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AFTON, NY – The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Twenty years ago on Columbus Day Weekend, the Short Track SuperNationals was born and Jim Winchell’s No. 17 – driven by Mike Ricci – was the inaugural winner.
On Saturday night at Afton Motorsports Park, the familiar No. 17 did it again: this time with Tyler Johnston at the controls in the 17th annual “Working Man’s Race” at Afton Motorsports Park.
Johnston earned a $4,000 payday in the 50-lap Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modified event, his first checkered flag with the series.
The Napanoch, N.Y., driver became the 16th different Short Track SuperNationals victor in 17 editions.
“This is the biggest race (win) of my career,” Johnston said. “How fitting, 20 years later for Jim Winchell again. We came last night (for practice) and struggled a little bit. We kept working on it and working on it. For that feature, it stuck really good.
“I can’t believe it.”
Johnston rolled off fifth in the 28-car starting field following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw. At the outset, pole starter Danny Tyler jumped out to the lead.
Johnston took over third on the sixth tour of the three-tenths-mile oval, chasing Tyler and J.R. Hurlburt. As the leaders approached lapped traffic, Hurlburt put his No. 6H into the top spot at lap 14 with an inside pass of Tyler as Johnston closed on the top duo.
At the 15-lap mark, Johnston worked by Tyler to secure the runner-up spot.
When the event’s first caution flew on lap 19, Johnson was setting up an outside maneuver around Hurlburt. Following one restart nixed by a multi-car tangle in turn four, Johnston utilized the second shot at green-flag racing to sweep into the lead.
“We got around Danny (Tyler) and J.R. (Hurlburt) had the lead. We closed on lapped traffic and I snuck up there around him and the caution just came out. I said ‘Thank God’ – I didn’t want to show my nose too early. I wanted to do it (take the lead) on a restart and get it over with. It worked out,” Johnston said.
As Johnston led, an intense three-car battle raged behind him.
With 15 laps remaining, 16th-starter Danny Creeden and 2025 event winner Cody Higbie fanned out three-wide with Hurlburt in the middle. Creeden’s high-side momentum carried past both and into second, while Higbie secured third.
The race’s final yellow flag flew on lap 38, erasing Johnston’s lead.
He was up for the challenge, however. Johnston held the top spot for the remainder of the distance, becoming the 47th winner in series history.
Middletown, N.Y.’s Creeden – the ’15 Short Track SuperNationals winner – settled for second, followed by Newburgh, N.Y.’s Higbie. Pole starter Tyler, of Cottekill, N.Y., edged 13th-starter Brandon Loucks of Bainbridge, N.Y., for fourth, with Loucks ending his charge in fifth.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Cale Ross of Lambertville, N.J., who rode the extreme outside to sixth after starting 22nd; early leader Hurlburt of Otego, N.Y.; Dennis Clapperton of Oxford, N.Y.; 21st-starter Alex Bell of Cambridge, N.Y.; and Robert Bublak of Ballston Spa, N.Y., recovering from a skirmish during the race’s first half.
A season-high STSS Modified field of 45 filled the Afton pit area.
Heat winners were Dominic Roselli, Ron Cartwright Jr., Danny Bouc, Clapperton and Johnston. Justin Holland and Nick Nye split the consolations.
Tyler was the ATL Fuel Cells Hot Lap Hero with a lap of 14.811 seconds.
Higbie and Brandon Walters were locked into the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw via Friday night’s timed practice rounds.
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.
SHORT TRACK SUPERNATIONALS NIGHT NO. 2 RESULTS SUMMARY – AFTON MOTORSPORTS PARK OCT. 10, 2026
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified HYTORC of New York North Region “Working Man’s Race” Feature Finish (50 laps): 1. 17-Tyler Johnston[5]; 2. 16X-Dan Creeden[16]; 3. 97-Cody Higbie[7]; 4. 48-Danny Tyler[1]; 5. 23-Brandon Loucks[13]; 6. 112-Cale Ross[22]; 7. 6H-JR Hurlburt[2]; 8. D9-Dennis Clapperton[9]; 9. 22M-Alex Bell[21]; 10. 6B-Robert Bublak[18]; 11. 9K-Blaine Klinger[28]; 12. 4-Cody Clark[19]; 13. 37-Douglas Polhamus[25]; 14. 280-Justin Holland[23]; 15. 713-Tommy Collins[17]; 16. 77X-Nick Mady[15]; 17. 14Z-Brad Szulewski[6]; 18. 60-Hunter Lapp[20]; 19. 6-Danny Bouc[10]; 20. 1H-Travis Green[11]; 21. 22W-Brandon Walters[12]; 22. 88-Ron Cartwright Jr[3]; 23. 15M-Daniel Morgiewicz Jr[4]; 24. 7-Ryan Stortini[14]; 25. 225-Derrick Shaffer[26]; 26. 80-Dominic Roselli[8]; 27. 6NN-Nick Nye[24]; 28. 9J-Jim Becker[27]
Did Not Qualify: 357-Marty Kelly III; 24-Ken Ferrier; 27M-Jared Miller; 014-Brad Shaffer; 29J-Chris Ostrowsky; 79-Eric Winsor; 9T-Todd Titus; 75-Patrik Daniel; 33E-Eddie Strada; 11-Brett Wooster; 33-Tyler Yeagle; 91NH-James Fadden; 3006-Kurt Hundeland; 219-Derek Cornish; 27-Jason Reome; 45-Aaron Doolittle; 312-John Williams.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Alex Bell (ninth) & Cody Clark (12th)
ATL Fuel Cell Hot Lap Hero ($100): Danny Tyler (14.811 seconds)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Brandon Walters (Redrew 12th)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Blaine Klinger (11th)
MD3 Most Laps Led ($100 Certificate): Tyler Johnston(31 laps)
New York State Stock Car Association Top-Finishing Member ($100): Danny Creeden
PEM Manufacturing Bonus (Gear Set): Cody Higbie(third)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Tyler Johnston (first – $150 certificate); Danny Creeden (second – $100 certificate); Cody Higbie (third – $75 certificate)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring): Eddie Strada
