BACHETTI & MAHANEY IN LIMELIGHT FOR SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES DURING SATURDAY'S I-88 SPEEDWAY AWARDS BANQUET (12-8-14)‏

News from the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek

Media Contact: Brett Deyo – bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com or 845.728.2781

For Immediate Release/Dec. 8, 2014

Andy Bachetti Recognized As Inaugural Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Champion During Saturday’s I-88 Awards Banquet; Mike Mahaney Receives Dedication Award; Nick Nye Rookie Of The Year

ONEONTA, NY – On Saturday night, Andy Bachetti and crew were able to finally reflect on what they had accomplished in 2014.

Bachetti, the 38-year-old star driver from Sheffield, Mass., embarked on a new journey this past season: following the Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP. Bachetti ultimately won the Season Opener in April at the Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway ‘Hard Clay Open’ and utilized consistency to earn the inaugural series championship.

While the series point fund, some $28,286.22 in cash plus contingencies, was paid out just days after the final race, the Short Track SuperNationals at I-88 (N.Y.) Speedway in October, Bachetti and his team were invited to participate in the I-88 Speedway Awards Banquet, held with more than 225 on hand Saturday at the Holiday Inn Oneonta, to celebrate their crown.

At the Awards Banquet, Bachetti received a custom championship trophy courtesy of S&W Awards of Lindley, N.Y., and an embroidered jacket from American Racer/Lias Tire and Bob Hilbert Sportswear.

Previously, Bachetti earned $10,014, the champion’s share of the point fund, a $500 certificate from Teo-Pro Car as the highest finisher of the chassis brand, a $250 certificate for use at Bob Hilbert Sportswear, a $300 Kirkey Racing Products certificate, $250 credits at COMP and Quarter Master, two cases of any XP Oil, a $200 certificate for ERK Steering Repair, a radiator from Art’s Radiator and two free FOX Shocks.

“We had our car at Motorsports (the pre-race industry show held in Oaks, Pa., each January) and that’s when we first talked to Brett (Deyo of BD Motorsports Media LLC, series organizer) about running the whole schedule,” Bachetti said. “We went to Middletown and won the first race in April, which got it all started. But after that, we went to a lot of tracks I hadn’t been to before.”

Bachetti finished every feature lap of the ’14 Short Track Super Series: all 310!

The driver known as the ‘Wild Child’ got the jump on the competition with his April Orange County triumph.

At Thunder Mountain (N.Y.) Speedway in May, Bachetti drove from deep in the starting field – 22^nd – and finished a respectable eighth in his first visit to the Center Lisle three-eighths-mile facility. He maintained the point lead with his effort in the ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ 50-lap feature.

Perhaps Bachetti’s most impressive performance on the series took place at I-88 Speedway in the July ‘Crazy 8s Special’ 48-lap event. Bachetti started the main 21^st, became entangled in a turn-two skirmish that sent him to the rear of the field on lap eight, and charged through the field to earn a runner-up finish to Danny Creeden.

“That race was big for us,” Bachetti said, reflecting on the ‘Crazy 8s Special’ comeback. “With Danny starting on the pole, then getting caught up in that deal at the beginning, we couldn’t have imagined getting back to second and gaining points.”

At Accord (N.Y.) Speedway in August, Bachetti led the race’s opening 22 laps, but lost brakes and faded back. He was able to salvage a 10^th-place finish in the 52-lap ‘Battle of the Bullring 2’ special.

The worst finish of Bachetti’s season took place at Penn Can (Pa.) Speedway in the rain-postponed ‘Hot Summer Night’ special run on Sept. 9. He ended the 60-lap event in 12^th-place. The Penn Can was ultimately Bachetti’s “drop race” on the series, as competitors were permitted to drop their worst finish in the first five.

Bachetti entered the Short Track SuperNationals at I-88 tied with rival Danny Johnson for the point lead. The outcome of the ‘Working Man’s Race’ 50-lap event would decide it all.

Bachetti, who had earned a redraw spot during the Friday portion of the weekend, ran a conservative race to finish sixth. Johnson, meanwhile, placed 14^th and finished 33 points off Bachetti’s total.

“As the season went along, we put more and more focus on winning the series,” Bachetti said. “It ended up paying off for us.”

Bachetti said he would defend his series championship in ’15 and plans to compete in both the North and South Regions of the newly renamed Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek.

“This series got our team excited to travel again,” Bachetti said. “The schedule was reasonable. It’s a series where you can pay your expenses because the purses are so good. You can go to one of these shows, finish 10^th and make a $1,000. Nobody goes to a race to finish 10^th, but you have to look at the whole picture.

“I commend everyone involved with the series: we were treated very well by all the series and track officials. We met a lot of great people this year. The series will only get better and grow from here; I know I’m looking forward to an expanded schedule with some new tracks. We’re looking to be part of it for a long time.”

Two other drivers were honored during the evening.

The first Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek ‘Dedication Award’ was presented to Mike Mahaney for his unparalleled support of BD Motorsports Media LLC and the Short Track Super Series during the ’14 season.

Mahaney was the series’ iron man: he attended all six points-paying events, the ‘Dirty Jersey 2’ special at N.J.’s New Egypt Speedway in June, the ‘Beach Blast’ at Del.’s Georgetown Speedway in August, the affiliate Penn Can ‘King of the Can’ in October and the ‘Gobbler’ at Accord Speedway in November ultimately postponed by weather.

Mahaney was the only driver to hit all the events. In doing so, he traveled 3,151 miles from his home in King Ferry, N.Y.

To reward his commitment, Mahaney received a certificate for a free American Racer tire and a $150 credit toward the purchase of Hi-Tek Race Fuels or VP Racing Fuels.

“I appreciate the opportunity to race with a series that appreciates the racers and pays as well as this one does,” Mahaney, who finished seventh in the overall standings, said. “We’re looking forward to running with the series again next year.”

Nick Nye, a Sportsman standout turned Modified freshman, was recognized as the series Rookie of the Year. The Groton, N.Y., driver received $350 courtesy of Sleepy Hollow Golf Carts and Turf Equipment Sales, Service & Leasing of Greenfield Township, Pa.

The inaugural Short Track Super Series season was an overwhelming success with 153 different drivers attempting to qualify for at least one event and an average of 57 cars per event over the six-race series.

The Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek schedule was recently announced. The series kicks off its North Region at Orange County Fair Speedway Tuesday, April 7 (weather dates: April 8 and 9). The South Region opener is planned for Sunday, April 19 at N.J.’s Bridgeport Speedway (rain date: April 26).

To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek, visit www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com or call 845.728.2781. BD Motorsports Media is on Facebook and on Twitter: @BrettDeyo.

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Brett Deyo
BD Motorsports Media LLC
Phone: 845.728.2781
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com
Facebook: "BD Motorsports Media"
Twitter: @BrettDeyo