Hurricane Warning: Steve Paine Nets First Career STSS Modified Win Tuesday at Outlaw
DUNDEE, NY – A ‘hurricane’ blew through Dundee, N.Y., Tuesday night in the form of legendary Steve Paine.
With a huge roar from the partisan crowd, Paine became the 32nd different winner in the history of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco at Outlaw Speedway.
“I’ve never had a car that good on a track like that,” the veteran explained in Victory Lane at the Finger Lakes venue he once dominated.
“This is a tough field, and to come out on top? I’m shocked.”
The Waterloo, N.Y. resident led all 50 laps en route to a $5,250 payday as the winner of the ‘Outlaw Showdown’ special. Paine became the eighth different winner of the season with the Short Track Super Series.
For the second consecutive Hurlock Auto & Speed North Region race, fans were treated to a thrilling conclusion to a 50-lap STSS Modified main event.
Despite challenges from Anthony Perrego and Mike Mahaney, Paine defended his home track and thrilled the Outlaw faithful with his first career STSS triumph.
Paine and Erick Rudolph occupied the front row following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw.
At the drop of series starter Joe Kriss’ green flag, Paine raced out to an early advantage, while Rudolph fought for second with Middletown, N.Y.’s Perrego.
Rudolph’s fight would not last long, as Perrego utilized the bottom to slide underneath Rudolph to grab the runner-up position. Matt Sheppard worked the topside of the speedway to race around a fading Rudolph before a lap-six yellow brought the field back together. That was ultimately the only caution of the event.
The final 44 laps went non-stop at the four-tenths-mile oval and led the leaders deep into slower traffic.
On the restart, Paine quickly jumped out to the advantage, while Perrego and Sheppard struggled to keep pace.
Paine grabbed the $200 Superior Remodeling Halfway Leader bonus. In the meantime, Perrego and Sheppard dueled for second, with Mike Mahaney closing in.
The battle up front intensified by lap 40. With Paine and Perrego nose-to-tail in lap traffic, Mahaney and Sheppard had reeled the two in, suddenly making it a four-car war for the top spot.
Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen would not go away quietly, as he threw his hat in the ring, and began pressuring Sheppard for fourth on lap 44. It was now a five-car battle for the win.
The leaders fanned out three-wide on the white flag lap with Paine, Perrego, and Mahaney tussling for real estate as Friesen continued to build momentum up top.
Ultimately, Paine streaked across the stripe to win by less than a car-length.
King Ferry, N.Y., resident Mahaney stole second in the race’s final moments with the George Huttig-owned No. 35 with Perrego completed the podium in the Superior Remodeling No. 44 fielded by Brian Smith.
Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., completed his late charge in fourth with the Halmar International No. 44 after starting eighth and Sheppard, of Savannah, N.Y., filled out the front five in the Hurlock Auto & Speed No. 9s.
Sheffield, Mass., resident Andy Bachetti continued his solid efforts in 2021, finishing sixth, ahead of Alan Johnson of Middlesex, N.Y., in the Mark Spoor-owned No. 14J, Ransomville, N.Y.’s Rudolph, Bobby Varin of Sharon Springs, N.Y., in the Siri Racing No. 28 and Mat Williamson driving the Behrent’s Performance Warehouse No. 3, up from 18th.
Heat winners were Bobby Varin, Perrego, Paine, and Sheppard. The consolations went to Billy Decker and Cory Costa.
FINGER LAKES FACTS: After losing an engine approaching the checkered flag in his heat race, Tyler Dippel hopped into the Joe Beyea No. 121 for the 50-lap main event. Pat Ward was the driver of the Beyea ride for the night but failed to qualify, turning over the ride to Dippel…
The phrase “old school” was utilized in the pit area frequently following Steve Paine’s win. The veteran racer utilized a standard torsion-bar suspension on his Mullins-powered Hig Fab Chassis No. 7x…
The podium run by Anthony Perrego was by far his best performance at the Dundee oval, where he struggled in prior appearances…
The STSS Modified feature took the checkered flag at a respectable 9:38 p.m. on a weeknight…
After hauler issues kept the car away from the series North Region opener, the Norm Hansell No. 357 was in the pit area at Outlaw for driver Max McLaughlin, who finished 12th…
Rocky Warner qualified for the main event but did not take the green in the Jason Simmons No. 98 when the car failed to fire in the pit area…
Next up for the STSS are a pair of events next week. On Tuesday (May 25) the Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision and Sunglass Central hits New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway with the ‘Dirty Jersey’ featuring the STSS Modifieds (50 laps, $5,000 to win) and STSS Crate 602 Sportsman Belmont’s Garage South Region (25 laps, $1,500 to win).
On Sunday (May 30), Penn Can Speedway in Susquehanna, Pa., is the destination for the ‘Clash at the Can’ in the third round of the Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply North Region, a 50-lap event offering $5,000 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $400 to start.
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, FloRacing, 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, Penske Racing Shocks, Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz, Algonkin Motel, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, Belmont’s Garage, Superior Remodeling, Spyder High Performance Filters, Fastline Performance, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO & Wilwood.
‘OUTLAW SHOWDOWN’ RESULTS SUMMARY – OUTLAW SPEEDWAY TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modified Hurlock Auto & Speed North Region Event No. 2 Feature Finish (50 laps): STEVE PAINE, Mike Mahaney, Anthony Perrego, Stewart Friesen, Matt Sheppard, Andy Bachetti, Alan Johnson, Erick Rudolph, Bobby Varin, Mat Williamson, Bobby Hackel, Max McLaughlin, Billy Decker, Michael Maresca, David Schilling, Danny Johnson, Jacob Dgien, Mike Gular, Cory Costa, Dan Creeden, Tyler Siri, Brett Haas, Kyle Coffey, Tyler Dippel, James LaRock, Ron Cartwright.
Did Not Start: Rocky Warner
Did Not Qualify: J.R. Hurlburt, Pat Ward, Dillon Groover, Kailee Dimorier, Derrick Podsiadlo, Billy Van Pelt, Brady Fultz, Eldon Payne, Greg Birosh, Eric Williams
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Mat Williamson (10th) & Michael Maresca (14th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Stewart Friesen (fourth) & Bobby Varin (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bucks ($50): Kyle Coffey (Redrew 12th)
FloRacing Hard Charger Award ($200): David Schilling (25th to 15th)
Henry’s Exhaust Systems Power Position ($50 Certificate): Bobby Hackel (11th)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Steve Paine (first – $150); Mike Mahaney (second – $75); Anthony Perrego (third – $50); Mat Williamson (10th – $25)
Spyder High Performance Filters Bonuses: Matt Sheppard (fifth – FREE Filter); David Schilling (15th – 50-percent off)
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Mike Mahaney (second); Max McLaughlin (12th) & Brett Haas (22nd)
Superior Remodeling Halfway Leader Bonus ($200): Steve Paine
TKS Painting Front-Row Bonuses: Steve Paine (Pole – $50); Erick Rudolph (Outside Pole – $25)
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($75 Certificate): Alan Johnson (seventh)
Sources: Chris Moore/BD Motorsports Media LLC