NE Modified Facts & Stats - Race Results Statistics

The Big Block Final Eight

July 10, 2021

Track

Orange County Fair Speedway

Series

Weekly

Information

Race Results Statistical Story

Updated: Jul 12, 2021

MATT SHEPPARD, DANNY CREEDEN, CODY HIGBIE, WALT HENRY VICTORIOUS

It was a late night at The Legendary House Of Power on Saturday evening. A brief rain shower hit the speedway delaying the night's action, which included every single weekly division of racing being sponsored by Crackers Motorsports Marketing & Valpak. Over 100 cars filled the pit area between all four divisions, with the pressure being applied to the United Rentals DIRTcar Modified drivers who were competing for the final eight spots in their Championship hunt. Also, the Precision Hydraulic & Oil Rookie Sportsman drivers would be competing within the Arkel Motors Sportsman for the first time since their graduation night.

The United Rentals DIRTcar Modifieds were slated to go 30 laps for one last shot at making the final eight in the hunt for the $25,000 Track Championship. Three heat events, which were won by Matt Sheppard, Bob McGannon, and Max McLaughlin, would place the top twelve drivers in a redraw. A returning Matt Janiak unfortunately locked himself into the redraw but was bludgeoned with an expired motor come time for the feature ending his night. When the green flag flew for the 30 lap feature, it was Long Island’s Dillon Steuer and Montgomery’s Anthony Perrego on the front row. Perrego took to the highside at the start, but Steuer was not letting the lead go that easy, as he took the top spot from Perrego. The field would make it to lap two where the first caution would be presented for Allison Ricci.

The next restart resulted in an immediate caution as drivers tangled in the apex of turns 1 & 2 including Bobby Hentschel, Stan Frankenfield, and Donnie Wilson. The next start would be clear, with Steuer leading the way. However it wouldn’t last long as issues on the #91 of Unadilla NY’s Billy Decker would bring out the yellow on lap five. The next restart would still have Dillon Steuer out front with Anthony Perrego in tow. Behind the top two, was a power packed trio quickly approaching which included Max McLaughlin, Matt Sheppard, and Tommy Meier. Another caution would plague the event on lap seven restacking the field. Steuer would still lead the way on the next restart but it was only until lap thirteen when heartbreak struck for our leader Steuer. Mechanical issues would end the night for our race leader, and diminish all chances of the Zubi’s Racing #17Z being present in The Final Eight.

The next restart saw Anthony Perrego as the race leader and Matt Sheppard sitting second. On their first restart, caution would be presented as Jimmy Horton found himself in trouble in turn one. The next restart, Perrego would be out front, but it wasn’t for long as Matt Sheppard would take over the rights to first place. As Sheppard took the lead and laps began to diminish, he became unchallenged for the win. Anthony Perrego and Max McLaughlin would give fans a great showing of side by side hard fought action. The duo would fight tooth and nail all the way to the checkered where Perrego would take home second and Max third.

Twenty Nine H.O Penn CAT Small Block Modifieds were slated for 25 lap action on the 5/8th Mile. Jerry Higbie and Chris Shultz lead the way to the green flag. As the field went green, it was displayed red. An incident on the front stretch would involve multiple competitors including Craig Mitchell and Bob McGannon. On the restart, Higbie and Shultz still were out front. Shultz took the lead as Higbie began to fade with what seemed to be mechanical issues resulting in the #97 going pit side by lap three. Roger Henion Jr. would follow behind Shultz out front and Richie Eurich would be in third. By lap six, Danny Creeden would waste no time in making moves, getting around the #10 of Eurich for third leaving Eurich to deal with a fast approaching Allison Ricci.

Danny Creeden sitting third, would be all over Roger Henion Jr for second. By lap nine, Creeden found himself getting the advantage and passing the Interstate Batteries sponsored #19jr. While all this action was going on, a mix of legends and rising stars would be involved in an intense battle. It was Allison Ricci, Richie Eurich, Jimmy Horton, and Dillon Steuer all trying to defend/make their way into the top five. Ricci and Eurich would compete side by side for laps, until Ricci was able to advance position of the #10. As laps dwindled down, Creeden was hunting down Shultz out front. As lapped traffic was in view for the pair, Creeden chose the right move, and got on by the Liberty Rock Crushing #24 of Shultz. It was all over from there as Creeden would park the Shakelton Auto & Truck Parts #16X in victory lane. Shultz crossed the line second and Roger Henion Jr. third. Dillon Steuer would get around Horton, Eurich, and then on the last lap make his way around Allison Ricci at the line for fourth.

Over forty Arkel Motors Sportsman entries were in contention for this evening's action. After four heat events and two last chance qualifiers, it was Rookie Sportsman graduate Tyler Banks and Ryan Walther on the front row of the main event. A caution would be displayed after the green flew as Jeff Hulseapple would have an issue on the backstretch ending his night before it began. The restart would have Walther taking the lead over Banks, but Everett Haubrich would get on by the youngster taking over second. A caution would come out with one lap scored for a returning Corey Cormier in turn two.

Walther and Haubrich would come to the green on the restart. Walther still would lead the way, but it was Johnny Bockhorn who would take over second, and Jamie Yannone who followed suit taking third. As Walther led the way, Bockhorn would be all over him trying to get the lead. Ryan Neiger would work his way to the front within the first few laps, passing Yannone to take third. Neiger however, did not come alone, as Cody Higbie would come along and put the pressure on Neiger. On lap six a caution would come out, this time for an incident with Pennsylvania’s Josh Allen. On the restart it was Ryan Walther and Johnny Bockhorn out front. When the green waved, Walther took off, but Bockhorn would waste no time in taking the top spot from Walther. Bockhorn wouldn't go alone either, as Cody Higbie would be in tow. It was at this point that the top five would welcome Brian Krummel into the mix. Krummel would sit in fourth after starting 21st.

Bockhorn out front would collect the Accurate Collision Halfway Leader award but also be presented with a caution flag. Jamie Yannone would be the reason for the caution, as mechanical issues plagued the #21Y. It would be two #97’s on the front row of the restart, as Johnny Bockhorn and Cody Higbie led the way. Bockhorn got out front, Higbie followed suit, but it was Krummel who tried to make a move. The trio would advance through turns 1 & 2, but it was the move by Cody Higbie that would change the game. Higbie would go way up top and get on by Bockhorn to take the lead, only one lap later to have another caution plague the event.

Higbie would be the new leader with Bockhorn in second. The green flew on the restart and Higbie would take off leaving Bockhorn and Krummel to battle. Bockhorn would manage to keep second right up until lap sixteen where Krummel would get on by Bockhorn. Krummel would begin to reel in Higbie, but Higbie was too powerful out front, collecting his first victory in 2021 at the Legendary House Of Power.0

The 15 lap NAPA Northeast Parts Street Stock feature kicked off with two new faces in the division, Ben Richard and Jared Palmer on the front row. Richard would take off and grab the lead but drifted up too high in turn two. The door opened for Ronnie Constable to take over, and Constable would. The first of many cautions would happen on lap two. After a failed restart, Constable and Dylan Gannon would restart front row, with Gannon taking the lead as the green dropped. Charlie Donald would swoop in taking over second. Bob Sleight Jr would follow as well, taking third. Walt Henry wasted now time being present up front, by placing himself in fourth by lap four after starting sixteenth. Bob Sleight would get on by Charlie Donald for second until the yellow flag would be presented on lap five for the #110 of Ben Richard. Dylan Gannon and Bob Sleight would lead the way to the green on the next restart. Sleight would take over the top spot, putting the #46 in second. Multiple cautions would bedevil the event even up until the last lap. On the last lap however, it was Walt Henry who took the lead over and became another winner in history books of the Legendary House Of Power!

1 #9S Matt Sheppard OCFS Modifieds