Stewart Friesen, Scott Hitchens Secure Short Track Super Series South Titles In Close Races

Story By: BRETT DEYO / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – GEORGETOWN, DE – By just 10 points, Stewart Friesen recorded the second Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco South Region title of his career.

The Sprakers, N.Y., driver achieved the crown Saturday at Georgetown Speedway during the Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend with a fourth-place finish in the 44-lap STSS Modified feature.

Friesen earned $10,000 for his efforts in the South Region presented by Velocita-USA, Design for Vision and Sunglass Central.

Friesen’s South Region season included three victories: at Georgetown in the March 7 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial, the Aug. 11 ‘Diamond State 50’ at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, Del., and the ‘Blast at the Beach’ held at Georgetown on Aug. 25.

He posted runner-up finishes at Potomac Speedway in Budd’s Creek, Md., June 7, BAPS Motor Speedway in Newberrytown, Pa., on July 19 and the ‘Speed Showcase 200’ at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway Oct. 17.

Teams are permitted one ‘drop’ race from any of the events leading up to Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend. Friesen utilized the June 16 Big Diamond Speedway (Minersville, Pa.) ‘Anthracite Assault’ as his drop event after flipping early in the feature event at the Coal Region track. That was his only DNF – and only finish worse than seventh – over the South Region schedule.

Friesen’s STSS South Region earnings, prior to the point fund distribution, were a massive $55,011.

The driver of the Halmar International No. 44 completed a rare trifecta accomplished only once before in series history, sweeping the STSS North Region and South Region titles in addition to the ‘home-track’ American Racer Cup presented by Sunoco for his weekly efforts at Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway.

The total for all three titles – the American Racer Cup, abbreviated STSS North Region and the South Region – is $19,000 during the COVID-interrupted season.

Friesen’s first STSS Modified South Region title came back in ’16.

After a runner-up finish at Georgetown Saturday, Milford, N.J.’s Billy Pauch Jr. settled for a $5,000 second-place finish in the South Region points, only 10 behind Friesen.

Pauch Jr. and the Rick Holsten team earned back-to-back wins at BAPS and Big Diamond during the summer stretch and had a trio of second-place finishes: at Georgetown in August and October and the Thursday night ‘Speed Showcase 40’ at Port Royal Speedway Oct. 15.

Matt Sheppard of Savannah, N.Y., placed third in the standings with three victories including Saturday night’s Mid-Atlantic Championship, the ‘Speed Showcase 40’ at Port Royal and the inaugural June race at Potomac. Sheppard receives $3,000 for third in the standings.

First-year series traveler Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, N.Y., finished fourth in points ($2,000) and Mike Gular of Boyertown, Pa., placed fifth ($1,500). Both Dippel and Gular earned top-five finishes in the STSS North Region, as well.

Placing sixth through 12th, respectively, were Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., ($1,400); Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., driving for Ron Roberts ($1,300); Richie Pratt Jr. of Woodbury Heights, N.J., aboard the Daniel Sommeling No. 51 ($1,200); David Van Horn Jr. of Ringoes, N.J., driving for Fred Vahlsing ($1,100); Larry Wight of Phoenix, N.Y., ($1,050); Danny Bouc of Pipersville, Pa. ($1,000); and Rick Laubach of Hellertown, Pa. ($1,000).

Scott Hitchens Earns Series Crate 602 Sportsman South Title By One Point

One point. That’s what an entire season of racing came down to for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman South Region.

After six events in three states, Scott Hitchens of Dagsboro, Del., won the South Region crown by a single marker over New York’s Tim Hartman Jr.

Hitchens, after going to the rear twice in Saturday’s 25-lap Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend feature at Georgetown Speedway, rallied to finish seventh and earned 120 points. Hartman’s fourth-place finish and 135 points brought the difference from 16 points entering the finale to just one when the final Sunoco Race Fuels checkered flag flew.

Hitchens won the ‘Blast at the Beach’ at Georgetown in August and earned runner-up finishes in the March Georgetown opener, June 7 visit to Md.’s Potomac Speedway and the Aug. 11 Delaware International Speedway (Delmar, Del.) stop in his drive to the title.

He receives $1,500 for the championship.

Niskayuna, N.Y.’s Hartman won back-to-back races in June at Potomac and Big Diamond Speedway in Minersville, Pa., and placed no worse than sixth over the entire season with the Michael Parillo-fielded No. 22 team. Hartman receives $700 for second in the point standings.

Upper Makefield, Pa.’s Joe Toth ended up third, just 27 points back in third place, followed by the father-and-son combination of Michael and Adam White of Laurel, Del., placing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Completing the top-10 were Tanner Van Doren of Slatington, Pa., a winner at Delaware International in August; Anthony Tramontana of Vineland, N.J.; Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend victor Justin Grosso of Belle Mead, N.J.; Jim Housworth of Riegelsville, Pa.; and James Hill of Laurel, Del.

In the six Crate 602 Sportsman South Region events, there were five different winners, with only Hartman winning more than once.

All STSS and American Racer Cup point fund checks will be distributed by mail in early December in lieu of an Awards Banquet due to evolving Coronavirus regulations on indoor events.