SuperMatt Super on LIVE TV Sunday Night at Cayuga County
It may have been a fluke or just a happening of circumstance, but the three feature winners from Sunday at Cayuga County Fair Speedway’s final Empire Series points program were the same three winners from the night before at Canandaigua Speedway.
Matt Sheppard picked up his third DIRT Modified feature victory of the year at Cayuga County on Sunday. “We haven’t won here since June and I’m glad to be back here (victory lane) tonight,” stated an elated Matt Sheppard. “We’re entering the year end bigger shows on a positive note and with some momentum.”
Russ Hefti added DIRT Sportsman feature win number four to his resume at Cayuga County in 2006. “We looked at the point standings going into this event and with this win we may just have locked up the track tile,” explained Hefti from Victory Lane. “I’ve never been able to get a track championship here.”
Nathan Peckham won the final DIRT Street Stock show of the regular season beating out 2006 Cayuga County Fair Speedway Street Stock Champion Dave Mannise. In Enduro racing it was newcomer Tom Cook from Weedsport taking the 25-lap victory.
The 35-lap DIRT Modified feature started off with outside pole-sitter Joe Isabell taking the early lead. This first of six yellow flags flew on lap four when Chuck Bower slowed on the back stretch with a flat left rear tire. Some wild action followed the restart with Vince Vitale taking the lead as Isabell’s car faltered and fell back in the field. The racing was so intense that at one time the cars were four-wide under the starter’s stand.
On lap seven the second yellow flag flew when a four car accident blocked the fourth turn. Involved were D.J. Forbes, Tom Sears Jr., Roy Shields and Mike Ward. On the ensuing restart Vitale hung strong defending his lead while the pack of cars behind were being driven like “wild wolfs on the hunt.” A second four car accident again involved Shields with Shannon Whaley, Butch Tittle and Jeff Isabell taking part to force the yellow out again on lap nine.
Vitale was able to stretch out his lead on the restart as Sheppard, who had come from the back after winning the consolation race, was now challenging Danny Johnson for second. Once by Johnson, Sheppard set sail, catching Vitale in just one lap. After a side-by-side race for the top spot Sheppard solidified his lead when the yellow flew on lap 15, following a full 360-degree spin by Tim Fuller in the second turn after breaking a bead lock on a rear tire.
Another caution period came on lap 23 when Chuck Bower suffered front-end failure sending his ride towards the outside of the first turn where he was tagged by another car. Roy Shields brought out the final yellow two laps later after spinning out in the second turn. This brief slowdown set up a ten lap dash to the checkers with Sheppard apparently the fastest car on the track. Alan Johnson assumed second following a side-by-side duel with his brother Danny. At the finish line it would be Sheppard chased by Alan Johnson, Vince Vitale, Pat Ward and Ryan Phelps to round out the top-five finishers.
These results turned out to generate a top ten 2006 Empire Series points earners as follows: 1) Alan Johnson 447, 2) Matt Sheppard 400, 3) Pat Ward 379, 4) Jimmy Phelps 377, 5) Dale Planck 373, 6) Tim Fuller 365, 7) Danny Johnson 358, 8) Justin Haers 354, 9) Ryan Phelps 350, 10) Vince Vitale 326.
This Sunday will see the cars and stars from the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series descend on Cayuga County Fair Speedway for a special 100-lap feature. Joining the Modifieds will be the Sportsman and Enduro cars to make up the race card on this final regular weekly program at Cayuga County. Race time will remain 7 p.m. Most of these top stars will be then returning the next evening to run the “fast-track”, Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, N.Y. The Rolling Wheels DIRT Modified feature winner will be guaranteed the 7th starting spot for the Eckerd 200. Race time at RWR is 6 p.m. sharp.
EMPIRE LIVE TELEVISION SERIES RACE FIVE NIGHT SUMMARY
DIRT MODIFIED
HEAT 1: V. Vitale, D.J. Forbes, R. Phelps, D. Planck, B. Dunn.
HEAT 2: C. Bower, Jo. Isabell, D. Johnson, P. Ward, J. Isabell.
HEAT 3: G. Tomkins, A. Johnson, B. Tittle, S. Whaley, J. Phelps.
CONSI: M. Sheppard, T. Fuller, B. Henry Jr., C. Homan, J. Haers, T. Sears Jr., R. Shields, M. Ward.
FEATURE (35-laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Alan Johnson, Vince Vitale, Pat Ward, Ryan Phelps, Justin Haers, Danny Johnson, Dale Planck, Tim Fuller, Jimmy Phelps, Chad Homan, Bob Henry Jr., Billy Dunn, Mike Ward, Roy Shields, Shannon Whaley, D.J. Forbes, Chuck Bower, Gary Tomkins, Butch Tittle, Joe Isabell, Jeff Isabell, Tom Sears Jr., Vic Coffey (DNS).

Sheppard not a bridesmaid anymore at Canandaigua
Matt Sheppard, from nearby Waterloo, NY, picked up the DIRT Modified feature win at Canandaigua Speedway last Saturday evening. It was Sheppard’s first win of the season at the fast half mile oval. “It feels good to have finally made it here,” stated Sheppard referring to Victory Lane. We must have a “billion” seconds here and it just feels good.”
Also present for the night were the Empire Super Sprints. Justin Barger from Montrose, NY earned the 25-lap feature win just inching out Jessica Zemken at the finish line. [see complete story]
The 35-lap DIRT Modified feature opened with Butch Tittle taking the lead at the drop of the green. On lap three Todd Burley slowed with a flat tire in the fourth turn to bring out the first yellow of the race. But just two laps later Matt Sheppard blew by Chuck Bower using the high side of the back stretch. Sheppard then began to pull away from the competition, only to give up his advantage when the yellow flew on lap 12 for a multi-car accident in the first turn. Involved were Gary Tomkins, who lost a drive shaft in the accident, and Jeff Brownell
Sheppard maintained his lead pulling out to a 4.5 second led over second-place Charlie Donk, who was battling with Bower and eventually Steve Paine for the runner-up position. On lap 25 Paine worked his way into that second spot and then, in lap traffic, started to close the gap on Sheppard. By lap 32, Paine had cut Sheppard’s lead to just 1.5 seconds but laps ran out quickly. Sheppard held on for the victory followed by Paine, Donk, Bower and Chad Brachmann to round out the top-five finishers. “We had a good handling car here this week,” added Sheppard from Victory Lane. Thanks should also go to Finger Lakes motors and my crew for such a great handling machine.”
This Saturday will be the final track points event at Canandaigua Speedway this season. Double points will be on the line in all divisions. The DIRT Modifieds will be running a 50-lap event. Race time begins just before 7 p.m. The final event of the year at Ontario County Fairgrounds will then come on Friday, September 15, at 7 p.m., with the running of a 100-lap Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series race and a 30-lap Sportsman Mr. DIRT Series Championship.
D’AMICO CHRYSLER-DODGE-JEEP/THE WALL 99.3 FM/HEP SALES NIGHT SUMMARY
DIRT MODIFIED
HEAT 1 D. Rauscher, C. Bower, G. Tomkins, M. Sheppard, C. Brachmann
HEAT 2 S. Paine, C. Donk, T. Burley, V. Coffey, B. Tittle.
FEATURE (35-laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Steve Paine, Charlie Donk, Chuck Bower, Chad Brachmann, Vic Coffey, Todd Burley, Dave Rauscher, Joe Beyea, Butch Tittle, Mike Ward, Shannon Whaley, Chad Homan, Jeff Brownell Jr., Gary Tomkins, Fran Hilton, Don Slover, Steve Gray (DNS).

SHEPPARD WINS 2nd OF SEASON AT BREWERTON ON BUDWEISER / SYRACUSE CRUNCH NIGHT
BREWERTON, NY...Matt Sheppard won his second 35-lap DIRT Big Block Modified feature race of the season last Friday on Budweiser Beer / Syracuse Crunch Night. Sheppard worked up patiently from the 11th starting position to take the lead away from Ryan Phelps for good on lap-22. The victory for the Randy Ross owned, G-U Hardware sponsored car was worth $2,000.
Steve Hulsizer raced out to the early lead at the start of the Budweiser Beer / Syracuse Crunch DIRT Big Block Modified feature race from the outside pole starting position. Hulsizer led the opening nine circuits before losing power on the track on lap nine. Ryan Phelps inherited the lead at this point and the second generation driver would lead the talented field through lap-18.
Sheppard took the top spot away from Ryan Phelps on lap-19. Phelps came charging right back, though, to lead the next two laps. Sheppard regained the lead from Phelps on lap-22. At that time both Ryan Phelps and Vic Coffey, who were racing in second and third respectively, came into contact with cars that had tangled entering the fourth turn.
In the final laps Sheppard went on to the convincing victory at the D-shaped DIRT Demon. Pat Ward, Tim Fuller, Billy Decker and Chuck Bower completed the top five feature finishers. Jimmy Phelps, Alan Johnson, Stewart Friesen, Jim Witko Jr. and Kenny Stafford finished in positions sixth through tenth respectively in the 26-car starting field.

Matt Sheppard part of Team Eckerd, to appear at local stores
Albany, NY - Matt Sheppard and his 44s DIRT Modified will appear at local Eckerd Stores throughout the summer as part of the Team Eckerd Racing program. All fans will be able to visit with MAtta nd get his autograph

Sunday July 3rd at Eckerd Pharmacy on Grant Ave. in Auburn, NY
Sept. 3rd at Eckerd Pharmacy on Rt.31 in Baldwinsville, NY

Stay tuned for more appearances.

Sheppard Streaks To 2nd Straight Cayuga County Victory
Weedsport, NY - Waterloo, New York’s Matt Sheppard sailed to his second straight DIRT Modified feature win at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway on Sunday. In DIRT Sportsman action it was Mike Bowman winning his first of the year at the Weedsport oval. The DIRT Street Stock main went to Dave Mannise, also his second win in a row at the speedway and third total for the season while. Karl Werner won the 25-lap Pit Stop Convenience Stores Enduro. A special Central NY Mini-Sprint A-Main ended with Bubba Broderick, from Brookfield, CT, taking the win on Sanford & Burtis Fire Equipment/LaFluer Forestry Products night.
Derrick Podsiadlo took the lead at the start of the 35-lap DIRT Modified feature and held off repeated challenges from Dan Vauter and Todd Town for the front spot. On lap 10 the yellow flag flew when Joe Isabell spun in the second turn. On the ensuing restart a multi-car pile up took place in the fourth turn resulting in the Isabell car sitting atop the inside Jersey barrier.
Two laps after the race restarted Alan Johnson took his Pine Line Racing number 14J deep into the third turn, but failed to complete the pass on Podsiadlo. The next time around he tried to run exiting the second turn, taking the lead just as the yellow flew for Vauter, who stopped high up against the second turn wall.
Johnson was now leading Sheppard, Podsiadlo and Dale Planck by a slim margin. Sheppard kept the pressure on until lap 29, when he charged under Johnson and using a lapped car as a pick, took the lead. Sheppard then extended his advantage to take the victory while Johnson came home second followed by Planck, Jimmy Phelps and last year’s track champion Tim Fuller.

HEAT 1: A. Johnson, D. Podsiadlo, Jo. Isabell, J. Isabell, J. Phelps.
HEAT 2: R. Phelps, M. Sheppard, P. Ward, T. Fuller, T. Town.
HEAT 3: D. Planck, D. Vauter, T. Sears Jr., J. Haers, V. Vitale.

FEATURE (35-laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Alan Johnson, Dale Planck, Jimmy Phelps, Tim Fuller, Ryan Phelps, Pat Ward, Justin Haers, Tom Sears Jr., Danny Johnson, Derrick Podsiadlo, Billy Dunn, Butch Tittle, Jeff Isabell, Mike Ward, Todd Town, Vince Vitale, Joe Isabell, Sterling Miller, Dan Vauter, Matt Fink, Don Slover.

Sheppard Herds In Cayuga Co. Mod Win; Hefti Remains Hot In Sportsman
Weedsport, NY – With many tracks rained out over the weekend it seemed that a number of drivers just wanted a chance to race. One hundred and ten race cars, in five different classes, showed up at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway last Sunday to try their hand at taking a feature win.
Matt Sheppard, from Waterloo, NY, picked up his first Cayuga County Fair Speedway DIRT Modified feature victory of the year last Sunday under grey and somewhat rainy skies. He just graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) last Saturday. “After winning on opening night at Brewerton, we just couldn’t seem to get things back together until tonight,“ stated an elated Sheppard from victory lane. Sheppard had to hold off Jimmy Phelps, who earlier in the evening set a new track record with a lap of 15.295 seconds, which translates to 88.264 mph around the .375 mile oval.
At the start of the 35-lap DIRT Modified feature pole sitter-Derrick Podsiadlo blasted into the lead and stretch out a four car advantage, when on lap two his car started to smoke heavily. A multi-car tangle in the fourth turn caused the yellow to fly one lap later so officials could safely remove Podsiadlo from the line up and save any damage to his engine. Involved in the accident were five cars, all spinning to avoid each other, yet blocking the track.
On the restart Sean Beardsley was the new leader followed by Dan Vauter and Steve Hulsizer with Sheppard in fourth. ‘Super Matt’ made quick work of his competition taking second on the very next lap. The yellow flew on lap eight when Vince Vitale slowed on the backstretch. During this yellow fan favorite Alan Johnson stopped on the track and had to be pushed back to the pits.
Sheppard took the lead this time on the restart saw and then stretched out his lead to 2.51 seconds before the yellow flew for the fourth time on lap 13. This time rookie Sterling Miller spun and stopped in the second turn. A long period of green laps then followed with Sheppard leading Jimmy Phelps, cousin Ryan Phelps, Pat Ward and Beardsley. As the leaders darted through lapped traffic Phelps tried to catch Sheppard using a lapped car but Sheppard maintained his advantage and stayed calm.
On lap 31 the yellow flew for the final time when Ryan Jacobs exited the track. This set up a four lap dash to the checkers. Sheppard took the win followed by Phelps, Ward, Tim Fuller and Beardsley.

DIRT MODIFIED
HEAT 1: A. Johnson, D. Vauter, S. Hulsizer, R. Phelps, Z. Aubertine, R. Jacobs.
HEAT 2: J. Phelps, V. Vitale, T. Sears Jr., T. Fuller, D. Johnson, P. Ward.
HEAT 3: S. Beardsley, M. Sheppard, D. Podsiadlo, B. Dunn, D. Planck, J. Haers.
CONSI: T. Town, J. Isabell, Jo. Isabell, C. Homan, S. Miller, S. Whaley, L. Willix, C. Phelps.

FEATURE (35-laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Jimmy Phelps, Pat Ward, Tim Fuller, Sean Beardsley, Ryan Phelps, Danny Johnson, Dale Planck, Tom Sears Jr., Justin Haers, Steve Hulsizer, Joe Isabell, Billy Dunn, Zach Aubertine, Lance Willix II, Shannon Whaley, Todd Town, Chad Homan, Sterling Miller, Jeff Isabell, Ryan Jacobs, Dan Vauter, Alan Johnson, Vince Vitale, Derrick Podsiadlo, Chad Phelps (DNS).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

B&F General Machine to Sponsor Matt Sheppard and Ross Motorsports in 2006

Albany, NY (April 1, 2006) - Bob Faust, Owner of B&F General Machine has signed on as an associate sponsor with Ross Motorsports and driver Matt Sheppard for the 2006 season. Bob and Michelle Faust, longtime car owners of Northeast DIRT Modifieds, sold their race team over the winter and decided to take a break from the grind of owning race cars. Bob and Michelle's passion for the sport and wanting to help young star Matt Sheppard has brought the familiar B&F General Machine logo back to adorning the body panels of a DIRT Modified. Car owner Randy Ross is excited to have B&F General Machine as a sponsor for the 2006 as B&F General Machine is offering a $250 bonus to the Ross Motorsports team for every feature win during the '06 race season.

Ross signs Bell Helmets and Pennzoil as product sponsors for 2006

Bell Helmets will be the official helmet supplier for Ross Motorsports and driver Matt Sheppard in 2006. For more info on Bell, visit www.bellracing.com
Pennzoil, a worldwide leader in lubricants will be the official oil and lubricant supplier for Ross Motorsports and Matt Sheppard during the 2006 season.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Don & Jo Ann Davies
davmedia@nycap.rr.com

ROSS MOTORSPORTS & CURRIER PLASTICS INC. FORM ALLIANCE FOR 2006
ALBANY, NY (February 10, 2006) – Randy Ross, owner of Ross Motorsports, and John Currier, President of Currier Plastics, Inc., announced today that in 2006, Currier Plastics, Inc. will be an associate sponsor for the #44 Ross Motorsports modified team driven by Matt Sheppard.
Unique to this relationship is that Ross Motorsports in turn will offer technical support to a newly formed dirt sportsman team whose driver will be Tim Currier, the 16 year old son of John Currier.
Currier Plastics Inc. is a recognized leader in the custom injection molded and extrusion blow molded industry and manufactures products for many markets including telecommunications, medical, lawn and garden, electronic, automotive, personal care, food service, dairy, and pharmaceuticals. Approximately 140 employees work at the Auburn, NY based company that was founded in 1982.
Ross Motorsports will again follow the entire Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series as well as competing weekly at New York DIRT sanctioned tracks. While their final schedule is yet to be determined, expect to see the team at three tracks weekly utilizing PMC and Bicknell cars powered by Enders Motors.
The Currier Motorsports #10 team will be led by winning crew chief Stu Sheppard and will run the 2005 Bicknell mount previously driven by Matt in 2005 as a 358 modified. Rookie sportsman driver Tim Currier recently completed his fourth season in the quarter midget ranks with 35 wins in 64 starts, three tracks titles, and two New York State Series championships. Tim expects to compete weekly at Canandaigua, Cayuga County and Rolling Wheels Speedways.
Stay current with the latest news and information on the #44 and #10 teams by logging on to http://www.matt-sheppard.com.

About Currier Plastics Inc.
Headquartered in Auburn, NY Currier Plastics is an ISO9001/2000 & FDA Registered Injection Molder and Blow Molder. Currier employs 140 people at its Auburn, NY facility and provides its services to a wide range of customers in the consumer, electronics and medical industry.
Additional information about Currier Plastics Inc, processes, services and employment opportunities can be found on the company’s web site at http://www.currierplastics.com.