Sheppard nips Wall in New Egypt thriller

NEW EGYPT - Matt Sheppard of Waterloo, N.Y., led for only a few feet on Saturday night at New Egypt Speedway, as he nipped Modified rookie Pat Wall by a whisker to capture the 30-lap DIRTcar Modified feature.

Starting 17th on the grid, Sheppard charged through the pack, taking the lead just feet from the finish line, collecting the $3,000 top prize in a finish that will go down in the record books as one for the ages.

"Pat (Wall) was really quick tonight. Either of us could have won this tonight," stated Sheppard in the victory lane. "He did a great job and it was a lot of fun racing with him."

Jim Robertson brought the field to the green flag at the start, but it was third-starting Pat Wall who turned everyone's head immediately. For the second straight week, Wall charged to the lead and opened up a very comfortable advantage. Wall appeared to be on cruise control, as he was over a straight-away ahead by the halfway sign as the last two weeks' winners Jimmy Horton and Sheppard charged through the field. The first and only caution of the event appeared on lap 21, when Tim Tanner Jr. broke in turn four while running in fifth.

With the field now bunched up on Wall's rear bumper, Horton and Sheppard quickly charged by Robertson on the restart and set their sights on the rookie. Wall showed he was tough as he raced side by side with Horton for three consecutive laps, continuing to hold on to the lead. With four laps to go, Sheppard brought the fans to their feet as he drove around Horton and up under Wall in one power move going into turn one. Wall and Sheppard then ran side by side for the final four laps, with Wall leading every lap at the stripe, until the final charge off turn four, when the two raced down the front straight dead-even, with sparks flying.

When the checkered flew, it was Sheppard winning his third of the season by less than a bumper length. Wall improved his career-best finish from last week by one, as Horton crossed the line third. Frank Cozze drove home fourth with Tad Cox finishing fifth.

Justin Hoffman of Pottersville won his second career feature in the 20-lap Sportsman event, his first of the year. John Romano Jr. took home second-place money, followed by Chad Barney in third, Dave Hunt fourth and Ben Donaruma fifth.

Al Cheney of Cranbury took his third feature win of the season in the 20-lap Super Stock feature event. For Cheney it was the 17th win of his career at New Egypt. Todd Cray got his best finish of the season in second, with Bill Liedtka third, Bob Vaccaro fourth and George Quinlan fifth.

The Crate-1 Sportsman feature was won by veteran Richie Cass Sr. as he held off the advances of E.J. Harrington over the final half of the event to capture his first win. Harrington held on for second, with Dave Gorbatuk third. In the Outlaw Stock 12 lap event, Gary Klimeczak won his second of the season over Spider Ensinger Sr. and Rob Longo.

Saturday night it will be Wing Night as the URC Sprint Car Series comes into town for their second appearance of the season. They will be joined by a full card of DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, Super Late Models, Sportsman, and Super Stocks. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with first green at 6 p.m. Adult admission is $20, children 7-12 are $7.50, and kids 6 and under are always free. For more information, call the speedway office at (609) 758-1900 or log on to www.newegyptspeedway.net.