Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Excites Legend Billy Pauch Sr., 715-Time Career Winner To Chase STSS South Region Points Kicking Off Sunday, April 19 At Bridgeport Speedway ‘South Jersey Shootout’
“Deyo is putting a lot of money into a series down here that’s pretty good. It’s five races and $7,500 to win the points and all of the races pay good. It’s got my name written all over it.” – Billy Pauch Sr. on the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek to Area Auto Racing News writer Robin Yasinsac-Gillespie
BRIDGEPORT, NJ – With 715 total victories and a career that has spanned more than 40 years, there isn’t much left in the sport that excites Billy Pauch Sr.
The Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Hi-Tek does.
Hefty, non-top-heavy purse structures and a solid posted point fund have attracted Pauch Sr., the Frenchtown, N.J., legend to the first-year Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region presented by Scotty’s Speed & Diesel, set to kick off Sunday, April 19 (rain date: April 26) at New Jersey’s Bridgeport Speedway.
Pauch Sr. and his Kevin Bifulco-owned No. 1 are committed to the five-race schedule, starting with the Bridgeport ‘South Jersey Shootout’ and moving on to Big Diamond (Pa.) Speedway May 5, New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway June 11, Delaware International Speedway August 4 and Georgetown (Del.) Speedway September 1.
Pauch Sr. will chase the $7,500 championship from a point fund totaling more than $20,000.
“It’s good money,” analyzed Pauch Sr. after examining the 2015 STSS schedule. “All the races pay well and you can’t beat a $7,500 championship for five races. If I had a little more help, I’d like to run the North Races, too. There’s a lot of cash on the line.”
The 58-year-old Pauch Sr. took up an exercise regimen during the off-season and lost more than 30 lbs.
“I never thought I’d be racing this long,” he admitted. “But I’ve never felt better and we’re still winning races.”
The versatile driver has won at all five tracks on the series schedule and feels optimistic about his chances.
“I like running my big-block,” he said. “We don’t get as many chances as we used to with New Egypt (his home track) running small-blocks weekly. I’ve won some big races at all the tracks we’re going to. I think we’ve got as good a shot as anybody.”
Pauch Sr. has one Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region event double-circled on his racing calendar: Sunday, June 28 (rain date: June 29) when Olum’s presents the ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ at N.Y.’s Thunder Mountain Speedway. The show offers $5,000 to win for STSS Modifieds and $3,000 to win for SpeedSTRs with a $10,000 ‘Double Down Challenge’ up for grabs if one driver can win both.
“We’ll be there with a SpeedSTR and a Modified,” he confirmed, noting he had raced at Thunder Mountain only once before in his storied career.
Pauch Sr. won’t be the only member of his family chasing STSS South Region points. His 27-year-old son Billy Jr. will pilot a John Pakenham-owned big-block in series events starting April 19 at Bridgeport.
The first-ever race for the new STSS South Region at Bridgeport Sunday, April 19 offers racers a lucrative, non-top-heavy purse structure for 40 laps around Brian Ramey’s spacious five-eighths-mile. The race winner will pocket $5,000 (no “Gambler’s Fee”), with $1,000 reserved for the 10th-place finisher and $400 to take the green flag.
The ‘South Jersey Shootout’ total big-block/small-block Modified pay structure totals $24,770 plus bonuses, lap money and contingency awards.
The Modified feature event payout is as follows: 1) $5,000; 2) $3,000; 3) $2,000; 4) $1,500; 5) $1,400; 6) $1,150; 7) $1,125; 8) $1,100; 9) $1,050; 10) $1,000; 11) $750; 12) $650; 13) $550; 14) $450; 15) $425; 16) $415; 17) $405; 18-24) $400.
Unique to the ‘South Jersey Shootout’ event: both the outer five-eighths-mile track and inner quarter-mile will be in action on the same day. The STSS Modifieds, Sportsman (Open vs. Crate 602) and Outlaw Stocks will compete on the big track, while Doug Borger’s XCel 600 Modified series is set to do battle on the inner oval with a $1,000 winner’s purse posted. Fans will get to see action on two tracks for one price.
The rules for the ‘South Jersey Shootout’ have been established with staggered weight limits for a competitive balance among “Delaware” big-blocks, standard big-blocks and a variety of small-block powerplants. The rule structure should encourage a diverse field to converge on Bridgeport for the South Region lid-lifter.
Race information is now posted on the Short Track Super Series website at the following link: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/south-jersey-shootout-rules-general-information/
Registration is now open for the ‘South Jersey Shootout’ for Modified competitors. The entry form can be found here: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/BridgeportModifiedEntryForm.pdf
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visit www.shortttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 or e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com. “Like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.
Located in South Jersey, just minutes from Pennsylvania and Delaware at I-295 Exit 14, Bridgeport Speedway is a spacious five-eighths-mile clay oval with a quarter-mile embedded in the center. Bridgeport Speedway provides a safe and secure family atmosphere, free parking, giveaways and fan participation. To learn more, visit www.bpspeedway.com.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Hi-Tek Race Fuel, American Racer/Lias Tire, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., Scotty’s Speed & Diesel, East Coast Speed/ECS Auto, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Allstar Performance, ATL Fuel Cells, Bicknell Racing Products, COMP Performance Group (COMP Cams, Driven Racing Oil & Quarter Master), Crane Ignition, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Stainless Steel Exhaust, Hig Fab Chassis, Hyperco, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Lineman Racing, Pilat Graphic Design, Race Pro Weekly, Racers Guide, S&D Bodyline, S&W Awards, Shiley Fabrication, Simplicity Design, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & VP Racing Fuel.
Sources: BD Motorsports Media