Stewart Friesen Secures Short Track Super Series South Region Title By Just 10 Points
GEORGETOWN, DE – By just 10 points, Stewart Friesen recorded the second Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco South Region title of his career.
The Sprakers, N.Y., driver achieved the crown Saturday at Georgetown Speedway during the Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend with a fourth-place finish in the 44-lap STSS Modified feature.
Friesen earned $10,000 for his efforts in the South Region presented by Velocita-USA, Design for Vision and Sunglass Central.
Friesen’s South Region season included three victories: at Georgetown in the March 7 Melvin L. Joseph Memorial, the Aug. 11 ‘Diamond State 50’ at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, Del., and the ‘Blast at the Beach’ held at Georgetown on Aug. 25.
He posted runner-up finishes at Potomac Speedway in Budd’s Creek, Md., June 7, BAPS Motor Speedway in Newberrytown, Pa., on July 19 and the ‘Speed Showcase 200’ at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway Oct. 17.
Teams are permitted one ‘drop’ race from any of the events leading up to Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend. Friesen utilized the June 16 Big Diamond Speedway (Minersville, Pa.) ‘Anthracite Assault’ as his drop event after flipping early in the feature event at the Coal Region track. That was his only DNF – and only finish worse than seventh – over the South Region schedule.
Friesen’s STSS South Region earnings, prior to the point fund distribution, were a massive $55,011.
The driver of the Halmar International No. 44 completed a rare trifecta accomplished only once before in series history, sweeping the STSS North Region and South Region titles in addition to the ‘home-track’ American Racer Cup presented by Sunoco for his weekly efforts at Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway.
The total for all three titles – the American Racer Cup, abbreviated STSS North Region and the South Region – is $19,000 during the COVID-interrupted season.
Friesen’s first STSS Modified South Region title came back in ’16.
After a runner-up finish at Georgetown Saturday, Milford, N.J.’s Billy Pauch Jr. settled for a $5,000 second-place finish in the South Region points, only 10 behind Friesen.
Pauch Jr. and the Rick Holsten team earned back-to-back wins at BAPS and Big Diamond during the summer stretch and had a trio of second-place finishes: at Georgetown in August and October and the Thursday night ‘Speed Showcase 40’ at Port Royal Speedway Oct. 15.
Matt Sheppard of Savannah, N.Y., placed third in the standings with three victories including Saturday night’s Mid-Atlantic Championship, the ‘Speed Showcase 40’ at Port Royal and the inaugural June race at Potomac. Sheppard receives $3,000 for third in the standings.
First-year series traveler Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, N.Y., finished fourth in points ($2,000) and Mike Gular of Boyertown, Pa., placed fifth ($1,500). Both Dippel and Gular earned top-five finishes in the STSS North Region, as well.
Placing sixth through 12th, respectively, were Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., ($1,400); Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., driving for Ron Roberts ($1,300); Richie Pratt Jr. of Woodbury Heights, N.J., aboard the Daniel Sommeling No. 51 ($1,200); David Van Horn Jr. of Ringoes, N.J., driving for Fred Vahlsing ($1,100); Larry Wight of Phoenix, N.Y., ($1,050); Danny Bouc of Pipersville, Pa. ($1,000); and Rick Laubach of Hellertown, Pa. ($1,000).
Complete point standings are posted on the STSS website at the following link: https://stss.racestatcentral.com/?IDseries=2&IDseason=2020
All STSS and American Racer Cup point fund checks will be distributed by mail in early December in lieu of an Awards Banquet due to evolving Coronavirus regulations on indoor events.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Velocita-USA, Design for Vision/Sunglass Central, Rob Sherlock Roofing, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH Springs, Escape RV, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, MJK Home Maintenance, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, Velocita, WELD Racing & Wilwood.
Sources; Brett Deyo/BD Motorsports Media