(May 30, 2024) Plattsburgh, NY – Anthony Perrego turned his luck around on Thursday night, capturing his first Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco victory of 2024 in the ‘Adirondack Invasion’ at Airborne Park Speedway. The Walden, NY native secured the $7,070 top prize in Round 2 of the River Valley Builders North Region and Round 6 of the Ollie’s Overall Championship.
Bouncing Back
After failing to qualify for the ‘Battle of the Bullring’ at Accord Speedway—a race he has won three times—Perrego bounced back impressively. “We made such a stupid mistake at Accord,” Perrego explained in Victory Lane. “When we finally found what was wrong, I couldn’t believe it. Not qualifying there had me depressed for a week.”
Climbing to Victory
Starting from the eighth position after the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw, Perrego charged through the field, taking the lead from Alex Payne on lap 46. “If you had told me we were going to win this race today, I would’ve said you were crazy,” Perrego said with a laugh.
Potsdam, NY’s Michael Maresca and Canandaigua, NY’s Alex Payne held the front row at the start, with Maresca leading the initial laps. The two swapped the lead multiple times while navigating through lapped traffic, with Perrego steadily advancing.
Strategic Moves
By lap 25, Perrego began his march towards the front, moving up to fourth, then quickly gaining third. From lap 41 through 45, Payne defended the lead against both Maresca and Perrego, but Perrego’s car handled the outside groove better, allowing him to take the lead on lap 46 and build a substantial gap.
A late-race caution with eight laps remaining bunched the field, but Perrego maintained his lead, securing his 11th career STSS victory and first since 2022.
Podium Finishers
Maresca finished second, reflecting on the night, “Second stinks when you start on the pole and lead some of the race. I felt pretty bad after the heat race, so we’ll take it after the changes we made.”
Payne rounded out the podium, saying, “It was a lot of fun battling with Maresca, but Perrego came out of nowhere and drove around us.”
Race Highlights
Thirty-one STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds competed in the ‘Adirondack Invasion’. Heat winners included Perrego, Tim Fuller, and Payne, with Chris Raabe winning the consolation event.
Upcoming Events
The STSS returns to action in just over two weeks at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT, for the ‘Slate Valley 50.’ This 50-lap race pays $10,000 to the winner and is Round 3 of the River Valley Builders North Region and Round 7 of the Ollie’s Overall Championship.
Feature Finish (70 laps):
- Anthony Perrego [9]
- Michael Maresca [1]
- Alex Payne [2]
- Mat Williamson [7]
- Stewart Friesen [13]
- David Hebert [3]
- Matt Sheppard [12]
- Felix Roy [14]
- Carey Terrance [5]
- Michael Parent [15]
- Alex Yankowski [10]
- Jack Lehner [23]
- Michael Trautschold [17]
- Chris Raabe [19]
- Tim Fuller [4]
- Steve Bernier [11]
- Jeremy Roy [16]
- Marc Johnson [18]
- Bobby Hackel IV [21]
- Mike Mahaney [8]
- Matt Woodruff [24]
- Donovan Lussier [6]
- Tanner Siemons [27]
- Francois Bellemare [26]
- Ajay Potrzebowski II [25]
- Mario Clair [20]
