(May 21, 2024) Kutztown, PA – Mat Williamson showcased his driving prowess by leading all 50 laps of the ‘Berks County Brawl’ at Foley Cat Action Track USA, securing his sixth career victory in the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco. The win brought him a $5,000-plus payday and further cemented his reputation as a top driver on the circuit.
Early Advantage
Fresh off a podium finish at Accord Speedway in New York, Williamson adapted quickly to the tighter confines of Action Track USA. Starting from the outside of the front row, he seized the lead from the get-go, a position he would never relinquish despite fierce competition from Frenchtown, NJ’s Billy Pauch Jr.
“Jeff (Behrent, Williamson’s car owner) didn’t really want to come here,” Williamson revealed with a smile. “I said let’s go; I like those tight little bullrings, they bring out the driver in you.”
Maintaining the Lead
Despite a series of early cautions, including a lap-one incident involving Matt Sheppard, Williamson expertly handled each restart. Pauch Jr. made a strong charge from his ninth starting position, quickly moving into contention by lap six. The final caution on lap 10 gave Pauch Jr. another chance to close the gap, and he steadily moved up, eventually challenging Williamson for the lead.
“I saw (Pauch Jr.) when I was stuck behind those two cars,” said Williamson. “I didn’t know where to go. I finally had to throw a slider to get by one and get going.”
Navigating Traffic
As the race progressed, Williamson encountered lap traffic around the halfway mark. On lap 32, with two-wide lap cars in front, both Pauch Jr. and Alex Yankowski closed in. Pauch Jr. briefly ran side-by-side with Williamson for the lead, but Williamson deftly maneuvered through the traffic to maintain his advantage, ultimately pulling away for the victory.
“That was awesome,” Pauch Jr. said. “I thought I baited him to the bottom there halfway through the race, but he just moved up enough I couldn’t get him.”
Podium Finishers
Yankowski, who had slipped to sixth early on, fought back to secure a podium finish in third place. “I ran a lot of laps around this place in Slingshots and SpeedSTRs,” Yankowski said. “We’ve put together a good team and we’re bringing speed everywhere so hopefully we can keep it rolling.”
Race Highlights
A total of 39 STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds entered the competition. Heat winners included Perrego, Sheppard, Ross, Yankowski, and Williamson, with Brandon Grosso, Ryan Krachun, and Danny Bouc winning the consolation events. Paulie Hartwig III of Galloway, NJ, won the fully paid B-Main and chose to take the final starting position in the A-Main.
Upcoming Events
The STSS will continue its May schedule with the ‘Fast Cars and Freedom’ event at Brookfield Speedway in Brookfield, NY, on Sunday, May 26. This race is Round 2 of the Madsen Overhead Doors North Region, featuring the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman in a 25-lap race with a $1,500 top prize. Additional events include Pro Stocks, Limited Sportsman, Four Cylinders, and Junior and All-Star Slingshots.
The STSS Modifieds will return on Thursday, May 30 for the ‘Adirondack Invasion’ at Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY. This event, Round 2 of the River Valley Builders North Region and Round 6 of the Ollie’s Overall Championship, is a 70-lap race with a $7,070 top prize. The event will also feature Sportsman, Renegades, and Mini Stocks.
Feature Finish (50 laps):
- Mat Williamson [2]
- Billy Pauch Jr. [9]
- Alex Yankowski [3]
- Anthony Perrego [5]
- Ryan Godown [8]
- Cale Ross [1]
- Matt Sheppard [4]
- Ryan Krachun [12]
- Louden Reimert [14]
- Danny Bouc [13]
- Dillon Steuer [7]
- Paulie Hartwig III [17]
- Tanner Van Doren [6]
- Mike Gular [16]
- Brandon Grosso [11]
- Matt Stangle [15]
- Mike Mahaney [10]
