Matt Sheppard Dominates Friday At Outlaw For Ninth Win Of ’20; Takes Track Title

Story By: KENNY SHUPP / OUTLAW SPEEDWAY – DUNDEE, NY – It is now very clear what will happen with the Bounty Money that was placed on both Super Matt Sheppard and Glen Whritenour earlier in the season at Outlaw Speedway. Sheppard in the Modifieds and Whritenour in the Street Stocks completed the regular season with feature wins on Friday night. They along with Wayne Ellison in the IMCA Hobby Stock Division all ended the regular point season as Track Champions and all three piled up nine feature wins a piece heading into post season play.

For Sheppard he will receive the extra $2,000 that was posted and Whritenour will grab the added $500. As for both men track owner/promoter, Tyler Siri stated, “I think its only appropriate that both these great competitors receive the Bounty Money I had put up on them several weeks ago. They both handled the situation well and no track regular or outside driver that came in here could beat either one of them. I think it’s only fair that both take the cash now that the regular season is over with.”

For Super Matt Sheppard in the Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds his feature win really came as no surprise, however his customary reign of terror in the thirty-lap feature event was anything but a walk in the park. Brady Fultz led the fifteen car A Main event to the opening green flag and like several other times in 2020 looked poised to take home his first Modified feature win in several seasons at Outlaw. For some twenty plus laps he led the charge keeping both Sheppard and AJ Slideways, Alan Johnson at bay. Eventually the two full time veteran professional drivers were able to wear down the high flying Fultz denying him of the potential $4,000 pay day and take over the top two positions with Sheppard going onto his fifth feature win in the last seven starts at the popular Yates County oval. For Johnson it was another solid top five run as he ended up the regular season at Outlaw with a pair of feature wins and will finish second in the final point tally coming up short of backing up his 2018 Outlaw Speedway Track Championship. For Fultz it was yet another masterful performance piloting his family owned machine and he can now set his sights on the upcoming September/October schedule of events with the confidence that he can run with the very best in the business. Like Fultz, Kyle Coffey ran a flawless Modified feature event in finishing fourth at the finish as the Doctor Danny Johnson piloting one of track owner, Tyler Siri’s potent Modifieds sponsored by Tim Gibson of Sunrise Insulation rounded out the top five finishers and wrapped up the regular season points in third place. Coffey came up just a few points shy of The Doctor and will end the year fourth in the final point tally.

Second verse same as the first with Glen Whritenour in the Stan’s No Tubes Street Stock’s mirroring the performance of Super Matt. His traditional romp thru the feature field was not a cake walk by any means as he had to contend with early event leader, Jake Karlnoski who gave GW fits for the first eight laps and then had to hold off fast closing invader, Dylan Cecce to pick up the twenty lap feature win. For Whritenour is finished off an incredible last nine weeks as he won eight of those events with just one DNF stretching back to July 3. In a rare 2020 appearance at Outlaw, 2019 Track Champ, Cecce was definitely on a mission and looking to claim the $500 Bounty placed on Whritenour by track owner, Boss Man Siri. Starting eleventh on the opening grid and driving the Crawford machine on this night, Cecce put on a clinic driving thru the talent ridden field and once clear of traffic was able to cut into race leader Whritenour s advantage. With the laps winding down and no late race yellow flags to help in his cause, Cecce came up just a few car lengths short at the finish as Shawn Boyton trailed in third. June 12 feature winner, CJ Guererri ended a consistent regular season finishing fourth at the double checkered flags while Kane Stebbins rounded out the top five.

In the Hoosier Tire Sportsman Division, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Zach Sobotka would be crowned the 2020 class champion. By virtue of four feature wins and a slew of other top five finishes in the class heading into the double point season point finale, Sobotka simple needed to just show up and take the opening green flag and it was official. Tim Guild led the first fourteen laps from his front row starting position and looked to finally shake the gremlins that have plagued him through the entire 2020 race season. Fourth generation driver, Alex Payne who had won twice thus far on the season was marching thru the field from the eighth starting spot and shot by Guild for the lead on lap fifteen and from there stretched the advantage and cruise to win three no the campaign. Guild would hold on for a well-deserved runner up finish as he was chased across the line by Brett Buono in third. Tommy Collins Jr. capped off a great point year on the Hoosier Tire brand by finishing fourth while 2020 Track Champion, Zach Sobotka rounded out the top five.

In the Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Sportsman Division it was a three horse race heading into the twenty-five lap feature double point finale One time 2020 class feature event winner, Billy Paine would lead the twenty-one car field to the opening green flag and lead the first eight laps. Like Paine, Will Shields had also picked up one feature event earlier in the season. He had a very patient strategy, moved around Paine for the lead on lap nine and from there it was game over as he cruised to win two on the campaign. However, behind Shields it was nail biting time as Ajay Potrzebowski, who was leading the points heading into the event along with Chris Fisher and Karl Comfort were going at it for the title. With double points on the line and just a few points separating the top three entering the event it could not be determined until the checkered flag waved as to who would be crowned Track Champ. Both Fisher who won the title in 2018 and with no feature wins entering the event along with Comfort who claimed the title one year earlier in 2017 and had only one feature event thus far both had their work cut out as Potrzebowski had been the dominate player with four feature wins. With the laps winding down in an event that saw only three caution flags, Comfort finished second and was able to leapfrog over both Fisher and Potrzebowski and claim the title. Early on in the event, Fisher looked positioned to earn the championship but faded late to a sixth place run just one spot ahead of Potrzebowski who dejectedly came up just a few points shy of claiming his first ever Outlaw Speedway Title. Following both Shields and Comfort across the line was Casey Williams with an impressive third place finish followed by Zach Sobotka who was fourth and Troy Sperring in fifth.

Like the American Racer Tire Sportsman before them the IMCA Modifieds had no clear-cut favorite leading up to the last point night of the regular season. At the beginning of the night a make-up feature for the IMCA Mods had to be run from a July 10 rainout. In that event, Shawn Bruce was victorious for his second trip to victory lane in 2020 setting up another barn burner of a feature where anyone of three different drivers all having a mathematical chance of claiming the prestigious class title. In the twenty-lap night cap event, invader Jared Spalding picked up his first feature win at Outlaw in 2020 after starting outside pole position. All eyes were on the top three in points and as the double checkers waved in an event which had everyone holding their breath, Bad Brad Smith by finishing second, one position ahead of Kevin Smith who was third at the finish and Rodney Morgan who wound up fourth claimed the IMCA Modified Point Championship. Brad Smith had but only one feature victory in 2020 on July 3 but showed great consistency on the entire season. Kevin Smith had a pair of victories while the real story was 2018 Track Champion, Rodney Morgan who led the charge with six feature wins during the abbreviated season due to COVID 19. Kevin Smith would finish third as the double checkered flags waved while Morgan and Shawn Bruce would claim fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the companion IMCA Hobby Stock Division it was a foregone conclusion that if Wayne Ellison could stay out of trouble, he would claim the track title. Not only did the eight time feature winner in 2020 keep his nose clean, he charged thru the pack from his ninth starting position, went on for win number nine on the season and left little doubt that his dominating performance throughout the season truly earned him the title. Chasing Ellison across the line in second was Jamie Eldredge Jr. while Casey Wagner would complete the top three podium spots. Fourth went to Jack Ayers while Shawn Lloyd would round the top five finishers. Bruce Kinner, who was second in points going into the night was unable to even start the feature helping Ellison’s cause while two time and defending class champion, Marc Minutolo all but conceded the title not even opting to compete on this night. Minutolo had complied three feature wins along the way, but instead chose to run his Street Stock in hopes of claiming the Glen Whritenour Bounty Money. Josh Oles was the only other feature winner in a division that saw Wayne Ellison virtually dominate the competition.

Last but certainly not the least the Might 4 Cylinder Mini Stocks had to run their scheduled twenty lap feature event to determine the 2020 class champion. With two men dominating the division throughout the season all eyes were on point leader, Jeremy Bunn and his closest rival, Bob Doolittle as both were not only looking at another feature win, but perhaps the class title that would go along with it. When all was said and done veteran driver, Ray Hyer had picked up his second feature event of the year as he started in row two, got to the front in a hurry and lead throughout. He was followed across the line by Kenneth Evans and Jason Smart both of which who had their best runs of the season. Scott Lehman was able to finish fourth at the end just one spot ahead of Jeremy Bunn who while finishing fifth would go on to his first ever Outlaw Speedway 4 Cylinder Mini Stock Track Championship.

Congratulations to all feature winners and all class track champions.

A complete list of the Official Track Point Standings for all weekly divisions can we found on the web at www.outlawspeedwayllc.com.

Up next at Outlaw Speedway on Friday, September 4, 2020 it will be the beginning of the extended race season which is tentatively scheduled to conclude on October 30. With the current NYS guidelines still in place stating that no fans are allowed into the grandstand seating area it will remain Pit Admission only for the foreseeable future. For those who cannot attend audio and visual viewing is available as it has been all season long by logging on at www.dirttrackdigest.tv. This pay per view is an affordable option for those who cannot make it into the pit area and provides a clear, concise observation of all the night of events from start to finish. In competition it will be the Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds, the Sunrise Insulation America Racer Sportsman, the Hoosier Tire Sportsman as well as the Stan’s No Tubes Street Stock Divisions. Also, on the card it will be IMCA Hobby Stocks as well as the Might 4 Cylinder Mini Stocks making up the Super 6 Show.

Point Championship Night.
Sheppard and Whritenour Bounty Money Goes Unclaimed!

FRIENDLY CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM MOIDIFIEDS. (15 cars)
30 lap feature. Matt Sheppard (9), Alan Johnson, Brady Fultz, Kyle Coffey, Danny Johnson, Tyler Siri, Jordan Siri, Jim LaRock, Eldon Payne, Dave Rauscher, Chris Ostrowsky, Steve Paine, Marshall Hurd, Ron Cartwright Jr., Brian Swarthout
Unofficial Track Champion. Matt Sheppard

SUNRISE INSULATION AMERICAN RACER TIRE SPORTSMAN. (21 cars)
25 lap feature. Will Shields (2), Karl Comfort, Casey Williams, Zach Sobotka, Troy Sperring, Chris Fisher, AJay Potrzebowski, Billy Paine, Bob Buono, Dean Laughlin, Lance Irwin, Chris Hall, Greg Crooker, Justin Schenck, Travis Grover, Chris Clemons, Dale Welty, Kaiden Dgien, Alex Payne, Justice Mayo, Doug Kline
Unofficial Track Champion. Karl Comfort.

HOOSIER TIRE SPORTSMAN. (17 cars)
25 lap feature. Alex Payne (3), Tim Guild, Brett Buono, Tommy Collins Jr., Zach Sobotka, Zach George, JT Sperring, AJ Lloyd, Will Shields, Travis Grover, Casey Williams, Dean Laughlin, Lance Irwin, Brandon Butler, Stacy Jackson, Brandon Close, Tommy Paine
Unofficial Track Champion. Zach Sobotka

STAN’S NO TUBES STREET STOCKS. (16 cars)
20 lap feature. Glenn Whritenour (9), Dylan Cecce, Shawn Boyton, CJ Guererri, Kane Stebbins, Chuck Winslow, Aksel Jensen, John Burritt, Zach Teed, Jake Karlnoski, Aaron Miller, Marc Minutolo, Jared Hill, John Carpenter, Quinn Sutherland, Brandon Morseman.
Unofficial Track Champion. Glenn Whritenour

IMCA MODIFIEDS. (7 cars)
20 lap feature. Jared Spalding, Brad Smith, Kevin Smith, Rodney Morgan, Shawn Bruce, Jeff Austin, Rich Karlnoski
Unofficial Track Champion. Brad Smith
IMCA MODIFIED MAKE UP FEATURE FROM JULY 10.
20 lap feature. Shawn Bruce (2), Kevin Smith, Rich Karlnoski, Brad Smith, Rodney Morgan, David
Scouten Jr. DNS, Rick Watt, Bumps Scutt, Nicole Spalding, Matt Bergman, Keith Lamphere

IMCA HOBBY STOCKS. (16 cars)
20 lap feature. Wayne Ellison (9), Jamie Eldredge Jr., Casey Wagner, Jack Ayers, Shawn Lloyd, Brian
Lloyd, Allison Pierce, Justin Eldredge, Jamie Eldredge, Jeremy Trank, Kenny Hunt, Don Slover, Joshua Oles, Amber Pierce, Brian Austin. DNS, Bruce Kinner.
Unofficial Track Champion. Wayne Ellison.

4 CYLINDER’S (14 cars)
20 lap feature. Ray Hyer (2), Kenneth Evans, Jayson Smart, Scott Lehman, Jeremy Bunn, Scott Lehman Jr., David Kinner, Rich Sharpsteen, ShiAnn LaBar, Derrick Evans, Robert Decker, Bob Doolittle, Lee Fritz.
DNS, Mike Stone.
Unofficial Track Champion. Jeremy Bunn