10/2/2025
Short Track Super Series
After 14 Years, Hagerstown Speedway ‘Octoberfest’ Win List Will Grow Again October 17-18
HAGERSTOWN, MD – It’s a list all drivers long to be on: Hagerstown Speedway ‘Octoberfest’ winner.
After 14 years, they’ll get the opportunity again in 2025.
‘Octoberfest 150’ Friday-Saturday Oct. 17-18 is back on the Mid-Atlantic motorsports calendar promoted by Brett Deyo, who leased the facility from Lisa Plessinger for the event’s long-awaited return.
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Modifieds, Jim Bernheisel’s ‘Fall Clash’ Super Late Models, Spec 358-Modifieds and STSS Sportsman are on the agenda for the first ‘Octoberfest’ since 2011.
Modifieds were part of every ‘Octoberfest’ event from 1988-2011. No driver won more than Brett Hearn with seven ‘Octoberfest’ triumphs including the final four in a row. Hearn’s victories occurred in ’93, 97, 2001, ’08-’11.
Billy Pauch was the inaugural Modified winner in ’88 and returned to Victory Lane in ’92, ’95 and ’96 for a total of four victories.
The late Doug Hoffman posted his first victory in ’90 and did it again 12 years later in ’02. J.R. Heffner also owns a pair of wins in ’00 and ’05.
Single event winners include Frank Cozze (’89), Craig Von Dohren (’91), Bob McCreadie (’94), Mike Romano (’98), Mitch Gibbs (’99), Brian Weaver (’03), Matt Sheppard (’04), Danny Johnson (’06) and Wade Hendrickson (’07).
Like the big-block counterparts, Super Late Models have taken part in every ‘Octoberfest’ edition.
Gary Stuhler was the inaugural winner in ’88 and returned to win in ’96, ’99, ’03 and ’10 for a total of five wins.
Rick Eckert is a three-time ‘Octoberfest’ Super Late Model winner with triumphs in ’01, ’02 and ’09.
Other multiple winners are Davey Johnson (’92 and ’95), Donnie Moran (’91 and ’93), and Jeremy Miller (’04 and ’06).
Credited with one Super Late Model ‘Octoberfest’ victory are Nathan Durboraw (’89), John Mason (’90), Rodney Franklin (’94), Bart Hartman (’97), Chub Frank (’98), Brian Ruhlman (’00), Ronnie DeHaven (’05), Alan Sagi (’07), Tim McCreadie (’08) and Josh Richards (’11).
The small-block (358-Modified) division was added in 1995 with Doug Hoffman the first-time winner.
Brett Hearn leads the way with three 358-Modified wins (’00, ’05 and ’11). Others winning more than once include Doug Hoffman (’95 and ’97), Craig Von Dohren (’96 and ’98) and Tim McCreadie (’09 and ’10).
One-time 358-Modified winners are Todd Burley (’01), Kenny Brightbill (’02), Andy Bachetti (’03), Matt Sheppard (’04), Billy Decker (’06), Kevin Hirthler (’07) and Rick Laubach (’08).
Sportsman cars will take part in the ‘Octoberfest’ event for the first time ever this October and one driver will have the opportunity to make history on Maryland soil.
The two-day event kicks off on Friday (Oct. 17) with ‘Fall Clash’ Super Late Model Series taking part in a complete program leading up to a 35-lap, $6,000-to-win headliner. Also, on the Friday agenda are Spec 358 Modifieds in their own 35-lap, $4,000-to-win event.
Super Late Model and Spec 358-Modified qualifying will precede the Friday main events.
Modified and Sportsman competitors from the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco are welcome for practice rounds offering a pair of main event redraws to each division.
Saturday (Oct. 18) features the STSS Modifieds of the NJ Quality Drywall South Region in a championship 50-lap event paying $7,000 to win and $500 to take the green flag.
Belmont’s Garage STSS Sportsman race in a 30-lap event with $2,000 going to the winner: the final points-paying race of the season.
Qualifying events for both divisions will precede the headliners on Saturday.
Complete weekend pricing and a schedule of events have been posted on the STSS website: https://www.shorttracksuperseries.com/downloads/get.aspx?i=1143903
Rules for the STSS Modifieds, Spec 358-Modifieds, STSS Sportsman are also on the series website: https://www.shorttracksuperseries.com/downloads/get.aspx?i=1146306
Registration for STSS divisions is open via the My Race Pass app: https://www.myracepass.com/series/1996/registrations/12510
Super Late Models will compete under ‘Fall Clash’ rules and procedures: https://clashmotorsports.com/fall_clash.html
Camping is permitted – free of charge – on the Hagerstown Speedway grounds for the weekend (no hook-ups).
Opening in 1948, Hagerstown Speedway is the longest operating dirt track in Maryland located at 15112 National Pike Hagerstown, MD 21740. To learn more, visit www.hagerstownspeedway.com, like Hagerstown Speedway on Facebook or follow @hagerstownspdwy on (X).
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on (X) or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Bob Hilbert Sportswear, FloRacing, American Racer, Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, BDR Speed, NJ Quality Drywall, HYTORC of New York, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Saint Lawrence Radiology, Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches, Bicknell Racing Products, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Madsen Overhead Doors, Belmont’s Garage, Wegner Automotive, DIG Race Products, ATL, Dirt Draft, Swagger Factory Apparel, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel LLC, Beyea Custom Headers, Design for Vision, Sunglass Central, Dirt Track Digest TV, DKM Fabrication, EIBACH, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Systems, JK Signworks, JLR Technologies, Dave Prime Jr. MAC Tools, MD3, PEM Engineering, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, SRI Performance, Superior Remodeling, Swift Springs, The Exotic Brand, Troyer Dirt Cars, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.
‘Octoberfest’ All-Time Win List (*Divisions Competing in 2025)
1988 – Gary Stuhler (Late Model) & Billy Pauch (Modified)
1989 – Nathan Durboraw (Late Model) & Frank Cozze (Modified)
1990 – John Mason (Late Model) & Doug Hoffman (Modified)
1991 – Donnie Moran (Late Model) & Craig Von Dohren (Modified)
1992 – Davey Johnson (Late Model) & Billy Pauch (Modified)
1993 – Donnie Moran (Late Model) & Brett Hearn (Modified)
1994 – Rodney Franklin (Late Model) & Bob McCreadie (Modified)
1995 – Davey Johnson (Late Model), Billy Pauch (Modified) & Doug Hoffman (Small-Block Modified)
1996 – Gary Stuhler (Late Model), Billy Pauch (Modified) & Craig Von Dohren (Small-Block Modified)
1997 – Bart Hartman (Late Model), Brett Hearn (Modified) & Doug Hoffman (Small-Block Modified)
1998 – Chub Frank (Late Model), Mike Romano (Modified) & Craig Von Dohren (Small-Block Modified)
1999 – Gary Stuhler (Late Model), Mitch Gibbs (Modified) & Billy Pauch (Small-Block Modified)
2000 – Brian Ruhlman (Super Late Model), J.R. Heffner (Modified) & Brett Hearn (Small-Block Modified)
2001 – Rick Eckert (Late Model), Brett Hearn (Modified) & Todd Burley (Small-Block Modified)
2002 – Rick Eckert (Late Model), Doug Hoffman (Modified) & Kenny Brightbill (Small-Block Modified)
2003 – Gary Stuhler (Late Model), Brian Weaver (Modified) & Andy Bachetti (Small-Block Modified)
2004 – Jeremy Miller (Late Model), Matt Sheppard (Modified) & Matt Sheppard (Small-Block Modified)
2005 – Ronnie DeHaven (Late Model), J.R. Heffner (Modified) & Brett Hearn (Small-Block Modified)
2006 – Jeremy Miller (Late Model), Danny Johnson (Modified) & Billy Decker (Small-Block Modified)
2007 – Alan Sagi (Late Model), Wade Hendrickson (Modified) & Kevin Hirthler
2008 – Tim McCreadie (Late Model), Brett Hearn (Modified) & Rick Laubach (Small-Block Modified)
2009 – Rick Eckert (Late Model), Brett Hearn (Modified) & Tim McCreadie (Small-Block Modified)
2010 – Gary Stuhler (Late Model), Brett Hearn (Modified) & Tim McCreadie (Small-Block Modified)
2011 – Josh Richards (Late Model), Brett Hearn (Modified) & Brett Hearn (Small-Block Modified)