PORT ROYAL, Pa. — A challenging track surface was thrown at the competitors for the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco on the opening night of the Speed Showcase.
Port Royal Speedway was hit with storms overnight, creating a tacky track surface that had what many described as “character.”
Nevertheless, five drivers each took home $500 checks courtesy of Dirt Track Digest on Bob Hilbert Sportswear Qualifying Night for the STSS Modifieds.
Ryan Watt followed up winning the ATL Fuel Cells Hot Lap Hero award by dominating qualifier No. 1.
“I love racing at Port Royal,” Watt explained. “It reminds me a lot of the old five-eighths mile at Bridgeport (N.J.) and I loved it there. I just love the big fast tracks.”
Jeff Strunk came home second, in the final Beyea Custom Headers Redraw spot. Alex Payne and Dalton Slack rounded out the qualified cars.
Qualifier No. 2 was won by Ronnie Johnson in an immensely impressive performance. Johnson is racing for the first time in 2024 at Port Royal.
“I’m very surprised. I didn’t know what to expect,” proclaimed Johnson. “I just wanted to qualify for the race so I’m really happy with where we’re at.”
Jessica Friesen came home second and locked into the redraw, while Billy Pauch Jr. finished third from the 11th starting spot and Danny Bouc finished in the fourth and final qualifying spot.
Ryan Godown navigated a caution plagued qualifier No. 3 to take home the $500 check over Mike Gular.
“It’s fast but it’s challenging out there,” Godown said of the track. “We’re looking forward to tomorrow, tonight was the hard part.”
Gular finished in the runner-up spot for the redraw, with Jimmy Phelps taking home third and Louden Reimert racing from fourth to claim the final qualifying spot.
Mike Mahaney won qualifier No. 4, as the only driver to win despite not being the fastest in his group of Penske Racing Shocks Hot Laps.
“I think we just had to be patient… today was definitely a long day,” Mahaney laughed. “I always love coming here though, we have a lot of good memories at this place.”
Matt Sheppard finished in second to make the redraw, while Max McLaughlin and Erick Rudolph were the final two cars to qualify.
‘Money’ Mat Williamson won qualifier No. 5 in dominant fashion. The St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada native had a five second lead prior to a yellow flag with two laps to go.
“I really liked the way the track was,” Williamson proclaimed. “The very top was cleaned off, and it was slick to a cushion on the bottom half… we were really good on it.”
Danny Creeden took home second, with Matt Stangle taking third and Michael Maresca rounding out the qualified cars.
Sixty-four STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds signed for competition at the Speed Showcase.
With 83 STSS Crate 602 Sportsman signed in, they took part in six, 12-lap qualifiers.
David Rogers, Jax Yohn, Howie Finch, Brian Krummel, Logan Watt and Travis Hilleach won their respective qualifiers.
Each of the six winners received $250 courtesy of Belmont’s Garage. Luke Horning and Denis Gauvreau topped the pair of heat races for the New York-based pro stocks.
The stage is set for the finale of the Speed Showcase at the Speed Palace.
The STSS Modifieds and STSS Crate 602 Sportsman will each a trio of last chance qualifiers to set the final starting fields for their respective main events.
The pro stocks will be up first for 25-laps and a $1,250 payday followed by a 50-lap affair for the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman with $4,000 allotted to the winner.
All roads lead to the main event, a 75-lap, $50,000-to-win headliners for the STSS Modifieds to complete the Speed Showcase.