Pauch Jr. Saluted For Double Championships at Action Track USA Awards Banquet
Macungie, PA (February 2) – Championship Energy Action Track USA honored its 2018 champions on Saturday, February 2nd, at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort. At the end of the festivities, Billy Pauch Jr. needed some help to carry his hardware and paychecks for winning not one, but two point titles at the Berks County oval located on the Kutztown Fairgrounds.
The third generation racer from Milford, NJ captured his third point championship in the USAC All Pro SpeedSTR division. He also added a first title in the Hyper Racing 600 Sprints, made even more special because it was his first championship after seven years of driving for car owner Lamar Shaffer.
Jared Silfee was recognized for his All Star Slingshot point crown, and Tyler Ulsh won the Junior Slingshot championship.
Pauch and car owner Mike Heffner put together an outstanding season in USAC SpeedSTR competition, winning three races and ending the season with three consecutive top-five efforts to clinch his third title and first since 2015.
“We’ve been fortunate to win some championships over the years, in all of the divisions I’ve run, but it’s never easy,” said Pauch. “It’s a lot of nights in the shop, which means time away from the family so it’s their sacrifice, too. Got to thank Mike (car owner Heffner) and my guys for all their help.”
Billy immediately called his 600 Sprint car owner, Lamar Shaffer, to the podium when he was introduced as the 2018 Hyper Racing 600 point champion. “This is Lamar’s championship,” he said, “because I am jumping in and out of cars all night at Kutztown so he has to do most of the work on his car. We argue sometimes, but it’s just because we both want to win so badly. We’ve been together for seven years, and I am really glad to win this championship for him.”
Just before Pauch was introduced as the SpeedSTR champion, a video tribute – put together by his sister, Mandee – was played for the banquet audience. The video featured Billy Pauch Sr., talking about his son’s start in racing and how he learned about the cars by working on them…usually by himself.
Briggs Danner, who led all SpeedSTR drivers with four wins during the ’18 season, finished second to Pauch Jr. in the point standings. Danner’s terrific season earned him a special Achievement Award from promoters Rich Tobias and Doug Rose.
Tim Buckwalter, the 2017 SpeedSTR champion, finished third in points with Ohio’s Matt Westfall and TJ Mayberry completing the top five in the standings.
Pauch Jr. triumphed in the King of No Wing Shootout for the 600’s and added another victory on July 11. Steady runs inside the top five cemented his hold on first place in the point chase and earned him the crown over Colin White.
Damon Paul finished third in points, with Alex Bright fourth and Kyle Spence ending up fifth.
Saylorsburg, PA’s Jared Silfee won four times in All Star Slingshot action to garner his first point title at Action Track USA. Included in his triumphs were the Meitzler Memorial, the Super Slingshot Fair National, and the Kutztown Komet 100. He carried a slim seven-point advantage into the 100-lap season finale, which he simply went out and won to secure the championship.
Former Slingshot track champion Dylan Hoch wound up second in the standings. Brett Bieber, Cody Kline, and Dakota Kohler finished third through fifth in the point parade.
The Junior Slingshot point championship went to Tyler Ulsh, who won the season opener, then claimed the season finale on August 19 to clinch the title.
Shelby McLaughlin, Aidan Donaldson, Logan Bauman, and Kasey Hufcut completed the top five in the Junior Slingshot standings.
Damon Paul (two wins) and Colin White (one victory) were recipients of Rising Star Awards for their breakthrough seasons in the Hyper Racing 600 Sprints.
The Hyper Racing 600 Sprint Attendance Awards were drawn at the banquet. Winning an FK Rod End Set was Jared Lilly, while Tyler Kehs’ name was drawn for a set of Vahlco Wheels. The grand prize, a brand new Hyper frame, was claimed by Tyler Lindsay.
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Dave Darland was the guest speaker at Saturday’s banquet. Darland spoke about his career that includes championships in all three of USAC’s National Series and more than 100 victories in those three divisions (Sprint Cars, Midgets, and Silver Crown). He also talked fondly about competing in SpeedSTRs at Action Track USA and hopes to have the opportunity to do so again.
The 2019 season at Championship Energy Action Track USA will begin on Mother’s Day, May 12, with the annual Goldie & Elton Meitzler Memorial presented by Business Link Print.com. The USAC All Pro SpeedSTRs, Hyper Racing 600 Sprints, and All Star Slingshots will compete in the season opener.
One of the highlights of the upcoming campaign will be the first-ever appearance by the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series on July 31. Joining the mighty Midgets that night will be the 600 Sprints in a Hyper Racing 600 Speedweek event.
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