7/17/2025
Short Track Super Series
Speed, Luck & Skill: Sheppard Tops ‘Interstate 88 Special’ at Afton Wednesday
AFTON, NY – Speed, luck and skill led to Victory Lane on Wednesday night at Afton Motorsports Park for Matt Sheppard.
The Savannah, N.Y., driver capitalized on a pole starting position to lead the entire 48-lap distance in the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco ‘Interstate 88 Special’ on the Afton Fairgrounds.
Sheppard earned $5,088 in Round No. 4 of the HYTORC of New York STSS Modified North Region. A large crowd filled the historic facility for the event, which was an addition to the series schedule as a co-promotion between STSS organizer Brett Deyo and Afton promoter Ron Ford.
The win for Sheppard was No. 54 of his STSS Modified career, breaking free from a tie atop the all-time win list with Stewart Friesen.
The STSS Modified feature took the checkered at 9 p.m. with rain in the area.
Sheppard led the event from wire-to-wire following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw, but not without challenges – the first of which came in the form of lapped traffic during the race’s first half.
“That lapped traffic there was crazy,” Sheppard said. “They were two wide. I kept thinking one of them was gonna get by the other and I kept switching lanes back and forth.
“We were jammed up for a while there and getting really nervous that someone was gonna sneak under or around me.”
Behind Sheppard, Alex Yankowski took over second on lap 15, while Stewart Friesen – who started 17th – broke into the top five by lap 23.
The race’s first SRI Performance caution flag flew on lap 28 with Friesen sitting third.
Friesen moved into second spot with 15 laps remaining following a caution and chased Sheppard for the next five circuits before Yankowski slipped back past to claim second following a side-by-side tussle.
“I was definitely happy to see those cautions at the end and stay out of lapped traffic,” Sheppard said. “That made life a lot easier.”
Sheppard ultimately drove on to the win over Covington Township, Pa.’s Yankowski, who earned a $3,000 runner-up finish in the Millman’s NAPA Auto Parts No. 84Y.
Friesen, of Sprakers, N.Y., ended his drive forward in third spot, followed by Danny Creeden of Wurtsboro, N.Y., and Anthony Perrego of Walden, N.Y., in the Vinnie Salerno No. 4.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Quebec’s David Hebert, moving through traffic after a flat tire; Rusty Smith of Oxford, N.Y., who – like Hebert – also pitted during the event; Jack Lehner of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in his Afton debut; Brandon Loucks of Bainbridge, N.Y.; and Ajay Potzrebowski II of Elmira, N.Y.
Friesen was the ATL Fuel Cells Hot Lap Hero with a lap of 14.475 seconds.
Heat winners were Creeden, Sheppard and Perrego. Gordon Smith topped the consolation.
The STSS heads to Quebec July 22-23 for the annual ‘Lumberjack Swing’ visit to Autodrome Granby in Granby, Quebec on Tuesday and Le RPM Speedway in Saint-Marcel-de-Richelieu, Quebec on Wednesday in a pair of $10,000-to-win programs.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on (X) or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Bob Hilbert Sportswear, FloRacing, American Racer, Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, BDR Speed, NJ Quality Drywall, HYTORC of New York, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Saint Lawrence Radiology, Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches, Bicknell Racing Products, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Madsen Overhead Doors, Belmont’s Garage, Wegner Automotive, DIG Race Products, ATL, Dirt Draft, Swagger Factory Apparel, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel LLC, Beyea Custom Headers, Design for Vision, Sunglass Central, Dirt Track Digest TV, DKM Fabrication, EIBACH, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Systems, JK Signworks, JLR Technologies, Dave Prime Jr. MAC Tools, MD3, PEM Engineering, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, SRI Performance, Superior Remodeling, Swift Springs, The Exotic Brand, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.
‘INTERSTATE 88 SPECIAL’ RESULTS SUMMARY – AFTON MOTORSPORTS PARK JULY 16, 2025
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified HYTORC of New York North Region Round No. 4 Feature Finish (48 laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Alex Yankowski, Stewart Friesen, Danny Creeden, Anthony Perrego, David Hebert, Rusty Smith, Jack Lehner, Brandon Loucks, Ajay Potzrebowski, Gordon Smith, Seth Zacharias, Daniel Morgiewicz, Richard Smith, Robert Bublak, Marty Kelly III, Dane Hedlund, Dennis Clapperton, Blaine Klinger, Tyler Siri, Brandon Walters, Ken Titus, Bobby Hackel IV, Alex Payne, Brett Tonkin, Doug Polhamus, Brad Weaver.
Did Not Qualify: Justin Holland, Dominic Roselli, Kreg Crooker.
Afton Motorsports Park Top Regulars: Danny Creeden ($50 – TC Custom Designs LLC) & Rusty Smith ($25 – Todd Stanton)
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Brandon Loucks (ninth) & Robert Bublak (15th)
ATL Fuel Cell Hot Lap Hero ($100): Stewart Friesen (14.475 seconds)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Bobby Hackel IV (Redrew 12th)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Gordon Smith (11th)
MD3 Most Laps Led ($100 Certificate): Matt Sheppard (48 laps)
PEM Engineering Bonus (FREE Gear Set): Stewart Friesen (third)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Matt Sheppard ($150 certificate – first); Alex Yankowski ($100 certificate - second); Stewart Friesen ($75 certificate - third)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring Certificate): Alex Payne
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Rusty Smith (seventh)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Sportsman Madsen Overhead Doors Inc. North Region Round No. 3 Feature Finish (28 laps): BLAINE KLINGER, Tyler Peet, Travis Green, David Rosa, Dylan Nichols, Avery Decker, Joe Toth, Michael Ballestero, Zach Welch, Dylan Madsen, Garrett Chillot, Dale Welty, Eric Winsor, Devon Green, Wyatt Frink, Jared LaBagh, Sullivan Dickey, Ryan Neiger, Kyle Smith, Chris Darling, John Williams, Todd Titus, Matt Brewer, Jonny Feagles, David Hackett Jr.
Did Not Qualify: Derrick Shaffer, George Schweigart, Stephen Winsor, Brett Wooster, Jason Shedd.
Afton Motorsports Park Top Regulars: Travis Green ($50 – TC Custom Designs LLC) & Dave Rosa ($25 – Todd Stanton)
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire Certificate): Joe Toth (seventh)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($25): David Hackett Jr. (Redrew 12th)
JLR Technologies Hot Lap Hero ($50): Tyler Peet (15.205 seconds)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Garrett Chillot (11th)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring Certificate): David Hackett Jr.
