Short Track Super Series, Brett Deyo, Ready For This Weekend
Column By: RUSTY RHOADES / RPW – GEORGETOWN, DE – Finally…The long, quiet Northeast modified racing offseason has run its course. The mighty ground-pounders will roar back to life this weekend in The First State for the 49 lap, $4,900 to win Melvin Joseph Memorial at Georgetown Speedway. Promoter Brett Deyo brings his extremely-popular Short Track Super Series (STSS) back to the rejuvenated Delaware facility he’s also in charge of.
Deyo has wasted no time in rescuing the fast half-mile from the brink of extinction and elevating it back into the dirt racing spotlight once again. He took over management of the fading facility in late 2015 and through tireless effort and proven promotional expertise has already turned Georgetown back into an attractive destination for some of the top dirt series in the country.
He continued the upgrades over the winter including 204 loads of fresh clay surface, a brand new PA sound system and another food option for fans by adding Fat Daddy’s BBQ and Grille. And it’s no surprise that the Short Track Super Series, which will be kicking off its South Region tour at the speedway this Saturday, is also a product of Brett’s vision and determination to create and improve in the modified racing community.
Changing how feature finishers are paid, loosening up certain engine rules that can be very restrictive on teams and proactively utilizing social media and its massive reach to his advantage has paid off in spades for Brett. He has been able to create a large, loyal following of drivers, fans and sponsors to his series in amazingly quick fashion.
The 2016 Super Series season was one of tremendous success. Only three years into its existence, the tour filled pit areas with competitors and packed grandstands with excited fans wanting to witness the impressive combination of quality and quantity these shows consistently produced.
Ten different tracks hosted the 13 total races that took place everywhere from Southern Delaware to Central New York. It wasn’t uncommon to see modified car counts in the 40’s throughout the season. Some teams spent most of the day traveling in their haulers to STSS shows much farther away than what their normal schedule would include.
The addition of Susquehanna Speedway to the South Region schedule last year has created great excitement and anticipation from lifelong modified fans waiting for years to see that combination reunite in Newberrytown. Anyone that was in attendance that evening knows just how much that show lived up to those lofty expectations and this year’s return to York County will now pay $10,000 to win.
Deyo and his tour are carrying a ton of 2016 momentum into this season and are ready to keep it rolling come Saturday afternoon.
Close to 40 modified teams have already indicated their intentions to make the tow to The First State for the Melvin Joseph Memorial this weekend. Reigning South Region champion Stewart Friesen headlines the list of entries. Friesen, who is now a full-time competitor with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, will make his first Northeast Modified start of 2017 in the potent Halmar International 44 ride he won three STSS races with in ’16. Thos events included the tour’s last visit to Georgetown, which is when he clinched his title.
Ryan Godown, also a three-time winner on the tour last year, will be in the Georgetown pits as well. “The Ringoes Rocket” will be making his debut in the Atlas Paving 66 and is the latest in a line of top notch modified wheelmen to strap in for the always fast Mike Petruska team.
Defending North Region champion Andy Bachetti will be making the long tow from Sheffield, MA. “The Wild Child” was winless last year but rode a string of great finishes to the North title as well as admirably supporting the South shows that are all several hours away for that team.
2015 South Region champ Ryan Watt will again be chasing the entire schedule with the high-flying Roberts 14w. “The Electric Company” followed his title with another great runner-up point finish last season.
Add in the likes of Jimmy Horton, Duane Howard, Billy Pauch Sr. & Jr., Jeff Strunk, “The Doctor” Danny Johnson, Rick Laubach, Frank Cozze, Craig VonDohren, Anthony Perrego, Danny Creeden and Jamie Mills in attendance and you can see why this series is so successful and competitive with no change in sight.
Melvin L. Joseph Memorial Race Information
Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, Del.
Saturday, March 11 (Rain Date: March 12)
Big-Block/Small-Block Modifieds – 49 laps*, $4,900 to win, $1,000 for 10th, $490 to start
*All green-flag laps
Crate 602 Sportsman 20 laps*, $1,000 to win, $100 to start
*All green-flag laps
Delaware Super Trucks and Delmarva Chargers will each compete for $200 to win and $40 to take the green flag. Little Lincolns and Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars are also included on the program.
Speedway Address: 24505, 24513 South Dupont Blvd, Georgetown, DE 19947 – Located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road
Speedway Phone: 845.728.2781
Speedway Website: www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com
Event Website: www.shorttracksuperseries.com
Series Phone: 845.728.2781
Pit Gates Open: Noon
Grandstand Gates Open: 1 p.m.
Drivers’ Meeting: 2:30 p.m.
Hot Laps: 3 p.m.
Qualifying: 4 p.m.
Admission: $20 (Adults); $16 Seniors (ages 65 and up) & Students (ages 13-17); $10 (Kids 9-12); children eight and under are FREE
Pit Admission: $35 (no license required ages 13 and up); $10 (Kids ages 6-12); Children five and under $2
