Orange County Recognizes Outstanding Performance During Abbreviated 2020 Season

Story By: JOHN SNYDER / ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed on public gatherings, Orange County Fair Speedway’s 2020 weekly racing series only lasted two months.

But during that time there was plenty of exciting racing at the historic Middletown, New York five-eighths-mile clay-surfaced speedway and some outstanding performances by several drivers.

The “A” division United Rental Equipment Big-Block Modifieds had nine feature event races with Matt Sheppard, in his first season as a weekly Orange County competitor, winning four times. Other victors included Anthony Perrego and Stewart Friesen, both of whom won twice, and single winner Dillon Steuer, who became the 216th driver to win an Orange County Modified feature race.

The July 2 twin-50-lap Modified features were not point races. In the seven point races, Sheppard topped the charts, with Perrego and Tyler Dippel next in line. Dippel’s efforts were consistent and solid, with four top-five finishes and six- top-tens in the seven point outings.

The H.O. Penn Small-Block Modifieds only raced twice during the two-month short season, with Perrego the winner in the first race and infrequent competitor Zach Vavricka in the second. Perrego, Dippel, and Mike Storms garnered the most points.

There were seven Sportsman division feature races with six different winners. Only 2019 champion Grant Hilfiger took home two trophies. Single victories went to Jarad LaBagh, Dom Roselli, Cody Higbie, Matt Shultz, and Andrew Buff. In the super competitive and unpredictable Sportsman division, young Tanner Vandoran finished no worse than tenth in all six races for which he was eligible. As a result, he topped the Sportsman point standings over Joe Bonetti and Bobby Flood.

Bob Sleight Jr., the 2019 Street Stock champion, won two of the three 2020 feature races for Orange County’s only full-fender racing division. Jim Hajkowski won the other. Sleight, obviously, topped the point standings, with Charlie Donald and Wayne and Rob Taylor tied for third.

A final Test and Tune practice session for competitors only will be held on Monday, October 5 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Teams wishing to take part (limited to 30) must pre-register with the Speedway Office.

Fans and competitors should check the Orange County Fair Speedway website and social media for the latest news concerning the 59th Annual Eastern States Weekend.

Drivers Home Towns

Matt Sheppard – Savannah, NY
Anthony Perrego – Montgomery, NY
Stewart Friesen – Sprakers, NY
Dillon Steuer – Bohemia, NY
Tyler Dippel – Wallkill, NY

Zach Vavricka – Middletown, NY
Mike Storms – Port Jervis, NY

Grant Hilfiger – Canadensis, PA
Jarad LaBagh – Middletown, NY
Dom Roselli – Highland Lake, NY
Cody Higbie – Middletown, NY
Matt Shultz – Holmes, NY
Andrew Buff –
Tanner Vandoran –
Joe Bonetti – Central Valley, NY
Bobby Flood – Middletown, NY

Bob Sleight Jr. – Brewster, NY
Jim Hajkowski – Patterson, NY
Charlie Donald – Middletown, NY
Wayne Taylor – Middletown, NY
Rob Taylor – Carmel, NY