VERNON, N.Y. — Matt Sheppard claimed his 50th career Sunoco Modified victory at Utica-Rome Speedway on Friday night, becoming just the second dirt modified driver to do so.
“This place has been good to me through the years, and I’m just glad to be back here (in Victory Lane) again this week,” said an elated Sheppard following his second consecutive win to open the 2022 season.
The Savannah, N.Y. driver started from the 11th position, 10 spots worse than last week’s triumph.
Nick Heywood and Hall-of-Famer Billy Decker led the field Utica-Rome starter Joe Kriss’ double green flags for the 30-lap event.
Decker used the outside of the front row to quickly jump out to the lead with Shaun Walker following Decker from the fourth spot to second.
Jessica Friesen quickly worked her way by Nick Heywood to climb into a podium position in the early going, while Decker pulled away from the rest of the field.
Sheppard’s charge was a slow to one start, as the driver of the Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply No. 9s was stuck behind multiple battles for position, searching for racing room to move forward.
The first caution of the race flew on lap 10, as Claude Hutchings Jr. came to a stop at the outside of the fourth turn, restacking the field for the only restart of the night.
The yellow was crucial for Sheppard, not only bringing him closer to the front of the field, but giving him an outside restarting position two rows behind the leader Decker.
Sheppard quickly went to work, getting by both Pat Ward and Alan Johnson on the restart and into the fourth position with 19 laps remaining.
Right in front of Sheppard, Jessica Friesen was taking advantage of the restart as well, driving underneath Walker for the runner-up spot. Sheppard followed Friesen two short laps later, taking third away from Walker and setting his sights on the top two.
Sheppard’s assault continued, driving around Friesen at the halfway mark for second. Decker, who was working the outside, would prove to be Sheppard’s toughest challenge.
After multiple laps trying to work underneath Decker for the lead, Sheppard got a good run out of the fourth turn and slid in front of Decker to take the top spot away.
Working lapped traffic for the last eight laps proved to be no problem for Sheppard, as his lead continued to grow in the waning laps. When the checkered flag flew, Sheppard had opened an advantage of over five seconds back to runner-up Billy Decker.
Decker held on for second in the Jeremy Smith Racing No. 91 and Jessica Friesen rounded out the podium in her One Zee Tees No. 1Z machine. Rocky Warner made a late-race charge to get fourth in the Jason Simmons Racing No. 98 and Pat Ward rounded out the top five.
Payton Talbot claimed his second consecutive Worthington Industries Crate 602 Sportsman feature to open the season.
Beau Ballard joined Sheppard and Talbot as back-to-back winners to open the 2022 campaign, topping the pro stock feature.
Alex Hughes raced by Matt Backus in the late stages to grab the win in the 15-lap Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman event.
The Slingshots had their season opener on the inner oval. Chris Darrow bested his teammate and defending champion Brett Putnam for the season opener.