Sheppard wins the DIRTY JERSEY Weekly Blog 10th August 2023
This week’s Blog begins on Friday the 4th of August.
After a busy five days of racing , I was ready for a break.
It came a bit easier for me, when the Cam Am Speedway got rained out. My local Mohawk International Raceway had been running mid week, so they took a night off.
So, with a rare Friday night in the summer free, I took my T-Bird along to the local Cornwall Cruise night.
Well, look who parked next to me, none other than Hugh Primeau, one of the Cornwall Motor Speedway , announcers.
Saturday the 5th of August was a day I was looking forward to.
The Airborne Speedway at Plattsburgh . NY were putting on a Big Block/Small Block Modified shoot out.
As usual , I was there in good time to relax and chat before the races.
There was a nice turn out of cars for the big Modified event.
I have to thank the Bucko Branham and the Travis Bruno Sportsman teams for the excellent grilled ham and cheese sandwich I was given at their trailers.
The program consisted of Modifieds, Sportsman , Rookie Sportsman ,Renegades and Street Stocks (Mini Stocks).
During the Hot Laps we had a slight delay , after Steve Bernard’s car left the track, cleared a small creek, and took down a small tree, before ending in the bush. Pleased to say, Steve walked away unharmed
The first feature was for the Rookie Sportsman.
This was won by Mike Arnold
The main event of the night, was the 40 lapper for the Modifieds ,
This was won by Jessey Mueller.
He was followed across the line by Tim Fuller and Jordan McCreadie. All of the first three were Big Blocks.
The regular Sportsman feature was next .
This gave Dylan Rabtoy a win.
It was now about 10-15 pm and time for me to get on my way, and back home to Cornwall.
Sunday the 6th of August was a big day at my local Cornwall Motor Speedway with a full program was on the agenda.
Joining the headline 358 Modifieds and Sportsman, were the Pro Stocks, Mini Stocks and Lightening Sprints.
I took my hot lap and heat race shots from the pit tower before moving on to the middle.
The Lightening Sprint feature was first ,
We then moved on to the main event, the Canadian Nationals race for the 358 Modifieds.
Mario Clair, driving the Pierre Dagenais car and Corey Wheeler were the two drivers who dominated this one.
Wheeler picked up a front left flat tire, but managed to keep up the pace, dueling with Clair until back markers gave Mario the advantage.
It’s always nice when my friend Mario gets a victory. It’s been a while since I’ve been present for one of his wins
Here’s Mario and car owner Pierre.
Joining Mario and Corey on the podium was Carey Terrance.
Next up was the Sportsman feature.
My good friend Luke Whitteker was guest driving the AJ Dickie car in this one .
Luke had a good run, chasing the winner Shane Pecore and second placed Bobby Herrington , but lost the final podium spot to Cedric Gauvreau in the closing laps.
The 50 lap Pro Stock feature ‘went on a bit’ but the last ten laps were worth waiting for. At the end there were at least five cars all in contention , and trading places.
In my opinion 50 laps for a Pro Stock feature is too many.
At the checkers it was Burton Ward from Kevin Fetterly.
To end the night, and close to the 11-00 pm curfew, the Mini Stocks took to the track for their big one.
Once again it was James Clarke who took the honors.
It was a later finish than what I’d hoped for , as a long road trip was planned for the next day (Monday).
At 10-00 am I set off from Cornwall, and was soon heading south from the USA/CANADA border.
After an eight hour drive , I was checking in to Sea Palace Inn, at Seaside Heights, on the New Jersey shore.
The reason for this, was obviously the beach, and the close proximity to my intended race the following day.
Unfortunately on my arrival , it was pouring with rain , so decided to stay in my room that night.
In the morning the weather was a lot brighter, so I went for an early stroll along the broadwalk.
There weren’t many people about but I did find a little diner that was open for some breakfast.
I had to be out of my room by 10-00. so didn’t have too much time on the beach.
My plans for the evening were to revisit the New Egypt Speedway .
After an absence of 20 years ( June 2003 to be precise) , it was nice to make a return .
Back then my daughter Carla, was living in Baltimore, Maryland near to her mother, and I never got to see her much.
So, on one of my father/daughter visits, we made a trip to the New Egypt Speedway in New Jersey after spending a bit of time at the Ocean City beach .
On that occasion , the track was staging a round of the SUPER DIRT SERIES, where Alan Johnson was the big winner.
So, after all these years I thought it was about time I paid another visit.
This time it was for the Short Track Super Series and one of Brett Deyo’s presentations
I found a hotel in nearby Cookstown, and chilled out there until around 3-00 pm. I then made the short drive to the track.
I was there early enough to explore and chat with a few friends.
It was nice to catch up with fellow media guy Pete McDonald , who I haven’t seen since we used to hang out at Super Dirt Week a few years back.
While I was wandering around the pits , I caught up with Billy Pauch Jr. and his sister Mandee.
I get to see Mandee quite a lot around the tracks up my way, accompanying her racing husband Mike Mahaney, but not so much of Billy who tends to stick close to his New Jersey home..
Of course, they are both the children of the legenday Billy Pouch
Later that night, I got a shot of Billy and Mike side by side in racing combat.
While in the pits , I also managed a quick chat with Ryan Watt
After listening to Brett Deyo conduct the drivers briefing, I headed trackside
Once things got got under way, I tried various shooting spots, but in the end settled at turn three and four.
The big race of the night for the ‘Dirty Jersey’ turned out to be another run away victory for Matt Sheppard.
Anthony Perego was second and Stewart Friesen was third.
The Sportsman feature ended the night.
One of the many good things about the Brett Deyo shows, and something the fans appreciate , is that they don’t waste time. They get on with it, and try to get the show complete at a sensible time.
This was no exception and it wasn’t long before we were back in Victory Lane taking pictures of Sportsman winner Joe Toth.
A nice early finish meant I was back at my Hotel in good time.
Luckily I planned ahead, and bought my beer in advance .
The State of New Jersey is similar to my home province of Ontario, and very backward in its alchohol laws (and very annoying) . You have to buy your booze from ‘Big Brother’ and not at convenience stores etc.
I was up bright and early on Wednesday morning for another full day of driving.
I was heading south to my daughter Carla’s place in Willow Springs, North Carolina.
I was there by 4-00 pm and it was time to relax .
Within a short time of arriving we were setting off in Carlas AUDI to the nearby stables for my granddaughter Sophias riding lessons.
It was Quality Time for a few days with the family before my next racing escapade.