LAKE CITY, Fla. — On an extremely fast track on Friday night, Matt Sheppard won his third consecutive ‘Sunshine Swing’ feature event to kick off the 2024 season.
Sheppard rolled around the outer edge of the half-mile oval for the majority of the 40-lap event to claim the $8,000 top prize on the third night of the four-day affair presented by Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches.
The win for Sheppard was also the 41st of his Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco career, which ties him with Stewart Friesen for the most of all-time on the series.
“The track conditions really surprised me tonight,” Sheppard proclaimed. “We had a big old top tonight, and I was surprised but our car was outstanding.”
Following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw, Sheppard fired from the sixth starting position with Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen and Horseheads, N.Y.’s Tyler Siri on the front row. Friesen worked out to the early lead while Sheppard quickly worked to the outside groove, cracking the top five and challenging for more.
The early race was plagued with yellow fever, giving Sheppard multiple opportunities to slowly pick off spots on his way to the front.
Just three laps into the feature, Sheppard had already worked his way to the runner-up spot and alongside Friesen for the top spot. Friesen chose the bottom on the restart, giving the top side to Sheppard, which was all he needed to take the lead away.
While Sheppard and Friesen began to scoot away, Phoenix, N.Y.’s Larry Wight was making hay after firing from the 11th starting position.
Wight had worked to fifth by lap 10 before another yellow flag flew on lap eight. When racing resumed, Wight worked by Hubbard and Erick Rudolph to move into a podium position. The top three were Sheppard, Friesen, and Wight for the next several laps until Friesen’s night was cut short due to a left-rear suspension issue on the 22nd circuit.
On the ensuing restart, Sheppard trekked back to the lead and Ransomville, N.Y.’s Erick Rudolph raced in the runner-up spot by Wight for second.
Two laps later, another yellow flag flew, and Wight stole the second spot back away from Rudolph on the following restart. Wight, however, was unable to offer any serious challenge to Sheppard for the win.
Sheppard checked out for the final 16 laps on his way to his third consecutive win and an $8,000 victory.
“We came down looking for our 500th win,” Sheppard smiled. “I didn’t think we’d have a shot down here in Florida but we’re at 499 now.”
Wight once again settled for second but was still not deterred.
“We made some changes tonight and the car wasn’t as good as it was,” he explained. “We’ll put our heads together and try to get over the hump tomorrow.”
Erick Rudolph rounded out the podium for his best finish of the week.
“We’ve gotten a little better every day,” Rudolph said. “It’s been a few years since we won that $10,000 down here but tomorrow’s a new day and we’ll give it our best.”
Bobby Hackel came home fourth in the Godgart Motorsports No. 97 and Austin Hubbard brought the Blades HVAC Services No. 65 home with a top five.
Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Danny Varin in the BDR Speed No. 01 from 12th; Marc Johnson in his S&S Asphalt Paving No. 9; Binghamton, Darren Smith advancing 14 positions in the Jeremy Smith Racing No. 12; Brisbane, Queensland, Australia’s in his first top-10 of the week; and Rick Laubach from 20th in the Herman family-owned No. 7.