SHEPPARD AND WHRITENOUR BOTH WIN AGAIN AT OUTLAW SPEEDWAY. BOUNTY MONEY ROLLS ON!
(Mark Ranalletta Photo)
Sperring gets first ever in American Racer Sportsman, Collins Jr., Morgan, Ellison, Doolittle and Decker continue to rack up feature victories.
Story by Kenny Shupp Jr.
(Dundee, NY) As they have on numerous occasions thus far in 2020, Super Matt Sheppard in the Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Modified Division along with Glen Whritenour in the Stan’s No Tubes Street Stocks continue to dominate their respective classes. Several weeks ago, track owner, Tyler Siri placed Bounty Money on both competitors for any regular or invader that can upend either racer in their feature events while both are still running at the completion. Again, on Friday, August 7 both men completely dominated their events thus the cash will roll over to the following race night.
Boss Man, Tyler Siri along with Eldon Payne brought the twenty-two car Modified field to the opening green flag as Siri would lead the first seven laps and looked poised to win and collect the added $1,500 for taking down Super Matt. However, Sheppard had other ideas and soared into the top spot on lap eight and from there opened up a as much as an eight second lead and had lapped cars up to the seventh position before the one and only caution flag of the race waved with just a pair of laps remaining. From there all Super Matt had to do was keep Erick Rudolph at bay for the remaining two laps and visit victory lane for the seventh time in 2020. With another easy win for Sheppard, the action behind the high flying 9s machine was at a fever pitch as numerous drivers were working thru traffic in an attempt to make it to a top finishing spot. Second place finisher, Rudolph led the charge having started just one spot behind Sheppard on the opening green flag. Fourth place finisher, AJ Slideways, Alan Johnson began the thirty-lap grind right behind both Sheppard and Rudolph. Like Siri, who finished third the fifth-place machine of Eldon Payne started on the front row, ran with the lead pack all race long and came home with a solid top five finish. With Matt Sheppard’s win the $1,500 Bounty now will go onto the August 15 event and with the regular season rapidly concluding the big question is can anyone dethrone Super Matt before the last point event on August 29, 2020.
In the Stan’s No Tubes Street Stocks feature event, Glen Whritenour continues to use the Outlaw Speedway as his personal play pen as he lined up eleventh on the starting grid, moved to third by lap three, chased then leader CJ Guererri until he ran into problems on lap eight. Once in front GW opened up what appeared to be an insurmountable advantage over a group of very good drivers and equipment including the likes of Jake Karlnoski who wound up second at the finish, John Carpenter who was third, Quinn Sutherland who wound up fourth along with Shawn Boyton who completed the top five. Even a late race caution on lap sixteen which would bunch the field back up could not slow down the fast 15 machine as Whritenour cruised to his sixth feature win of 2020 which includes the last five in a row and with that the $250 Bounty will go on one more week.
In the Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Sportsman Division another solid field of some seventeen cars took to the speedway for their twenty-five-lap feature event. Troy Sperring has been a consistent runner week in and week out at the Outlaw Speedway during the 2020 season and he took full advantage of his pole position starting spot to lead throughout the event and come home with his first ever trip to victory lane at the Yates County Speed Plant. Sperring can now add his name to a who’s who list of drivers that have picked up feature event wins at Outlaw thus far. In a magnificent display of driving Sperring was able to hold off second place finisher and one-time feature winner, Billy Paine. 2018 class Track Champion, Chris Fisher once again produced a solid effort in coming home third at the finish as he was chased across the line by 2020 feature winner, Alex Payne. Travis Grover continues to impress by rounding the top five finishers. The entire top five finishing group all started the feature event within the top seven positions and with equality among the competition, passing is at a premium and it will come as no surprise if the list of new feature winners grows prior to seasons end. Thus far in the nine Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Crate Sportsman feature events that have been run this season, seven different faces have visited victory lane with Ajay Potrzebowski the only repeat winner.
In the companion Hoosier Tire Crate Sportsman Division, Tommy Collins Jr. was to tough to handle on this night at he lined up ninth on the start, got to the point by lap nine and cruised to his third win in 2020. Tim Guild and Travis Grover brought the sixteen car field to the opening green flag for the twenty-five lap affair as Guild along with his team mate, Stacy Jackson who started in the second row would control the top two positions thru lap four when Tommy Paine would take over the lead. Paine, in his rookie season continues to impress as he would hold court at the top of the heap thru lap eight when Collins would assume the lead and go on from there. Only a couple caution flags would slow the pace as Collins was able to once again display his mastery on the Hoosier tire brand and at the double checkered flags had a full second and a half lead over the second place machine of Zach Sobotka. Grover would run with the lead pack all race long in holding down the third spot at the end as Tommy Paine held off three-time 2020 class feature winner and the defending Track Champion, Will Shields as they would finish fourth and fifth.
The Hobby Stock Division continues to grow in numbers, but it is still the Wayne Ellison show as he was able to win both the make-up feature from July 10 in convincing style, and after a post-race disqualification by apparent regular night feature winner, Nick Stark, Ellison was declared the winner in that event as well bringing his 2020 win total to seven with many asking the question, “Will a Bounty on Wayne Ellison be coming next”? In the make-up Ellison was clearly the class of the field as his immaculate looking 18 machine runs as good as it looks as he held off the only driver to beat him this year in the two time and defending Track Champion, Marc Minutolo. Jeremy Trank continues his impressive year by finishing third in the make-up as he was chased across the line by Bruce Kinner and Justin Eldredge who completed the top five finishers.
In the nightcap, it did not come nearly as easy for Ellison as he lined up in his customary mid pack starting position and with a pair of good runners in Frank Bubba Burnell and Nick Stark starting on the front row both Minutolo and Ellison who began the twenty lap event in row six had their work cut out for them. With Minutolo having problems early that left Wayne Ellison still having to negotiate thru a top notch running group of drivers and machinery and as the double checkered flags waved it appeared as though the Wayne Ellison dominance in the division had finally had come to an end at the hands of Nick Stark. However, in a post-race inspection, Stark was found with an infraction and was relegated to last and with that handed the win to Ellison. With everyone moving up at position Justin Eldredge claimed the runner-up spot followed by the third-place machine of Jack Ayers who had his best finish since a bone jarring, multiple side over side front straight a way flip several weeks ago. Fourth place went to Jeremy Trank who capped off a great night while Casey Wagner rounded out the top five.
In IMCA Modified feature action, 2018 Track Champion, Rodney Morgan finally got back on track after being shut out of victory lane since June 26 as he cruised to the win. Morgan, who completely dominated the class by winning the first four events to open the 2020 campaign was in a class all by himself as he went on to win number five holding off track regular and one time feature winner, Shawn Bruce who was second. Bumps Scutt continues his consistent 2020 season as he was third at the finish followed across the line by Jeff Austin and Bad Brad Smith who completed the top five finishers.
In the youth Winner’s Circle Deli Bandit Division Ethan Decker was once again victorious and with his victory extends his point lead in the class.
Last but certainly not least the Mighty 4 Cylinders have been basically dominated by a pair of competitors in Bob Doolittle and Jeremy Bunn. Only Scott Lehman Jr. and Ray Hyer have upended the Doolittle/Bunn onslaught in the class and unfortunately for the rest of the field this night would be no different as the top two in the class were once again chasing each other to the feature win. At the completion of the twenty-lap affair it was Bob Doolittle claiming his fourth win of 2020 as he was able to hold off four-time feature winner and current high point man, Jeremy Bunn who had to settle for second place. Chasing the lead duo across the line was Scott Lehman, Ray Hyer and Jason Smart.
Congratulations to all competitors!
Coming up next week at Outlaw Speedway the trend will continue with another Super 7 Show featuring all the tracks regular adult classes plus the youth Bandit Division.
With the facility still at the mercy of NYS Governor and NYS Health Department protocol calling for no spectators in the grandstand seating area it will be pit admission only. For those that can not attend, online viewing is available by going to www.dirttrackdigest.tv.
Pit Gates for the August 14 show open at 5:30 pm with hot laps at 6:30. The first green flag of the night is scheduled to wave at 7:30.
With the weeks winding down in the regular season schedule the point battles in all classes now start to become much more visible and even though several drivers in most classes have racked up multiple feature wins there are still no run away point leaders.
For a closer look at the current point standings along with other valuable information relevant to the track simply log on at www.outlawspeedwayllc.com.
As the Friday, August 14 event draws closer added information about the event will be posted on www.Facebook.com/OutlawSpeedwayLLC/.
OUTLAW SPEEDWAY RESULTS. August 7, 2020
Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds. (22 cars)
30 lap feature. Matt Sheppard (7), Erick Rudolph, Alan Johnson, Tyler Siri, Eldon Payne, Danny Johnson, Ron Cartwright Jr., Jordan Siri, Steve Paine, Jim LaRock, Kyle Coffey, Chris Ostrowsky, Brad Weaver, Lance Dusett, Brady Fultz, Greg Birosh, Matt Cole, Cory Costa, Kailee DiMorier, Justin Wright, Ed Lawrence, Brian Swarthout
Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Crate Sportsman. (17 cars)
25 lap feature. Troy Sperring, Billy Paine, Chris Fisher, Alex Payne, Travis Grover, Will Shields, Casey Wagner, Kaiden Dgien, Zach Sobotka, Karl Comfort, Dale Welty, Bryan Rhodes, March Schenck, Chris Hall, Ran Dann, Justice Mayo, Ajay Potrzebowski.
Hoosier Tire Crate Sportsman (16 cars)
25 lap feature. Tommy Collins Jr. (3), Zach Sobotka, Travis Grover, Tommy Paine, Will Shields, Zach George, Stacy Jackson, Tim Guild, Brett Buono, Casey Williams, Bryan Rhodes, Brandon Butler, JT Sperring, AJ Lloyd, Anthony Kimble, Alex Payne.
Stan’s No Tubes Street Stocks. (16 cars)
20 lap feature. Glen Whritenour (6), Jake Karlnoski, John Carpenter, Quinn Sutherland, Shawn Boyton, Jared Hill, Carl Johnson, Lance Albanese, Kane Stebbins, Aksel Jensen, Gene Balmer, Aaron Miller, CJ Guererri, Zach Teed, John Burritt, Jeremy Potrzebowski.
IMCA Modifieds. (7 cars)
20 lap feature. Rodney Morgan (5), Shawn Bruce, Bumps Scutt, Jeff Austin, Brad Smith, Kevin Smith, Rich Karlnoski
IMCA Hobby Stocks. (18 cars)
20 lap feature. Wayne Ellison (7), Justin Eldredge, Jack Ayers, Jeremy Trank, Casey Wagner, Amber Pierce, Allison Pierce, Zach Kinner, Matt Sullivan, Jamie Eldredge Jr., Bruce Kinner, Kenny Hunt, Frank Burnell, John Oles, Marc Minutolo. DNS, Jamie Eldredge, Jason Clugstone. DQ, Nick Stark.
IMCA Hobby Stock Make-up Feature from July 10. 2020
20 laps. Wayne Ellison (6), Marc Minutolo, Jeremy Trank, Bruce Kinner, Justin Eldredge, Jamie Eldredge Jr., Allison Pierce, Amber Pierce, Zach Kinner, Matt Sullivan, Jamie Eldredge, Jack Ayers, Nick Stark, Josh Oles, Kenny Hunt, Jason Clugstone. DNS, Grayson Albanese, Josh Turner, Charlie Towner, Glen Aumick.
4 Cylinders (18 cars)
20 lap feature. Bob Doolittle (4), Jeremy Bunn, Scott Lehman, Ray Hyer, Jason Smart, Scott Lehman Jr., Robert Decker, Lee Fritz, Kenneth Evans, ShiAnn LaBarr, Steve Perkins, Desi Force, Mike Webster, Derrick Evans, Sammy Fuller, Dakota Spicer, Mike Stone, Matt Irwin.
Winner’s Circle Deli Bandits. Feature. Ethan Decker
