Stewart Friesen Doubles Up At All-Tech; Sweeps Friday Night On The Short Track Super Series
Story By: CHRIS MOORE / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – LAKE CITY, FL – Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen brought his broom to the All-Tech Raceway on Friday night, sweeping each of the first two races of the ‘Sunshine Swing’ for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) fueled by Sunoco.
The “Friesen Sweep” at earned him a total of $12,500 after the first two races of the STSS maiden voyage to Florida.
The second feature, 40 laps in distance, would not come as easy for Friesen. The fans in attendance and tuning in on Dirt Track Digest TV were treated to a phenomenal race. Matt Sheppard had the pole starting position, along with Watertown, N.Y.’s Billy Dunn on the outside.
Dunn would grab the lead with Sheppard, and Friesen following in toe. Mat Williamson was the man on the move, as he had climbed from seventh to fourth and was catching the top three.
On lap 10, things went haywire at the front of the field. The top four traded spots back and forth while working in lap traffic. At one point, Matt Sheppard went from the lead to fifth in a lap and a half. Billy Dunn lost the lead and gained it back twice in the commotion up front.
A lap 15 yellow gave the field a chance to reset after Milford, Del.’s Jordan Watson got into the wall on the backstretch after being three-‘wide with the two leaders.
On the restart, Dunn would lose the lead for good, as Williamson took the lead from the outside and Dunn could never get it back.
Erick Rudolph was another driver making moves, coming from his 22nd starting position, the Ransomville, N.Y. driver had climbed into the top 10 and was still advancing.
Lap 23 Stewart Friesen went to the outside and began to pressure Mat Williamson, before taking the lead on lap 27.
However, the fight wasn’t over, as Williamson moved up to the outside to follow Friesen as the outside groove became the preferred groove among majority of the drivers in the top 10.
A lap 34 yellow presented Friesen with another choice, this time, he chose the top. Williamson threw everything but the kitchen sink at Friesen but never could get by, as Friesen walked to his second win of the night.
Friesen would say a farewell to his friend Jake Marine, who passed away on Wednesday afternoon, in victory lane following the feature. “We’d always end up BS’ing in the trailer until 2 in the morning at Volusia.”
Mat Williamson would take his second runner-up finish of the night. Anthony Perrego made a charge late to grab the third spot with Matt Sheppard finishing fourth, and Erick Rudolph coming all the way from 22nd to a top five.
Billy Pauch Jr. came from 14th to sixth, with Billy Dunn finishing seventh, Billy Decker coming from 24th to eighth, and Sheffield, Mass.’, Andy Bachetti coming from 26th to ninth, and Peter Britten rounding out the top 10.
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Feature Finish (40 laps): STEWART FRIESEN, Mat Williamson, Anthony Perrego, Matt Sheppard, Erick Rudolph, Billy Pauch Jr., Billy Dunn, Billy Decker, Andy Bachetti, Peter Britten, Larry Wight, Demetrios Drellos, David Schilling, Brandon Grosso, Mike Gular, Dillon Groover, Kyle Weiss, Billy Van Pelt, J.R. Hurlburt, Rick Laubach, Kyle Coffey, Alex Yankowski, Danny Johnson, Jordan Watson, Darren Smith, Danny Hieber, Rusty Smith.
Did Not Qualify (Receive Mike’s Racing Heads $50 Tow Insurance): Russell Morseman III, Rick Regalski, Marshall Hurd, Todd Neiheiser, Scott Van Gorder, Justin Haers, Cory Riffe, Clay Tatman, Matt Stangle, Robert Dutton, Jeremy Smith, Nick Mady, Darwin Greene, Tyler Siri, Scott Hitchens, Ryan Krachun.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire): Peter Britten (10th) & Mike Gular (15th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Matt Sheppard (fourth) & Andy Bachetti (ninth)
Beyea Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Andy Bachetti
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Bonus (Ray-Ban Sunglasses): Stewart Friesen (winner)
DIG Race Products Bonus ($100 Certificate): Billy Dunn (seventh)
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Billy Decker (eighth)
ERK Steering Bonus ($50): Dillon Groover (16th)
Henry’s Exhaust Bonus ($50 Certificate): Larry Wight (11th)
Ocala Restaurant Supply Hard Charger ($100): Erick Rudolph (22nd to fifth)
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Mat Williamson (second), Demetrios Drellos (12th) & Alex Yankowski (22nd)
Wilwood Brakes Bonus ($75 Certificate): Billy Pauch Jr. (sixth)
