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AFTON, NY – First timer.
On Sunday at Afton Motorsports Park, Chris Raabe became the 44th different winner in Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modified history, winning the ‘Afton Action 50’ in impressive fashion.
The Alexandria, Ont., driver pushed back the advances of all-time series winning driver Matt Sheppard to pick up $5,050 plus after the 50-lap main.
Raabe led the final 29 laps of the event, Round No. 9 of the HYTORC of New York North Region.
For Raabe, the win came in his first appearance at Afton.
“It might have been a blessing to have no lap time here,” Raabe said. “I didn’t really know where to be. With Matt (Sheppard) beside me on a bunch of restarts, I knew we were vulnerable and getting through (turns) one and two was really important.
“Real lucky to hold him (Sheppard) off. I can’t thank my whole team enough. Two years ago, Ryan McDonald with Walker and I discussed the possibility of going Short Track Super Series racing. He was able to get us an engine and put this whole deal together.”
Raabe started fifth following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw and immediately darted to third on the race’s opening lap.
Raabe took over second on a 14th-lap restart and set his sights on pole starter Jimmy Zacharias. Raabe swung past Zacharias on a 20th-lap restart to take a lead he would never relinquish with 29 laps remaining.
Sheppard, who started 11th, followed Raabe past Zacharias for the runner-up spot on lap 23.
Raabe survived restarts on lap 27, 32 and 40 to put his name on the series win list.
“I just tried using up as much racetrack as possible, making my angles as long as possible to keep Matt at bay,” Raabe said, adding, “Afton is a little bit far from home for us but it was definitely worth the trip.”
Sheppard, of Savannah, N.Y., padded his North Region point lead with a runner-up finish from 11th.
“I didn’t feel that great early in the race,” Sheppard said. “Then we got that string of cautions and we were able to pass a bunch of cars and got rolling pretty good there.
“In clean air, I think we were too equal. I really wanted to get him (Raabe) on either a restart or get into some lapped traffic.”
Afton regular Creeden, of Wurtsboro, N.Y., completed the podium after starting eighth and earned a $200 bonus as the first speedway regular across the line from John’s Garage. Anthony Perrego of Walden, N.Y., returned to the STSS with Bob Hentschel’s No. 4 and finished fourth while Rusty Smith of Oxford, N.Y., advanced from 20th to fifth, receiving the $250 Butler Auto Sales Hard Charger Award and another $100 bonus from DuMond Contracting.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Alan Barker of Norwich, N.Y., up from 12th; Jack Lehner of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., after a late rally; pole starter Zacharias; Tanner Van Doren of Schnecksville, Pa.; and Dennis Clapperton of Oxford, N.Y.
Clapperton was the ATL Fuel Cells Hot Lap Hero with a lap of 14.669 seconds.
Heat winners for the 33 STSS Modifieds in the pit area were J.R. Hurlburt, Creeden, Lehner and Justin Holland, each earning $200. The B-Main went to David Hebert.
The Short Track Super Series returns to action Thurs.-Sat. Sept. 11-13 with the iconic Fonda 200 weekend, featuring both the Modified HYTORC of New York North Region and Sportsman Madsen Overhead Doors Inc. North Region amongst three full days of racing.
Learn more about the Fonda 200 at the following link: https://www.shorttracksuperseries.com/eventinfo/
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 (X) or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Bob Hilbert Sportswear, FloRacing, American Racer, Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, BDR Speed, NJ Quality Drywall, HYTORC of New York, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Saint Lawrence Radiology, Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches, Bicknell Racing Products, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Madsen Overhead Doors, Belmont’s Garage, Wegner Automotive, DIG Race Products, ATL, Dirt Draft, Swagger Factory Apparel, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel LLC, Beyea Custom Headers, Design for Vision, Sunglass Central, Dirt Track Digest TV, DKM Fabrication, EIBACH, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Systems, JK Signworks, JLR Technologies, Dave Prime Jr. MAC Tools, MD3, PEM Engineering, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, SRI Performance, Superior Remodeling, Swift Springs, The Exotic Brand, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.
‘AFTON ACTION 50’ RESULTS SUMMARY – AFTON MOTORSPORTS PARK AUGUST 31, 2025
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified HYTORC of New York North Region Round No. 9 Feature Finish (50 laps): 1. 01-Chris Raabe[5]; 2. 9S-Matt Sheppard[11]; 3. 16X-Dan Creeden[8]; 4. 4P-Anthony Perrego[6]; 5. 34-Rusty Smith[20]; 6. 77-Alan Barker[12]; 7. 02-Jack Lehner[7]; 8. 71-Jimmy Zacharias[1]; 9. 27-Tanner Van Doren[9]; 10. D9-Dennis Clapperton[10]; 11. 280-Justin Holland[3]; 12. 5-Tyler Johnston[13]; 13. 6B-Danny Bouc[14]; 14. ONE-David Hebert[21]; 15. 6H-JR Hurlburt[2]; 16. 27B-Robert Bublak[4]; 17. 44-Gordon Smith[24]; 18. 15M-Daniel Morgiewicz Jr[18]; 19. 9-Ken Titus[15]; 20. 9K-Blaine Klinger[23]; 21. 1A-Brad Weaver[25]; 22. 112-Cale Ross[16]; 23. 33-Tyler Yeagle[17]; 24. 45-Mike Ward[27]; 25. 17Z-Seth Zacharias[19]; 26. KP1-Doug Polhamus[26]; 27. 6D-Dillon Steuer[22]
Did Not Qualify: 23JR-John Michael Phillps; 22C-Charlie Hendrickson Jr.; 42-Jeremy Hamilton; 8M-Tim Mayne; 187-Steve Young; X1-Ken Eckert
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Tanner VanDoren (ninth) & Danny Bouc (13th)
ATL Fuel Cell Hot Lap Hero ($100): Dennis Clapperton(14.669 seconds)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Alan Barker(Redrew 12th)
Butler Auto Sales Hard Charger ($250): Rusty Smith(20th to fifth)
Dave Finch & Al Rowe 11th-Place Bonus ($100): Justin Holland
DuMond Contracting Fifth-Place Bonus ($100): Rusty Smith
Heat Winners ($200 each): J.R. Hurlburt(Slade Automotive – Heat No. 1); Danny Creeden (Price Automotive – Heat No. 2); Jack Lehner (Sidney Auto Body – Heat No. 3); Justin Holland (Algonkin Motel – Heat No. 4)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Justin Holland(11th)
John’s Garage Top Afton Motorsports Park Regular ($200): Danny Creeden(third)
MD3 Most Laps Led ($100 Certificate): Chris Raabe (29 laps)
PEM Engineering Bonus (FREE Gear Set): Danny Creeden(third)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Chris Raabe($150 certificate – first); Matt Sheppard ($100 certificate – second); Danny Creeden ($75 certificate – third)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring Certificate): Dillon Steuer
Tony Hanbury Memorial Lap 42 ($100): Chris Raabe +
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Jack Lehner(seventh)
