Behrent’s Performance Warehouse ‘Hard Clay Finale’ Kicks Off Eastern States Weekend for Third Straight Year

Behrent’s Performance Warehouse ‘Hard Clay Finale’ Kicks Off Eastern States Weekend for Third Straight Year

Story By: Brett Deyo/SSTS

Photos By: Pete MacDonald/RacersGuide.com

MIDDLETOWN, NY – For the third consecutive season, the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco hosts the ‘kickoff party’ to Eastern States Weekend.

On Thursday, October 24, the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse ‘Hard Clay Finale’ fires off with a fan-pleasing doubleheader of STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds and 360 Sprint Cars.

STSS Modifieds race in the eighth and final round of the Halmar International North Region, a 50-lap main event offering a massive $10,000 to win and $500 to take the green from a posted pay structure of $40,475. The series’ $12,500 North Region title will be decided at this event.

Joining the Modifieds are the 360 Sprint Cars in a 25-lap, $3,000-to-win event presented by Rapid Tire. This will mark the second appearance by the 360 Sprint Cars during the ‘Hard Clay Finale’ event.

The first ‘Hard Clay Finale’ hit the five-eighths-mile in the 2017 season as a precursor to Eastern States Weekend.

In the event’s first running, Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., charged through the field after pitting with 12 laps to go to earn the victory over Andy Bachetti, Rick Laubach, Craig Mitchell and Jeremy Smith.

A year ago, Boyertown, Pa.’s Mike Gular shocked the field and won the event which ultimately led to him racing weekly at Orange County Fair Speedway this season. Gular bested Mat Williamson, Anthony Perrego, Tyler Dippel and Mike Mahaney.

With an all-new ‘soft clay’ surface in place at the Legendary House of Power, the ’19 edition will be wide open.

Last year’s 360 Sprint Car debut saw Pennsylvania’s Lucas Wolfe invade and take the $3,000 triumph in a late-race battle with Davie Franek. Billy Van Inwegen, Justin Barger and Coleman Gulick completed the front five.

Complete Behrent’s Performance Warehouse ‘Hard Clay Finale’ information has been posted on the Short Track Super Series website at the following link: http://shorttracksuperseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SaturdaySTSNInformationSheet.pdf

STSS Modified complete pay structure: http://shorttracksuperseries.com/hard-clay-finale-stss-modified-pay-structure/

360 Sprint Car complete pay structure: http://shorttracksuperseries.com/hard-clay-finale-360-sprint-car-pay-structure/

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 2019 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, Rob Sherlock Roofing, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH Springs, Escape RV, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, 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.

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco 2019 Schedule

Modified Halmar International North Region

Sunday, April 7 – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, N.Y. – Hard Clay Open – WINNER: MATT SHEPPARD

Sunday, May 26 – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, N.Y. – Lightning on the Mountain – WINNER: BILLY DECKER

Tuesday, June 4 – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, Pa. – Anthracite Assault – COMBO – WINNER: MATT SHEPPARD

Wednesday, June 19 – Outlaw Speedway/Dundee, N.Y. – Outlaw Showdown – WINNER: STEWART FRIESEN

Wednesday, July 3 – Fonda Speedway/Fonda, N.Y. – Firecracker 50 – $10,000 to win – WINNER: STEWART FRIESEN

Tuesday, July 9 – Accord Speedway/Accord, N.Y. – Battle of the Bullring – WINNER: ANDY BACHETTI

Tuesday, August 13 – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, N.Y. – Hustlin’ the High Banks 55 – CANCELED DUE TO RAIN

Friday-Saturday October 11-12 – Afton Motorsports Park/Afton, N.Y. – American Racer Cup Short Track SuperNationals 12

Thursday, October 24 – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, N.Y. – Hard Clay Finale – $10,000 to win – CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS