MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – Matt Sheppard has done almost everything during his dirt modified racing career, but on Sunday he did something he’s never done before.
Sheppard outlasted fellow dirt modified ace Stewart Friesen to win the Eastern States 200 at Orange County Fair Speedway for the first time. The victory for Sheppard was worth $40,000.
The two battled throughout the 200-lap affair, with each taking multiple turns at the front of the field. Sheppard made what would turn out to be the decisive move on lap 162 when he went to the outside of turns three and four to take the lead from Friesen.
Mat Williamson finished third, followed by Anthony Perrego and Peter Britten.
The finish:
Matt Sheppard, Stewart Friesen, Mat Williamson, Anthony Perrego, Peter Britten, Tim Fuller, Dillon Steuer, Tim McCreadie, Mike Mahaney, Marc Johnson, Jimmy Phelps, Billy Decker, Gary Lindberg, Jeff Heotzler, Tommy Meier, L.J. Lombardo, Larry Wight, Adam Pierson, Matt Janiak, Matt Hitchcock, Bob McGannon, Richard Smith, Danny Creeden, Andy Bachetti, Jimmy Horton, C.G. Morey, Zach Vavricka, Sean Beardsley, Ronnie Johnson, Billy VanInwegen, Allison Ricci, Tyler Boniface, Sam Martz, Tyler Trump, Tyler Jashembowski, Chris Shultz, Jack Lehner, Pat Ward, Steve Dodd, Kenny Tremont Jr., Jerry Higbie Jr.