Short Track Super Series To Kick Off Eighth Season With Milestone 100th Modified Race

Story By: BRETT DEYO / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – OCALA, FL – The eighth season for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco kicks off with a milestone event.

The STSS, which launched officially in 2014, will celebrate its 100th Modified main event at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla., during the upcoming ‘Sunshine Swing’ which features the series’ debut at the three-eighths-mile track.

Following an Open Practice on Tuesday (Jan. 26), attention turns to the lid-lifter Wednesday night with the STSS Modifieds racing 30 laps for $4,000 to win. The series will hit the century mark in events during the Wednesday program.

Since the ’14 debut, the STSS has completed 99 events, the most recent occurring in the Bayou State at Chatham (La.) Speedway Nov. 14.

Thirty-one different drivers have won in STSS competition since Andy Bachetti scored the very first checkered flag on April 6, 2014.

No driver has enjoyed more success in the series than Stewart Friesen, last season’s North and South Region champion who has scored 26 victories with the STSS. Friesen did not win in the series’ inaugural season, racking up all 26 wins since ’15.

Matt Sheppard, the ‘Grand Champion’ of 2019, is second on the win list with 15. Sheppard added three triumphs to his total in November during the visit to Louisiana for the ‘Cajun Swing’ including a $20,000 score at Chatham.

Ryan Godown and Anthony Perrego each have six victories in a deadlock for third, followed by Bachetti, Danny Creeden and Ryan Watt tied with five wins each.

Twenty-two different speedways have played host to the series since’ 14 in the following states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida. The STSS visited eight of those states despite COVID regulations derailing many race series schedules last year.

Bubba Raceway Park will become the 23rd venue to host the series during the ‘Sunshine Swing’ mini-series.

The ‘Sunshine Swing’ at Bubba Raceway Park kicks off on Tuesday, Jan. 26 with an Open Practice session.

The first night of racing takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 27 with the STSS Modifieds racing 30 laps for a $4,000 top prize and Crate 602 Sportsman battling 25 laps with $1,450 up for grabs. Florida residents with ID will receive FREE grandstand admission on Wednesday during ‘Locals Night’ at the track!

Thursday night (Jan. 28) features a 35-lap STSS Modified main with $5,000 going to the winner and another 25-lap, $1,450-to-win STSS Crate 602 Sportsman event.

On Friday (Jan. 29) the ante gets upped to 40 laps and $6,000 to win for the STSS Modifieds and 30 laps, with $2,000 to win for the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman.

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

‘Sunshine Swing’ champions will again be crowned after the completion of racing.

The entire ‘Sunshine Swing’ will be streamed live on Dirt Track Digest TV with single-day and weeklong packages available.

Camping will be permitted on-site throughout the swing free of charge (no hook-ups).

Bubba’s Raceway Park is a three-eighths-mile facility with a history of racing dating back to 1952 as both a pavement and dirt track. The speedway was converted back to a clay surface in 2008 and an overhaul was completed to include MUSCO lighting, a new sound system, modern restrooms, and a reworked pit area.

The speedway was resurfaced with 75 loads of clay in preparation for the upcoming Speedweek events.