Auto Racing News - 6 November 2024

Going back to the Orange County Fair Speedway where last Thursday night kicked off the program with the Short Track Super Series-50 lap, $10,000 Hard Clay Finale for the modifieds with sail panels. 

Approximately 70 cars attempted to qualify for opening night at the House of Power.

 The winners of the six heat races were Stewart Friesen, Anthony Perrego, Tanner VanDoren, Mat Williamson, Matt Sheppard, and Danny Johnson. The three consolation races were won by Danny Creeden, Peter Britten, and Cody Higbie.

 Friesen and Marc Johnson would bring the field  of 27 modifieds to the green flag. Friesen of Sprakers would lead the opening lap, with the first caution being flag thrown on lap two for Brian Calabrese of Johnstown with a flat left rear tire. Sheppard would soon take over the lead on lap five and lead the field throughout the middle of the feature. Friesen would work to regain the lead and on lap 32 he did just that, as he put the Halmar International Racing No.44 out front to earn his 47th. STSS feature. Completing the top five were Sheppard, Anthony Perrego, Billy Pauch Jr., and Alex Yankowski. Jack Lehner finished 6th., Calabrese worked back up to 9th  after his earlier flat tire. Marc Johnson finished tenth.  Peter Britten finished 14th, Keith Flach 15th, Rocky Warner 24th, and Bobby Hackel IV 26th with his second-place finish, Sheppard was crowned the River Valley Builders North Region Champion for the STSS.

 Friday would see Marc Johnson set fast time for the 358’s  In the Sportsman Eastern States 50  Brian Krummel would lead every lap on his way to claiming the big win, with  Dom Roselli and Tyler Peet completing the top three. Tim Hartman Jr. finished sixth, Ricky Davis 15th., and Daryl Nutting 26th. 

 A.J. Miller of Fultonville was racing at the Delaware International Speedway where he finished 13th. in the super late model feature. 

Stewart Friesen would spend Friday  at the Miami-Homestead Speedway near Homestead, Florida qualifying his NASCAR Craftsman Truck for the 12th. position on the starting grid for the Baptist Health 200. On Saturday. Friesen ran in the top five for a good portion of the third stage, but ran out of fuel on the final lap. Still salvaging a sixth place finish with the Halmar #52.

Saturday was day number three of ESW. The North East Wingless Sprints (NEWS) were at O.C.F.S. for a 25-lap feature. Eric Jennings earned the victory over Chris Allen and Joe Kata. 

 Money Mat Williamson scored the win and $10,000 at the end of the Eastern States 100 for the 358 modifieds. Matt Sheppard got by Alex Yankowski in the closing laps to earn second place honors, Unfortunately Yankowski was disqualified during post race inspection (wrong rear end gear ratio)with Peter Britten being credited with third. Rocky Warner 11th., Jessica Friesen 13th.(driving a Yankowski backup car), Chris Curtis 14th., Marc Johnson 22nd., Bill August 28th.

Yankowski DQ 36th.

 New Egypt Speedway in New Jersey held their Legends of the Fall $7,474. A 74-lap feature for the modified division with the top three finishers of Billy Pauch Jr., Brandon Grosso, and Danny Bouc.  And a 40-lap $1,747 feature for the crate 602 sportsman division with the top three of Joe Toth, Ryan Simmons, and Steve Davis. 

Sunday at the legendary House of Power would present the 63rd running of the Eastern States 200 for the big block modifieds. After missing qualifying because of his commitment to the NASCAR Truck Series. Sprakers resident Friesen would race in the Super Last Chance

race on Sunday afternoon. Michael Sabia would earn that race win and start 38th. Stewart was awarded a Past Champions provisional and started the feature at the end of the field in 40th in United Rentals Eastern States 200.

Friesen was up to 24th. by lap 14 when the first caution flag waved. He was 10th. by lap 42, 7th. by lap 44 and 5th by lap 50.  After contact Friesen's ride would suffer a flat right rear tire near lap 85. He would duck into the pits for a tire change and to top off his fuel supply. During the 100-lap halfway break Friesen chose to stay on the track and retain a better starting position for the second 100-laps. This turned out to be the right move as once he gained the lead from Tyler Dippel he was able to hold on and fend off any challenges on his way to earning $22,000 and his fourth ESW 200 after starting 40th. Matt Sheppard finished second followed by Anthony

Perrego, Mat Williamson, Alex Yankowski, and Jack Lehner.  Marc Johnson finished 8th., Peter Britten 12th, David Schilling 15th, Chris Curtis 19th and Brian Calabrese 20th. Post race notes Friesen’s car broke after the checkers and had to be pushed from the scales to victory lane.

 Coming up this week is the Super DIRTcar Series-World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.