Matt Sheppard Wins Yet Another Modified Event At The Outlaw Speedway

Story By: KENNY SHUPP / OUTLAW SPEEDWAY – DUNDEE, NY – A late schedule change found the Outlaw Speedway opening for racing on Friday, June 26 as the track was originally set to remain silent due to local high school graduations.

However, with the COVID 19 Pandemic changing area school’s graduation protocol, track owner, Tyler Siri decided to race and in doing so it paid big dividends. With spectacular summer like weather and perhaps the best racing surface of the year, the Outlaw Speedway again played host to pit only admission with no fans in the stands for the fourth consecutive week.

Viewers were able to watch all the action on Dirt Track Digest TV pay per view.

A Regular Super 7 Show was on the card with the cream of the crop once again finding their way into victory lane in several of the track’s weekly classes. After last week’s afternoon rainstorm which forced a late start in the action, perfect weather allowed for racing to get underway at the scheduled start time and a season high 110 cars registered for race action.

In the Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modified Division the largest car count of the season found some twenty-one machines taking the opening green flag with front row starters Jordan Siri and Jim LaRock bringing the field to the opening green flag. LaRock and Siri would show the way in the early going as a caution flag on lap three sent both Kyle Coffey and Matt Sheppard to the hot pit area as both would return to the speedway. On the ensuing green LaRock would lead as Sheppard was mowing the field down and was up to fifth spot by lap eight. Sheppard then passed Eric Rudolph for second by lap thirteen and then disposed of LaRock shortly thereafter. Once out in front, Super Matt put his potent 9s machine on cruise control and rode to his third straight win of the 2020 season. From second place on back a tremendous battle was raging between LaRock, Rudolph, a hard charging Danny Johnson and Ron Cartwright Jr. as the smooth, tacky 4/10 of a mile was remaining fast. A quick caution on lap nineteen would tighten the field and with only eleven laps remaining The Doctor, Danny Johnson was starting to show his muscle as he passed both Rudolph and LaRock and was now into the runner up spot. However, Sheppard had a full straight a way lead and it was to much for The Doctor to overcome as he settled for a well-deserved second place finish after starting ninth on the opening grid. Eric Rudolph was able to clear Jim LaRock to finish out the top three podium finishers. LaRock capped off a great run by finishing fourth, but it was many time Track Champion, The Hurricane Steve Paine putting on the drive of the night. Paine, who started outside the ninth row methodically worked his way thru a star-studded field and rounded out the top five finishers. The heartbreak story of the event had to be Ron Cartwright Jr. who once again showed great speed only to have a mechanical issue crop up late in the event ending another sure top five finish. For Sheppard it makes a runner-up finish on opening night to winner, AJ Slideways, Alan Johnson and now three straight as he appears to once again be the dominant Modified at Outlaw Speedway.

Heat race winners were Danny Johnson, Jordan Siri and Kyle Coffey.

Over the past few years, Tommy Collins Jr. has been a constant threat in both the American Racer Tire as well as the Hoosier Tire shod Crate Sportsman Divisions. Thus far in 2020 at Outlaw Speedway Collins has focused his attention strictly on the Hoosier Tire class and it has paid off as he started in spot seven on the opening green flag and after a spirited battle with then race leader, Stacy Jackson was able to take over the top spot by the mid-way portion of the twenty-five lap feature and from there went on the win his second consecutive feature in a row. Earlier season Hoosier Tire Sportsman feature winner, Zach Sobotka was again a picture of consistency as he started twelfth and came home for second at the double checkers. Third thru fifth went to a trio of drivers that compete in both the Hoosier Tire and American Racer Tire Divisions as Alex Payne finished third as he was chased across the line by Zach George and last years Hoosier Tire Track Champion, Will Shields. Stacy Jackson, who was originally scored third at the finish had his run wiped out as his machine was DQ’d in a post feature event inspection.

Hoosier Tire Sportsman heat wins were claimed by Alex Payne and Tommy Paine who picked up his first checkered flag in his rookie season.

In the Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Sportsman Class, a solid field of twenty machines took the opening green flag. Thus far it has been three different faces in three feature races in the popular Sportsman Division and this night would be no different. Add third generation pilot and young gun, Alex Payne’s name to an already top-notch list of feature winners including Ajay Potrzebowski, Dale Welty and Zach Sobotka. Payne started on the pole, led throughout the entire event, was able to withstand several restarts and came home with his first ever feature win at Outlaw. Payne, who continues to hone his craft by competing weekly in both Sportsman Divisions at the track had all his and his crew’s hard work pay off as the extra seat time has certainly played a part him excelling to the top of his division. Two additional household names that also compete in both the Hoosier Tire and American Racer Tire Sportsman Divisions including Will Shields and Zach Sobotka chased Payne across the finish line as they finished second and third. Another pair of second-generation drivers in Billy Paine and Donnie Lawson rounded out the top five finishes.

Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Sportsman heat winners included Troy Sperring, Payne and Chris Fisher.

Jeremy Bunn made it three straight feature wins in a row and has staked an early season claim to the 2020, 4 Cylinder Track Title as he was again victorious in the twenty-lap feature event. Bunn’s ultra- sleek machine has proven to be the car to beat thus far as he cruised to another popular win. Father, Scott Lehman once again has the family bragging rights as he bested son Scott Lehman Jr. for the runner up spot at the finish as opening night feature winner, Robert Doolittle came home for fourth. Robert Decker started the event in the seventh row, put on the drive of the night and rounded out the top five finishers in the sixteen-car feature event.

Heat wins went to Ray Hyer and 2017 Track Champion, Mike Stone.

2018 Outlaw Speedway IMCA Modified Track Champion, Rodney Morgan was dethroned last season by Brandon Smith who claimed his first ever track title after years of competing in the division. With Smith going into semi-retirement this year it left the door wide open for a new track champion and Morgan has stake his claim by once again putting on a dominating performance in winning his fourth straight twenty lap IMCA Modified feature event and with the win remains undefeated on the season. Veteran driver, Dick in the Dirt Rich Karlnoski rode home for second at the double checkered flags followed by lady driver, Nichole Spaulding who rounded the top three podium finishers. For Spaulding she again showed great poise in running against her male counter parts as she continues to turn heads in the division. Rick Watt and ageless veteran, Carl Sparky Hills completed the top five.

The lone IMCA Modified heat was claimed by Kevin Smith.

In the companion IMCA Hobby Stock Division it was once again Wayne Ellison finding victory lane in the thirteen-car field. After a last place finish the week prior due to mechanical problems, Ellison came storming back this week. Starting eighth on the grid, Ellison mowed the field apart and claimed his third win in four weeks of action as not only his machine attractive, it runs as good as it looks. Bruce Kinner had to settle for second at the end as he was chased across the line by other class regulars in Jamie Eldredge Jr., class rookie, Joshua Oles with lady competitor, Amber Pierce bettering her sister, Allison by one spot to claim fifth.

IMCA Hobby Stock heat wins were picked-up by Jeremy Trank and Marc Minutolo.

In the Stan’s No Tubes Street Stock Division a season high sixteen classy looking machines took to the speedway for their twenty lap A main event. Like the American Racer Tire Sportsman Division before them, the Stan’s No Tubes Street Stocks also have no one driver dominating the feature action. Thus far in 2020 Quinn Sutherland, CJ Guererri and Glen Whritenour have enjoyed victory lane and on this night it would be a fourth new face hitting pay dirt as third generation driver, Jake Karlnoski was finally able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together in bagging his first win of the year and with it matched his lone win of 2019 in the tough class. Jared Hill and Jake Karlnoski brought the field to the opening green flag and Karlnoski took full advantage of his up front starting spot, stayed in clean air throughout the event and came home with the win as he was followed across the line by last weeks winner and 2017 and 2018 class champion, Glen Whritenour. Mike Wonderling, making a rare appearance in the Skyler Family Racing 57j, normally piloted by Sutherland started ninth on the opening green flag and put on a great drive to finish third. CJ Guererri was again a picture of consistency as he rode home for fourth at the finish chased across the line by Jared Hill who rounded the top five.

Stan’s No Tubes heat winners included Whritenour as Jake Karlnoski capped off his perfect night by winning heat race 2.

In the Winner’s Circle Deli Bandit Division, it was Ethan Decker again finding victory lane as he continues to dominate the youth class.

Congratulations to all competitors.

Up next at Outlaw Speedway on Friday, July 3 tentative plans call for a Regular Super 7 Show as well as the Annual Fireworks Extravaganza. However, due to recent developments in what was thought to be a re-opening of the facility to race fans it appears like NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo is now pushing that date back to later in the month. Should the facility NOT be allowed to open the grandstand area, the fireworks program will be set for a later date.

FRIENDLY CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM MODIFIEDS. (21 cars)
Heats. Danny Johnson, Jordan Siri, Kyle Coffey,
30 lap feature. Matt Sheppard (3), Danny Johnson, Erick Rudolph, Jim LaRock, Steve Paine, Kyle Coffey, Brady Fultz, Eldon Payne, Derrick Podsiadlo, Alan Johnson, Kailee Dimorier, Greg Birosh, Lance Dusett, Jordan Siri, Ron Cartwright Jr., Ed Lawrence, Justin Wright, Billy Shantel, Tyler Siri, Cory Costa, Walt Chyrywaty.

SUNRISE INSULATION AMERICAN RACER TIRE SPORTSMAN. (20 cars)
Heats. Troy Sparring, Alex Payne, Chris Fisher
25 lap feature. Alex Payne, Will Shields, Zach Sobotka, Billy Paine, Donnie Lawson, Troy Sperring, Chris Fisher, Dale Welty, Chris Silvers, Doug Smith, Karl Comfort, Cole Youse, Lance Erwin, Bryan Rhodes, Dean Loughlin, Travis Grover, Steve Schrader, Ajay Potrzebowski, Kaiden Dgien, Justin Schenck

HOOSIER TIRE SPORTSMAN. (15 cars)
Heats. Alex Payne, Tommy Paine
25 lap feature. Tommy Collins Jr. (2), Zach Sobotka, Alex Payne, Zach George, Will Shields, JR Sperring, Brett Buono, Travis Grover, AJ Lloyd, Tony Velez, Tommy Paine, Bryan Rhodes, Brett Baldwin. DNS, Tim Guild. DQ, Stacy Jackson.

STAN’S NO TUBES STREET STOCKS. (16 cars)
Heats. Glen Whritenour, Jake Karlnoski
20 lap feature. Jake Karlnoski, Glen Whritenour, Mike Wonderling, CJ Guererri, Jared Hill, Bob Buono, Jeremy Potrzebowski, Jimmy Grant, Lance Albanese, Chuck Winslow, Aksel Jensen, Abe Romanik, Zach Teed, Gene Balmer, Aaron Miller, Mike Wilbur Jr.

IMCA MODIFIEDS. (9 cars)
Heat. Kevin Smith
20 lap feature. Rodney Morgan (4), Rich Karlnoski, Nichole Spaulding, Rick Watt, Sparky Hills, Brad Smith, Shawn Bruce, Bumps Scutt, Kevin Smith

IMCA HOBBY STOCKS. (13 cars)
Heats. Jeremy Trank, Marc Minutolo
20 lap feature. Wayne Ellison (3), Bruce Kinner, Jamie Eldredge Jr., Joshua Oles, Amber Pierce, Allison Pierce, Justin Eldredge, Jeremy Trank, Jack Ayers, Kenny Hunt, Carl Nichols. DQ, Casey Wagner, Marc Minutolo

4 CYLINDERS. (16 cars)
Heats. Ray Hyer, Mike Stone
20 lap feature. Jeremy Bunn (3), Scott Lehman, Scott Lehman Jr., Robert Doolittle, Robert Decker, Desi Force, Jayson Smart, Lee Fritz, Ray Hyer, Mike Webster Jr., Eric Stinson, Kayley Potrzebowski, Mike Stone, Kenneth Evans III. DNS, Randy Riley, Matt Erwin.

WINNERS CIRCLE DELI BANDITS.
Feature. Ethan Decker.