PORT ROYAL, Pa. — The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series returned to Port Royal Speedway on Saturday with $12,000 up for grabs for the big block modifieds. Dillon Steuer would roll of in the second starting spot and hold off “Superman” Matt Sheppard in the final laps to claim the Speed Showcase crown.
Steuer would start to the outside of Brandon Grosso for the 60-lap A-main event at The Speed Palace and would take the lead from the opening green flag.
Grosso would trail Steuer closely through the opening 15 laps of the event and was looking to make a pass for the lead in lapped traffic when the No. 4P of Anthony Perrego would go up in smoke in turn four bringing out the first caution of the night.
On the ensuing restart, Alex Yankowski was able to jump his way into the second spot around Grosso, while Grosso would get caught in a four-car battle for the third spot with Matt Sheppard, Mike Mahaney and Matt Stangle.
While in that battle, Grosso would end up scrapping the outside wall in turns three and four that would cause enough damage to his car for him to slow and bring out a caution with 38 laps remaining.
After a few attempts at a restart, Steuer would get back out in front with Alex Yankowski hot on his tail, but with 23 laps remaining smoke started to pour out of the No. 84y machine and the problems would get worse as Yankowski would slow to a stop with 21 laps remaining. His night would finish at that point, and he would be credited with a 23rd place finish.
Matt Sheppard would get into second on the next restart but would trail Steuer for the next handful of laps. He would look to make his move for the lead in turns three and four with a sliding move in front of Steuer with four laps remaining that Steuer was able to hold off.
The pair would trade sliders with three laps to go with Steuer making the strong of the two moves and holding off another from Sheppard coming to the two to go signal. The top two cars battle through lapped traffic as well which gave Sheppard one last chance in the final set of corners. Sheppard and Steuer were door-to-door off of turn four, but it was Steuer able to hold of Sheppard for the $12,000 payday.
Fans jumped out of their seats for the exciting finish and Steuer was loving all the support when he climbed from his car in victory lane.
“I’m sure a lot of you guys are cheering because I beat him, not because you’re my fans,” referring to holding of Matt Sheppard, “but maybe I made a few tonight,” said Steuer in his victory lane interview.
Matt Sheppard would finish in second and Mike Mahaney would round out the podium.
In the 602 crate modified A-main event, Stephen Kemery started on the pole and would hold off Joe Toth and James Hill for the $4,000 payday.
In pro stock competition, Devon Camenga raced to the win over Luke Horning and Andy Graves.
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