Epic Rivalries & Potent Invaders Converge On Orange County Thursday For Twin 50’s
Information By: ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Over the now 10+ decades of racing at OCFS, there have been many heated rivalries, dominant drivers, streaks, records, etc. However, as we head into Thursday, July 2nd’s special Twin 50-Lap modified event, we are looking at a star-studded field that in some ways is unprecedented, the rivalries and stars abound.
Ninteen-year-old Dillon Steuer rolled into his first ever OCFS Big Block Modified win on Saturday June 27th, ahead of the likes of Anthony Perrego (won 6/13 and 6/20, OCFS past champ), Stewart Friesen (Nascar Trucks driver, OCFS opening night 2020 winner), Matt Sheppard (7 time Super DIRTcar Series champion) and other OCFS regulars who have been racing in Middletown for many more years than young Steuer has. It was an impressive run for the teenaged Long islander with a background in asphalt racing. Though it’s his first win, Steuer has been around the block for at least a season at OCFS, and had always shown promise. It was only a matter of time before this young gun got a win.
Making it hard for young Dillon, will be one of dirt racing’s greatest rivalries of all time, that of Stewart Friesen and Matt Sheppard. “Super” Matt Sheppard made OCFS his weekly home for 2020, looking to capitalize after his success there during 2019’s Centennial Race Weekend on the new clay surface. With 4 weeks into the season, Sheppard has yet to score a feature win, but his strong finishes have kept him competitive in the points, currently sitting at no.2.
While some fans may have expected the “Superman” to reign at OCFS, it’s actually been the Ant-Man, Anthony Perrego who has dominated so far in Big Block competition in 2020. Though relatively young, Perrego has earned early legend status at OCFS, already accumulating a wide spectrum of nicknames (and championships) including track announcer Tim Pitts’ go-to’s, Kid Giddyup and Tommy’s Boy. This young champion will certainly be looking to add to his list of wins at OCFS on July 2nd.
As if regulars like Perrego and Sheppard weren’t enough to deal with, Thursday’s show is expected to bring many non-regular drivers gunning for that $5,000 to win each 50-lap feature. Confirmed invaders include Stewart “Mr. Freeze” Friesen, LJ Lombardo, Andy “The Wild Child” Bachetti, Billy Decker, Peter “The Batman” Britten, Rick “Scooby” Laubach and Rickie Davis. Dirt racing fans know what a treat it is to see the likes of regular invaders like Andy Bachetti and LJ Lombardo go toe-to-toe, seriously, there are too many drivers who could win either or BOTH of these twin 50-lappers.
There will be a Superman, an Ant-Man, a Batman, a Mr. Freeze and even a Scooby, throwing it down on 5/8 mile of clay in 800+ HP Big Block machines, now if that doesn’t sound like a show what does?!?
