MATT SHEPPARD PICKS-UP FIRST WIN OF 2020 AT OUTLAW SPEEDWAY. DALE WELTY ENDS LONG DRY SPELL IN AMERICAN RACER SPORTSMAN. OTHER WINNERS INCLUDE ZACH SOBOTKA, CJ GUERERRI, RODNEY MORGAN, WAYNE ELLISON AND JEREMY BUNN
Kenny Shupp Jr. Public Relations Director.
(Dundee, NY) Super Matt Sheppard showed why he has been such a dominating force at the Outlaw Speedway over the past several years as the two time and defending Track Champion put on another one of his patented driving clinics in route to his first feature win at the historic Yates County oval in 2020. A star-studded field of some twenty Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds roared to the opening green flag as pole sitter Kyle Coffey jumped into the top spot. Two quick yellow flags on laps one and two for slowed machines kept the field tight in the early going, but on the ensuing green flag Coffey opened-up a full straight away advantage over the rest of the field. Sheppard, who had started in the sixth row was methodically working his way thru the field and by lap fifteen was being scored in the runner up spot. Working the bottom of the speedway to perfection, Super Matt continued to chisel into Coffey’s lead and by lap twenty-two had caught the leader and made the winning pass. The third and final yellow of the race came on lap twenty-three for Eric Rudolph who had suffered a flat right rear tire ending a sure top five run. When the race was restarted, Sheppard opened an insurmountable advantage over Coffey and the rest of the field and cruised to the win. Brady Fultz, who started fifth on the opening grid put on a brilliant drive and wound up with one of his best performances in quite a long time as he was second at the double checkered flags as Coffey faded just a bit at the end and wound up in the third and final podium finishing spot. The Doctor, Danny Johnson started eleventh and came home for fourth at the finish with Ron Cartwright Jr. putting on a very steady drive to round the top five.
Heat wins went to Cartwright Jr., Danny Johnson and Steve Paine.
In his Super Stock days at Outlaw Speedway some twenty years ago. Dale Welty was nearly unstoppable winning virtually at will and leaving his competition shaking their collective heads. After making the move into the popular Crate Sportsman Division driving his own equipment and several starts in Larry Kennison’s Modified, the trips to victory lane have become few and far between. However, the veteran wheelman from Spencer, NY looked like the Dale Welty of old as he totally dominated the twenty-five lap Sunrise Insulation American Racer Tire Crate Sportsman feature event. Leading from start to finish, Welty’s high-flying pace was slowed on only two occasions by caution flags on laps four and fourteen. Even a close encounter with a lap car on lap twenty-one and a fast closing Ajay Potrzebowski would not stop Welty from finding victory lane. Last weeks winner, Potrzebowski mowed the field down from his twelfth starting spot but came up just few car lengths shy at the finish as he was followed across the line by Will Shields, Chris Fisher and track rookie, Kaiden Dgien.
Welty capped off a perfect night by winning his qualifying heat race. Other heat winners included Zach Sobotka and Shields.
Another solid group of the DIRTcar Hoosier Tire Crate Sportsman were in action with nineteen machines taking Raymond Kennerup’s opening green flag. Zach Sobotka has been a constant threat in both the American Racer as well as the Hoosier Tire Sportsman Classes at Outlaw Speedway thus far in 2020 and this night was no different. Sobotka found problems in the American Racer Tire feature relegating him to a near last place finishing spot, however he was not to be denied in the Hoosier Tire category as he cruised to his first win of the season. Having started outside of the third row on the opening green flag, Sobotka marched to the front and was able to hold off pole sitter, Zach George for the win as George settled for second place at the double checkered flags. Like Sobotka, third and four place finishers, Tommy Collins Jr and Will Shields also run in both Crate Sportsman Divisions on any given night as Travis Groover marched thru the field from his eighth row starting position to round out the top five.
Hoosier Tire heat wins were claimed by Collins Jr., Sobotka and George.
For the second consecutive week The Stan’s No Tubes Street Stocks provided classic side by side racing throughout the entire night and in their twenty lap feature it was CJ Guererri finally breaking thru for the popular win. Guererri, who has been a picture of consistency over the past few years continues to run at or near the top each week and his persistence finally paid off with a win. Guererri was followed across the line by last weeks opening night feature winner, Quinn Sutherland who continues to impress as 2017 and 2018 Track Champion, Glen Whritenour finished off the top three podium finishers. Jeremy Potrzebowski was credited with a fourth-place finish at the checkered flag as Jared Hill rounded out the top five.
Stan’s No Tubes heat wins went to Guererri and Whritenour.
In the IMCA Modified feature event, last weeks feature winner, Rodney Morgan picked up right where he left off as he made it back to back feature wins in the twenty-lap feature event. Bump Scutt had to settle for second place at the finish as the top two were chased across the line by Davie Scouten, Rick Karlnoski who finished third and fourth respectfully. Kevin Smith rounded out the top five.
IMCA heats were picked up by Scutt and Karlnoski.
In the companion IMCA Hobby Stock twenty lap feature it was Wayne Ellison coming from the fifth starting row and besting a field of some sixteen machines. Like Morgan in the IMCA Modifieds, Ellison also made it back to back feature wins and has staked his claim in trying to dethrone the two time and defending Track Champion, Marc Minutolo who had to settle for the runner spot position at the finish. Bruce Kinner came home for third as he was followed across the finish line by Justin Eldredge and Jamie Eldredge Jr. who finished fifth.
Hobby Stock heat wins went to Ellison and Jeremy Trank.
In the Mighty 4 Cylinder feature, Jeremy Bunn had to track down last weeks feature winner, Bob Doolittle who led the opening sixteen laps of the twenty-lap feature event and go on for his first trip to victory lane in 2020. Once out in front Bunn opened a comfortable advantage and cruised to the win. Doolittle did hold on for second place with Scott Lehman completing the top three. Ray Hyer came home for fourth with Lee Fritz capping off a top five finish.
Heat wins were picked up by Lehman and Bunn.
Congratulations to all competitors.
Coming up next Friday, June 19, 2020 at the Outlaw Speedway it will once again be a Regular Super Seven Show. Tentative plans once again will call for pit admission only with no one allowed in the main grandstand seating area as per New York State requirements. As per standard practice face masks and social distancing will be required in the pit area for all those in attendance.
Pit gates open at 5:30 with practice at 6:30 pm. The first green flag waves at 7:30.
It is also anticipated that the event will once again be available to watch on Dirt Track Digest TV.
More details will be posted throughout the week on the tracks Facebook account. A complete list of all the current point standings along with other valuable information regarding the track can be found at www.outlawspeedwayllc.com.