Written by Chris Moore
LAKE CITY, FL – Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen brought his broom to the All-Tech Raceway on Friday night, sweeping each of the first two races of the ‘Sunshine Swing’ for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) fueled by Sunoco.
The “Friesen Sweep” at earned him a total of $12,500 after the first two races of the STSS maiden voyage to Florida.
After Mother Nature intervened on Thursday night, the STSS crew gave the Florida faithful a double program for Friday night, and it lived up to the billing.
Friesen started the first feature on the pole starting position after the Beyea Custom Headers redraw with Phoenix, N.Y.’s, Larry Wight starting alongside.
Friesen would grab the early lead while Wight followed in toe as the guys continued learning the new track.
Waterloo, N.Y.’s, Matt Sheppard had quickly climbed from ninth and into the top five.
After a yellow on lap 13 for Queensbury, N.Y.’s, Demetrios Drellos slowing on the backstretch, things got interesting.
Friesen elected to restart on the bottom, giving Wight the top, and Wight took advantage, taking the lead at the exit of turn two. Two laps later, another came out giving Wight lane choice on the ensuing restart.
To everyone’s surprise, Wight chose the bottom, despite taking the lead from the top side on the previous restart. Friesen took advantage, snatching the lead back from Wight.
While the leaders traded spots back and forth, Saint Catherine’s, Ontario’s Mat Williamson had gone from fifth to third on the two restarts, and was challenged Wight for second the next several laps.
Another yellow on lap 24, gave us another double file restart, and again Friesen, the leader, chose the bottom. This time, it worked for him, as he maintained the lead.
It was “Money” Mat, grabbing another spot on a restart, this one moving him into the runner-up spot.
Another yellow two laps later would result in a single-file restart, but Williamson couldn’t do anything with Friesen, as he coasted to his 18th career STSS win.
Mat Williamson would finish second, with Matt Sheppard climbing to third late. Larry Wight faded back to the fourth spot, with Sidney, N.Y.’s, Billy Decker came from 16th to round out the top five. Finishing sixth was Billy Dunn, with Middletown, N.Y.’s, Anthony Perrego finishing seventh, Brisbane, Australia’s, Peter Britten finishing eighth, Belle Mead, N.J.’s came home ninth, with Frenchtown, N.J.’s, Billy Pauch Jr. rounding out the top ten.
The second feature, 40 laps in distance, would not come as easy for Friesen. The fans in attendance and tuning in on Dirt Track Digest TV were treated to a phenomenal race. Matt Sheppard had the pole starting position, along with Watertown, N.Y.’s Billy Dunn on the outside.
Dunn would grab the lead with Sheppard, and Friesen following in toe. Mat Williamson was the man on the move, as he had climbed from seventh to fourth and was catching the top three.
On lap 10, things went haywire at the front of the field. The top four traded spots back and forth while working in lap traffic. At one point, Matt Sheppard went from the lead to fifth in a lap and a half. Billy Dunn lost the lead and gained it back twice in the commotion up front.
A lap 15 yellow gave the field a chance to reset after Milford, Del.’s Jordan Watson got into the wall on the backstretch after being three-‘wide with the two leaders.
On the restart, Dunn would lose the lead for good, as Williamson took the lead from the outside and Dunn could never get it back.
Erick Rudolph was another driver making moves, coming from his 22nd starting position, the Ransomville, N.Y. driver had climbed into the top 10 and was still advancing.
Lap 23 Stewart Friesen went to the outside and began to pressure Mat Williamson, before taking the lead on lap 27.
However, the fight wasn’t over, as Williamson moved up to the outside to follow Friesen as the outside groove became the preferred groove among majority of the drivers in the top 10.
A lap 34 yellow presented Friesen with another choice, this time, he chose the top. Williamson threw everything but the kitchen sink at Friesen but never could get by, as Friesen walked to his second win of the night.
Friesen would say a farewell to his friend Jake Marine, who passed away on Wednesday afternoon, in victory lane following the feature. “We’d always end up BS’ing in the trailer until 2 in the morning at Volusia.”
Mat Williamson would take his second runner-up finish of the night. Anthony Perrego made a charge late to grab the third spot with Matt Sheppard finishing fourth, and Erick Rudolph coming all the way from 22nd to a top five.
Billy Pauch Jr. came from 14th to sixth, with Billy Dunn finishing seventh, Billy Decker coming from 24th to eighth, and Sheffield, Mass.’, Andy Bachetti coming from 26th to ninth, and Peter Britten rounding out the top 10.
The Crate 602 Sportsman feature were also swept, but by a pair of brothers as Michael and Tony Ballestero won each of the 25 lap main events, picking up $1,250 apiece plus the Evergreen Fuels Inc. bonus cash.
In the first feature, Michael Ballestero, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., would start in fourth and passed Brian Sadler at the halfway point and never looked back. Sadler who led the entire first half of the races car went away from him as the race went on.
Cresco, Pa.’s, Grant Hilfiger made a charge from his twelfth starting spot grab the runner-up spot. Tony Ballestero, of Ballston Spa, N.Y., would come from 11th to third. Niskayuna, N.Y.’s, Tim Hartman Jr. came home fourth and Kevin Chaffee of Bradford, Vt., would round out the top five.
In the second feature, Tony Ballestero would again come from 11th, this time to win a thrilling three-car battle with Grant Hilfiger and Tim Hartman Jr. At one point the three were side-by-side for the lead, with Ballestero passing both on the bottom.
Grant Hilfiger would again come from twelfth and come up one spot short. Tim Hartman Jr. finished third, while Robert Delormier, of Akwesasne, N.Y. finished fourth and Bradford, Vt.’s Kevin Chaffee would again grab the fifth spot.
The “Sunshine Swing” concludes Saturday night with the Modifieds running 50 laps for $10,000 to win and the Crate 602 Sportsman running 30-laps for $1,500 to win. The event will again be carried live on Dirt Track Digest TV. Gates will open at 3 p.m. with hot laps beginning at 6 p.m.
Complete race weeklong race information can be found on the series website: http://shorttracksuperseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Sunshine-Swing-Agenda.pdf
All-Tech Raceway is located at 1024 SW Howell Road Lake City, FL 32024. To learn more about the speedway, visit www.alltechraceway.com.
To learn more about the 2020 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 Twitter or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Velocita-USA, Design for Vision/Sunglass Central, Evergreen Fuels Inc., ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH Springs, Fast Axle, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, MJK Home Maintenance, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, Velocita, WELD Racing & Wilwood.
‘SUNSHINE SWING’ RESULTS SUMMARY – ALL-TECH RACEWAY FEBRUARY 6, 2020
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): STEWART FRIESEN, Mat Williamson, Matt Sheppard, Larry Wight, Billy Decker, Billy Dunn, Anthony Perrego, Peter Britten, Brandon Grosso, Billy Pauch Jr., David Schilling, Danny Hieber, Andy Bachetti, Rusty Smith, Alex Yankowski, Kyle Weiss, J.R. Hurlburt, Dillon Groover, Jeremy Smith, Jordan Watson, Erick Rudolph, Rick Laubach, Ryan Krachun, Demetrios Drellos, Danny Johnson, Scott Hitchens.
Did Not Start: Mike Gular.
Did Not Qualify (Receive Mike’s Racing Heads $50 Tow Insurance): Justin Haers, Kyle Coffey, Matt Stangle, Robert Dutton, Clay Tatman, Nick Mady, Todd Neiheiser, Tyler Siri, Darren Smith, Billy Van Pelt, Marshall Hurd, Darwin Greene, Rick Regalski, Scott Van Gorder, Russell Morseman III, Cory Riffe.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire): Peter Britten (eighth) & Rusty Smith (14th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Larry Wight (fourth) & Brandon Grosso (ninth)
Beyea Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Kyle Weiss
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Bonus (Ray-Ban Sunglasses): Stewart Friesen(winner)
DIG Race Products Bonus ($100 Certificate): Anthony Perrego(seventh)
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Peter Britten(eighth)
ERK Steering Bonus ($50 Certificate): Kyle Weiss(16th)
Henry’s Exhaust Bonus ($50 Certificate): David Schilling (11th)
Ocala Restaurant Supply Hard Charger ($100): David Schilling (27th to 11th)
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Mat Williamson (second), Danny Hieber (12th) & Rick Laubach (22nd)
Wilwood Brakes Bonus ($75 Certificate): Billy Dunn (sixth)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (25 laps): MICHAEL BALLESTERO, Grant Hilfiger, Antonio Ballestero, Tim Hartman Jr., Kevin Chaffee, Scott Hitchens, Kevin Sockriter, Craig Whitmoyer, Daniel Morgiewicz, Payton Talbot, Jim Harbison, Blaine Klinger, Todd Buckwold, Jeff Brown, Adam White, Brendan Gibbons, Brian Sadler, Jim Gallagher Jr., Robert Delormier, Jim Introne Jr., Garrett Given Sr., Michael White, Derek Webb, Bobby Flood, Matt Meade, A-Jay Potrzebowski Sr., Carl Bittenbender.
Did Not Qualify (Receive Mike’s Racing Heads $50 Tow Insurance): Mike Smith, Stephen Lary, Michael Mondak, Shawn McPhee.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire): Craig Whitmoyer (eighth)
Beyea Headers Redraw Bonus ($25): Grant Hilfiger
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Bonus (Ray-Ban Sunglasses): Michael Ballestero
DIG Race Products Bonus ($100 Certificate): Kevin Sockriter (seventh)
Evergreen Fuels Inc. Winner’s Bonus ($63): Michael Ballestero
ERK Steering Bonus ($50 Certificate): Brendon Gibbons(16th)
‘SUNSHINE SWING’ RESULTS SUMMARY – ALL-TECH RACEWAY FEBRUARY 7, 2020
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (40 laps): STEWART FRIESEN, Mat Williamson, Anthony Perrego, Matt Sheppard, Erick Rudolph, Billy Pauch Jr., Billy Dunn, Billy Decker, Andy Bachetti, Peter Britten, Larry Wight, Demetrios Drellos, David Schilling, Brandon Grosso, Mike Gular, Dillon Groover, Kyle Weiss, Billy Van Pelt, J.R. Hurlburt, Rick Laubach, Kyle Coffey, Alex Yankowski, Danny Johnson, Jordan Watson, Darren Smith, Danny Hieber, Rusty Smith.
Did Not Qualify (Receive Mike’s Racing Heads $50 Tow Insurance): Russell Morseman III, Rick Regalski, Marshall Hurd, Todd Neiheiser, Scott Van Gorder, Justin Haers, Cory Riffe, Clay Tatman, Matt Stangle, Robert Dutton, Jeremy Smith, Nick Mady, Darwin Greene, Tyler Siri, Scott Hitchens, Ryan Krachun.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire): Peter Britten (10th) & Mike Gular (15th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Matt Sheppard (fourth) & Andy Bachetti (ninth)
Beyea Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Andy Bachetti
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Bonus (Ray-Ban Sunglasses): Stewart Friesen(winner)
DIG Race Products Bonus ($100 Certificate): Billy Dunn (seventh)
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Billy Decker(eighth)
ERK Steering Bonus ($50): Dillon Groover(16th)
Henry’s Exhaust Bonus ($50 Certificate): Larry Wight (11th)
Ocala Restaurant Supply Hard Charger ($100): Erick Rudolph (22nd to fifth)
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Mat Williamson (second), Demetrios Drellos (12th) & Alex Yankowski (22nd)
Wilwood Brakes Bonus ($75 Certificate): Billy Pauch Jr. (sixth)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (25 laps): ANTONIO BALLESTERO, Grant Hilfiger, Tim Hartman Jr., Robert Delormier, Kevin Chaffee, A-Jay Potrzebowski, Jim Harbison, Blaine Klinger, Craig Whitmoyer, Kevin Sockriter, Adam White, Brian Sadler, Todd Buckwold, Payton Talbot, Garrett Given Sr., Brendan Gibbons, Scott Hitchens, Jeff Brown, Michael Mondak, Derek Webb, Shawn McPhee, Bobby Flood, Daniel Morgiewicz.
Did Not Qualify (Receive Mike’s Racing Heads $50 Tow Insurance): Mike Smith, Carl Bittenbender, Jim Gallagher Jr., Stephen Lary, Michael Ballestero, Matt Meade, Jim Introne Jr., Michael White.American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire): Blaine Klinger (eighth)
Beyea Headers Redraw Bonus ($25): Grant Hilfiger
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Bonus (Ray-Ban Sunglasses): Antonio Ballestero
DIG Race Products Bonus ($100 Certificate): Jim Harbison (seventh)
ERK Steering Bonus ($50): Brendan Gibbons(16th)
Evergreen Fuels Inc. Winner’s Bonus ($38): Antonio Ballestero