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AFTON, NY – Two decades.
This Columbus Day Weekend marks 20 years from the inception of the “Working Man’s Race” in Afton, New York. The inaugural Short Track SuperNationals – the concept of promoter Brett Deyo – was welcomed by Pat and Janet Jordan, then promoters of the Afton Fairgrounds oval, and the event’s tradition was born as Mike Ricci reached Victory Lane on Oct. 7, 2006.
This weekend at Ron Ford’s Afton Motorsports Park the 17th annual Short Track SuperNationals takes center stage with two days of racing Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9 and 10.
Since its inception two decades ago, the Short Track SuperNationals has produced 15 winners in 16 events and has been contested at a quartet of venues: Afton Motorsports Park, Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood, N.Y., Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, N.Y., and Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, N.Y.
Below, a look back at the story of the Short Track SuperNationals:
The ‘06 Short Track SuperNationals served as the inaugural “Working Man’s Race” and short-track ace Mike Ricci of Tillson, N.Y., drove Jim Winchell’s No. 17 to victory.
October 7, 2006 (Afton Speedway): MIKE RICCI – J.R. Hurlburt – Brian Weaver – Joey Grammes – Davie Franek
The event was not held in ’07 and ’08 as Deyo served as news editor for Area Auto Racing News.
In ’09, Five Mile Point Speedway hosted the Short Track SuperNationals. Pennsylvania small-block racer Kevin Hirthler invaded the quarter-mile oval and picked up his first New York State victory.
October 10, 2009 (Five Mile Point Speedway): KEVIN HIRTHLER – Mike Ricci – Mike Gular – Sean Merkel – Joey Grammes
Justin Holland, then a Sportsman star making his mark in the Modified division, earned the biggest win of his career in ‘10 at Five Mile Point Speedway. Holland won the Short Track SuperNationals over a 72-car field.
October 9, 2010 (Five Mile Point Speedway): JUSTIN HOLLAND – Billy Pauch Jr. – Kevin Bates – Brian Weaver – Danny Tyler
Driving the Petruska family No. 66, Duane Howard became the second Pennsylvania driver to win the Short Track SuperNationals in ‘11. A massive field of 79 Modifieds filled the Five Mile Point Speedway pit area to overflow, and Howard’s car was parked on the access road leading to the backstretch pit.
October 7, 2011 (Five Mile Point Speedway): DUANE HOWARD – Danny Tyler – Billy Pauch Sr. – Jeff Strunk – Jeff Heotzler
‘Showtime’ Danny Tyler defeated a 67-car field of Modifieds, completing a late pass of New Jersey legend Billy Pauch Sr., to win the ‘12 edition of the Short Track SuperNationals at Five Mile Point Speedway.
October 6, 2012 (Five Mile Point Speedway): DANNY TYLER – Bobby Varin – Brian Weaver – Billy Pauch Sr. – Mitch Gibbs
With 79 Modifieds piling into Five Mile Point Speedway, Fonda Speedway regular Craig Hanson made his maiden voyage to the “Working Man’s Race” a memorable one. Hanson fended off Anthony Perrego to win the ‘13 Short Track SuperNationals.
October 12, 2013 (Five Mile Point Speedway): CRAIG HANSON – Anthony Perrego – Jackie Brown Jr. – Pat Ward – Chad Phelps
In ‘14, the Short Track SuperNationals made its return to Afton Motorsports Park (then I-88 Speedway). After 50 laps, Shaun Walker became the seventh Short Track SuperNationals victory, edging Mike Mahaney.
October 11, 2014 (I-88 Speedway): SHAUN WALKER – Mike Mahaney – Mitch Gibbs – Tyler Dippel – Bobby Varin
Danny Creeden surged around veteran Mitch Gibbs on the 21st lap and drove on to victory in the ‘15 Short Track SuperNationals at Afton Motorsports Park after starting 10th.
October 10, 2015 (I-88 Speedway): DANNY CREEDEN – Mike Mahaney – Paul Jensen – Jeff Heotzler – Mitch Gibbs
Run on a Sunday evening due to rain on Saturday, the ‘16 Short Track SuperNationals went off caution-free. Ringoes, N.J. ‘s Ryan Godown passed Andy Bachetti on lap 36 to win his first “Working Man’s Race” at Afton Motorsports Park.
October 9, 2016 (I-88 Speedway): RYAN GODOWN – Danny Creeden – Andy Bachetti – Tommy Meier – Shaun Walker
An animated Rusty Smith earned his biggest dirt-track win in ‘17 at Afton Motorsports Park, with 60 Modifieds in the Afton Motorsports Park pit area. Smith took the lead from Delaware’s Jordan Watson on the 11th lap.
October 7, 2017 (Afton Motorsports Park): RUSTY SMITH – Andy Bachetti – Mike Gular – Mike Ricci – Rich Ricci Jr.
Thunder Mountain Speedway hosted the ‘18 Short Track SuperNationals and the sole “Working Man’s Race” on the Mountain produced a memorable finish. Andy Bachetti completed a last-lap pass of Mat Williamson to pick up the victory.
October 7, 2018 (Thunder Mountain Speedway): ANDY BACHETTI – Mat Williamson – Shaun Walker – Danny Bouc – Billy Decker
In pursuit of a $58,500 Grand Championship in ‘19, Matt Sheppard invaded Afton Motorsports Park and walked off with his first Short Track SuperNationals win in the race’s 12th edition.
October 12, 2019 (Afton Motorsports Park): MATT SHEPPARD – Bobby Varin – Duane Howard – Andy Bachetti – Mike Gular
After a year off due to COVID restrictions in ‘20, the Short Track SuperNationals was back at Afton Motorsports Park in ‘21. Rim-riding in the Norm Hansell-owned No. 357, Max McLaughlin picked up his first career Short Track Super Series victory.
October 9, 2021 (Afton Motorsports Park): MAX McLAUGHLIN – Billy Pauch Jr. – Danny Bouc – Matt Sheppard – Alan Barker
Demetrios Drellos first laid eyes on Afton Motorsports Park in ‘22 when he exited Interstate 88 at Exit 7. Later that day, he became a Short Track SuperNationals victor after a mid-race battle with Craig Hanson and power outage in the 14th annual “Working Man’s Race.”
October 8, 2022 (Afton Motorsports Park): DEMETRIOS DRELLOS – Bobby Hackel – Craig Hanson – Dillon Steuer – Danny Creeden
Matt Sheppard never planned to compete in the ‘24 Short Track SuperNationals (‘23 fell to rain), which took place at Utica-Rome Speedway following a management change at Afton. However, a scheduled DIRTcar event in Ohio fell to rain, Sheppard’s schedule was cleared and he led 49 of 50 laps to become the race’s first repeat winner.
September 28, 2024 (Utica-Rome Speedway): MATT SHEPPARD – Stewart Friesen – Tim Fuller – Marc Johnson – Mike Mahaney
With the event moved to the afternoon for fast-approaching rain, Cody Higbie put his name on the map with a dominant performance in the ‘25 Short Track SuperNationals at Afton Motorsports Park. Higbie was fast from the start, setting quick time in hot laps and leading all 50 laps of the main.
October 11, 2025 (Afton Motorsports Park): CODY HIGBIE – Billy Pauch Jr. – Ken Titus – Seth Zacharias – Tyler Johnston
Complete Short Track SuperNationals 17 weekend pricing, times and information can be found on the STSS website at www.shorttracksuperseries.com/
Afton Motorsports Park is located at 46 East Main Street Afton, NY 13730. To learn more, visit www.aftonmotorsportspark.com or call 607.624.3772.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.
