Friesen, Sheppard, Decker & Perrego Set To Do Battle For OCFS Modified Track Title Thursday

Story By: JOHN SNYDER / ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Whittled down from a season-long field of 57 United Rentals DIRTcar Big-Block Modified drivers, on Thursday, September 2 the Final Four drivers will battle in a 50-lap showdown against two-dozen competitors with the top finisher among the four crowned United Rentals Orange County Fair Speedway Modified Champion.

Presented by VP Racing Fuels, there’s prestige and money on the line with $25,000 going to the champion, and significant cash and other awards going to the overall top-ten drivers when all the points are tallied.

For good measure, the race winner will take home $5,000, and if he or she is other than one of the Final Four, a guaranteed 13th starting slot in the October 24 Eastern States 200, the oldest continuously-run championship race for dirt track Modifieds.

On Saturday, August 28, the field of eight eligible drives was pared to four based on their total season-long point accumulations. Making the cut were race winner Matt Sheppard, Orange County’s 2020 Modified champion; Stewart Friesen, winner of three Orange County races this year and three-time Eastern States 200 victor; Billy Decker, winner of the 1998 Eastern States 200 and four other 100-lap races at Orange County; and Anthony Perrego, the 2018 Orange County Modified champion and four-time Orange County Small-Block Modified titlist.

The remaining four drivers from the field of eight—Tommy Meier, Billy VanInwegen, Tyler Boniface, and Bob McGannon—will be challenging each other to determine final point positions five through eight, and a matching monetary share of the total point fund.

Also on the program will be the Sportsman division competing in a pair of 20-lap non-point races. This is an open event for all cars that meet Orange County’s Sportsman rules. Upon entering, cars will be divided into two groups for timed hot laps, which will set the fields for each race. The top-12 fastest cars in each group will redraw for their exact starting positions in their respective 20-lap race.

A full programs of qualifying races determines the full field for the 50-lap feature event, with the Final-Four drivers starting ninth-through 12th should they qualify for the feature lineup redraw, or deeper in the starting field.

The Orange County Fair Speedway stands and unique Drive-In section are fully open. General Admission either for the stands or the Drive-In is $24 adult, $20 seniors, and $10 for children 12 and under. Reserved seats are $35 all groups. Drive-In parking is $25 per car. As a convenience for fans, guaranteed parking spaces in Rows D, E, and F of the Drive-In may be reserved in advance. Unsold spaces in these rows will be available at the gate on race day. The Party Deck is available at $35 per person, minimum two, maximum four per table. In the Drive-In, announcements and race calls are heard over FM 107.7. Fans may purchase tickets by calling the Speedway Office at 845-342-2573. The stands and Drive-In will open at 4:00 pm. Prepaid 2020 Season Tickets will be honored. Hot Laps at 6:00 pm, racing at 7:00 pm. The 31st Lap Tavern is open for adult beverages.