WILLIAMSON $53,000 PORT ROYAL VICTOR, KRUMMEL CRATE STAR
(Dan De Marco Photo)
Mat Williamson Earns $53,000 Speed Showcase 200 Victory, Brian Krummel Crate 602 Star at Port Royal
Written by Chris Moore
PORT ROYAL, PA – An unforgettable, inaugural ‘Speed Showcase 200’ at Port Royal Speedway was capped off with a 200-lap main event for the ages Saturday night.
St. Catharines, Ont., native Mat Williamson grabbed the checkered – and the biggest paycheck in Northeast dirt Modified racing this season for the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse No. 3 team.
The win netted ‘Money Mat’ $53,000-plus, and another high-paying event added to his resume. Along with the large paycheck, it was Williamson’s first career Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modified victory.
“Thanks to Brett Deyo (STSS promoter) and Port Royal for doing this. It’s incredible to be able to race for $53,000 in the times we’re in right now,” Williamson proclaimed in Victory Lane.
Williamson is not just racing for the paychecks; he keeps on winning them.
A pair of Keystone State drivers – Alex Yankowski and Danny Bouc – led the 42-car field to the green in the first ever ‘Speed Showcase 200’ edition.
Williamson quickly showed his Bicknell Race Cars mount as one of the fastest cars on the track: climbing from his ninth starting position to take the lead for the first time with just 16 laps completed.
An otherwise clean-and-green start to the 200-lap event came to a grinding halt, literally, on lap 42, as Frenchtown, N.J.’s, Billy Pauch Jr. had a throttle stick on his Rick Holsten-owned No. 96, sending him head on into the third-turn guardrail. Fortunately, Pauch Jr. walked away after flipping violently.
The guardrail suffered extensive damage and required the Port Royal track crew to complete repairs.
Middletown, N.Y.’s Anthony Perrego found the top side of the ‘Speed Palace’ to his liking when racing resumed after an hour-and-a-half delay and used the top line to take the lead and ultimately lead the field to the lap-100 halfway break.
The lead at the race’s midpoint earned Perrego the $600 halfway bonus courtesy of Precision Hydraulic & Oil.
Following the halfway break – with some cars using the hot pit area and others remaining on the speedway to advance positions – Sprakers, N.Y.’s, Stewart Friesen established himself as the car to beat in the second half of the main event. Friesen stretched out his lead and carved through lapped traffic with ease.
A lap-180 caution flag changed the complexion of the race.
Friesen’s lead evaporated and Williamson pulled alongside Friesen for a double-file restart.
Friesen chose the inside lane. Williamson remained event down the long Port Royal frontstretch. When Friesen drove hard into turn one and slid across the track, Williamson shot the gap to the inside to take a lead he would not relinquish.
Despite a late-race, single-file restart that put Friesen back on Williamson’s bumper, Williamson was able to repel Friesen’s bold outside-lane tactics to score the STSS breakthrough triumph.
Sprakers, N.Y.’s Friesen settled for a $20,000 runner-up finish and snagged an additional $1,000 via the Mike’s Racing Heads Hard Charger Award for his 38-position ascent from 39th starting position. Friesen took a series provisional to start the 200 after losing an engine in his Friday night Dirt Track Digest-sponsored Qualifying Race.
Savannah, N.Y.’s, Matt Sheppard charged late with fresh rear tires to secure a podium finish and accompanying $10,000 payday for his Hurlock Auto & Speed-sponsored team.
Perrego held onto a fourth-place finish aboard Brian Smith’s Superior Remodeling No. 44 and Larry Wight of Phoenix, N.Y., charged through traffic in the final laps to complete the front five driving the Gypsum Racing No. 99L. Wight started the 200 from 14th position.
Mooresville, N.C.’s, Max McLaughlin ran inside the top-10 for much of the event, finishing sixth aboard a Sweeteners Plus No. 32c. Completing the top-10 were Ryan Godown of Ringoes, N.J., up from 15th in the Steve Searock No. 26; Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., who started 29th on the grid; pole starter and early leader Alex Yankowski of Covington Township, Pa.; and Sidney, N.Y.’s Billy Decker recovering from a turn-three melee with the Jeremy Smith Racing No. 91. Decker started 26th.
Saturday B-Main winners were Decker and Brandon Grosso. Matt DeLorenzo topped a special 3-lap Dash to earn the 38th starting position in the 200.
The Ice Less LLC-sponsored ‘Speed Showcase 50’ for the Crate 602 Sportsman did not lack drama – just like its Modified counterpart.
Middletown, N.Y.’s, Brian Krummel continued his impressive return to racing, winning the $2,500 payday. Krummel charged from his ninth starting to position to take the lead on lap 17. Despite several challenges Krummel never faltered in his Howie Finch Jr.-owned No. 4, taking home a $2,995 payday including bonuses and special awards.
Upper Makefield, Pa.’s Joe Toth did all he could, as he charged in the late stages to second; but was unable to find a way by Krummel working a lower lane on the half-mile oval. Toth had surged forward from 10th starting position.
Geneva, N.Y.’s, Kevin Root followed Toth on the late-race charge, but he – like Toth – ran out of laps. Root started the event from 11th position.
Jackson, N.J.’s, Steve Davis, Krummel’s Ice Less LLC teammate, challenged Krummel up front early on, but faded to a fourth-place finish. Niskayuna, N.Y.’s, Tim Hartman Jr. moved forward from 15th starting position to complete the front five in Michael Parillo’s No. 22.
Saturday Crate 602 Sportsman B-Main winners were Dakota Kohler and Grant Hilfiger. The last-chance 3-lap Dash went to Trent Willey in a thriller over fellow Delaware resident Sean Metz.
The three-day inaugural ‘Speed Showcase 200’ weekend was well-received by fans and competitors alike. Port Royal Speedway promoter Steve O’Neal and STSS organizer Brett Deyo are already working on plans for a 2021 edition.
Port Royal Speedway is located at 308 West 8th Street Port Royal, PA 17082. To learn more, visit www.portroyalspeedway.com or portspeedway@gmail.com.
Next up for the Short Track Super Series is the Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend at Del.’s Georgetown Speedway Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31. The event is headlined by the Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision and Sunglass Central Modified points finale, a 40-lap STSS Modified event offering up to $7,000 to win with “Gambler’s Fee” posted. STSS Crate 602 Sportsman take part in a 25-lap South Region finale offering $1,500 to win among numerous divisions.
To learn more about the 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.
‘SPEED SHOWCASE 200’ RESULTS SUMMARY – PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY OCTOBER 17, 2020
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified ‘Speed Showcase 200’ Feature Finish (200 laps): MAT WILLIAMSON ($53,000), Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Anthony Perrego, Larry Wight, Max McLaughlin, Ryan Godown, Andy Bachetti, Alex Yankowski, Billy Decker, Erick Rudolph, Mike Mahaney, Ronnie Johnson, Tim Fuller, Mike Gular, Ryan Susice, Josh Hohenforst, Ryan Watt, Tyler Dippel, Billy Dunn, Jimmy Horton, Brandon Grosso, Brett Haas, Jordan Watson, Ryan Riddle, Billy Van Pelt, Peter Britten, Alan Johnson, J.R. Heffner, Rick Laubach, Matt DeLorenzo, Brett Tonkin, Danny Bouc, Michael Maresca, Danny Johnson, Jeff Strunk, Tyler Siri, Rocky Warner, Billy Pauch Jr., Demetrios Drellos, Neil Williams, Richie Pratt Jr.
Did Not Qualify: Jessica Friesen, Dave Marcuccilli, Ron Cartwright Jr., Jared Umbenhauer, Justin Wright, Joe Judge, Ryan Riddle, David Schilling, Danny Hieber, Joseph Watson, Matt Stangle, Josh Nobriga, Jacob Dgien, Brian Gleason, Adam Gage, Eric Williams, Chris Ostrowsky, Josh Delea, Kurt Hundeland, Rusty Smith, Billy Pauch Sr., Mike Trautschold.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire): Andy Bachetti (eighth) & Ronnie Johnson (13th)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bucks ($50): Billy Pauch Jr. (Redrew 10th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Anthony Perrego (fourth) & Alex Yankowski (ninth)
Bill Brown & Company Heat-Race Hard Charger ($50): Larry Wight (gain of nine positions)
Bill Brown & Company ‘One Spot Out’ Award ($250): Jessica Friesen
Butler Hill Maple Farm Tom Perrego Memorial Lap 44 ($200): Mat Williamson
Dirt Track Digest Qualifying Event Winners ($750): Danny Bouc, Mike Gular, Billy Pauch Jr., Erick Rudolph & Max McLaughlin
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Max McLaughlin (sixth)
Henry’s Exhaust Systems Power Position ($50 Certificate): Erick Rudolph (11th)
Insinger Performance Drawing ($250 Gift Certificates): Mike Gular & Brett Tonkin (open to all teams purchasing 10 gallons at the track)
Mike’s Racing Heads Hard Charger Award ($1,000): Stewart Friesen (39th to second)
‘Poop Man’ Hard Luck Award ($100): Joseph Watson (DNQ)
Precision Hydraulic & Oil Halfway Leader Bonus ($600): Anthony Perrego
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Stewart Friesen (second), Mike Mahaney (12th) & Brandon Grosso (22nd)
Superior Scaffolding DNQ Bonuses ($100 each): David Marcuccilli & Ron Cartwright Jr.
Wilwood Brakes Bonus ($75 Certificate): Ryan Godown (seventh)
Ice Less LLC Crate 602 Sportsman Speed Showcase 50 Feature Finish: BRIAN KRUMMEL ($2,500), Joe Toth, Kevin Root, Steve Davis, Tim Hartman Jr., Stephen Kemery, Payton Talbot, Tanner Van Doren, Michael Ballestero, Will Shields, Corey Cormier, Michael Schane, Scott Hitchens, Bobby Flood, Tommy Collins, Justin Grosso, Chad Edwards, Doug Kline, Derrick McGrew Jr., Grant Hilfiger, Dakota Kohler, Sammy Martz Jr., Dylan Smith, Joey Bruning, Joe Williams, Trent Willey, Ryan Shanahan, Ryan Simmons, Brett Tonkin, Thomas Sherby, Matthew Meade, Josh Livingston, A.J. Custodi, Cole Stangle, Ryan Anderson, Addison Bowman.
Did Not Qualify: Zack Sam, Sean Metz, Sean Weiss, Kevin Stevens, Richard Wegner, Jonathan Swift, Corey Edelman, Zachary Merola, Cody Manmiller, Stacy Jackson, Timothy Guild, Chris Grbac, Gene Beadle, Paul Mancini, Donald Bellen III, Alex Bell, Brad Alger, Billy Fiske, Shawn McPhee, Tom Burakowski, Beau Drobot, Bobby Dunn, David Dickey, Daryl Dissinger, Billy Eggers, Zach Ziegenhagen, Eric Kocher, James O’Hara, Joseph Brown, Bryon DeWitt, Joel Smith, Brian Calabrese, Austin Smith, Kinser Hill.
American Racer /Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire): Payton Talbot (seventh)
Belmont’s Garage Halfway Leader Bonus ($200): Brian Krummel
Belmont’s Garage Qualifying Event Winners ($200): Will Shields, Steve Davis, Justin Grosso, Tanner Van Doren & Brian Krummel
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Buck ($25): Joe Toth (Redrew 10th)
Evergreen Fuels Inc. ‘High and Low Temperature’ Bonus ($95): Brian Krummel
Evergreen Fuels Inc. Thursday Fast Time Award ($50): Stephen Kemery (21.305 seconds)
Fastline Performance Hard Charger Award ($500): Michael Ballestero (30th to ninth)
Hurlock Auto & Speed Allstar Performance Certificates ($50): Will Shields, Steve Davis, Justin Grosso, Tanner Van Doren, Brian Krummel, Dakota Kohler & Grant Hilfiger
Insinger Performance Drawing ($250 Gift Certificates): Joe Toth & Donald Bellen III (open to all teams purchasing 10 gallons at the track)
