RPW Column: ATL To OCFS: Stewart Friesen Takes Close One Over Matt Sheppard In Orange County ’20 Lid Lifter

RPW Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – It was one of those busy days that Stewart Friesen is probably used to.

Race the HFR entry in the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series during the afternoon, then head off to race at a dirt track in the evening. It turned out to be a worthwhile trip for Friesen as he took the Orange County Fair Speedway’s opening night event in a thrilling race to the finish in the 43 lap Jimmy Horton Tribute Race that paid $4300 to the winner.

Friesen needed just about all 43 laps to wrestle the lead away from Matt Sheppard.

Forty five modifieds signed into the action. With many tracks not quite ready to present their first event, there were many non regulars who were in competition. In addition to Friesen and Sheppard, Andy Bachetti, Mike Mahaney, LJ Lombardo, Jack Lehner, Demetrios Drellos, Billy Dunn, Marc Johnson, Ricky Davis and Kenny Tremont all joined in with the always strong OCFS Modified field for this event. Heat wins went to Mahaney, Dillon Steuer, Jimmy Horton, Sheppard and Tremont.

With the top 3 heat finishers going into the redraw, it was Richie Eurich and Lehner bringing the field to the green. Eurich jumped out to the lead over Bachetti and Lehner. After one lap complete, the only yellow flag of the race took place as there was a 5 car pileup in turn 2. Craig Mitchell and Tyler Jashembowski were able to drive away, but Davis, Bobby Hentschel and Tyler Boniface all went off on the hook.

The restart saw Bachetti take the lead over Eurich, Lehner and Friesen. Sheppard moved up quickly from his 8th starting spot to take 4th on lap 3, 3rd on lap 6 and 2nd on lap 10. Friesen, who started 3rd, had dropped back to 5th at the start, but worked his way back up to 3rd by lap 14. Meanwhile, Sheppard had reeled in Bachetti and moved inside him on lap 15 to take the lead. Friesen passed Bachetti for 2nd on lap 19. At halfway, it was Sheppard over Friesen, Bachetti, Eurich and Lehner.

As the laps clicked off, Sheppard was able to maintain a steady lead over Friesen as they moved through the lapped traffic. But slowly, Friesen started cutting into the lead. By lap 38, Friesen was really working on Sheppard, getting great runs on the outside in turn 3. After swapping the lead a couple of times, Friesen was able to complete the pass as the 2 to go signal was given. Sheppard fought back, but Friesen was able to hold on to take the victory by 3 car lengths for his 12th career OCFS Modified Big Block triumph. Following Sheppard in the top 5 were Bachetti, Tremont and Billy VanInwegen. Anthony Perrego, Lehner, Tyler Dippel, Tommy Meier and Mahaney rounded out the top 10.

After an impressive heat race win, the night’s honoree Horton had to make an early pit stop in the feature and finished 15th.

In Sportsman action, a hard charging Jared laBagh took advantage of a late caution and was able to take the victory. A 45 car field was in action with heat race wins going to Kenny Ryder, Bobert Bublak, Greg Sleight, Tyler Corcoran and Justin Buff.

Buff and defending OCFS Sportsman Champion Grant Hilfiger led the field to the green flag with Buff taking the lead. After a lap 3 caution for Bobby Flood and Tighe Sherlock, Buff continued to lead. At halfway, it was Buff leading Hilfiger, Kevin Stevens, Jake Bedell and Corcoran. LaBagh was steadily picking off cars, moving up well from his 16th starting spot.

The key moment of the race occurred on lap 17. Bublak hit the inside barrier. While under caution, 2nd place Hilfiger pulled into the pits. This moved Stevens up to 2nd and LaBagh to 3rd. laBagh passed Stevens on the restart and made an outside move on Buff coming to the white flag. LaBagh took the impressive win with Buff, Stevens, Corcoran and Joe Bonetti completing the top 5. Bedell, Tanner VanDoren, Andrew Buff, Dom Roselli Jr. and Jack Speshock taking positions 6-10.

It certainly wasn’t your typical opening night. But with the drive in section available at OCFS, they were in a position to move ahead with this show. With the accompanying Pay-Per-View that was available and a couple of thrilling races, it appeared to be a successful start to the season. As the weeks move ahead, it will be nice to have more racing opening up and hopefully with fans being able to take part.