Auto Racing News

By Tom Coughlin

Tonight, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida for their season opener the "Fresh from Florida 250". Qualifying is scheduled to take place this afternoon, Stewart Friesen of Sprakers will be there with the Halmar International number 52 to attempt to qualify for the main event.

It was a good week of racing for the teams that traveled down to Florida to race with the Short Track Super Series at All-Tech Raceway near Lake City. The weather stayed clear with no cancellations due to rain.

Kicking off the first night of racing at All-Tech Raceway for the STSS Sunshine Swing, Stewart Friesen set a quick time of 19.724 seconds for the modified division on Wednesday and Dylan Madsen set a quick time of 20.398 for the crate 602 sportsman division. Friesen won his heat race and in the redraw he pulled the pole position to start the 30-lap feature. However, it was outside pole sitter Alex Payne who took the early lead to start the feature. Payne would hold the lead until a caution came out on lap three. Friesen would shoot to the front on the ensuing restart. In doing so, Friesen would dive low into turn one only to drift up across the track in front of Payne and clip the outside wall in turn number two. Even with a damaged front suspension Friesen was able to maintain the lead with the number 44.

Payne of Canandaigua would hang on to finish second, with Tanner VanDoren, Alex Yankowski, and Chris Curtis completing the top five.

Other area drivers finished as follows. Bobby Hackel IV 6, Anthony Perrego 13, Jack Lehner 14, Peter Britten 17. Jason Reome did not qualify for the main event.

In the 25-lap STSS crate 602 sportsman division feature Richard Murtaugh took the win over Brian Calabrese and Chris Jakubiak. Area drivers finished in this order Michael Ballestero 7, Chris Crane Jr. 8, Connor Crane 9, Dylan Madsen 10, Derrick McGrew Jr. 13, Blaine Klinger 22, and Maddy Broedel was a dnq.

On Thursday night for night number two of the STSS Sunshine Swing Erick Rudolph of Ransomville set a quick time of 19.279 seconds for the modified division. However, Friesen would again, with the help of a young fan, pull the pole position in the redraw to begin the evening's 35-lap modified feature. Fortunately, for the Halmar-Friesen Racing driver the end results would be the same as the previous night as Friesen went on to win his 50th. STSS feature, which also happened to be feature number 200 in the history of the STSS. Tanner VanDoren would finish second and Matt Sheppard third. Other area drivers finished as follows Chris Curtis 7, Alex Yankowski 12, Jack Lehner 12, Peter Britten 16, Anthony Perrego 18, Bobby Hackel IV 26, and Jason Reome was a dnq.

In the companion 25-lap STSS crate 602 sportsman division feature Logan Watt took the win over Michael Ballestero and Derrick McGrew Jr.

Area drivers finished in this order; Payton Talbot 7, Chris Crane Jr. 10, Connor Crane 14, Brian Calabrese 25, Blaine Klinger 26, and Maddy Broedel was a dnq. Paulie Hartwig III set a quick time of 20.63

Friday night the STSS modifieds competed in a 40-lap feature offering $6,000 to win. Matt Sheppard of Savannah, N.Y. would score the victory on this night, leading all 40 laps. For Sheppard this would be his first win of 2025 and his 51st. win on the STSS. Lightning Larry Wight of Phoenix, N.Y. and Tim Fuller completed the podium. Area drivers finished as follows; Stewart Friesen 6, Bobby Hackel IV 7, Chris Curtis 10, Jack Lehner 13, Alex Yankowski 17, and Peter Britten 19.

In the Crate 602 sportsman 30-lap feature thirteen-year-old Paulie Hartwig III earned the win over Payton Talbot and Donovan Lussier. Area drivers finished as follows; Connor Crane 5, Brian Calabrese 6, Derrick McGrew Jr. 7, Blaine Klinger 10, Michael Ballestero 13, Former northeast resident Tim Clemons 16, Chris Crane Jr. 21, Maddy Broedel 23. Dylan Madsen did not start.

Saturday was the final night for the STSS Sunshine Swing of 2025. Saturday many of the modifieds were timing in the 18 second bracket in preparation for 50-lap finale paying $7,500 to win. Friesen started fifth but worked his way through to take the lead away from Wight with an inside pass on lap-21. Anthony Perrego and Erick Rudolph of Ransomville would fill out the podium. Area drivers completed the field in this order Jack Lahner 5, Bobby Hackel IV 11, Chris Curtis 14, and Peter Britten 15, Alex Yankowski and Jason Reome did not qualify.

For the crate 602 sportsman finale Paulie Hartwig III scored the win over Brian Calabrese and Logan Watt. Area drivers finished in this order; Connor Crane 5, Payton Talbot 6, Chris Crane Jr. 7, Michael Ballestero 9, Blaine Klinger 11, and Derrick McGrew Jr. 20.

Side notes from All-Tech Raceway. The track looked smooth from most angles. However, turn one had a ripple in the middle groove that affected racing all week. Numerous times throughout the week there were drivers catching this ripple and the result would cause their car to bounce uncontrollably sending their car towards the outside wall, with many making contact with the wall in turn one and two.

Northeast modified racing lost another legend this week with the passing of Hall of Fame driver “Wily” Will Cagle. Cagle was originally from Florida. However, luckily for northeast fans starting in the early 1960's he chose to follow the money offered in modified racing.

Also known as the Tampa Terror, Cagle won numerous championships and title races throughout the northeast during his legendary career.