With 472 career feature wins and nine Super DIRTcar Series championships, Matt Sheppard is considered the top dirt-modified driver in the area.
But even the best racers have their bad days and for Sheppard it started on a recent trip to the Delaware International Speedway. While stopping for refueling, the attendant filled his diesel-powered hauler with regular gasoline.
Fortunately, they quickly found the mistake and the station’s mechanic drained and flushed out the tank before any serious damage was done to the motor.
But his problems weren’t over yet. When Matt got to the track, tire issues and a trip into the wall kept him out of victory lane for the evening in an event won by Billy Pauch Jr.
During the long Memorial Day week of local racing, Sheppard’s bad luck continued. At Utica-Rome’s Twin 20 program last Friday, this Savannah racer was again kept out of victory circle.
Saturday night at Fonda, arch-rival Stewart Friesen came away with the $4,000 victory in the Dave Lape Memorial feature and Matt was again back in the field.
Sunday night’s Super DIRT Series hundred lapper at Weedsport had Canadian Mat Williamson dominating, with Sheppard finishing a well-beaten third.
But Sheppard turned things around in a big way Monday night at the Super DIRT Series event at Lebanon Valley. He picked the pole in the pre-race draw and went out and led the 100-lap feature from start to finish. The LV victory was worth $13,500 and got Sheppard back to his winning ways with his ninth feature triumph in the young 2023 season.
Friday night
Brewerton: Ronnie Davis 111 leads Chris Hile by just two points in the modified point standings going into this week’s 35-lap, DIRT big-block modified feature.
Pace car rides and a kids’ bike giveaway are also on the Brewerton program.
Outlaw: It’s military appreciation night this Friday and the modified feature winners pocket a $2,100 check.
Albany-Saratoga: The Empire Super Sprint Tour has a Friday night show at this popular Malta oval. Saturday night, the ESS troops move south to the Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown
Utica-Rome: This Vernon oval will be running all their regular classes, topped off by a $ 2,400-to-win modified feature.
Saturday night
Fulton: Fulton: Larry Wight holds a slim 2-point lead over Tim Sears Jr. in the latest 358 modified point standings. It’s also Family Autograph Night at this popular Route 57 oval.
Oswego: Round two of the five-race Oswego Supermodified Challenge is set with a fifty lap main event set for ISMA/MSS winged supermods.
Last week’s Challenge opener drew 26 supers and another full field is expected for the top wing opener. Canadians Mike Lichty and Mark Sammut are entered, along with Michigan’s John Benson Jr.
Brothers Trent and Talon Stephens from Ohio are also entered, along with Tennessee’s Kyle Edwards. A $6,000 winner’s check has been posted for the main event victor.
350 supers and small-block supers will also be racing and the first qualifying heat is set for 6 p.m.
Land of Legends: The DIRT big block modified feature at this half-mile Canandaigua oval is worth $4,000 to win this week.
Fonda: The CRSA Sprint tour joins the modifieds and sportsmen at this half-mile, Montgomery County Fairgrounds oval.
Lebanon Valley: The 11th annual Flach Memorial finale for DIRT modifieds is the highlight of this week’s program.
Gateway: The NASCAR Truck Series runs a 200-mile event this Saturday at this St. Louis-area track.
Sprakers Stewart Friesen currently sits 11th in the latest point standings with his Halmar Toyota.