A Steuer Shocker: Dillon Steuer Turns Back Matt Sheppard for Port Royal ‘Speed Showcase’ Victory
PORT ROYAL, PA – A Steuer shocker.
Long Island’s Dillon Steuer upset the dirt Modified world on Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway, besting ‘Super’ Matt Sheppard to win the Speed Showcase at the Speed Palace for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modifieds.
After exchanging slide jobs in the final circuits of the 60-lap affair, Steuer beat Sheppard to the line in Round No. 1 of the STSS Modified NJ Quality Drywall South Region title chase.
The victory was Steuer’s first in STSS competition. The Bohemia, N.Y., resident became the 43rd different driver to earn a Sunoco Race Fuels checkered flag in the 12-year history of the series.
“I knew it (the track) was gonna start out heavy,” Steuer said. “The redraw helped a ton. Track position was huge, I think. I just tried my best to keep up with the track.”
Steuer launched off the outside pole and wired the field for the victory. However, it was far from easy for the rising star.
A series of mid-race restarts were tricky for Steuer.
“Those restarts are tough to get the jump and find the right spots to fire,” Steuer said. “Those guys don’t make it any easier on you.”
Steuer turned back numerous challengers, the latter of which was all-time series win leader Matt Sheppard, who had raced through the field from 12th – the worst available position in the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw.
Sheppard secured second position with 20 laps remaining.
During the race’s final laps, Sheppard literally ‘threw the book’ at Steuer. The first move came entering turn three on lap 56. When Sheppard slid wide in turn four, Steuer drove back underneath and led at the line for lap 57.
Sheppard attempted a similar maneuver the next lap with Steuer’s outside-lane prevailing.
On the final circuit, Steuer entered turn three low and slid across the red clay surface, with Sheppard pulling hard on the bottom.
Steuer drag-raced Sheppard to the line, drawing a rise from the chilled March crowd.
“When I saw that 9s (Sheppard) under me, I got a little worried for a second,” Steuer said. “I knew we had just enough to get finished up. I tried to cross him back over and beat him into one and got it done.”
Savannah, N.Y.’s Sheppard settled for a $7,000 runner-up payday.
Mike Mahaney of Elizabethtown, N.Y., completed the podium in George Huttig’s No. 35 after battling for the lead throughout the event.
After starting 10th, Alex Payne of Canandaigua, N.Y., climbed to fourth and Neshanic, N.J.’s Matt Stangle registered a fifth-place finish in his family-owned No. 6.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., who started ninth in the Ron Roberts-fielded No. 14w; Louden Reimert of Oley, Pa., driving for Don Grebe; Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J., in his own No. 1; 18th-starter Ryan Godown of Ringoes, N.J.; and Danny Bouc of Pipersville, Pa., recovering from a mid-race spin in turn four for 10th.
B-Main winners earlier in the day were Tyler Siri and Cole Stangle.
Stephen Kemery registered a $4,000 payday in the 40-lap Short Track Super Series Sportsman event, Round No. 1 of the Belmont’s Garage South Region.
The Sicklerville, N.J., driver surpassed leader Joe Toth on the 28th of 40 laps and drove to his fourth career STSS victory and first since Port Royal in 2021.
“It was definitely an eventful one,” Kemery said. “We all raced each other hard and clean. They were all quick. We are grateful to be here.”
Toth, who led 28 laps, settled for a runner-up finish in his CJS Racing No. 9.
Eighth-starting James Hill of Laurel, Del., placed third, followed by Galloway, N.J.’s Paulie Hartwig III – who had challenged for the lead – and Quebec’s Donovan Lussier, up from 11th on the grid.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were 23rd-starting Ryan Simmons of Cream Ridge, N.J., who started 23rd in his debut driving for Andy Belmont; 26th-starter Brian Calabrese of Johnstown, N.Y.; Chris Jakubiak of Ballston Spa, N.Y., up from 24th; 29th-starter Dylan Madsen of Spencertown, N.Y., who took a provisional after throttle linkage issues on Friday; and Travis Hill of Elmer, N.J.
B-Main winners were Dakota Kohler and Calabrese.
Devon Camenga of Troy, N.Y., scored a dominant victory in the 25-lap event for the Pro Stock division. Camenga stretched out a commanding lead in the second half of the event for a $1,250 payday.
‘Cousin Luke’ Horning trailed Camenga across the line in second, followed by Andy Graves, Shane Playford and Ivan Joslin, who completed an engine change to compete in Saturday’s program.
Attention now turns to N.J.’s Bridgeport Motorsports Park Saturday, March 22 with the ’60 Over Special’ paying $6,060 to win for the STSS Modifieds and $4,444 for the STSS Sportsman.
Complete ’60 Over Special’ information is posted on the STSS website: https://www.shorttracksuperseries.com/eventinfo/
Port Royal Speedway is located at 308 West 8th Street Port Royal, PA 17082 and can be contacted by phone at 717.527.2303 or email at info@portroyalspeedway.com. Port Royal Speedway is on the web at www.portroyalspeedway.com.
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 (X) or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Bob Hilbert Sportswear, FloRacing, American Racer, Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, BDR Speed, NJ Quality Drywall, HYTORC of New York, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Saint Lawrence Radiology, Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches, Bicknell Racing Products, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Madsen Overhead Doors, Belmont’s Garage, Wegner Automotive, DIG Race Products, ATL, Dirt Draft, Swagger Factory Apparel, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel LLC, Beyea Custom Headers, Design for Vision, Sunglass Central, Dirt Track Digest TV, DKM Fabrication, EIBACH, Fastline Performance, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Systems, JK Signworks, JLR Technologies, Dave Prime Jr. MAC Tools, MD3, PEM Engineering, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, SRI Performance, Superior Remodeling, Swift Springs, The Exotic Brand, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.
SPEED SHOWCASE RESULTS SUMMARY – PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY MARCH 15, 2025
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified NJ Quality Drywall South Region Round No. 1 Feature Finish (60 laps): 1. 6D-Dillon Steuer[2]; 2. 9S-Matt Sheppard[12]; 3. 35M-Mike Mahaney[4]; 4. 70A-Alex Payne[10]; 5. 6S-Matt Stangle[3]; 6. 14W-Ryan Watt[9]; 7. 58-Louden Reimert[7]; 8. 1P-Billy Pauch Jr[6]; 9. 26-Ryan Godown[18]; 10. 6B-Danny Bouc[13]; 11. 97-Bobby Hackel IV[23]; 12. 99L-Larry Wight[28]; 13. 02-Jack Lehner[16]; 14. 19-Tim Fuller[22]; 15. 1D-Tyler Dippel[15]; 16. 165-Rex King Jr[21]; 17. 3-Mat Williamson[17]; 18. 53-Mike Gular[27]; 19. 20C-Cole Stangle[26]; 20. 7M-Paul Mancini[11]; 21. 44-Stewart Friesen[30]; 22. 32-Brandon Grosso[1]; 23. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[5]; 24. 21A-Peter Britten[8]; 25. 15G-Duane Howard[20]; 26. 20-Rick Laubach[24]; 27. 4M-Logan Watt[14]; 28. 93-Danny Varin[19]; 29. 4P-Anthony Perrego[29]; 30. 5*-Tyler Siri[25]
Did Not Qualify: 58M-Marshall Hurd; 39-Kasey Coffey; 51-Ryan Krachun; 1Z-Jessica Friesen; 21M-Bob McGannon; 90-William Deckelman; 7MM-Michael Maresca; 27-Tanner Van Doren; 1HJ-Tyler Johnston; 23C-Tommy D’Angelo; 1J-Danny Creeden.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): Louden Reimert (seventh) & Bobby Hackel (11th)
ATL Fuel Cell ‘Hot Lap Hero ($100): Michael Maresca (18.578 seconds)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Card): Alex Payne (fourth) & Ryan Godown (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Matt Sheppard (Redrew 12th)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Bobby Hackel (11th)
MD3 Most Laps Led ($100 Certificate): Dillon Steuer (60 laps)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Dillon Steuer (first – $150 certificate); Matt Sheppard (second – $100 certificate); Mike Mahaney (third – $75 certificate)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring Certificate): Michael Maresca
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): Bobby Hackel (seventh)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Sportsman Belmont’s Garage South Region Round No. 1 Feature Finish (40 laps): 1. 69K-Stephen Kemery[1]; 2. 9J-Joe Toth[4]; 3. 69-James Hill[8]; 4. 73H-Paulie Hartwig III[7]; 5. 61L-Donovan Lussier[11]; 6. 14S-Ryan Simmons[23]; 7. 21C-Brian Calabrese[26]; 8. 49-Chris Jakubiak[24]; 9. 89-Dylan Madsen[29]; 10. 4H-Travis Hill[6]; 11. 04-Mike Butler[16]; 12. 117-Jesse Hirthler[9]; 13. 4-Steve Davis[17]; 14. 51-Matt Peck[10]; 15. 59C-Colin Cox[2]; 16. 14B-Ethan Bill[19]; 17. 15-Scott Hitchens[28]; 18. 44-Zach Sobotka[27]; 19. 9L-Jimmy Leiby[18]; 20. 22A-Adrianna Delliponti[13]; 21. 43-Michael White[14]; 22. 5B-Bryce Bashore[22]; 23. 74-Jax Yohn[30]; 24. 5K-Gavyn Krupp[5]; 25. 14-Brad Roberts[12]; 26. 27-Michael Ballestero[3]; 27. 12-George Schweigart[20]; 28. 59K-Dakota Kohler[25]; 29. 29-Matt Ellery[15]; 30. 4R-Jordan Henn[21]
Did Not Qualify: 67W-Zack Welch; 3J-Joe Judge; 58-Logen Lockhart; 78-Stephen Winsor; 88-Stephen Smith; 89T-Mike Toth; 06-Tim Guild; 2-Mike Block; 9-Jesse Leiby; 22-Mike Schneck; 16CW-Charles Weslowski; 42-Darryl Nutting; 22J-Eric Jennings; 03-Joshua Jock; 711-Todd English; 72-James Friesen; 165K-Karston King; 59-Tom Moore Jr.; 28-Bryan Rhoads; 7-Brett Gilmore; 56-Doug Kline; 66M-Justin Miller; 79-Eric Winsor
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire Certificate): Travis Hill (10th)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($25): Brad Roberts (Redrew 12th)
Fastline Performance Hot Lap Hero ($50): James Hill (20.955 seconds)
Fastline Performance Bonuses ($100 Certificate): Joe Toth (second) & Jesse Hirthler (12th)
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Mike Butler (11th)
MD3 Most Laps Led ($100): Joe Toth (28 laps)
Swift Springs Hard Luck Award (FREE Spring Certificate): Jesse Leiby
Pro Stock Feature Finish (25 laps): 1. 110-Devon Camenga[2]; 2. 2H-Luke Horning[6]; 3. 96-Andy Graves[5]; 4. 6-Shane Playford[7]; 5. 49-Ivan Joslin[15]; 6. 72G-Denis Gauvreau[3]; 7. 81-Bret Belden[10]; 8. 715-Jason Morrison[1]; 9. 28-Philip DeFiglio[12]; 10. 8-Marc Lalonde[8]; 11. 38-Justin Chaput[13]; 12. 35-Ken Gates[9]; 13. 9J-Eric Jean Louis[11]; 14. 25Y-Ken Griffin[14]; 15. 177-Christopher Stalker[4]; 16. 2Z-Hugh Page[16]
Sources: Brett Deyo/BD Motorsports Media LLC