GRANBY, QUEBEC — Matt Sheppard continued his torrid stretch, claiming the first ever Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco event in Canada.
Sheppard took the lead on lap 44 and led the final 16 laps of the 60-lap affair to claim the historic victory and the $10,000 top prize to boot in the opening round of the Lumberjack Swing.
“This has gotta be the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen here at Granby,” Sheppard proclaimed of the Autodrome Granby faithful in Bicknell Racing Products Victory Lane. “I didn’t know if we’d ever come back here again after COVID.
“Here we are racing in front of a packed house, and it feels really good.”
Sheppard raced from the fifth starting position following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw and appeared early as if he didn’t have the car to win the race.
“We were tight early like everybody,” he explained. “I got to second and didn’t think we’d get by Mat (Williamson), but I tried the top and it was really good… I just was up there before he was and that was all it took.”
St. Damase, Quebec’s David Hebert and St. Hyacinthe, Quebec’s Francois Bernier occupied the front row following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw.
Hebert raced out to the early lead and paced the field for the opening 27 laps before Mat Williamson made a move on the inside groove to take the lead away.
The race’s first yellow would fly on the next circuit, just shy of the halfway mark.
Williamson led the halfway mark, taking the $200 Superior Remodeling Halfway bonus.
Multiple yellows bogged down the middle of the race, before the second half got rolling again.
When green flag racing continued, Mike Mahaney was making his presence known. After starting in 14th, Mahaney raced his way into the top five at the completion of lap 34.
One lap later, Mahaney was by Michael Parent and into the fourth spot, chasing Williamson, Sheppard, and Hebert.
Mahaney wasted no time getting by Hebert, grabbing the final podium spot at the completion of the 35th circuit.
Up front, Sheppard – who had slowly picked his way forward from fifth – was making his move toward the lead.
While Williamson paced the field on the bottom groove, Sheppard was maneuvering around the outer edge of the speedway and closing in on Williamson.
Sheppard used the slower car of J.R. Hurlburt as a pick and drove around Williamson to take the lead and ultimately the win.
A few laps later, Mahaney drove around Williamson for second, but the pair collided battling for second a short time later, ending Williamson’s night prematurely.
Mahaney’s finish wouldn’t fare much better, as fuel issues sent him to the pits before the race was over. He would return, but without the finish he deserved.
David Hebert reclaimed the runner-up spot and Michael Parent rounded out the podium finishers.
Mathieu Desjardins grabbed fourth and Steve Bernard rounded out the top five.
Feature Finish (60 Laps)
MATT SHEPPARD, David Hebert, Michael Parent, Mathieu Desjardins, Steve Bernard, Francois Bernier, Steve Bernier, Carey Terrance, Dillon Steuer, Alex Yankowski, Mike Mahaney, Felix Roy, Francois Bellemare, Even Racine, Kevin Hamel, J.R. Hurlburt, Yan Bussiere, Steve Turcotte, Mat Williamson, Marc Johnson, Erick Rudolph, Stewart Friesen, Chris Curtis, JF Corriveau, Samuel Charland, Mario Clair, Daniel Morgiewicz, Jr., Martin Pelletier