(June 19, 2024) New Egypt, NJ – For the second time in his career, Danny Bouc captured a win in the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco on Tuesday night. The Pipersville, PA native took the lead on a lap 23 restart and maintained it for the final 28 laps, claiming the $6,000 prize in the 10th running of the ‘Dirty Jersey’.
“We’ve found a lot of ways to lose this race,” Bouc said in Victory Lane. “We’ve had several years, including last year, where I thought we had a car to win, but it just never happened.”
This victory came in Round 5 of the NJ Quality Drywall South Region and Round 8 of the Ollie’s Overall Championship chase. Bouc’s first STSS win came in October 2023, and just half a year later, he’s back on top with his Craig and Leslie Pondish-owned No. 6.
Bouc’s Strategy Pays Off
Starting from the fourth position after the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw, Bouc was up against tough competition, including Ryan Watt and Stewart Friesen on the front row. Friesen quickly took the lead, setting a fast pace, while Bouc and Watt battled for the runner-up spot.
Bouc claimed second place on lap 11 but found himself three seconds behind Friesen. Yellow flags brought the field together, giving Bouc a chance to challenge Friesen directly. After a failed attempt on lap 20, Bouc successfully took the lead on a lap 23 restart and never looked back.
“I was nervous on the first restart I was leading; you have to be with Stewart (Friesen) alongside you,” Bouc explained. “Once I got a feel for them and realized I was clearing him, I was okay with the cautions keeping me from lap traffic and letting my tires cool off.”
Navigating Late-Race Challenges
Bouc faced a late-race scare with lap traffic slowing him down, allowing Friesen to close the gap. However, a final caution with two laps to go gave Bouc a clean track to secure his victory. Friesen finished second in his Halmar International No. 44.
“We got rolling pretty good early, but I knew the restarts were going to be tough on us,” Friesen noted. “We got to him again in traffic, and the caution came out again.”
Alex Yankowski from Covington Township, PA, completed the podium in his Millman’s NAPA Auto Parts No. 84y, with Tanner Van Doren finishing fourth and Anthony Perrego, who raced from 18th to fifth, earning the Hard Charger Award in honor of Terry Fasnacht.
Race Highlights
Thirty-one STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds competed in the ‘Dirty Jersey 10’. Heat winners included Tanner Van Doren, Matt Sheppard, and Mike Mahaney, with Dillon Steuer winning the consolation event.
In the Belmont’s Garage South Region for the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman, Logan Watt dominated the 25-lap race, leading every lap and securing his fifth career STSS victory.
Upcoming Events
The STSS will take a short break before returning for a packed July schedule, starting with the ‘Firecracker 50’ at Fonda Speedway on Wednesday, July 3. The STSS Modifieds will race for 50 laps with a $10,000 top prize, while the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman will compete in a 25-lap race for a $2,000 top prize.
Feature Finish (50 laps):
- Danny Bouc [4]
- Stewart Friesen [2]
- Alex Yankowski [7]
- Tanner Van Doren [10]
- Anthony Perrego [18]
- Brandon Grosso [8]
- Ryan Watt [1]
- Billy Pauch Jr [20]
- Ryan Krachun [9]
- Darren Smith [14]
- Mat Williamson [15]
- Mike Mahaney [12]
- Mike Gular [13]
- Justin Grosso [21]
- Michael Trautschold [17]
- Dillon Steuer [19]
- Paul Mancini [27]
- Cole Stangle [23]
- Matt Sheppard [6]
- Anthony Tramontana [3]
- Cale Ross [11]
- Danny Hieber [26]
- Matt Stangle [25]
- Johnny Bangs [24]
- DJ Hunt [22]
- Ryan Godown [5]
- Michael Storms [16]
