Richest-Ever Single-Day Set For Short Track Super Series Thursday, October 18 At Orange County Fair Speedway

Richest-Ever Single-Day Set For Short Track Super Series Thursday, October 18 At Orange County Fair Speedway

Story By: Brett Deyo/SSTS

Photos By: Pete MacDonald/RacersGuide.com

MIDDLETOWN, NY – The richest single day in the history of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco takes place this Thursday, October 18.

STSS Modifieds hit the track at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., Thursday night for the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse ‘Hard Clay Finale’ looking to capture the lion’s share of a purse totaling $49,225.

Yes, $49,225 for a single-day, 50-lap event!

The ’18 edition of the ‘Hard Clay Finale’ honors OCFS legend Rich Eurich, who has supported the Legendary House of Power since the late-1960s. In recognition of his trademark number ‘10’ the payout was increased to $10,000 to win and $1,000 – a cool grand – to take the green flag.

“I grew up in the grandstand at Orange County, so Rich Eurich has always been one of the drivers I enjoyed watching,” STSS organizer Brett Deyo said. “His dedication to racing – and Orange County Fair Speedway – is second-to-none. A big thank you to Chris Larsen and Michael Gurda for allowing us to put Rich in the spotlight, even though he isn’t one to be the center of attention.”

The $10,000 winner’s share is just the beginning of a non-top-heavy payout through the field. The full breakdown is as follows: 1 – $10,000; 2 – $5,000; 3 – $4,000; 4 – $2,500; 5 – $1,800; 6 – $1,500; 7 – $1,400; 8 – $1,300; 9 – $1,200; 10 – $1,150; 11 – $1,125; 12 – $1,100; 13 – $1,075; 14 – $1,050; 15 – $1,025; 16-28 – $1,000; Provisionals – $500.

A number of bonuses and special awards will be distributed, as well.

Rock Fantasy Hard Rock, Metal, Classic Rock Concert and Smoke Shop based in Middletown, N.Y., has signed on to sponsor the STSS Modified heat races. Each of the heat winners will take home $50 cash from Rock Fantasy’s Stephen Keeler.

The Halfway Leader – at lap 25 – will take home $200 courtesy of Superior Remodeling in Slate Hill, N.Y. Superior Remodeling is owned and operated by Brian Smith.

Land Hoe Maintenance in Danbury, Conn., will reward the Hard Charger with $200 cash: the driver advancing the most positions from their scheduled starting position to the finish of the 50-lap main.

Product certificates will be distributed from the following companies: American Racer, ATL Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Headers, Fast Axle, Henry’s Exhaust, QA1, Racing Optics, Sunoco Race Fuels, WELD Wheels and Wilwood.

This 50-lap event will also decide the ’18 STSS Halmar International North Region champion with increased points, on the 150-point scale, on the line. Billy Decker of Sidney, N.Y., currently holds a slim 30-point lead (654-624) over Anthony Perrego. Canadian Mat Williamson sits third, having accrued 613 points, and is only 44 markers behind the leader.

With 150 points to the winner and 60 for last, there is a potential 90-point swing at this event, meaning Matt Sheppard (609) and Mike Gular (598) also have mathematical chances to win the title.

360 Sprint Cars, for the first time, join the STSS Modifieds for this program competing in a 25-lap event offering $3,000 to the winner and $300 to take the green flag.

Pit gates officially open at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Drive-in gates are unlocked at 4 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m. The drivers’ meeting takes place at 5:40 p.m. (including the STSS heat-race draw). Hot laps begin at 6 p.m. Qualifying gets underway at 7 p.m.

Adult admission is $28. Children 10 and under pay $10. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.

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.

To learn more about the 2018 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, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco, Velocita, Weld & Wilwood.