Unfortunate Issue Helped Put ‘Fun’ Into Matt Sheppard’s 2017 Super DIRTcar Series Championship Run

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – LIVERPOOL, NY – Halfway through the 2017 racing season, after an on-track altercation with another competitor and subsequent two-race suspension, Matt Sheppard and his team decided to stop putting all their emphasis on winning the Super DIRTcar Series championship and just go out to win races.

The team wanted to have fun and decided to let the points fall where they may. What transpired was a comeback for the ages as the Waterloo, NY driver captured his sixth series championship on the heels of 12 race wins. He was crowned Saturday night at the Holiday Inn Liverpool during the 2017 DIRTcar Awards Banquet.

After all that went on this summer, Sheppard was in a predicament that many haven’t seen as of late…a driver being behind in points. This may have provided the motivation he and his team were looking for.

“Being behind, we wanted to work harder to prove we could get back on top,” he said. “However, at the same time, it kind of took the pressure off as well. When you’re sitting in like eighth in points, you’re not really worried about the championship. You’re just out to win every night and we did that just about every night we were at the track.”

Sheppard and his team had to scratch and claw their way up the ladder during the remaining races if they wanted to have a chance at the title. It also meant they would have to catch, and pass, the likes of Billy Decker, Larry Wight and the rest of the Super DIRTcar Series stars. But the 9s team was up to the task.

Starting in late July, Matt ripped off five straight tour victories and the march was on. After that, he would win five out of the next nine events and pass point leader Billy Decker after his win in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at Super DIRT Week.

Cementing his claim on the title with a third at Brockville to go along with a win and a second place during the World Finals at Charlotte, it’s safe to say ‘SuperMatt’ found a way to out do his record performance of a year ago.

“This title feels just as good as the first one,” he said. “It’s different for sure, as we took a different approach to get here this time around. We always worked hard night in and night out, keeping an eye on the points. This year, we changed that, and said, screw it, let’s just go out and have fun, race and see what happens. I feel like we had the most fun we’ve ever had and we won the most races we ever have too.”

Even after capturing his sixth series crown in the last eight years, Sheppard can’t put himself as an elite driver in the sport.

“Look at Brett Hearn…over 900 career wins,” he said with a laugh. “I think we won 40 overall this year. If I do the math, I’d have to win 40 races a year for the next 28 years to maybe get close to him. I don’t know if I can say ‘elite’ right now.”

Sheppard is still in awe of the fact he gets to make a living doing something he loves.

“I’ve said it before, I grew up as a fan of the sport,” he said. “As a little kid growing up, I watched Alan (Johnson), Brett (Hearn), Billy (Decker) and a lot of guys in this room do battle. Having the pleasure to race with these guys now-a-days, I can’t classify myself in the same group as they are. I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”

Even with all his success as a driver, Matt knows it takes a great team behind him to get to the top of the mountain each year.

“I can’t thank the group of people that have been behind our team enough,” he said. “We have three tables here tonight and could easily have filled four of five if we brought everyone that helps us out. We are very fortunate to have the amount of support that we do. I couldn’t do it by myself. I couldn’t do it without all these people and I’m just very thankful for them.”

News & Notes…
Matt Sheppard, with his base payout for winning the Super DIRTcar title, the money for winning the DIRTcar overall home track championship and the fuel certificates, walked out of the Holiday Inn with over $50,000.

Steve Bernard (358-Modified), Dave Marcuccilli (Sportsman) and Rob Yetman (Pro Stock) all took home DIRTcar Championship hardware on Saturday. Stay tuned to Race Pro Weekly for more on these drivers over the next few weeks.

Cody Bleau (Big Block Modified), Jesse Cotriss (358-Modified), Tyler Thompson (Sportsman) and Josh Coonradt (Pro Stock) were each selected as the 2017 DIRTcar Rookies of the Year in their respective divisions.

Tenth place in Big Block points for the season was Keith Flach, but he did not attend the banquet. However, he had a good reason. With his wife, Chelsea, very close to giving birth to the couple’s first child, she isn’t allowed to travel and Keith wasn’t going to go without her.

He did, however, send a text to emcee Shane Andrews which was read on stage at the time his name was called.

The Super DIRTcar Series Most Popular Driver Award, presented by Speed51, went to Max McLaughlin.

It was announced during the banquet by DIRTcar CEO Brian Carter that the Pro Stock division will be part of the World Short Track Championship at the Dirt Track at Charlotte starting in October 2018.

Kyle Wilson, affectionately known as the ‘Joyceville Cadet,’ was selected in a drawing from over 500 entries to receive a free 602 GM Crate Engine as part of a GM Giveaway.

Sportsman campaigner Tyler Trump looks as though he will be making the move up to the 358-Modified division in 2018. With his home track of Fulton going to 358s as a headline division, the transition appears to be an easier one for the young driver.

The promoters of the Bear Ridge Speedway, CV Elms & April May Preston, were honored by DIRTcar for 50 years in racing at the beginning of the banquet.

The top 15 in Big Block series points were Sheppard, Billy Decker, Larry Wight, Pat Ward, Jimmy Phelps, Brett Hearn, Tim Fuller, Pete Britten, Max McLaughlin, Keith Flach, Stewart Friesen, Michael Maresca, Brandon Walters, Billy Whittaker and Mike Mahaney. Stay tuned to Race Pro Weekly for more on these drivers over the next few weeks.