200’ at Middletown, N.Y.’s Orange County Fair Speedway.
Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown is still in search of his first STSS victory of 2023, after a season ago when he won on five separate occasions. The man known as the ‘Ringoes Rocket’ was close in the ‘Blast at the Beach’ coming home as the runner-up and sits second in the Millman’s NAPA Modified standings at Georgetown Speedway.
THE SLEEPERS
Boyertown, Pa.’s Ryan Watt has quietly run strong in his visits to Southern Delaware and sits seventh in South Region points entering the finale. ‘The Electric Company’ comes in fresh off a top-five finish at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, Del., last weekend.
Montgomery, N.J.’s Brandon Grosso led a lot of the previously mentioned race on Saturday night at Delaware International Speedway. Grosso sits ninth in the South Region standings and will look to make a climb with his first career STSS victory.
Georgetown, Del.’s Carson Wright picked up his first career Modified win back in June at Delaware International Speedway. Now, at another one of his home tracks, Wright will look to impress again with the stars of the STSS in town.
ALSO IN ACTION
Tonight, the PA/NJ Spec Small-Block Modifieds take center stage going for 30 laps and a potential $5,000 top prize with the posted ‘Gamblers Fee’ pre-race.
Time trials and heat races for the Stockley Tavern Speed & Supply Super Late Models and features for the Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Delaware Super Trucks and Delmarva Chargers will all be on tap for the Friday portion of the weekend.
Tomorrow night, the STSS Modifieds take the part of top billing, going for 40-laps and a potential $7,000 top prize with the posted ‘Gamblers Fee.’ Consolations will precede the 40-lap main event.
The Stockley Tavern Speed & Supply Super Late Models will also run consolation events to set the field for their respective 40-lap, $7,000-to-win (with the posted Stockley Materials ‘Gamblers Fee’) feature event.
The Blue Hen Dispose-All STSS Crate 602 Sportsman are set with a 25-lap, $2,000-to-win feature event. The event serves as the championship round of the Belmont’s Garage South Region.
Crate Late Models have been adjusted to the Saturday program for the 2023 edition.
Also on Saturday’s racing card are the Little Lincolns, Delmarva Chargers, and Delaware Super Trucks in 12-lap, feature-only affairs.
ON THE HORIZON
There is one STSS event left on the 2023 calendar, as Orange County Fair Speedway hosts the makeup for the ‘Hard Clay Finale’ on Friday, Nov. 10 (weather date: Nov. 12).
The five-eighths mile hosts the finale for the River Valley Builders North Region in a $10,000-to-win, 50-lap feature event to conclude the season.
DIRT DRAFT
Don’t forget to set your Dirt Draft lineups before the night’s first heat race begins.
Visit www.dirtdraft.com or download the app to join Dirt Draft and compete against thousands of others for the entire 2023 STSS season. A subscription is just $5.99 a month with plenty of prizes up for grabs in the Dirt Draft Speed Shop.
Following along with the STSS on Dirt Draft throughout the ‘23 season will pay one lucky fan dividends at year-end.
The STSS Dirt Draft Champion receives two tickets to the STSS year-end banquet and will be honored with a custom trophy presented by Dirt Draft.
GATES AND PRICES
For times and prices, go to the www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com for a complete schedule and price list for the weekend of racing.
HOW TO WATCH
The entire night of racing, along with every STSS race in 2023, will be broadcast LIVE on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv).
Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).
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.
