When Matt Sheppard ran second to veteran Frank Cozze in the final points-paying DIRTcar modified feature at New Jersey’s New Egypt Speedway Saturday night, it gave “Super Matt” and car owner Randy Ross a tidy profit while proving Ross a prophet as well.
Seven wins and the track championship can do that. And when the next four in the standings are Ryan Godown, Cozze, Keith Hoffman and Jimmy Horton, you know the money did not come easily.
During the off-season, Ross foresaw that a two-night weekend schedule of Albany-Saratoga Speedway and New Egypt could be more lucrative than his team’s traditional central New York routine of Brewerton, Canandaigua and Cayuga County.
“New Egypt takes longer due to traffic, but it’s the same mileage as Canandaigua. We saved money on motels on by racing 20 miles from my shop in Albany on Fridays and coming home from New Egypt on Saturdays,” explained Ross.
“When DIRT cut its purses out there from $2,000, $1,200 and $800 for the top three to $1,500, $750 and $600, I had to consider changing. We lost 20 races this year, but I can’t tow to Weedsport (Cayuga County) for that purse.”
Albany-Saratoga has worked out well, too, with one win, many top finishes and a third place in the point battle behind perennial track powers Kenny Tremont, Jr. and Brett Hearn.
“We know we’re not going to make a lot racing, but the losses have to stay within reason,” Ross said. “Winning the New Egypt championship means we’ll take in as much there as winning the DIRT series, all at one Saturday night track.
“That’s why it’s so hard to get the Jersey guys out on the DIRT tour, because they can make good money staying home. I love the series, but if you’re not in the top three in the races and the points, it’s a losing proposition.”
Ross started out with Brian Goewey, then had Matt Quinn in the seat until hiring Billy Decker, who snared multiple wins at Syracuse and on the far-flung DIRT tour before eventually moving to the John Wight team.
Recognizing Sheppard as a talent on the way up, Ross went with youth over experience and has remained one of the top teams. But that’s not to say he’s totally satisfied with DIRT racing at the moment.
“I think the new tour race-on-the-weekend format is the way to go but we need multiple shows, at least two on the weekends they’re held, to make it work,” Ross said. “And I don’t like the twin 50s deal, either. Run 60 or 75 laps or whatever you like but do just one race. Two races just cost us way too much.
Not one to hold back, Ross has a few more thoughts on the state of DIRT’s modified program to toss into the simmering pot.
“The leadership in our region isn’t right to take us where we need to go. We need somebody at the top in the Weedsport office who understands our cars and our style of racing,” Ross said. “The series needs a boost. You can’t lose guys like Tim Fuller and Billy Decker to the late models and Tim McCreadie to NASCAR and draw like we used to. Besides Matt, there’s not many young, exciting guys on the tour.”
It’s easy to find fault. Racers are professionals at that. So tell us what tracks can do to restore the luster.
“We need to get back to the atmosphere of racing being a big event, not just a ‘regular’ race,” Ross offered. “At Albany-Saratoga, they have some sort of a special promotion every week. There’s always something for the kids and every kid you see has at least one parent with them.
“We like racing there Fridays because you know the place will be full. It’s never like the night we went to Fulton for a special show and ran in front of 250 people. People talk about central New York being a tough market, but I think the Albany area is just as tough. There’s a lot of competition in this area, too.”
When asked for the bottom line, Ross ended the conversation with a wicked grin and an unexpected response.
“I never thought I’d go on record saying I missed Glenn Donnelly,” Ross said.