The Race Is On: STSS Title Fight Down To Final Four
Four Drivers Within 39 Points For Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Halmar North Region Championship Entering I-88 Speedway October 7-8
Story By: BRETT DEYO / STSS MEDIA
Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
AFTON, NY –September 26, 2016- The championship race is on.
Four drivers now sit within 39 points for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Halmar International North Region championship entering the season finale Short Track SuperNationals 9 at I-88 Speedway October 7-8. The title race shook up following Friday night’s eighth round of the North Region held at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, N.Y.
The Wade Decker Memorial race at Thunder Mountain was the final 100-point-structure event of the season. Following Friday’s program, drivers were able to drop their worst finish and those with perfect attendance received a bonus of 75 points.
Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., who was the inaugural series champion in 2014, used a second-place finish at the Wade Decker Memorial to take over the point lead for the first time this season.
Bachetti holds a slim lead of just five points (604-599) over Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y., who has led the series since the May stop at Big Diamond Speedway in Minersville, Pa. Rudolph suffered his first DNF of the season Friday at Thunder Mountain after a first-lap tangle and two flat right-rear tires.
A resilient Tommy Meier of Waldwick, N.J., is third in the standings with 581 points. Meier drove from dead last at Thunder Mountain after the aforementioned tangle with Rudolph to finish sixth and has accumulated 581 points, 23 removed from the lead.
Danny Creeden of Wurtsboro, N.Y., put himself in contention with his Wade Decker Memorial triumph on Friday night. Creeden has amassed 565 points and is 39 behind the leader.
Of note, all four drivers in the battle already have a championship to their credit this year: Bachetti (I-88/American Racer Cup); Rudolph (BRP Modified Tour); Meier (N.Y.’s Orange County Fair Speedway big- and small-block divisions); and Creeden (Thunder Mountain).
The Short Track SuperNationals utilizes the increased “Championship Points” breakdown which is as follows: 1. 150; 2. 145; 3. 140; 4. 135; 5. 130; 6. 125; 7. 120; 8. 116; 9. 112; 10. 108; 11. 104; 12. 100; 13. 96; 14. 92; 15. 88; 16. 84; 17. 80; 18. 77; 19. 74; 20. 71; 21. 68; 22. 65; 23. 62. 24-last. 60; Did Not Qualify 35.
The series culminates with a 50-lap event, the Short Track SuperNationals, on Saturday evening, October 8, part of a busy two days of racing on the Afton Fairgrounds.
The STSS North Region champion will receive $12,000 cash from a massive posted point fund of $38,750 that will be distributed to the top-12 competitors.
To learn more about the 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, COMP Performance Group, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Hig Fab, Henry’s Exhaust, Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, K&N, Racersguide.com,Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & Velocita
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP
Halmar International North Region Standings (*after Thunder Mountain, Sept. 23)
1. Andy Bachetti 604
2. Erick Rudolph 599
3. Tommy Meier 581
4. Danny Creeden 565
5. Anthony Perrego 496
6. Matt DeLorenzo 479
7. Brian Malcolm 439
8. Craig Hanson 436
9. Mike Mahaney 431
10. Danny Johnson 416
11. Stewart Friesen 387
12. Nick Nye 367
13. Jerry Higbie Jr. 362
14. Mike Ricci 327
15. Billy Van Inwegen 316
