RPW Exclusive: Stewart Friesen Survives The Battle At OCFS For Third Super DIRTcar Victory Of 2018

Column By: JOHN DOUGLAS / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – What started as the Battle on the Midway during the Orange County Fair, turned into a war of attrition on Thursday Night. Stewart Friesen outlasted the competition to pick up his third Super DIRTcar victory of 2018 in impressive fashion. Some competitors however, found things a bit rougher.

Tim Fuller assumed the early lead from his pole position on the start of the 100 lap affair over Stewart Friesen who quickly slotted into second position. Before Friesen could mount a challenge for the lead caution flew for the first time of the night. It would be far from the last.

After racing resumed, Friesen made the move on Fuller off turn two to grab the lead. However just after his pass with 30 laps complete, Danny Johnson’s No 27j was involved in a scary three car incident as his car struck the yuke tires used to protect drivers from the end of the inside wall and was hurled skyward. Doing a full corkscrew in the air, Johnson came to rest and climbed from his car. Johnson was unhurt in the accident.

On the restart Friesen quickly pulled out to a one second lead over Fuller who remained strong in second place. Jimmy Phelps moved into the third position and held station through the mid section of the event.

Caution flew again as Max McLaughlin made contact with the backstretch wall, relegating him to the rear of the field after quick repairs were administered by the crew.

With just under thirty laps remaining, the field again took the green flag with Friesen leading the charge into turn one. All looked to be decided as the leader began to pull away but Erick Rudolph, Matt Sheppard and Jimmy Phelps found themselves battling with Tim Fuller’s No. 19 for the final two podium positions.

On the final lap Fuller found himself caught up in the misfortune of Jimmy Phelps. The No. 98h blew a tire coming onto the front stretch causing Fuller’s car to make heavy contact with the front stretch wall bringing out the caution for a final one lap dash to the finish.

Friesen easily held off the competition to claim victory and the $10,000 winner’s share of the purse. Matt Sheppard managed to gain second place off the misfortunes of Fuller and Phelps, while Erick Rudolph claimed the third and final podium position.

“What a race team, what a race car.” Friesen said in victory lane. “It’s so fun. I get to go racing with my best friends, we’ve got great race cars right now. DKM is working so hard right now and Billy the Kid keeps giving us great smoke. We just had to get rolling in the beginning of that one and then just save our stuff. I love racing at this track. It’s so strategic, it’s just a lot of fun.”

The next stop on the Super DIRTcar Series takes competitors north of the border to Autodrome Granby in Granby, Quebec Canada on July 23rd.

(1) Stewart Friesen (2) Matt Sheppard (3) Erick Rudolph (4) Jimmy Horton (5) Billy Decker (6) Peter Britten (7) Jerry Higbie (8) L.J. Lombardo (9) Billy Pauch Jr. (10) Jeff Heotzler (11) Ryan Godown (12) Brett Hearn (13) Billy Van Inwegen (14) Andy Bachetti (15) Max McLaughlin (16) Jimmy Phelps (17) Tim Fuller (18) Rich Scagliotta (19) Chris Schulz (20) Dave Rauscher (21) Anthony Perrego (22) Brian Krummel (23) Adam Roberts (24) Danny Johnson (25) Bob McGannon (26) Tommy Meier (27) Gary Edwards Jr. (28) Riche Eurich (29) Rusty Smith (30) Craig Mitchell (31) Danny Cronk