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
dont 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 didnt
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.
Sheppards
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 didnt 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 didnt 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 OBrien, 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
Sawyers 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
Friday
night at the Brewerton Speedway, Super Matt Sheppard
opened his second
full weekend in his #9s, Jeff Brownell Sr. owned modified.
Coming home 5th in the
main event was all he had for the full field of modifieds.
His Saturday night stop the
Canandaigua Speedway was cancelled due to rain. Having
the night off the team
was looking forward to their Sunday night stop at Cayuga
County Fair Speedway
only to have a disapointing 13th place finish. The week
ahead is a big one with
a trip to the Virginia Motor Speedway along with a second
Advance Auto Parts
Dirtcar Series event later in the week and that is the
main focus as the car heads
back to the shop.
Weekend Summary:
Friday Night- - Matt started his night finishing 5th
in the second heat, starting him 14th in the feature
event. Coming through traffic using both the middle
and the high side, he worked his way to a 5th place
finish at the completion of the 35 lap feature.
Saturday
Night- -rain-out
Sunday
Night- Finishing 5th in the first heat of the night
put Sheppard (the point leader
going into the night) in the 18th starting position
at the start of
the 35 lap feature. Sheppard spun while running high
in turn one, sending
him to the rear. He worked his way to a 13th place finish
for the
evening.
Brownell Motorsports #9s
Driver: Matt Sheppard
Web Site: www.matt-sheppard.com
Hometown: Waterloo, NY
Wins in 2008 - - 1
Sponsors: Advanced Lubrication Specialties, BPG Racing/Chad
Sinon
Motorsports, D.C. Rauscher INC, Seneca Auto Sales &
Service, Integra
Racing Shocks, Bicknell Racing Products, Pilat Graphic
Design, Bert
Transmissions, Baker Carburetion, BELL, LEAF Racewear,
The Joie of
Seating, FingerLakes Auto Machine.
Coming
Weekend Schedule for Matt Sheppard
Thursday,-Virginia Motor Speedway (Advance Auto Parts
Super Dirtcar Series Race
Friday,-Brewerton Speedway
Saturday,-Canandaigua Speedway
Sunday,- Rolling Wheels(Advance Auto Parts Super Dirtcar
Series Race)
Super Matt Sheppard Flies to Victory at
Cayuga County Fair Speedway
Weedsport,
NY April 20, 2008 By Dan Kapuscinski,
Cayuga County Fair Speedway PR and Promotions Coordinator
One
night after finishing second in the season opener at
Canandaigua Speedway, Matt Sheppard rebounded for his
8th career feature win at Cayuga County Fair Speedway
on Gater Online Night at the Races.. The
$1,500 pay day was his first victory behind the wheel
of the Jeff Brownell Sr. owned Advance Lubrication Specialties
no. 9s DIRTcar Big-Block Modified.
I
cant thank Jeff enough for putting me in this
racecar, said Sheppard. Things have been
going great to this point, and tonight is a perfect
cap to the weekend.
Sheppard
held off the advances of Steve Paine late in the going
in lapped traffic to preserve the victory. Jimmy Phelps,
Billy Dunn, and Pat OBrien rounded out the top5..
Paine
and OBrien started the 35-lap DIRTcar Big-Block
Modified main event from the front row. Paine would
show the way early on in the Beyea Custom Headers no.
121, trying to capitalize on his pole position for the
second consecutive night. Saturday night, Paine started
from the pole at the Canandaigua Speedway, but slid
to a 5th place finish.
Sheppard
though was making moves early from his 6th starting
position. By the second circuit the Waterloo driver
had moved into the runner-up position and began to chase
down the leader.
With
Paine and Sheppard out front OBrien, Dunn, and
Jimmy Phelps began a battle for third. By lap-5 Sheppard
had reeled Paine and began to work the no. 121 machine.
Paine used all he had to try and hold Sheppard back,
but on lap-8 Sheppard made the move and pressed into
the lead.
The
first of only two cautions was displayed on lap-12,
as Lightning Larry Wight lost the handle
on the no. 99L in turn one. Shappard, Paine, and OBrien
restarted in the top3, but Jimmy Phelps used the restart
to his advantage working around OBrien for third
on the following lap.
The
only other slow down in the event came on the 17th circuit
for the no. 99 of Ryan Phelps, as he made contact with
the first turn wall. Sheppard, Paine, Phelps, OBrien,
and Dunn would remain the top5.
Sheppard
was clearly the class of the field on opening night,
but the experienced Paine made a late race charge in
lapped traffic. Paine however couldnt catch a
break as the lapped cars wisely stayed to the low side,
allowing Sheppard to peddle the top of the Speedway
and hold off Paine to the stripe.
Next
Sunday, April 27 at Cayuga County Fair Speedway is Vault
$20 Carload Night at the Races. Bring a carload of family
and friends and enter for just $20 until 4:45pm. The
DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds,
UMP Street Stocks, and BattleKarz will kick-off at 5pm.
DIRTcar
Big-Block Modifieds
Heat #1 (6 Qualify): Sheppard, Isabell, Bartlett, Caprara,
A. Johnson, Whaley, Weaver, Bellinger, Guererri, Ward
Heat
#2: J. Phelps, OBrien, Brownell Jr., Hulsizer,
R. Phelps, Bowman, Podsiadlo, Fink, Bennett, D. Johnson
Heat
#3: Dunn, Paine, Homan, Haers, Lewis, Wight, Beardsley,
Potter, Mahaney
Consi
(6 Qualify): Podsiadlo, Bellinger, Weaver, Beardsley,
Guererri, Potter, Bob Bennett, Mike Mahaney, Danny Johnson,
Alan Fink, Mike Ward
Gater
Online 35: 1) 9s- MATT SHEPPARD, 2) 121- Steve Paine,
3) 99J- Jimmy Phelps, 4) 49- Billy Dunn, 5) 6- Pat OBrien,
6) 14J- Alan Johnson, 7) FX1- Frankie Caprara, 8) 3-
Justin Haers, 9) 88- Steve Hulsizer, 10) 93- Ryan Bartlett,
11) 29- Jeff Brownell Jr., 12) 91- Chad Homan, 13) 1a-
Brian Weaver, 14) 99L- Larry Wight, 15) 18- Sean Beardsley,
16) 16- Mike Bowman, 17) 8- Rob Bellinger, 18) 7G- Paul
Guererri, 19) 21- Derrick Podsiadlo, 20) 09- Kyle Lewis,
21) 7J- Jeff Isabell, 22) 5- Jason Potter, 23) 99- Ryan
Phelps, 24) 44- Shannon Whaley
3-2-1
GO. . . "SUPER" MATT SHEPPARD LAUNCHES GREAT
OPENING WEEKEND
Matt
Sheppard of Waterloo, NY delivered a 3-2-1 countdown
in his first
full weekend of DIRTcar racing in 2008. Behind the wheel
of the Jeff
Brownell Motorsports big block modified, Sheppard finished
third in his
Friday night run at Brewerton Speedway followed by a
runner-up finish on
Saturday night at Canandaigua. The busy weekend was
complete with his
first win of the season coming at the Cayuga County
Fair Speedway on
Sunday night. For Sheppard, this was his eighth career
win at Cayuga
County.
Weekend
Summary:
Friday
Night- - Brewerton Speedway. Matt started ninth in his
heat race
and finished a solid fifth. The invert forced Sheppard
to start in the
fourteenth spot in the feature event and finished a
solid third in the
main event.
Saturday
Night- -Canandaigua Speedway. In the heat race event,
Sheppard
started seventh and qualified in the third position.
Matt started on
the front row and led most of the race. Just four laps
from the checker
flag, Billy Decker took the lead as Matt settled in
to finish a solid
second place. "I had a good car, but I think I
just made the wrong
choice on shocks for the track conditions", added
Sheppard.
Sunday
Night- -Cayuga County Fair Speedway. A successful night
started
with a win in the first heat race of the night. In the
35 lap feature
event, Matt started sixth. At the drop of the green,
Matt charged right
to the front and went to battle with pole sitter Steve
Paine.
Throughout the race Paine stayed right with Sheppard
and actually made a
late race bid as the leaders moved in on lapped traffic.
Sheppard took
the win, his first of the 2008 season. "I had a
great car tonight and
we didn't change much from the night before". Sheppard
added his
special thanks to Jeff Brownell, BPG/Chad Sinon Motorsports,
Advanced
Lubrications and most of all, his dedicated crew.
Brownell Motorsports #9s
Driver: Matt Sheppard
Web Site: www.matt-sheppard.com
Hometown: Waterloo, NY
Sponsors: Advanced Lubrication Specialties, BPG Racing/Chad
Sinon
Motorsports, D.C. Rauscher INC, Seneca Auto Sales &
Service, Integra
Racing Shocks, Bicknell Racing Products, Pilat Graphic
Design, Bert
Transmissions, Baker Carburetion, BELL, LEAF Racewear,
The Joie of
Seating, FingerLakes Auto Machine.
Coming
Weekend Schedule for Matt Sheppard
Friday, April 25 Brewerton Speedway
Saturday, April 26 Canandaigua Speedway
Sunday, April 27 Cayuga County Fair Speedway
Brownell
Motorsports enjoyed additional success as Jeffrey Brownell
Jr
scored his first 2008 modified victory at the Glen Ridge
Speedway on
Friday night.
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