STSS Race Day at Woodhull: ‘Hustlin’ the High Banks’ Storylines, Stars & Sleepers
WOODHULL, NY – It’s time to hustle!
Tonight, the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco kicks off the home stretch of the 2021 season with the ‘Hustlin’ the High Banks’ at Woodhull Raceway.
‘New York’s Toughest Bullring’ hosts Round No. 7 of the Hurlock Auto & Speed North Region for the STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds in a 55-lap, $5,500-to-win event.
THE STORYLINES
Woodhull Raceway is set to host its first STSS event in over three years. The 2019 event was cancelled due to rain and last year fell victim to COVID-19 protocols. Now, the stars of the STSS head back to Western New York to tackle the high banks at Woodhull.
Tonight’s appearance will be the fifth for the STSS at Woodhull, with the first dating all the way back to August of 2015 when Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen claimed his only Woodhull Raceway victory.
Following a runner-up finish at his home track at Utica-Rome, Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard heads the STSS North Region class by himself for the first time in 2021. However, Middletown, N.Y.’s Anthony Perrego remains very much in the picture, just nine points behind ‘Super’ Matt.
THE STARS
There are not many places to start besides the track kingpin, Westfield, Pa.’s Billy Van Pelt. The 22-time track champion currently sits atop the Woodhull Modified standings looking for his 23rd track championship. Van Pelt won his only career STSS race the last time it took place at Woodhull back in 2018.
The previously mentioned Anthony Perrego has been consistent and fast all season long. Woodhull comes at a perfect time for Perrego as Matt Sheppard, Perrego’s closest competitor for the North Region title, has picked up his pace in recent weeks. Now the 2017 ‘Hustlin’ the High Banks’ runner-up returns to his bullring roots looking to reclaim the top spot.
The one driver who finished ahead of Perrego in 2017? His fellow bullring ace Andy Bachetti. The Sheffield, Mass., star spent plenty of seasons at New York’s other bullring, Accord Speedway. Now Bachetti, who sits fourth in North Region points, looks to reignite the 2017 magic and claim his second STSS victory of the season.
THE SLEEPERS
Short track aces don’t only reside in New York. Boyertown, Pa.’s Mike Gular cut his teeth at Pa.’s Grandview Speedway, a one-third mile racetrack near his hometown. Gular will look to take advantage of his short track abilities, after struggling in the last STSS North Region race at N.Y.’s Utica-Rome Speedway.
Beaver Dams, N.Y., native Dillon Groover heads to Woodhull having finished fifth in each of the last two editions of the ‘Hustlin’ the High Banks.’ Groover has had a fair amount of success in limited STSS appearances. Now the youngster will look to steal the show for his first STSS triumph.
Wallkill, N.Y.’s Tyler Dippel’s 2021 season got off to a strong start, including leading much of the ‘Battle of the Bullring’ at Accord. Dippel, now ninth in STSS North Region points, will look to get back on track at another bullring.
ALSO IN ACTION
The Crate 602 Sportsman will run Round No. 5 of the Precision Hydraulic & Oil North Region in a 25-lap, $1,561-to-win feature event.
2019 North Region champion Tim Hartman Jr. of Niskayuna, N.Y., holds a slim four-point lead over South New Berlin, N.Y.’s Payton Talbot, who picked up his first career STSS win at Utica-Rome.
Joey Bruning, the Accord (N.Y.) ‘Battle at the Bullring’ Crate 602 Sportsman winner, sits third, 36 points out of first. Bruning will look to use another bullring appearance to reel back in on Hartman and Talbot.
Woodhull Raceway’s Hobby Stock division will round out the night of racing.
GATES AND PRICES
For the August 10 event, all gates open at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps begin at 6:30 p.m. with racing following at 7:15 p.m.
Adult grandstand admission is $20. Senior (ages 62 and over) and Kids (ages 8-12) admission is $10. Children 7 and under get in FREE.
Pit Admission is $40 (no membership required).
HOW TO WATCH
The ‘Hustlin the High Banks’ will be streamed live on FloRacing (www.floracing.tv).
The Woodhull Raceway is located at 2142 County Route 102, Woodhull, NY 14898 and can be reached by phone at 607.458.5275.
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, WELD Racing & Wilwood.
Sources: Chris Moore/BD Motorsports Media LLC.