On The Road Again: Massachusetts Driver Andy Bachetti Set To Chase Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Point Standings, North & South, During Upcoming Season; Starts Journey March 12 At Georgetown, Delaware
Story By: CODY MANMILLER Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO and MATT NOLES / RACERSGUIDE.COM
GEORGETOWN, DE- February 26, 2016- Andy Bachetti is ready to hit the road again with the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP.
Last season, the Sheffield, Mass., driver was a virtual newcomer to the tracks in the STSS Velocita South Region and managed an eighth-place finish in the final standings, while maintaining his contender status in the Halmar International North Region, placing third in points.
For the fast-approaching 2016 campaign, the inaugural STSS champion is priming for another run at the crown, in both the North and the South regions.
“We are planning on running on both regions,” Bachetti said. “It’s definitely a good series to race for the money, and every race pays through to the back. Even after a bad night, you can come out of the track feeling differently.”
On March 12, Bachetti will make the second visit of his career to Delaware’s Georgetown Speedway for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial. Last September at the STSS ‘Blast at the Beach,’ Bachetti turned his debut at the historic half-mile into a top-five finish.
Despite the challenges of traveling to new racetracks, the 40-year-old driver enjoys it: “I have a lot of fans in the area, so it is nice to see them,” Bachetti noted. “It is also good to see different drivers, because you can learn a lot from them, and pick up new things.”
Bachetti believes the travel for the STSS is more than worth it. “All the sponsors, bonuses and lap money available helps the drivers, and they, in turn, want to race as many races of the series they can.
“The competition is as good as any track, or any series anywhere.”
The 2014 ‘Hard Clay Open’ winner at N.Y.’s Orange County Fair Speedway hopes to build on last year’s podium finish in the upcoming North Region campaign, which kicks off Saturday, April 2 at the Orange County fabled five-eighths-mile.
“I am expecting really good things. Without Mike Garrity and Steve Hough, none of this would be possible, but we’ve built a stout program, and are looking forward to the season.”
The journey for Bachetti and his STSS South counterparts begins on Saturday, March 12 at Georgetown, Del.
The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP big-block/small-block Modifieds race 49 laps for $4,900 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $490 to take the green flag. This event is Round No. 1 of the seven-race STSS Velocita South Region with a total point fund of more than $25,000.
Also on the March 12 card: Crate 602 Sportsman, Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Little Lincolns, Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks.
On Saturday (March 12), pit gates open at 11 a.m. and grandstand gates are unlocked at noon. The drivers’ meeting takes place at 2:30 p.m., with hot laps at 3 p.m. and racing at 4 p.m.
Admission is $20 for Adults. Seniors (ages 65 and up) and Students (ages 13-17) pay $16. Kids 9-12 are $10 and those under eight are admitted FREE. Pit admission is $35 (ages 13 and up), $10 for Kids 6-12 and $2 for those five and under.
An open practice is slated for Friday, March 11 with gates opening at 4 p.m. and practice at 6:30 p.m. Grandstand admission is FREE and pit admission is $20.
A Sunday, March 13 rain date for the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial will be utilized if needed.
Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1950, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
To learn more about the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 during business hours, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, “like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.
The 2016 Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, VP Racing Fuel, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Hig Fab, Henry’s Exhaust, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & Velocita
2016 Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Halmar International North Region Schedule
Saturday, April 2 (Rain Date: April 9) – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, NY – Hard Clay Open
Tuesday, May 10 (Rain Date: May 17) – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA – Anthracite Assault (Combo)
Sunday, May 29 (Rain Date: May 30) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY – Lightning on the Mountain
Tuesday, June 7 (Rain Date: June 8) – Outlaw Speedway/Dundee, N.Y. – Ultimate Outlaw 50
Tuesday, July 5 (Rain Date: July 6) – Accord Speedway/Accord, NY – Battle of the Bullring 4
Wednesday, July 13 (Rain Date: TBA) – Rolling Wheels Raceway Park/Elbridge, NY – STSS vs. RoC Challenge (all drivers in attendance receive 60 points)
Wednesday, July 27 (Rain Date: July 28) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY – Crazy 8s Special
Tuesday, August 16 (Rain Date: August 17) – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, NY – Hustlin’ the High Banks 52
Sunday, September 18 (Rain Date: September 25) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY – Wade Decker Memorial
Friday-Saturday October 7-8 (Rain Date: October 9) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY – Short Track SuperNationals 9 – Championship Points
Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP North Region Point Fund (*based on 10 events): 1. $12,000; 2. $7,000; 3. $4,000; 4. $3,000; 5. $2,500; 6. $1,850; 7. $1,750; 8. $1,650; 9. $1,550; 10. $1,450; 11. $1,000; 12. $1,000
*Drivers outside the top-12 with perfect attendance receive $250
2016 Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Velocita South Region Schedule
Saturday, March 12 (Rain Date: March 13) – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, DE – Melvin L. Joseph Memorial
Sunday, April 17 (Rain Date: April 24) – Bridgeport Speedway/Bridgeport, NJ – South Jersey Shootout
Tuesday, May 10 (Rain Date: May 17) – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA – Anthracite Assault (Combo)
Thursday, May 26 (Rain Date: TBA) – Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, DE – Diamond State 50
Tuesday, June 14 (Rain Date: June 15) – New Egypt Speedway/New Egypt, NJ – Dirty Jersey 4 – $10,000 to win!
Sunday, July 31 (Rain Date: Aug. 7) – Susquehanna Speedway Park/Newberrytown, PA – York County Nationals
Tuesday, Aug. 30 (Rain Date: Aug. 31) – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, DE – Blast at the Beach – Championship Points
Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP South Region Point Fund (*based on 7 events): 1. $8,500; 2. $4,500; 3. $3,000; 4. $2,000; 5. $1,500; 6. $1,250; 7. $1,200; 8. $1,150; 9. $1,100; 10. $1,050
*Drivers with perfect attendance outside the top-10 will receive $250 at year-end.
