Sheppard’s Quick Start in Charlotte Keeps Pressure on Decker
Super DIRTcar champ posts fastest Big-Block laps at Lowes Foods World Finals
By Mike Kerchner
CONCORD, N.C. – Nov. 3, 2011 – Defending Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified champion Matt Sheppard got out of the gate quickly on Kellogg’s Qualifying Night for the Lowes Foods World Finals Presented by Tom’s Snacks, Coca-Cola and Nature’s Own Thursday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. (HHP Photo)
Sheppard, who enters the season-ending three-day event trailing Billy Decker by 53 points, was fast qualifier in both qualifying sessions – one for Friday night’s 40-lap feature and the other for Saturday night’s 40-lap season finale.
Sheppard, of Waterloo, N.Y., turned a 15.553-second lap around the four-tenths-mile dirt track during time trials for Friday’s racing program and a 15.617-second circuit during speed drills for the Saturday night season finale.
Sheppard later won the fourth heat for Friday night’s racing card with rain washing out the heat races for Saturday night’s program. Those heats will be made up following opening ceremonies on Saturday.
Decker, of Unadilla, N.Y., qualified seventh and fifth, while finishing third in the second heat for Friday’s event.
Other heat winners for the 31-car Big-Block Modified field were Jimmy Phelps of Baldwinsville, N.Y., Tim Fuller of Edwards, N.Y., and Brett Hearn of Sussex, N.J.
The four heat winners will redraw for the top four starting positions prior to Friday night’s feature.
The Lowes Foods World Finals Presented by Tom’s Snacks, Coca-Cola and Nature’s Own continues Friday night with features for the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds, World of Outlaws Late Model Series and World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.
Remaining tickets can be obtained by clicking www.CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com or calling 1-800-455-FANS.
For more information on the Super DIRTcar Series, click www.SuperDIRTcarSeries.com.
Super DIRTcar Series Statistical Report; Lowes Foods World Finals Presented by Tom’s Snacks, Coca-Cola and Nature’s Own; The Dirt Track at Charlotte; Nov. 3, 2011
Qualifying for Friday’s Event
Time Trials
1. Matt Sheppard, Waterloo, N.Y., 15.553
2. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y., 15.634
3. Brett Hearn, Sussex, N.J., 15.785
4. Jimmy Phelps, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 15.798
5. Tim Fuller, Edwards, N.Y., 15.849
6. Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, N.Y., 15.855
7. Billy Decker, Unadilla, N.Y., 15.872
8. Gary Tomkins, Clifton Springs, N.Y., 15.983
9. Rob Bellinger, Dexter, N.Y., 16.013
10. Pete Britten, Brisbane, Australia, 16.015
11. Larry Wight, Phoenix, N.Y., 16.026
12. Mike Adderley, Charlotte, N.C., 16.028
13. Justin Haers, Phelps, N.Y., 16.036
14. Billy Dunn, Watertown, N.Y., 16.191
15. Matt DeLorenzo, Cropseyville, N.Y., 16.205
16. Jimmy Horton, Neshanic Station, N.J., 16.262
17. Tim Kerr, Picton, Ontario, 16.262
18. Tom Sears, Jr., Clay, N.Y., 16.311
19. Danny Johnson, Rochester, N.Y., 16.321
20. Jerry Higbie, Goshen, N.Y., 16.355
21. Dave Rauscher, Waterloo, N.Y., 16.357
22. Randy Chrysler, Tuscarora, N.Y., 16.397
23. Rex King, Jr., Bristolville, Ohio, 16.402
24. Carey Terrance, Hogansburg, N.Y., 16.407
25. Rex King, Bristolville, Ohio, 16.424
26. Tim Currier, Auburn, N.Y., 16.521
27. Kenny Tremont, Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y., 16.566
28. Rick Laubach, Bound Brooks, N.J., 17.043
30. Roger Chrysler, Tuscarora, N.Y., 18.295
31. Corey Ziegler, Mountainhome, Pa., no time.
First Heat (8 laps): Phelps, Britten, Scagliotta, Sears, Higbie, Tremont, King.
Second Heat (8 laps): Fuller, Dunn, Decker, Wight, Haers, Johnson, Currier, Roger Chrysler.
Third Heat (8 laps): Hearn, Tomkins, DeLorenzo, Laubach, Randy Chrysler, Terrance, Kerr, Bellinger.
Fourth Heat (8 laps): Sheppard, McCreadie, Pauch, Horton, Adderley, Rauscher, King, Jr.
Qualifying for Saturday’s Event
Time Trials
1. Matt Sheppard, Waterloo, N.Y., 15.617
2. Jimmy Phelps, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 15.625
3. Pete Britten, Brisbane, Australia, 15.665
4. Tim Fuller, Edwards, N.Y., 15.747
5. Billy Decker, Unadilla, N.Y., 15.774
6. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y., 15.777
7. Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, N.Y., 15.794
8. Brett Hearn, Sussex, N.J., 15.837
9. Rick Laubach, Hellertown, Pa., 15.880
10. Jimmy Horton, Neshanic Station, N.J., 15.959
11. Justin Haers, Phelps, N.Y., 15.983
12. Billy Dunn, Watertown, N.Y., 16.013
13. Rich Scagliotta, Bound Brooks, N.J., 16.054
14. Danny Johnson, Rochester, N.Y., 16.085
15. Gary Tomkins, Clifton Springs, N.Y., 16.104
16. Jerry Higbie, Goshen, N.Y., 16.119
17. Dave Rauscher, Waterloo, N.Y., 16.129
18. Matt DeLorenzo, Cropseyville, N.Y., 16.161
19. Carey Terrance, Hogansburg, N.Y., 16.187
20. Tom Sears, Jr., Clay, N.Y., 16.190
21. Rex King, Bristolville, Ohio, 16.244
22. Mike Adderley, Charlotte, N.C., 16.263
23. Larry Wight, Phoenix, N.Y., 16.300
24. Tim Currier, Auburn, N.Y., 16.414
25. Randy Chrysler, Tuscarora, N.Y., 16.415
26. Kenny Tremont, Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y., 16.443
27. Rex King, Jr., Bristolville, Ohio, 16.544
28. Tim Kerr, Picton, Ontario, 16.548
29. Rob Bellinger, Dexter, N.Y., 16.624
30. Roger Chrysler, Tuscarora, N.Y., 17.397
31. Corey Ziegler, Mountainhome, Pa., no time.
Heat races postponed by rain to Saturday
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, GM Performance Parts, Nationwide Insurance and Safety-Kleen. Promotional partners include the University of Northwestern Ohio and Chizmark Larson Insurance. Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bert Transmissions, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Comp Cams, Intercomp, JE Pistons, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Ignition, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, R2C, Super Flow, Vicci Racing Apparel, WIX Filters, Wrisco Industries, Xtreme Lubricants and Extreme Mufflers.
