Stewart Friesen Shows The Way In Short Track Super Series “Sunshine Swing” Event At Bubba Friday

Story By: CHRIS MOORE / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – OCALA, FL – For the 27th time in his career, Stewart Friesen, of Sprakers, N.Y., won the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled by Sunoco Modified main event.

This win, worth $6,000-plus, was his first at Bubba Raceway Park and his third in the Sunshine State with the STSS.

Friesen and Ransomville, N.Y.’s Erick Rudolph, once again battled for the checkered on night No. 2 of the Taylor & Messick Co. ‘Sunshine Swing.’ This time, the rolls reversed, as it was Friesen besting Rudolph for the win.

Lambertville, N.J.’s Cale Ross and Pittsfield, Mass. Brett Haas led the field to green for the 40-lap main event. However, it was Frenchtown, N.J.’s Billy Pauch Jr. that grabbed the lead off the first two turns of the race.

It didn’t take long for Rudolph to march from his seventh starting spot to second, and then made a move underneath Billy Jr. on lap seven. Friesen wasn’t far by behind, as he worked to second a couple laps later.

The race then began to hit a stage of yellow fever, as Friesen and Rudolph continued to change the lead several times in the short runs. While the two slugged it out up front, East Greenbush, N.Y. driver David Schilling was hanging tough in the third spot, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

Billy Decker, of Unadilla, N.Y., was the driver on the move, as he had come from 18th to fighting with Schilling for the third spot.

Friesen took the lead for good on lap 28, beating Rudolph to the line right before a yellow came out, giving Friesen the advantage on the ensuing restarts for the remainder of the race.

After 40 laps around the three-eighths-mile track, it was Friesen taking the win, with Potsdam, N.Y.’s Mike Maresca sneaking into the second spot in the late stages of the race. Erick Rudolph held on for third, with Mooresville, N.C.’s Max McLaughlin grabbing his second fourth-place finish of the week, and Billy Decker rounded out the top-five in his Jeremy Smith Racing entry.

Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard was the Manmiller Electric Hard Charger coming from 27th to sixth. David Schilling faded late, but held onto a seventh-place finish. Mike Gular, of Boyertown, Pa., brought home the Terry Fasnacht-owned No. 2A in eighth, surviving the war of attrition. Anthony Perrego, of Middletown, N.Y., finished ninth in the Brian Smith owned No. 44, while Neshanic Station, N.J., driver Matt Stangle rounded out the top-10 in his family-owned No. 6.

Schnecksville, Pa.’s Tanner Van Doren won his second career STSS Crate 602 Sportsman feature. Johnstown, N.Y. racer Brian Calabrese, who led in the early going, left the bottom groove open one time, and the young ‘budding’ star TVD made the move to pick up the victory in the 30-lap event worth more than $2,300.

Mexico, N.Y.’s Addison Bowman got to second, but Van Doren quickly put two lap cars between himself and Bowman to secure the victory. Bowman held on for second, with Kyle Smith, of Fleetwood, Pa., rounding out the podium. Payton

Talbot, of South New Berlin, N.Y., came home fourth with Calabrese rounding out the top-five finishers.

Saturday’s (Jan. 30) final night of action includes a 50-lap, $8,000-to-win STSS Modified main and another 30-lap, $2,250-to-win STSS Crate 602 Sportsman program.

‘SUNSHINE SWING’ RESULTS SUMMARY – BUBBA RACEWAY PARK JAN. 29, 2021

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Sunshine Swing Event No. 2 Feature Finish (40 laps): STEWART FRIESEN, Michael Maresca, Erick Rudolph, Max McLaughlin, Billy Decker, Matt Sheppard, David Schilling, Mike Gular, Anthony Perrego, Matt Stangle, Cale Ross, J.R. Heffner, Danny Bouc, Danny Creeden, H.J.Bunting, Mike Mahaney, Jordan Siri, Brett Haas, Billy Pauch Jr., Kyle Weiss, Tyler Dippel, Jeremy Smith, Rusty Smith, Brandon Hightower, Jimmy Horton, Danny Hieber, Joseph Watson, Tyler Siri.

Did Not Qualify: Danny Johnson, Tim Buckwalter, Marshall Hurd, James Hill, Peter Britten, Scott Ferrier, Andy Bachetti, J.R. Hurlburt, Eric Williams, Jacob Dgien, Chris Ostrowsky, Kenny Hammond, Ron Cartwright Jr., Rob Pitcher, Kyle Coffey, Nick Petrilak, Rob Pitcher, Scott Kurtzner, Bobby Hentschel.

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificates): Matt Sheppard (sixth) & H.J. Bunting (15th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Max McLaughlin (fourth) & Anthony Perrego (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bucks ($50): Danny Bouc (Redrew 10th)
Bill Brown & Company Heat-Race Hard Charger ($50): Kyle Weiss (10th to fourth)
DIG Race Products Bonus ($100 Certificate): Mike Gular (eighth)
Dirt Track Digest TV Heat Winners ($50 each): Billy Pauch Jr., Mike Gular, Brett Haas, Stewart Friesen & Erick Rudolph
ERK Steering Repair Bonus ($50 Certificate): Mike Mahaney (16th)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Cale Ross (11th)
Manmiller Electric Hard Charger Award ($150): Matt Sheppard (27th to sixth)
Sunglass Central/Design for Vision Winner’s Bonus (Oakley Holbrook Sunglasses): Stewart Friesen
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Mike Maresca (second), J.R. Heffner (12th) & Jeremy Smith (22nd)
TKS Painting Front-Row Cash: Cale Ross (Pole – $50) & Brett Haas (Outside Pole – $25)
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($75 Certificate): David Schilling (seventh)

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Sunshine Swing Event No. 2 Feature Finish (30 laps): TANNER VAN DOREN, Addison Bowman, Kyle Smith, Peyton Talbot, Brian Calabrese, Bobby Flood, Michael Schane, Stephen Kemery, Anthony Tramontana, Derek Webb, Brian Fish, Finch Fenton, Ryan Heim, Chas Wolbert, Dale Welty, Michael Ballestero, Scott Hitchens, Jim Passino, Josh Allen, Brendan Gibbons, Jeff Brown, Craig Whitmoyer, Marty Kelly III, Matt Sobiech, Lance Irwin, Kenny Bock

Did Not Start: Shawn McPhee, Michael DuBois.

Did Not Qualify: Aidan Elliott, Ray Bliss, Jr., Gene Boyter, Aaron Jacobs, Phil Beavers, Maverick Eldridge, Jim O’Hara, John Redner, Tommy Rascoe.

American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Michael Schane (seventh)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bucks ($25): Bobby Flood (Redrew 12th)
Bruno’s Towing Winner’s Bonus ($500): Tanner Van Doren
Chesapeake Paving Winner’s Bonus ($250): Tanner Van Doren
Dirt Track Digest TV Heat Winners ($50 each): Bobby Flood, Michael Ballestero, Peyton Talbot & Addison Bowman
ERK Steering Repair Bonus ($50 Certificate): Michael Ballestero (16th)
Evergreen Fuels Inc. High Temperature Bonus ($65): Tanner Van Doren (winner)
Greg Hitchens Services Hard Luck Award ($125): Michael DuBois
Mancini Custom Homes Hard Charger Award ($150): Derek Webb (25th to 10th)