Sheppard Scores Again at Cayuga County, Completes Weekend Hat-Trick

Weedsport, NY – August 3, 2008 – By Dan Kapuscinski

The DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds had not competed at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway since June 22nd. Fortunately mother nature let up Sunday night as the 800hp ground-pounders made their return, with “Super” Matt Sheppard making all the right moves to score his second feature win of the season at the Weedsport oval. The Advanced Lubrication Specialties no. 9s, owned by Jeff Brownell Sr. with Sheppard at the helm, added Cayuga County victory lane to its list of stops for the weekend after winning at Brewerton Friday night, and Canandaigua Saturday.
The 35-lap victory was worth $1,500 on Spano Companies Night at the Races presented by HEP Sales.
“I don’t know if that was fun or nerve racking,” said Sheppard in victory lane, after battling five other drivers for the top spot in the closing stages. “Everybody was looking for a hole out there, and we were able to find it tonight. We really didn’t do anything different all weekend than we had in the past, but things just went our way the past few days.”
Alan Johnson sliced his way through the field for a runner-up finish just ahead of young rookie Mike Mahaney. Mahaney ran up front all race long, and even lead several laps in the late stages before Sheppard found his way by with just 4-laps to go. Jimmy Phelps and Mike Bowman completed the top five runners at the end of the 35-lap main, which saw only one caution throughout.

DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds
Heat #1: Podsiadlo, Homan, Bowman, Haers, R. Phelps, Mahaney, Ward, Vigneri
Heat #2: Bellinger, Johnson, Potter, Paine, Wight, Pfeffer, Bartlett, Shields
Heat #3: Brownell, Whaley, J. Phelps, Dunn, Sheppard, Steiner, Habeck
Feature (35-laps): 1) 9s- MATT SHEPPARD, 2) 14j- Alan Johnson, 3) 33- Mike Mahaney, 4) 99j- Jimmy Phelps, 5) 16- Mike Bowman, 6) 7x- Steve Paine, 7) 5- Jason Potter, 8) 49- Billy Dunn, 9) 44- Shannon Whaley, 10) 29- Jeff Brownell Jr, 11) 91- Chad Homan, 12) 3- Justin Haers, 13) 99- Ryan Phelps, 14) 79- John Pfeffer, 15) 21- Derrick Podsiadlo, 16) 8- Rob Bellinger, 17) 99L- Larry Wight, 18) 45m- Mike Ward, 19) 44v- Phil Vigneri, 20) 13- Tony Steiner, 21) 82s- Roy Shields, 22) 25- Paul Habeck, 23) 93- Ryan Bartlett

Sheppard Races to First Win of '08 at Canandaigua Speedway with Late Pass
Weedsport, NY – August 3, 2008 – By Dan Kapuscinski
“Super” Matt Sheppard pulled into Canandaigua Speedway victory lane for the first time in 2008 on Saturday night, despite the strong efforts of runner-up Vinnie Vitale. Vitale took the lead on lap-17 from Shannon Whaley, but it was Sheppard coming out on top after a late race caution which helped him to pull under Vitale to take the point with just two circuits remaining.
Sheppard’s 4th career Canandaigua Speedway Big-Block Modified win was worth $1,500 on Star Headlight Night at the Races presented by Cold Fire.
“The car was really hooked up good on the bottom of the track tonight,” said Sheppard. “It seems like we have finished second or third every night here this season, so it feels good to finally pick up a win. If we didn’t get that late caution there is no way we would have won tonight. At one point I thought Burley was the leader, I had no idea that Whaley and Vitale were so far out front.”
Vitale held on for a strong runner-up finish ahead of Todd Burley, Steve Paine, and Gary Tomkins in the top five positions.

DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds
Heat #1: Burley, Sheppard, Brachman, Fisher, Podsiadlo, Bower, Paine, Habeck
Heat #2: Vitale, Whaley, Rauscher, Cartwright, Tomkins, Haers, Donk, Homan, Pfeffer, Slover
Feature (35-laps): 1) 9s- MATT SHEPPARD, 2) 56- Vinnie Vitale, 3) 89b- Todd Burley, 4) 7x- Steve Paine, 5) 84- Gary Tomkins, 6) 44- Shannon Whaley, 7) 3- Justin Haers, 8) 99b- Chuck Bower, 9) 3b- Chad Brachman, 10) 37c- Eric Fisher, 11) 99- Charlie Donk, 12) 21- Derrick Podsiadlo, 13) 79- John Pfeffer, 14) 48T- Dave Rauscher, 15) 29- Jeff Brownell Jr., 16) 25- Paul Habeck, 17) 2b- Ron Cartwright, 18) 91- Chad Homan, 19) 28p- Eldon Payne Jr., 20) 50- Don Slover
Wheel of Fortune $100 Gypsum Wholesalers Bonus: 99- Charlie Donk

Sheppard is Class of The Field Friday Night at Brewerton Speedway!!!
By Dave Medler
Brewerton, NY - Matt Sheppard started off the month of August on a winning note. Sheppard held off a late charge by Billy Decker to win his second 35-Lap DIRTcar Modified Feature of the year Friday night at the Brewerton Speedway.
Mike Bowman took off from his front row starting position to led the opening laps of the 35-Lap Modified feature being closely pursued by Tommy Sears Jr.. After a quick yellow Sears found bite on the top of the speedway to grab the lead away from Bowman on the restart, Kevin Bates also got around Bowman to run second.
When the race hit the Lap-6 mark Bates got a run on Sears to take the top spot away, Bates started opening distance on Sears. Jeremy Smith, Matt Sheppard and Mike Bowman ran in the top five.
With Ten-Laps in the books Bates still held onto a slight advantage over Sears and Sheppard. At this point Jimmy Phelps and Billy Decker were in the top five trying to run down the leaders.
Matt Sheppard got around Sears and started to track down Bates for the top spot by Lap-15, Decker, Phelps and Sears were still in the hunt.
At the halfway point Sheppard found speed at the top of one and two and was able to get around Bates and take command of the race.
With ten to go Sheppard used lapped traffic to open a half straightaway lead on point leader Decker. Sheppards car looked like it was starting to go away and a handful to drive. On Lap-28 the yellow flew putting Decker right on the leaders back bumper setting up a battle to the finish.
Over the remaining laps Decker showed his front end to the inside of Sheppard a couple times, but Sheppard somehow was able to man-handle his car to the win. Decker, Bates, Phelps and Alan Johnson completed the top five.
"My car didn’t really feel that good tonight, I found a little something up top and was able to get to the lead," Said Sheppard after parking his Advanced Lubrication Specialties, No.9s in Victory Lane. " I was able to sneak by Kevin (Bates) in lapped traffic, I was pretty much just trying to hold on. Luckily the bottom went away, I was able to cruise around up top." He finished up by relating, " I saw Billy (Decker) a couple times there at the end. I knew if I kept it straight I could probably hold him off."
(DIRT MODIFIEDS 35-LAPS) - Matt Sheppard, Billy Decker, Kevin Bates, Jimmy Phelps, Alan Johnson, Tom Sears Jr., Chuck Bower, Bob Henry Jr., Jeremy Smith, Steve Hulsizer, Pat O’Brien, Chad Phelps, Willy Decker, Johnny Hill, Jim Witko, Kyle Lewis, Pat Ward, Tont Steiner, Tim Sears Bob Bennett, Terry Knoblock, Mike Bowman, Tim Harris, John Ramsey. DNS- Matt Fink, Brian Murphy, Ryan Phelps.

MATT SHEPPARD LANDS PBG 358 MODIFIED RIDE FOR TUESDAY, JULY 1 THUNDER ON THE HILL SPRINT & MODIFIED DOUBLE HEADER

The third race of 2008 for the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series will take place at the Grandview Speedway on Tuesday night, July 1 when the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass Pennsylvania Sprint Speed Week Series and the 358 Modifieds join forces for this always exciting holiday special event. The 410 sprints are always a thrill when they come to the "hill" and to make this show even better, the 358 modifieds will be part of the mix. In this event last year, Todd Shaffer won his first ever 410 sprint Thunder victory as Duane Howard was the winner of the 358 modified feature. Some breaking news out of the BPG Racing Camp is that Matt Sheppard of Waterloo, NY will be driving one of the BPG Racing/Chad Sinon owned modified at Grandview on Tuesday, July 1. Sheppard was the 2007 New Egypt Speedway track champion and holds the one-lap track record at Grandview with a time of 14.635 set on August 18, 2004. Sheppard has yet to win at Grandview but he is optimistic of his chances when he storms the "hill" on July 1.

In the 410 sprint ranks, Fred Rahmer, Lance Decease, Todd Shaffer, Jeff Shepard, Alan Cole, Steve Smith and Chad Layton are some of the expected entries and in the 358 Modified line-up, look for Duane Howard, Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Ryan Godown, Steward Friesen, Craig VonDohren, MeMe DeSantis, Kevin Hirthler and Jason Hamilton will be the competition that Matt Sheppard will meet and greet on Tuesday, July 1st.

The 410 sprints will compete in the COMDIAL Time Trials, qualifying heats a "B" Main and a 35 lap, $5,000 to win feature event. For the 358 Modifieds, a field of twenty-eight invited entries will draw for their starting positions in three heats race events that will determine the starting line-up for the 25 lap 358 Modified feature.

Gates will open at 5:30 PM with race time set for 7:30 PM. Adult general admission is $20 and $5 for children 6-11. Children under the age of 6 will be admitted for free. The pit fee is $25 and a license is not required.

Matt Sheppard runs away with win at Brewerton

By: Skip Howe
Brewerton, NY - The DIRTcar Modifieds saw Chuck Bower grab the early lead from his outside starting position and hold on thru lap 6. On the next circuit, Joe Isabell took over the top spot, with Bower, Steve Hulsizer, Larry wight and matt Sheppard rounding out the top five.
At the half way point, Bower maintained the top spot, with Sheppard hot on his heels. Jim Witko, Wight and Hulsizer were the top five. Willy Decker ran six and was looking to get by Hulsizer and make a run for the top spot, but Decker got by Willy and went to the high side as he looked for the fast groove. With 7 ticks left on the counter, Billy Decker got by Wight for fourth.
At lap 30 Sheppard made his move on the high side to get around Bower to take over the top position with Witko in the runner up spot, Bower sat third, Billy Decker fourth and Wight rounded out the top five.
As checkered flew at lap 35 Matt Sheppard past under the flag stand first to collect his first Brewerton win of the 2008 season.
"That was a great race, it was full of excitement, from start to finish," Sheppard said. The car was good earlier, the crew made some minor changes to help it and we did right. Usually we go the wrong way. Thanks to the crew and the sponsors as this was a total team effort."

Big Block Modifieds
Modified Heat #1 – Joe Isabell, Matt Sheppard, Chad Phelps, Jeremy Smith, Willy Decker, Kyle Lewis, Sean Beardsley, Bob Henry Jr., Danny Johnson
Modified Heat #2 –Chuck Bower, Steve Hulsizer, Tommy Sears Jr., Billy Decker, Jim Witko Jr, Alan Johnson, Jeff Isabell Jr., Rob Hile
Modified Heat #3 –Larry Wight, Pat O'Brien, Tim O'Brien, Kevin Bates, Tony Steiner, Ted Lamb Jr, Johnny Hill (DNF), Shawn Donath (DNF)
DIRTCar Modified Consi – Jeff Isabel Jr., Sean Beardsley, Bob Henery Jr., Shawn Donath, Rob Hile, Danny Johnson

Modified Feature (35 Laps) – Matt Sheppard, Jim Witko Jr, Chuck Bower, Billy Decker, Larry Wight, Steve Hulsizer, Willy Decker, Tom Sears Jr, Jeremy Smith, Timmy O'Brien, Pat O'Brien, Joe Isabell, Kevin Bates, Bob Henry Jr, Alan Johnson, Ted Lamb Jr, Chad Phelps, Sean Beardsley, Danny Johnson, Kyle Lewis, Mike Bowman (DNF), Jeff Isabell Jr (DNF), Tony Steiner (DNF), Shawn Donath (DNF), Rob Hile (DNF)

 

Sheppard 'Super' In $10,000 Advance Series Win At Virginia - Thursday, May 01, 2008

Jamaica, VA — May 1, 2008 – By Tom Skibinski, Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series PR Director
‘Super’ Matt Sheppard was just that Thursday night at Virginia Motor Speedway as the Central New York standout opened the 2008 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series with a narrow victory worth a whopping $10,000 in the 2nd Annual Paul Sawyer Memorial presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc.
The second-generation driver from Waterloo, New York started fifth in the 30-car field, reeled in early pace-setter Duane Howard on lap 39, then held off the popular Pennsylvanian to capture the 60-lap ‘Thursday Thunder’ for Big-Block Modifieds at the immaculate Sawyer Family oval.
The 30-mile Modified main was slowed by eight caution periods with Sheppard outlasting Integra Shocks Fast Timer Howard by .83-seconds to claim his fifth career Advance Series triumph in dramatic fashion. Defending overall Hoosier Tire Mr. DIRTcar Champion Brett Hearn and tour regulars Steve Paine and Billy Decker filled out the front-five ahead of top-10 contenders Gary Tomkins, Jimmy Phelps, Larry Wight, Billy Pauch and Wade Hendrickson.
In just three more days the Advance Auto Parts Big-Block Modifieds are back in action at DIRTcar Racing NorthEast charter member Rolling Wheels Raceway Park with the running of the 28th DIRT Challenge Cup set for Sunday, May 4. Each 50-lap main event pays $3,000 to win and offers valuable points towards the 33rd Mr. DIRTcar Big-Block Championship.
Advance Auto Parts Super DIRTcar Series Race #1 – Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, May 1, 2008 Paul Sawyer Memorial presented by Thurston Spring Service, Inc. Big-Block Modified Event Summary

FIN STR CAR# DRIVER
1 5 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY ($10,000)
2 6 4 Duane Howard/Oley,PA
3 9 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
4 13 7x Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY
5 *12 91 Billy Decker/Unadilla,NY
6 24 84 Gary Tomkins/Clifton Springs,NY
7 17 98h Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville,NY
8 10 99L Larry Wight/Phoenix,NY
9 14 1w Billy Pauch/Frenchtown,NJ
10 22 85 Wade Hendrickson/Lawrenceville,NJ
11 7 27j Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
12 2 15x Billy Pauch Jr./Frenchtown,NJ
13 4 71 David VanHorn/Phillipsburg,NJ
14 25 14 Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
15 18 3 Justin Haers/Phelps,NY
16 3 fx1 Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY
17 27 14j Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
18 8 77x Dale Planck/Cortland,NY
19 1 20r Josh Richards/Shinnston,WV
20 29 99 Ryan Phelps/Fulton,NY
21 26 79 Mike Storms/Wantage,NJ
22 28 39w Steve Downs/Georgetown,DE
23 20 357 Stewart Friesen/Niagara-o-t-Lake,ONT
24 30 49 Billy Dunn/Watertown,NY
25 16 19 Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
26 11 6 Pat O'Brien/Kingston,ONT
27 23 43 Jim Horton IV/Neshanic Station,NJ
28 15 42b Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel,PA
29 21 777 Kevin Bolland/New Brighton,PA
30 19 29 Jeff Brownell Jr./Waterloo,NY
DNS 31 29h Kenny Wallace/St.Louis,MO
*#91 Decker started in rear with back-up car.

EVENT SUMMARY:
LAP LEADERS: Richards (1-8), Howard (9-38), Sheppard (39-60).
CAUTIONS: 8 (lap 4, lap 12, lap 13, lap 13, lap 28, lap 29, lap 31, lap 56).
HEAT WINNERS: Howard, Caprara, Planck, Hearn, Pauch Jr.
DIG SAFELY NEW YORK LAST CHANCE RACE WINNERS: Bolland, Hendrickson.
BICKNELL RACING PRODUCTS WINNER AWARD: Matt Sheppard.
CRANE CAMS WINNER AWARD: Matt Sheppard.
RISLONE OIL STABILIZER & TREATMENT WINNER AWARD: Matt Sheppard.
BARS LEAKS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Duane Howard.
CRANE CAMS RUNNER-UP AWARD: Duane Howard.
SYRACUSE RITE AID 200 QUALIFIER: Matt Sheppard (G).
HALFWAY LEADER: Duane Howard.
BERT/KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER AWARD: Gary Tomkins.
HOLLEY HARD LUCK AWARD: Dale Planck.
PENSKE POWER POSITION AWARD (13th): David VanHorn.
INTEGRA SHOCKS FAST TIME AWARD: Duane Howard (18.056sec/99.690mph) *NEW TRACK RECORD.
TOTAL PURSE: $48,560.
CARS ENTERED: 48.
NEXT EVENT: Rolling Wheels Raceway Park "28th DIRT Challenge Cup" - May 4, 2008.

DID NOT QUALIFY(17)
1-Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
r2-Rusty Smith/Bethlehem,PA
5-Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
7a-Chic Cossaboone/Petersburg,NJ
7j-Joe Isabell/Pennellville,NY
8-Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
10-Kyle Strickler/Mooresville,NC
11j-Sean Beardsley/Central Square,NY
13-Greg Monica/North Bangor,NY
15-Brett Tonkin/Carbondale,PA
22-Rick Wegner/Monmouth Junction,NJ
30-Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
37x-Tom Scheetz/Boyertown,PA
40-Mark Forte,Sr./Blue Anchor,NJ
m40-Mark Forte,Jr./Blue Anchor,NJ
48too-Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
56-Vince Vitale/Phoenix,NY

QUALIFYING
FAST AVE
TIME MPH CAR# DRIVER
*1 18.056 99.690 4 Duane Howard/Oley,PA
*$100 Integra Shocks Fast Qualifier Award
13 18.734 96.082 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY

Sheppard Hopes To Put Rough Weekend Behind Him