Picture Perfect: Stewart Friesen’s Ideal Outing Results In ‘Hard Clay Open’ Victory In Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Opener; Sprakers, NY Driver Takes Home $5,783; Star-Studded 52-Car Field Signs In At Orange County Fair Speedway
MIDDLETOWN, NY – In a picture-perfect performance, Stewart Friesen dominated Saturday night’s ‘Hard Clay Open’ at Orange County Fair Speedway.
Friesen, 31, of Sprakers, N.Y., capitalized on a pole starting berth and a potent Jeff Daley-owned No. 44 small-block to kick off the Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Hi-Tek with a victory at the legendary five-eighths-mile oval. Friesen led all but two laps in the 50-lap big-block/small-block Modified event.
The Halmar International ‘Hard Clay Open’ presented by United Pump & Tank and East Coast Speed/ECS Auto Inc. was postponed by wet weather from its original date of April 7. The event opened the $15,000 STSS Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region championship battle.
“This feels awesome,” noted Friesen, whose only previous OCFS Modified victory came during the small-block portion of the 2013 Eastern States Weekend. “We decided to come here with the small-block and take the weight break and the sail panels. It ended up being the right decision for us.”
Friesen pocketed $5,783 for his triumph: $5,000 from the posted base purse, $400 from Rock Fantasy Concert and Smoke Shop as the Halfway Leader and an additional $383 in lap money.
While Friesen started from the pole, it was Pennsylvania invader Rick Laubach who darted into the lead at the outset with the Gary Spotts-owned No. 91. Laubach paced the opening two circuits before Friesen shot into the top spot on a second-lap restart.
As Friesen led, OCFS regular Jerry Higbie Jr. was marching through traffic from his 13th starting spot. Using big-block power in his family owned No. 97, Newburgh, N.Y.’s Higbie reached fourth on lap 13, third on the 16th circuit and arrived in the runner-up spot on the 20th tour of the fairgrounds facility.
At that point, Friesen had built nearly a half-track lead.
With no yellows from lap five to the finish, Higbie’s only hope would be lapped traffic. He closed to within a straightaway of Friesen but ultimately settled for runner-up pay.
Friesen, for the first time in his career, won a STSS point race. The win was his fourth in a BD Motorsports Media LLC promoted Modified event, but his first since July 26, 2011 at Pa.’s Big Diamond Speedway.
“These races always pay really well,” Friesen said. “It feels good to win one. It had been a while.”
Higbie finished second and earned $4,449 including $4,000 from the posted purse, $200 as the highest-finishing OCFS regular from Simplicity Designs and $249 in lap money. Rochester, N.Y.’s Danny Johnson throttled Chris Gennarelli’s No. 27J small-block from eighth to a podium finish, taking over third spot 13 laps from the finish.
Tommy Meier of Waldwick, N.J., started 14th and drove to fourth in Jeff Behrent’s No. 3, working the outside lane. All-time OCFS win leader Brett Hearn advanced 18 positions from his 23rd starting berth to finish fifth in the Madsen Motorsports No. 20 small-block. The Sussex, N.J., star pocketed $500 as the Grand Rental Station Hard Charger as a result.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Mike Ricci of Tillson, N.Y., in the Halmar Racing No. 44 big-block; J.R. Heffner of Valatie, N.Y., who ran as high as third in the race’s opening laps; track regular Craig Mitchell of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Anthony Perrego of Montgomery, N.Y., driving Gary Mann’s No. 55 big-block; and 22nd-starter Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., the defending STSS champion, in a small-block.
Top passing-points earners in the six, 10-lap heats were Jeff Heotzler of Wallkill, N.Y., Billy Van Pelt of Westfield, Pa., Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y., Ricci, Perrego and Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, N.Y.
Consolation victors were Steve Dodd of Middletown, N.Y., Mike Mahaney of King Ferry, N.Y., and Jackie Brown Jr. of Hurley, N.Y.
Rich Ricci Jr. of New Paltz, N.Y., won the 3-lap Last Chance Qualifier to earn a starting berth in the main. The event was run for drivers missing a transfer spot by one position in the three consolations.
A field of 52 big-block/small-block Modifieds attempted to qualify for the event.
Danbury, Conn.’s L.J. Lombardo topped the ‘Elmo’s Speed & Supply 25’ for Crate 602 Sportsman, earning $1,250. The defending track champion, driving the Bob Sweeney No. 99, outdistanced fellow Connecticut driver Michael Sabia for the triumph.
Central New York visitor Dave Marcuccilli, Joey Bruning (rebounding from an early scrape with the turn-two wall) and Zachary Vavricka completed the front five.
Tim Southard was the Crane Golf Street Stock 10-lap winner.
FAIRGROUNDS FODDER: Despite a cold wind, attendance for Saturday’s ‘Hard Clay Open’ was strong, with a healthy grandstand crowd and the drive-in section packed to the bottom row. A total of 105 competitors representing seven states and one Canadian province filled the pit area for the second annual event….
Top-five efforts ended shy of the finish for Rick Laubach (apparent rear-end issues, lap eight, while in second) and Tyler Dippel (flat right-rear tire on lap 48). Dippel’s 21st-place finish, with lap money and bonuses, was still worth $1,204….
The strong result for Higbie was a quick start to the 2015 STSS Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region. He will chase points driving for Dave Zubikowski on the series….
Nearly $40,000 in cash and product was distributed to competitors in the STSS Modified ranks….
Defending OCFS champion Tim Hindley was sidelined after hot laps with rear-end issues. Craig Hanson was slated to start on the pole for the Last Chance Qualifier and was sidelined with a broken axle….
Brett Hearn’s fifth-place finish netted him $2,120 in cash, a free Vahlco wheel and a $100 certificate for ATL Fuel Cells….
The next STSS event takes place on Sunday, April 19 at N.J.’s Bridgeport Speedway with the ‘South Jersey Shootout’ special. Modifieds race 40 laps for $5,000 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $400 to take the green in the opening round of the Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region presented by Scotty’s Speed & Diesel. Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks complete the card on the five-eighths-mile, while Doug Borger’s XCel 600 Modifieds race for $1,000 to win on the inner quarter-mile oval.
The Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek and BD Motorsports Media LLC can be found on the web at www.shorttracksuperseries.com orwww.bdmotorsportsmedia.com. Brett Deyo can be reached by phone at 845.728.2781 or via e-mail: bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com. The series is also on Twitter @ShortTrackSS and Facebook under “Short Track Super Series.”
Located at 239 Wisner Avenue Middletown, N.Y., 10940 on the Orange County Fairgrounds, Orange County Fair Speedway is the oldest continuously operating dirt track in the United States. The first auto race was held at the speedway in 1919. The five-eighths-mile oval offers fully-covered and half-covered grandstands in addition to open bleacher seating on the frontstretch and turn one areas, with drive-in viewing on the backstretch. To learn more, contact the Orange County Fair Speedway office at 845.342.2573 or visit www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.
The Hard Clay Open was presented by Halmar International, United Pump & Tank, ECS Auto Stores Inc./East Coast Speed, American Racer/Lias Tire, Grand Rental Station of Middletown, Rock Fantasy, McGannon Excavating, Elmo’s Speed & Supply, Simplicity Designs, Zubi’s Racing and many other fine marketing partners.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Hi-Tek Race Fuel, American Racer/Lias Tire, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., Scotty’s Speed & Diesel, East Coast Speed/ECS Auto, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, ATL Fuel Cells, Bicknell Racing Products, COMP Performance Group (COMP Cams, Driven Racing Oil & Quarter Master), Crane Ignition, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Stainless Steel Exhaust, Hig Fab Chassis, Hyperco, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Lineman Racing, Pilat Graphic Design, Race Pro Weekly, Racers Guide, S&D Bodyline, S&W Awards, Shiley Fabrication, Simplicity Design, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & VP Racing Fuel.
HALMAR INTERNATIONAL ‘HARD CLAY OPEN’ PRESENTED BY UNITED PUMP & TANK AND EAST COAST SPEED/ECS AUTO SUMMARY – APRIL 11, 2015
Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Modified Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region Race No. 1 Feature Finish (50 Laps):STEWART FRIESEN, Jerry Higbie Jr., Danny Johnson, Tommy Meier, Brett Hearn, Mike Ricci, J.R. Heffner, Craig Mitchell, Anthony Perrego, Andy Bachetti, Billy Van Inwegen, Billy Van Pelt, Mike Mahaney, Erick Rudolph, Bob McGannon, Danny Creeden, Rich Eurich, Jackie Brown Jr., Michael Sabia, Rich Ricci Jr., Tyler Dippel, Bob Hentschel, Jeff Heotzler, Dan Vauter, Steve Dodd, Kirk Horton, Rick Laubach, Vic Coffey, Grant Hilfiger.
Did Not Qualify: Craig Hanson, Bill Pascual, Steve Jablonka, Rob Rowe, Jason Kosch, Kyle Redner, Kurt Hundeland, Jeremy Markle, Ryan Darcy, Tyler McKee, L.J. Lombardo, Bob Zwart, Billy Spoonhower, Heath Metzger, Dom Roselli, Mike Ruggiero, Gary Edwards Jr., Scott Van Gorder, Willy Auchmoody, Chris Shultz, Nick Nye, Corey Lowitt, and Tim Hindley.
‘Lucky 7’ Lap Money Breakdown ($2,597 Total): Stewart Friesen ($783); Tyler Dippel ($494); J.R. Heffner ($273); Mike Ricci ($260); Jerry Higbie Jr. ($249); Danny Johnson ($220); Tommy Meier ($165); Craig Mitchell ($73); Rick Laubach ($40); Anthony Perrego ($20) & Brett Hearn ($20).
Allstar Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Danny Johnson (third) & Craig Mitchell (eighth)
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tires): Mike Ricci (sixth) & Billy Van Pelt (12th)
ATL Fuel Cell Bonus ($100 Credit): Brett Hearn (fifth)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Tommy Meier (fourth) & Anthony Perrego (ninth)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Bonuses ($100 Credits): Jerry Higbie Jr. (second), Billy Van Pelt (12th) & Bob Hentschel (22nd)
Fast Axle Bonus ($50 Certificate): J.R. Heffner (seventh)
Grand Rental Station Hard Charger Award ($500 Cash): Brett Hearn (23rd to fifth)
Hi-Tek/VP Bonuses ($50 Credits): Stewart Friesen (first), Jerry Higbie (second), Danny Johnson (third)
McGannon Excavating 21st-Place Bonus ($210 Cash): Tyler Dippel
Randy’s 11th-Place Bonus ($50 Cash): Billy Van Inwegen
Rock Fantasy Halfway Leader Bonus ($400 Cash): Stewart Friesen
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award (Bumpers & Rubrails): Nick Nye
Simplicity Designs Top OCFS Regular Bonus ($200 Cash): Jerry Higbie Jr. (second)
S&W Awards Winner Hardware (Trophy): Stewart Friesen
“Tolltaker” Consolation Bonus ($100 Cash): Brett Hearn (fifth)
Vahlco Wheels Bonus (FREE Wheel): Brett Hearn (fifth)
Zubi’s Racing Heat-Race Hard Charger Awards ($50 Cash): Jeff Heotzler, Tommy Meier, Erick Rudolph, Danny Johnson, J.R. Heffner, Rick Laubach
Elmo’s Speed & Supply Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (25 Laps): L.J.LOMBARDO ($1,250), Michael Sabia, Dave Marcuccilli, Joey Bruning, Zachary Vavricka, Andrew Reeves, Mike Dutka, Danny Cronk, Patrick Murphy, Chris Stevens, Michael Murphy, Floyd Billington, Allison Ricci, Matt Janiak, Tyler Treacy, Randy Sweetman, John Scarborough, Milton Mann, Frank Venezia, Billy Eggers, Rocky Warner, Rafaele Carson, Joe Conklin, Matt Hitchcock.
Elmo’s Speed & Supply Bonus ($100 Cash, $50 Credit): Michael Sabia
Did Not Qualify: Ricky Davis III, Nick Plumstead, John Criscione, Thomas Terry, Roger Henion Jr., Allan Cole, Matt Pappa, Ed Burgess, Johnny Illanovsky, Dion Naples, Bill Kukelka, Joe Falanga, Dom Roselli.
Crane Golf Street Stock Series Race No. 1 Feature Finish (10 Laps): TIM SOUTHARD, Emerson Cargain Sr., Charlie Donald, Joey Metrando, Mike Vigiletti, Ron Constable, Gary O’Brien, Buck Barrett, Kyle Welch, Stan Vichinski, Joel Murns, Jeff Krawacyk.
Did Not Start: D.J. Ross, Paul Maiolo.
Disqualified: Jim Maher, Ray Tarantino.
Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek 2015 Schedule
Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region
Saturday, April 11 – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, NY: Hard Clay Open – Winner: Stewart Friesen
Tuesday, May 5 (Rain Date: May 6) – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA (Combo): Anthracite Assault
Tuesday, May 19 (Rain Date: May 20) – Accord Speedway/Accord, NY: Battle of the Bullring 3
Sunday, June 28 (Rain Date: June 29) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY: Lightning on the Mountain
Wednesday, July 22 (Rain Date: July 23) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY: Crazy 8s Special
Tuesday, August 11 (Rain Date: Aug. 12) – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, NY: Hustlin’ the High Banks 51
Sunday, September 13 (Rain Date: Sept. 20) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY: Wade Decker Memorial
Friday–Saturday October 9-10 (Rain Date: Oct. 11) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY: Short Track SuperNationals 8 – Championship Points
Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region Point Fund (*based on 8 events): 1. $15,000; 2. $7,000; 3. $3,500; 4. $2,500; 5. $2,000; 6. $1,650; 7. $1,550; 8. $1,450; 9. $1,350; 10. $1,250; 11. $750; 12. $650.
Drivers with perfect attendance outside the Top-12 receive $250.
