Bachetti is Back: The ‘Wild Child’ Bests 50-Car STSS Selinsgrove Modified Field
SELINSGROVE, PA – July 9, 2019: that was the last time Sheffield, Mass., driver Andy Bachetti visited Victory Lane with the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco.
Saturday afternoon at Selinsgrove Speedway, that drought came to an end in the return of the ‘Icebreaker’ to the Snyder County oval.
Bachetti won the first-ever trip for the STSS to the Central Pennsylvania half-mile. It was also Bachetti’s first-ever win on the Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision and Sunglass Central.
“We’ve struggled a lot lately, but this feels good. It’s good to run up front and have fun again,” said a relieved Bachetti in victory, accepting his $5,000-plus winner’s share.
Bachetti drew the pole in the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw and had Averill Park, N.Y.’s J.R. Heffner alongside him when the field came to Series Starter Joe Kriss’ green flag. It was Heffner who jumped out to the lead and led the opening eight laps before the first yellow of the race came out.
When the race went back to green, the race for third was the eye-catcher. Kyle Coffey was running the STSS “race of his life” as Series Announcer Jeff Ahlum proclaimed. Coffey was facing challenges from Anthony Perrego and Larry Wight.
The race went non-stop from the lap-six yellow through lap 34 of the 40-lap main event.
The battle up front began to intensify at the halfway mark. Heffner, who picked up the $100 Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Halfway Leader bonus, was fading as the likes of Bachetti, Coffey, Perrego, and Wight were all rapidly catching Heffner’s back bumper.
It was Bachetti who was the first to strike, sliding underneath of Heffner and leading lap 23. Heffner’s fade continued, as each of the other top-five runners were able to get by Heffner before the lap-34 yellow.
Another yellow with two laps to go gave the likes of Coffey, and Perrego an opportunity to take a swing at Bachetti, but the Bay State driver held on to get the monkey off his back, and return to STSS glory, the sixth win of his career.
Perrego, of Middletown, N.Y., took second away in the Brian Smith-owned No. 44, and Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard followed him through in his Hurlock Auto & Speed No. 9s to grab a podium finish.
St. Catherines, Ont., native Mat Williamson made his 2021 STSS debut, grabbing a fourth-place finish in the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse No. 3. Caledonia, N.Y.’s Coffey earned his first-career STSS top-five.
Larry Wight faded to sixth in his Gypsum Express No. 99L. Billy Pauch Jr. finished seventh in the Rick Holsten-owned No. 96. Tyler Dippel drove the Teo-Pro Car No. 1 to an eighth-place finish. Recently engaged Mike Mahaney came home ninth in his George Huttig-owned No. 35. Ryan Watt rounded out the top-10 in his home state, in the Ron Roberts-owned No. 14w.
For the second consecutive week, the STSS drew a stellar field of Modifieds, with 50 cars signing into the pit area.
The STSS Belmont’s Garage South Region Round No. 2 was won by Canadensis, Pa.’s Grant Hilfiger. It was Hilfiger’s second career STSS win, his first since the Sunshine Swing in 2020 at Florida’s All-Tech Raceway.
Hilfiger started on the pole of the 25-lap main event and led every lap of race that featured only one yellow, to collect the $1,600 payday.
John Stevenson, of Georgetown, Del., and Jared LaBagh of Fair Oaks, N.Y. got their best-career STSS finishes, coming home second and third, respectively.
Matt Janczuk collected his second-consecutive top-five STSS finish, coming home fourth and Upper Makefield, Pa.’s Joe Toth rounded out the top-five.
An outstanding 57-car Crate 602 Sportsman field signed in for competition.
The STSS heads right back to action on Sunday, as the ‘Speed Palace’ at Port Royal will host the STSS for the fourth consecutive year. In 2021, Port Royal will host the STSS on two occasions, as the tour heads back in October for the second annual ‘Speed Showcase 200’ weekend headlined by a $50,000-to-win main event.
The Sunday portion of the Central Pennsylvania invasion at Port Royal Speedway will also feature the Zimmer’s Service Center ULMS Super Late Models joining the STSS Modifieds.
The event will be broadcast live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv) as part of the annual subscription.
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, Hurlock Auto & Speed, Velocita-USA, Design for Vision/Sunglass Central, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, EIBACH Springs, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, K&N, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, Belmont’s Garage, QA1, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, WELD Racing & Wilwood.
‘ICEBREAKER’ RESULTS SUMMARY – SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY MARCH 20, 2021
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Velocita-USA South Region Presented By Design for Vision & Sunglass Central Round No. 2 Feature Finish (40 laps): ANDY BACHETTI, Anthony Perrego, Matt Sheppard, Mat Williamson, Kyle Coffey, Larry Wight, Billy Pauch Jr., Tyler Dippel, Mike Mahaney, Ryan Watt, Ryan Godown, Erick Rudolph, Mike Gular, Max McLaughlin, J.R. Heffner, Duane Howard, Peter Britten, Matt Stangle, Jessica Friesen, Craig Von Dohren, Jimmy Horton, Brandon Grosso, Michael Maresca, Danny Bouc, Tim Buckwalter, Frank Cozze, Danny Creeden, H.J. Bunting, Brandon Hightower, Billy Van Pelt, Chad Brachmann.
Did Not Qualify: Danny Johnson, Joseph Watson, Dominick Buffalino, David Van Horn, Jr., Cale Ross, James Sweeting, John Willman, Jackie Brown Jr., Jim LaRock, Jacob Dgien, Jeff Taylor, Marshall Hurd, Kailee DiMorier, Steve Slater, Danny Hieber, Adam Pierson, Stanley Wilkins, Joseph Judge, Ryan Riddle.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificates): Larry Wight (sixth) & J.R. Heffner (15th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Mat Williamson (fourth) & Mike Mahaney (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Mike Gular (Redrew 10th)
Bill Brown & Company Heat-Race Hard Charger ($50): Mike Mahaney (10th to seventh)
Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Halfway Leader Award ($100): J.R. Heffner
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Winner’s Award (Oakley Sunglasses): Andy Bachetti
Henry’s Exhaust System Power Position ($50 Certificate): Ryan Godown (11th)
Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. Hard Charger Award ($150): Erick Rudolph (26th to 12th)
Spec Small-Block Bonus ($250): John Willman (DNQ)
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Anthony Perrego (second), Erick Rudolph (12th) & Brandon Grosso (22nd)
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Award ($75 Certificate): Billy Pauch Jr. (seventh)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Belmont’s Garage South Region Round No. 2 Feature Finish (25 laps): GRANT HILFIGER, John Stevenson, Jared LaBagh, Matt Janczuk, Joe Toth, Justin Grosso, A-Jay Potrzebowski Jr., Michael White, Corey Cormier, Ryan Simmons, Bobby Flood, Tanner Van Doren, Joey Bruning, Adam White, Dakota Kohler, Sammy Martz Jr., Doug Snyder, Payton Talbot, Rick Wegner Jr., Logan Watt, Walt Hammond, Joel Smith, Scott Hitchens, Addison Bowman, Stephen Kemery, Jimmy Leiby, Michael Schane, Walter J. Hammond, Michael Ballestero, Sean Metz.
Did Not Qualify: Jesse Leiby, Josh Allen, Tim Hartman Jr., Jim Dallett, Anthony Tramontana, Doug Kline, Kenny Bock, Kevin Brady, Ryan Godown, Ryan Grim, Ryan Shanahan, Emmett Waldron, Cody Manmiller, Robby Dunn, Daniel Morgiewicz, Bryce Bailey, Scott Kohler, Shawn McPhee, Nick Plumstead, Matt Irwin, Kris Nye, Adam Taft, Sean Weiss, Zack Sam, Mark Benson, Randy Geake, Jason Reome, Robert Butcher.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire Certificate): Ryan Simmons (10th)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($25): Jimmy Leiby (Redrew 12th)
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Winner’s Award (Oakley Sunglasses): Grant Hilfiger
Evergreen Fuels Inc. Winner’s Bonus ($100): Grant Hilfiger
Sources: Chris Moore/BD Motorsports Media LLC