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MIDDLETOWN, NY – A clean sweep.
Matt Sheppard concluded the 2025 Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco season on Thursday night at Orange County Fair Speedway, winning the ‘Hard Clay Finale’ and taking top honors in the STSS Modified HYTORC of New York North Region, a $15,000 championship.
The win at the 106-year-old venue netted the Savannah, N.Y., driver $5,000. It was his all-time-leading 59th career STSS Modified victory.
Sheppard won the event convincingly after picking third position in the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw.
‘Super Matt’ swept past Chris Raabe on the opening circuit and paced the final 49 laps around the legendary five-eighths-mile oval.
Sheppard now owns six STSS Modified North Region titles including five consecutive from 2021-2025.
The ‘Hard Clay Finale’ kicked off the 64th annual Eastern States Weekend at OCFS.
Sixth-starter Mat Williamson advanced to second, driving the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse No. 3. The St. Catherines, Ont., driver was 8.437 seconds behind Sheppard at the conclusion of 50 laps.
Anthony Perrego of Middletown, N.Y., completed the podium with Bob Hentschel’s No. 4 after starting eighth.
Both Williamson and Perrego cleared pole starter Raabe in the race’s final laps. Alexandria, Ont.’s Raabe was making his OCFS debut and ended up with a fourth-place result.
Advancing 12 positions from his 17th starting position, Alex Yankowski of Covington Township, Pa., completed the top five.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Tanner VanDoren of Schnecksville, Pa., after starting 16th; Felix Roy of Napierville, Quebec in his debut for Team ONE; Bohemia, N.Y.’s Dillon Steuer, up from 18th; Danny Bouc of Pipersville, Pa.; and Danny Creeden of Middletown, N.Y.
A field of 61 STSS Modifieds filled the pit area.
Heat winners were Sheppard, Raabe, Williamson, Brian Calabrese, Bouc and Jack Lehner.
Steuer and Jessica Friesen split the B-Mains.
Williamson was the ATL Fuel Cells Hot Lap Hero with a lap of 20.904 seconds.
The ‘Hard Clay Finale’ served as the final STSS event of 2025. Keep posted for Awards Banquet details and 2026 schedule information.
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.
‘HARD CLAY FINALE’ RESULTS SUMMARY – ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY OCTOBER 23, 2025
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified HYTORC of New York North Region Championship Round Feature Finish (50 laps): 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard[3]; 2. 3-Mat Williamson[6]; 3. 4P-Anthony Perrego[8]; 4. 01-Chris Raabe[1]; 5. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[17]; 6. 27V-Tanner Van Doren[16]; 7. ONE-Felix Roy[2]; 8. 6D-Dillon Steuer[18]; 9. 6B-Danny Bouc[9]; 10. 16X-Danny Creeden[13]; 11. 19-Danny Johnson[22]; 12. 97B-Bobby Hackel IV[5]; 13. 97C-Cody Higbie[4]; 14. 1Z-Jessica Friesen[19]; 15. 9-Marc Johnson[15]; 16. 98-Rocky Warner[20]; 17. 30-Nicholas Root[12]; 18. 15M-Daniel Morgiewicz Jr[24]; 19. 11A-Brian Krummel[21]; 20. 21C-Brian Calabrese[7]; 21. 27B-Robert Bublak[23]; 22. 19G-Alex Payne[10]; 23. 6S-Matt Stangle[25]; 24. 21M-Bob McGannon[26]; 25. 02-Jack Lehner[11]; 26. 66X-Carey Terrance[14]
Did Not Qualify: 5-Tyler Johnston; 22T-Danny Tyler; 3B-Ryan Behrent; 1D-Tyler Dippel; 4V-Billy VanInwegen Jr; 14Z-Brad Szulewski; 38-Kevin Stevens; 27-Jason Reome; 84S-Melvin Schrufer; 15S-Dylan Smith; 88-Dominic Roselli; 26-Ryan Godown; 220-John Ferrier; 7M-Paul Mancini; 35L-LJ Lombardo; 71-Eric Mack; 81-Heath Metzger; 53-Geoff Quackenbush; 55J-Mike Schane; 112-Cale Ross; 24-Chris Shultz; 4SL-Bob Hentschel; 28S-Jimmy Spellmon; 22F-Billy Fiske; 99-John Sliney; 24M-Sammy Martz Jr; 22E-Mike Engwer; 4A-Josh Allen; 44-Frank Cozze Sr; 20C-Cole Stangle; 19JR-Roger Henion Jr; 7-Michael Sabia; 716-Corey Lowitt; 21E-Gary Edwards III; 94-Joey Coppola
2025 STSS Modified HYTORC of New York North Region Champion: Matt Sheppard ($15,000)
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Tanner VanDoren(sixth) & Jessica Friesen (14th)
ATL Fuel Cell Hot Lap Hero ($100): Mat Williamson (20.904 seconds)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Nicholas Root(Redrew 12th)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Danny Johnson(11th)
MD3 Most Laps Led ($100 Certificate): Matt Sheppard(49 laps)
PEM Engineering Bonus (FREE Gear Set): Anthony Perrego(third)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Matt Sheppard ($150 certificate – first); Alex Yankowski ($100 certificate – second); Anthony Perrego ($75 certificate – third)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring Certificate): Jack Lehner
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Felix Roy(seventh)
