Matt Sheppard Dominates At Devil’s Bowl Sunday Night For $10,000 “Battle At The Bowl” Payday

Story By: JUSTIN ST. LOUIS / DEVIL’S BOWL SPEEDWAY – WEST HAVEN, VT – Matt Sheppard turned a bad start into a big night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, August 15. “Super Matt” – regarded as one of the greatest dirt Modified drivers of all-time – rebounded from poor results in qualifying to pocket $10,000 in the third annual “Battle at the Bowl” in record fashion.

Sheppard’s victory was the benchmark moment of an action-filled night that saw a packed house cheer the winners of seven other features including Anthony Perrego, Stewart Friesen, Demetrios Drellos, Troy Audet, Katrina Bean, Derrick Counter, and Daryl Gebo.

It took Sheppard just 15 minutes and 56 seconds to win the caution-free, 50-lap “Battle” Main Event, which was the finale of a unique race format that saw 36 Big Block and Small Block Modified cars attempt to qualify for 26 starting spots through a series of time trials, heat races, preliminary 25-lap feature qualifiers that each paid $1,500 to win, and a last-chance qualifier. The Waterloo, N.Y., driver was only seventh-best out of nine drivers in his time trial group, and he could muster only a sixth-place finish in his heat, leaving him to start 12th in his 25-lap feature. Heat wins went to Mike Mahaney, Anthony Perrego, Tim Fuller, and Stewart Friesen.

Middletown, N.Y.’s Perrego – the defending “Battle at the Bowl” champion – started the first 25-lapper in fifth place and quickly worked his way up to pass Jessey Mueller for the lead on lap 6. Sheppard, meanwhile, put on a passing clinic by driving through traffic all the way up to the runner-up position. Perrego scored the victory, but he blew his Small Block engine at the finish and was forced to start the 50-lap Battle in last place after switching to a backup car. Mahaney, Mueller, and Adam Pierson completed the top five, and as the only three drivers to enter a car into each feature, they each had a chance to improve their starting position in the Battle finale.

Friesen led all but the opening circuit of the second 25-lap feature, but the Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., native had his hands more than full of Mahaney in the final moments of the race. Mahaney fought past Demetrios Drellos at mid-race and then chased down Friesen and draw even with him on the inside lane in the last two laps. Friesen narrowly held on for his first feature win at Devil’s Bowl with Mahaney just a car-length back at the finish. Drellos, Pierson, and Fuller rounded out the top five. Brian Berger then won the last-chance qualifier race.

Sheppard drew the pole position for the 50-lap Main Event with Friesen on the outside of the front row, and they ran 1-2 the entire distance. With the race-long green-flag run and no time to relax, Sheppard began lapping cars just 10 circuits into the race, and he survived several hairy three-wide moments including one on lap 12 that turned his car sideways after contact with Allison Ricci.

From there, though, Sheppard was able to stretch out to a comfortable lead and beat Friesen by 3.417 seconds. Drellos, Mahaney, and Pierson put on an entertaining fight before finishing in that order to complete the top five. Fuller was sixth ahead of David Marcuccilli and Michael Maresca, who was the last driver on the lead lap. Rocky Warner and Kenny Tremont Jr. completed the top 10, each one lap behind Sheppard’s torrid pace.

Immediately following the race, Devil’s Bowl Speedway promoter Mike Bruno announced that each driver would receive a $100 bonus for running the 50-lap race without a caution flag.

OFFICIAL RESULTS – “Battle at the Bowl”
Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.
Sunday, August 15, 2021

Modified Main Event (50 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1. (1) Matt Sheppard, Waterloo, N.Y.
2. (2) Stewart Friesen, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
3. (3) Demetrios Drellos, Queensbury, N.Y.
4. (6) Mike Mahaney, King Ferry, N.Y.
5. (8) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
6. (9) Tim Fuller, Edwards, N.Y.
7. (5) David Marcuccilli, Cayuga, N.Y.
8. (13) Michael Maresca, Potsdam, N.Y.
9. (14) Rocky Warner, Gloversville, N.Y.
10. (16) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
11. (26) Anthony Perrego, Montgomery, N.Y.
12. (11) Jeremy Pitts, Schaghticoke, N.Y.
13. (7) Jessey Mueller, Chestertown, N.Y.
14. (18) Matt DeLorenzo, Cropseyville, N.Y.
15. (12) Todd Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
16. (19) Derrick McGrew Jr., Ballston Spa, N.Y.
17. (17) Matt Depew, Argyle, N.Y.
18. (21) David Schilling, East Greenbush, N.Y.
19. (10) Corey Cormier, Middletown, N.Y.
20. (25) Allison Ricci, New Paltz, N.Y
21. (24) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
22. (15) Ben Bushaw, Tully, N.Y.
23. (22) Brian Berger, Castleton, N.Y.
24. (20) C.G. Morey, Rutland, Vt.
25. (23) Jack Speshock, Malta, N.Y.
26. (4) Marc Johnson, Guilderland, N.Y.

Did Not Qualify (7 drivers): Derek Bornt, Poestenkill, N.Y.; Greg Atkins, Keeseville, N.Y.; Todd Morey, Castleton, Vt.; Chris Stevens, Cornwall, N.Y.; Kenny Aanonsen Jr., East Greenbush, N.Y.; Tyler Atkins, Au Sable Forks, N.Y.; Jim Introne Jr., Hartford, N.Y.

Lap Leaders: Matt Sheppard, 1-50. (0 lead changes among 1 driver)
Cautions: None
LCQ Winner: Brian Berger

Modified Feature #1 (25 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1. (5) Anthony Perrego, Montgomery, N.Y.
2. (12) Matt Sheppard, Waterloo, N.Y.
3. (4) Mike Mahaney, King Ferry, N.Y.
4. (1) Jessey Mueller, Chestertown, N.Y.
5. (2) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
6. (6) David Marcuccilli, Cayuga, N.Y.
7. (10) Marc Johnson, Guilderland, N.Y.
8. (8) Jeremy Pitts, Schaghticoke, N.Y.
9. (7) Michael Maresca, Potsdam, N.Y.
10. (4) Ben Bushaw, Tully, N.Y.
11. (14) Matt Depew, Argyle, N.Y.
12. (9) Derrick McGrew Jr., Ballston Spa, N.Y.
13. (11) C.G. Morey, Rutland, Vt.
14. (13) David Schilling, East Greenbush, N.Y.
15. (16) Derek Bornt, Poestenkill, N.Y.
16. (15) Todd Morey, Castleton, Vt.
17. (17) Kenny Aanonsen Jr., East Greenbush, N.Y.
18. (18) Tyler Atkins, Au Sable Forks, N.Y.

Lap Leaders: Jessey Mueller, 1-5; Anthony Perrego, 6-25. (1 lead change among 2 drivers)
Cautions: None
Heat Winners: Mike Mahaney, Anthony Perrego

Modified Feature #2 (25 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1. (2) Stewart Friesen, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
2. (7) Mike Mahaney, King Ferry, N.Y.
3. (5) Demetrios Drellos, Queensbury, N.Y.
4. (4) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
5. (8) Tim Fuller, Edwards, N.Y.
6. (1) Corey Cormier, Middletown, N.Y.
7. (9) Todd Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
8. (10) Rocky Warner, Gloversville, N.Y.
9. (6) Jessey Mueller, Chestertown, N.Y.
10. (12) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
11. (3) Matt DeLorenzo, Cropseyville, N.Y.
12. (11) Brian Berger, Castleton, N.Y.
13. (13) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
14. (14) Jack Speshock, Malta, N.Y.
15. (16) Allison Ricci, New Paltz, N.Y.
16. (15) Greg Atkins, Keeseville, N.Y.
17. (18) Chris Stevens, Cornwall, N.Y.
18. (17) Jim Introne Jr., Hartford, N.Y.

Lap Leaders: Corey Cormier, 1; Stewart Friesen, 2-25. (1 lead change among 2 drivers)
Cautions: None
Heat Winners: Tim Fuller, Stewart Friesen