3.13.21 Georgetown Speedway Results
GEORGETOWN, DE – For the sixth consecutive season, late Delaware businessman and auto racing icon Melvin L. Joseph was honored at Georgetown Speedway with the running of the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial.
And the race lived up to the hype.
From the 19th starting position, Matt Sheppard of Savannah, N.Y., earned his first Melvin L. Joseph Memorial victory and the accompanying $10,049-plus payday in the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision and Sunglass Central opener.
With the victory – his second at Georgetown with the series – Sheppard also kicked off his 2021 STSS South Region title bid in grand fashion.
‘Super Matt’ wheeled his Hurlock Auto Speed Supply No. 9s from the 19th starting position into second position. On a lap-28 restart, Sheppard used the outside line to drive around rival Stewart Friesen for a lead he would never relinquish.
A massive crowd attended the Saturday portion of the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial with 54 STSS Modifieds and 75 STSS Crate 602 Sportsman taking part in the lid-lifter among 164 total race cars on hand.
A pair of Empire State racers – Stewart Friesen and J.R. Heffner – led the field to Joe Kriss’ green flag for the 49-lap main event. After an early tangle in turn two when Heffner’s No. 74 spun in turn two, Mike Mahaney joined Friesen on the front row looking to avenge his Friday night near-miss.
Friesen appeared to be the class of the field, driving away from Mahaney until he reached the tail end of the field.
Mahaney quickly reeled back in Friesen’s Halmar International No. 44 but a yellow halted Mahaney’s charge and reset the field on lap 17.
While the Friesen/Mahaney battle was happening out front, Sheppard was becoming a factor. Sheppard had climbed from his 10th-row starting berth into the sixth position. Sheppard was utilizing the outside lane of the progressively banked half-mile oval to surge forward.
Sheppard capitalized on the 17th-lap restart to drive from sixth to third before quickly disposing of Mahaney for second and setting his sights on Friesen.
Sheppard chased Friesen until the 28th circuit, which proved to be the deciding factor in the race. Sheppard powered around the outside of Friesen and led the remainder of the distance, negotiating lapped traffic flawlessly.
Friesen, of Sprakers, N.Y., settled for a runner-up payday, with Mahaney of Kings Ferry, N.Y., capping a stellar weekend in the First State with another podium finish in third with the Adirondack Automotive No. 35 team.
Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, N.Y., drove the No. 1 Teo-Pro Car to a steady fourth-place effort and Anthony Perrego of Middletown, N.Y., completed the front-five in Brian Smith’s Superior Remodeling No. 44.
Potsdam, N.Y., driver Michael Maresca’s first STSS South Region start in the Gary Simpson-owned No. 12k brought a sixth-place finish to the team. H.J. Bunting of Milford, Del., grabbed a seventh-place finish to represent the First State in the Blades HVAC No. 65 after starting 21st via a consolation victory.
Ringoes, N.J., native Ryan Godown finished eighth, ahead of fellow Garden State racers Brandon Grosso, who placed ninth. After pitting for a flat right-rear tire, Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y., recovered for a 10th-place finish.
Ad-Art Sign Company $50 heat winners were Friesen, Matt Stangle, Mahaney, Heffner and Cale Ross. Bunting and Duane Howard topped the consolations.
A-Jay Potrzebowski Jr. made the long tow from Horseheads, N.Y., for his first career Georgetown start. Potrzebowski drew the pole starting position and led all 25 laps for his first career series win in the STSS Belmont’s Garage South Region Crate 602 Sportsman Season Opener.
The win granted Potrzebowski a $1,549 payday for his efforts in the 25-lap main event. The race saw one yellow throughout, allowing lap traffic to become a factor. Potrzebowski was up to every challenge, holding on to grab the Sunoco checkered flags.
2018 STSS South Region Crate 602 Sportsman champion Corey Cormier of Otisville, N.Y., grabbed a runner-up position. Payton Talbot of South New Berlin, N.Y., rounded out the podium finishers. Georgetown Speedway defending champion Joe Toth of Newtown, Pa., finished fourth and Oneida, N.Y., driver Matt Janczuk filled out the front five in his series debut.
Seven heat races were run for the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman. Winners were Stephen Kemery, Cormier, Joey Bruning, Steve Davis, Potrzebowski, Brad Trice and Janczuk. Consolations went to James Hill, Bobby Flood and J.J. Courcy.
Todd Sammons won the 12-lap Season Opener for the Little Lincoln division. Sammons topped local favorite Kirk Lawson and M.J. White for the first checkered flag of the 2021 season. Sammons and Lawson thrilled the crowd with a side-by-side battle in the final circuits.
Jerry Hill, a consistent top-five finisher in the Delaware Super Truck division, got over the hump on Saturday with a win in the 12-lap main. The Smith brothers, David and Robert, chased Hill to the finish line in the weekend cap for the Super Trucks.
Ashley Merritt won the Delmarva Charger 12-lap feature from her third starting position. Merritt bested Jay Lowman and Kevin Taylor for the triumph.
Next up for the STSS is a Central Pennsylvania doubleheader weekend on Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21. On Saturday, Selinsgrove Speedway hosts the ‘Icebreaker’ for the STSS Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman. On Sunday, neighboring Port Royal Speedway is the destination for the STSS Modifieds in a doubleheader with the ULMS Super Late Models for the ‘Spring Speed Showcase’ program.
Georgetown Speedway is idle through Thursday, April 15 with the Mark ‘Coot’ Williams Super Late Model Memorial and RUSH Late Model ‘Battle of the Bay’ Speedweek event in a double-headline show.
Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).
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.
MELVIN L. JOSEPH MEMORIAL RESULTS SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY SATURDAY, MARCH 13
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Velocita-USA South Region Presented By Design for Vision & Sunglass Central Round No. 1 Feature Finish (49 laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Stewart Friesen, Mike Mahaney, Tyler Dippel, Anthony Perrego, Michael Maresca, H.J. Bunting, Ryan Godown, Brandon Grosso, Erick Rudolph, Max McLaughlin, Danny Bouc, Ryan Watt, Dominick Buffalino, Joseph Watson, Billy Pauch Jr., Tim Buckwalter, Matt Stangle, Rick Laubach, Jordan Watson, Andy Bachetti, Cale Ross, Craig Von Dohren, Demetrios Drellos, Neal Williams, Mike Gular, Larry Wight, Duane Howard, J.R. Heffner, Richie Pratt Jr.
Did Not Qualify: Alex Yankowski, Kevin Sockriter, Rocky Warner, Ryan Krachun, Jimmy Horton, Dan Creeden, Danny Hieber, David Van Horn, John Willman, Marshall Hurd, Carson Wright, Derrick McGrew Jr., Brandon Hightower, Jeff Taylor, Mike Franz, Allison Ricci, Ryan Riddle, David Schilling, Ron Roberts, Jr., Brett Haas, Danny Tyler, Stan Frankenfield, Norman Short, Brad Trice.
Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company Lap Money ($2,401 Total): Stewart Friesen ($343); Mike Mahaney ($343); Anthony Perrego ($343); Matt Sheppard ($294); Tyler Dippel ($294); Michael Maresca ($196); Erick Rudolph ($196); Matt Stangle ($196); H.J. Bunting ($147); Demetrios Drellos ($49).
Ad-Art Sign Company Heat Winners ($50 Each): Stewart Friesen, Matt Stangle, Mike Mahaney, J.R. Heffner & Cale Ross
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificates): RyanGodown (8th) & Ryan Watt (13th)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Tyler Dippel (fourth) & Brandon Grosso (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Cale Ross (Redrew 11th)
Bill Brown & Company Heat-Race Hard Charger ($50): Dominick Buffalino (10th to fourth)
Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Halfway Leader Award ($100): Stewart Friesen
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Winner’s Award (Oakley Sunglasses): Matt Sheppard
Henry’s Exhaust System Power Position ($50 Certificate): Max McLaughlin (11th)
Kruger Trailers Inc. Hard Charger Award ($250): Matt Sheppard (19th to first)
Sunoco Race Fuels/Insinger Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Stewart Friesen (second), Danny Bouc (12th) & Cale Ross (22nd)
Taylor & Messick Hard Luck Awards ($250 Each): David Schilling & Danny Tyler
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Award ($75 Certificate): H.J. Bunting (seventh)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Belmont’s Garage South Region Round No. 1 Feature Finish (25 laps): A-JAY POTRZEBOWSKI, JR., Corey Cormier, Payton Talbot, Joe Toth, Matt Janczuk, Justin Grosso, L.J. Lombardo, Stephen Kemery, Steve Davis, Brad Trice, Kyle Smith, Adam White, Joey Bruning, Tommy Collins, Michael Ballestero, Greg Reed, Paul Mancini, Dylan Swinehart, Zachary Payne, Ryan Godown, Jr., Scott Hitchens, Doug Snyder, James Hill, Robby Dunn, Tanner Van Doren, A-Jay Potrzebowski Sr., Brendon Gibbons, Tighe Sherlock, Bobby Flood, Anthony Tramontana, J.J. Courcy, Michael White.
Did Not Qualify: Sean Metz, Addison Bowman, Chas Wolbert, Danny Maher, Greg Humlhanz, Ryan Simmons, Jake Mason, Jared Labagh, Sammy Martz, Jr., Cody Manmiller, Chad Sandt, John Stevenson, Kevin Borden, Joshua Allen, Ricky Quick, Lance Irwin, Isabella Van Orden, Pat Wall, Sean Weiss, Kenny Bock, Logan Watt, Jared Miller, Dakota Kohler, Brett Buono, Trent Willey, Tracy Gauger, Nick Van Wickle, Jimmy DeVitt, Scott Kohler, David Jenkins, Daniel Morgiewicz, Jim Dallett, Jordan Lawrence, Rodney Henri, Greg Nailor, Jr., Kerry Ryder, Matt Smith, Zac Weller, William Adams, Zachary Steffy, Anthony Raisner, Ryan Stangle, Shawn McPhee.
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonus (FREE Tire Certificate): L.J. Lombardo (seventh)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($25): Stephen Kemery (Redrew ninth)
Evergreen Fuels Inc. “Worst Hand” Redraw ($75): Stephen Kemery (redrew ninth)
Mancini Custom Homes Hard Charger ($200): Michael Ballestero (29th to 15th)
Little Lincoln Feature Finish (12 laps): TODD SAMMONS, Kirk Lawson, M.J. White, Jordan Herbert, Mel Joseph Jr., Eric Reed, Terry Chaney, Sean Smith, Wayne Seaton, Bunky White, James Harmon, Bryan Piercy.
Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): JERRY HILL, David Smith, Robert Smith, Jesse West, Michelle Jackson, Zack Phillips, Dickie Beauchamp, Scott Trice, Blake Esham, Brian Jones, Thomas “Action” Jackson, Matt Esham.
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): ASHLEY MERRITT, Jay Lowman, Kevin Taylor, Joe Waters, Randy Merritt, Chris Carroll, Jeffery Tubbs, Sean Martinez, Paul Gary, Scott Dunn, Jeff DeGroat.
GEORGETOWN, DE – The 2021 season at the Georgetown Speedway got off to a thrilling start on Friday night. Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen won the 30-lap, $4,049-to-win main Small-Block Modified event with a final-lap, final-turn pass.
Night No. 1 of the Melvin L. Joseph Memorial saw clear, blue skies, a pit area with 211 cars, and a packed-to-the-brim grandstands at the historic Sussex County half-mile speedway.
Kings Ferry, N.Y.’s Mike Mahaney and Johnstown, N.Y.’s Rocky Warner led the field to Georgetown starter Joe Kriss’ green flag. Mahaney jumped out the early lead and paced the first 13 laps.
Anthony Perrego had climbed to second with Brian Smith’s No. 44; however, a flat left-rear tire ended his chances to pick up the win. The lap-13 caution put Keystone State star Rick Laubach into the runner-up spot.
Laubach seized the opportunity, sliding by Mahaney on the following lap.
Meanwhile, Friesen had slowly advanced from his eighth starting position into third, joining the top two up front.
The final 15 laps spun off caution-free, which would ultimately play a large factor in the late stages of the race. With five laps to go, Laubach caught slower traffic, and Mahaney and Friesen quickly closed in.
By lap 28, Mahaney and Friesen were on the back bumper of Laubach’s Ryan Kerr-owned No. 1K. Friesen took the white flag in third position but used the outside groove to – with the right-side of his car off the backstretch – to sweep past both Laubach and Mahaney, who was making his own bid for the top spot.
Mahaney’s momentum was broken by a lapped car on the inside line and Friesen reached the Sunoco checkered flag first, the second of his career in the Small-Block Modified competition at Georgetown.
Mahaney got underneath of Laubach to take the runner up spot, with Laubach rounding out the podium finishers. Mooresville, N.C.’s Max McLaughlin came home fourth in his debut in the Norm Hansell-owned No. 357. Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, N.Y., rounded out the top-five in the Bill Pascual No. 3.
Rocky Warner came home sixth in the Jake Spraker No. 1J. Ransomville, N.Y., driver Erick Rudolph grabbed seventh and Phoenix, N.Y.’s Larry Wight finished in the eighth spot in the Gypsum Express No. 99L. Boyertown, Pa’s Mike Gular came home ninth in the Terry Fasnacht No. 2A and Neshanic Station, N.J.’s Jimmy Horton rounded out the top-10.
Spec small-block bonuses, totaling $1,000, went to Mahaney ($500), Erick Rudolph ($300) and Danny Bouc ($200).
Forty Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modifieds took part in timed hot lap sessions. The quickest two drivers locked into the Saturday feature redraw: Friesen (18.216 seconds) and Joseph Watson (18.262 seconds).
A pit-bulging 63 STSS Crate 602 Sportsman hit the track in preparation for Saturday’s Belmont’s Garage South Region opener. Joe Toth (20.346 seconds) and Payton Talbot (20.447 seconds) were the quickest and will transfer to the redraw.
Defending Georgetown Speedway champion Trevor Collins of Seaford, Del., won the First State Chevrolet RUSH Late Model event.
Collins unseated race-long leader Matt Hill and drove on to victory in the 20-lap main worth $1,049.
Virginia’s Kyle Hardy advanced from 12th to finish second, followed by Hill, Amanda Whaley-Robinson and Ohio invader Bud Watson.
Kerry King picked up another Southern Delaware Vintage Modified 12-lap victory, his fourth since joining the division. King outdueled D.J. Cameron and Roscoe Clough for the victory. On the Sportsman end of the Vintage division, it was Robert Blann besting Maddy Jefferson and Terry Chaney to open the season with a victory in the 12-lap main.
Matthew Smith continued his winning ways from the 2020 season, kicking off 2021 with the Melvin L. Joseph Friday night win. Shane Clogg and Jerry Hill rounded out the podium finishers in the Season Opener.
Jay Lowman won his first career Delmarva Charger main event in the first feature of the night. Jeffrey Tubbs and Randy Merritt rounded out the top-three in the 12-lap event.
Attention turns to the season opener for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled by Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision and Sunglass Central. The Modifieds will go 49-laps for $10,049-to-win in the main event. The Belmont’s Garage STSS Crate 602 Sportsman will go 25-laps for $1,549-to-win.
Also on the card are 12-lap features for the Delmarva Chargers, Delaware Super Trucks, and Little Lincolns.
Georgetown Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A website is live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at 302.563.GTWN (4896).
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.
MELVIN L. JOSEPH MEMORIAL RACE SUMMARY – GEORGETOWN SPEEDWAY MARCH 13, 2021
Small-Block Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): STEWART FRIESEN, Mike Mahaney, Rick Laubach, Max McLaughlin, Tyler Dippel, Rocky Warner, Erick Rudolph, Larry Wight, Mike Gular, Jimmy Horton, Anthony Perrego, Danny Bouc, Ryan Krachun, Craig Von Dohren, Danny Creeden, Joseph Watson, Matt Stangle, David Schilling, David Van Horn, Richie Pratt Jr., Kyle Weiss, Dominick Buffalino, James Hill, Ryan Watt, Brad Trice, Andy Bachetti, H.J. Bunting, Matt Sheppard, Tim Buckwalter, Duane Howard.
Did Not Qualify: Eric Biehn, John Willman, Derrick McGrew Jr., Jack Butler, Jim Britt, Carson Wright, Nick Mady, Jeff Brown, Ryan Riddle, Danny Tyler, Daniel Morgiewicz, Billy Pauch, Jr., Michael Maresca.
Spec Small-Block Bonuses: Mike Mahaney ($500), Erick Rudolph ($300) & Danny Bouc ($200)
RUSH Late Model Feature Finish (20 laps): TREVOR COLLINS, Kyle Hardy, Matt Hill, Amanda Robinson, Bud Watson, Nick Davis, Joe Warren, Jeremy Pilkerton, Jerry Barker, Jimmy Johnson, Ed Pope, David Dill Jr., David Smith, Chris ‘Tippy’ Martinez, Ross Robinson, Matt Glanden, Brandon Sturgis, Donald Lingo Jr, Austin Bussler, Ben Scott, Jason Dean, Kevin Scott, Jr., Dana Walker, Geoff Carey, Travis Justice.
Short Track Super Series Modified Fast Timers: Stewart Friesen (18.216 seconds) & Joseph Watson (18.262 seconds)
Short Track Super Series Crate 602 Sportsman Fast Timers: Joe Toth (20.346 seconds) & Payton Talbot (20.447 seconds)
Southern Delaware Vintage Modified Feature Finish (12 laps): KERRY KING, D.J. Cameron, Roscoe Clough, Jamie Eicholz, Robert Packowski, C.J. Schirmer, Art Workman, Harold Sylvester, Wayne Roth, Thomas Hughes.
Southern Delaware Vintage Sportsman Feature Finish (12 laps): ROBERT BLANN, Maddy Jefferson, Terry Chaney, Don Davidson, L.J. Walbert, Glenn Lyons, Chris Kellen, David Tucker II, Pete Morris, Dave Schamp.
Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): MATTHEW SMITH, Shane Clogg, Jerry Hill, Zack Phillips, Scott Trice, Dickie Beauchamp, Thomas “Action” Jackson, Blake Esham, Matt Esham, Adam Smart, Michelle Jackson.
Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): JAY LOWMAN, Jeffrey Tubbs, Randy Merritt, Scott Dunn, Ashley Merritt, Sean Martinez, Kevin Taylor, Chris Carroll, Paul Gary, Jeff DeGroat, Jimmy Waters, Joe Waters.