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AFTON, NY – The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco beat the weather Thursday night at Afton Motorsports Park and Matt Sheppard bested a season-high field of cars.
A storm bringing nearly five inches of rain in the 36 hours leading up to the ‘Afton Action 50’ and off-and-on showers throughout the race night did not deter the event’s completion.
Savannah, N.Y.’s Sheppard wired the field in the 50-lap event for the $5,050 top prize in Round No. 4 of the STSS Modified HYTORC of New York North Region. The victory – Sheppard’s 61st with the series – pressed him into the point lead entering next weekend’s ‘Lumberjack Swing’ through Quebec.
Moments before the STSS Modified feature hit the track, a short-but-significant shower soaked the fairgrounds venue, prompting an extended rain delay.
Through the help of Modified and Sportsman competitors, the track was reworked and the event went on.
Sheppard, via the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw, started from the pole and led the entire 50-lap distance. His romp to victory did not come without challenges.
Sheppard skillfully negotiated lapped traffic on the ultra-fast three-tenths-mile oval and fought off rival Stewart Friesen’s advances both under long green-flag runs and on restarts.
The race’s final yellow – just one lap shy of the finish – was ultimately prompted by Friesen, whose right-front tire detached from the Halmar No. 44 in turn two.
Sheppard nailed the one-lap shootout for his third STSS-sanctioned triumph at the Afton oval.
“We unloaded fast right out of the box, and we never messed with it all night,” Sheppard said from Bicknell Racing Products Victory Lane. “It was just one of those nights (with the rain showers). It seemed like we did more track packing than we did racing.
“I’m just happy to get this show in and get out of here with a win.”
Alex Payne, who started fourth, chased Sheppard across the line in second. The Canandaigua, N.Y., driver pocketed $3,000 for his efforts.
Anthony Perrego, who Redrew 10th but started the main event ninth, wheeled to the final podium position in Bob Hentschel’s No. 4. Alex Yankowski of Covington Township, Pa., finished fourth and trails Sheppard by five points in the race for the $15,000 North Region championship.
Tommy Collins of Groton, N.Y., slid into the top five on the final lap driving Tim Gibson’s No. 1.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Cody Higbie of Newburgh, N.Y., after a solid run; Brandon Loucks of Bainbridge, N.Y.; Brett Tonkin of Carbondale, Pa., up from 12th; J.R. Hurlburt of Otego, N.Y.; and Justin Holland of Kauneonga Lake, N.Y.
A field of 35 STSS Modifieds signed into the pit area.
Perrego was the ATL Hot Lap Hero with a scorching lap of 14.874 seconds.
Heat winners were Dennis Clapperton, Friesen, Sheppard and Danny Creeden. Danny Tyler topped the consolation.
Garrett Chillot broke through for his first STSS Sportsman victory in the 25-lap event. The Springbrook, Pa., driver picked up $1,500 for his efforts in Round No. 4 of the STSS Sportsman Madsen Overhead Doors Inc. North Region.
Chillot became the 67th different winner in STSS Sportsman history.
Chillot led the final 20 laps after surpassing pole starter Matt Brewer on a double-file restart, then repelled a significant advance by Tyler Peet in the final laps.
Lake Ariel, Pa.’s Peet pulled to the inside of Chillot in the race to the Sunoco Race Fuels checkered flag.
Brewer, of New Milford, Pa., settled for third, followed by Todd Titus of Vestal, N.Y., and Roger Hummer of Saugerties, N.Y.
Mike Nagel Jr. was the JLR Technologies Hot Lap Hero with a circuit of 15.692 seconds.
STSS Sportsman heat winners were Jared LaBagh, Dale Welty, Brewer and Chillot. The B-Main went to Clayton DuMond.
The STSS returns to action with the rescheduled ‘Lumberjack Swing’ at Autodrome Granby (Granby, Quebec) Monday, Sept. 7 and Le RPM Speedway in Saint-Marcel-de-Richelieu, Quebec Tuesday, Sept. 8. Both the STSS Modifieds and Sportsman will be in competition each night ($10,000 to win HYTORC of New York North Region Modifieds and $1,500 to win Madsen Overhead Doors Inc. Sportsman).
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Bob Hilbert Sportswear, FloRacing, American Racer, Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, BDR Feed, 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, Swift Springs, The Exotic Brand, Troyer Dirt Cars, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.
‘AFTON ACTION 50’ RESULTS SUMMARY – AFTON MOTORSPORTS PARK SEPT. 3, 2026
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified HYTORC of New York North Region Round No. 4 Feature Finish (50 laps): 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard[1]; 2. 70A-Alex Payne[4]; 3. 4-Anthony Perrego[9]; 4. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[7]; 5. 1-Tommy Collins[5]; 6. 97-Cody Higbie[10]; 7. 23-Brandon Loucks[2]; 8. 27K-Brett Tonkin[12]; 9. 6H-JR Hurlburt[13]; 10. 280-Justin Holland[19]; 11. 15M-Daniel Morgiewicz Jr[21]; 12. 44-Stewart Friesen[3]; 13. 48-Danny Tyler[20]; 14. 17Z-Seth Zacharias[22]; 15. 1H-Travis Green[17]; 16. 82S-Will Shields[8]; 17. 1A-Brad Weaver[25]; 18. 11A-Brian Krummel[18]; 19. D9-Dennis Clapperton[6]; 20. 9K-Blaine Klinger[24]; 21. 77-Alan Barker[15]; 22. 20F-Scott Ferrier[16]; 23. 60-Jackson Gill[23]; 24. 80-Dominic Roselli[26]; 25. 38-Kevin Stevens[14]; 26. (DNS) 16X-Danny Creeden
Did Not Qualify: 37-Jason Shedd; 23JR-John Michael Phillps; 318-Frank Yankowski; 9-Ken Titus; KP1-Douglas Polhamus; 9T-Todd Titus; 45-Mike Ward; 47-Kreg Crooker; 79-Eric Winsor
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): J.R. Hurlburt (ninth) & Daniel Morgiewicz Jr. (11th)
ATL Fuel Cell Hot Lap Hero ($100): Anthony Perrego (14.874 seconds)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Danny Creeden (Redrew 12th)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Daniel Morgiewicz Jr. (11th)
MD3 Most Laps Led ($100 Certificate): Matt Sheppard (50 laps)
PEM Manufacturing Bonus (Gear Set): Anthony Perrego (third)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Matt Sheppard (first – $150 certificate); Alex Payne (second – $100 certificate); Anthony Perrego (third – $75 certificate)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring): Dominic Roselli
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Sportsman Madsen Overhead Doors Inc. North Region Round No. 4 Feature Finish (25 laps): 1. 349-Garrett Chillot[2]; 2. 9G-Tyler Peet[3]; 3. 39B-Matt Brewer[1]; 4. 9-Todd Titus[11]; 5. H2-Roger Hummer[6]; 6. 56B-Mike Nagel Jr[4]; 7. 18-Tom Davey[12]; 8. 9K-Blaine Klinger[16]; 9. 314-Clayton Dumond[21]; 10. 10A-AJ Digsby[15]; 11. 27B-Michael Ballestero[7]; 12. 27-Chuck Lowe[9]; 13. 8-Ryan Higgs[18]; 14. 620-Mike Mondak[23]; 15. 38SP-Jared LaBagh[5]; 16. 56-Devon Green[13]; 17. 621-Seth Martin[22]; 18. 61-Dave Rosa[17]; 19. 79-Brad Hurlburt[24]; 20. 12J-Bill Davey Jr[19]; 21. 88T-Scot Torbitt[20]; 22. T69-Travis Green[14]; 23. 123-Dale Welty[8]; 24. 5-Ryan Neiger[10]; 25. 31J-John Dumond[25]; 26. (DNS) 5X-Darl Ellis
Did Not Qualify: 20-Tony Parlanti; 77-Jamie VanAbs; 32W-Paul Harrington III; 78-Stephen Winsor; 11-Brett Wooster
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire Certificate): Blaine Klinger (eighth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($25): Tom Davey (Redrew 12th)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Michael Ballestero (11th)
JLR Technologies Hot Lap Hero ($50): Mike Nagel Jr. (15.692 seconds)
MD3 Most Laps Led ($100 Certificate): Garrett Chillot (20 laps)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring): John DuMond
