News Director 
Story By: TIM BALTZ / MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – HOGANSBURG, NY – Since the first race in 1987, Mohawk International Raceway has called the DIRTcar 358 Modified division its headline division through the 2019 season.
The DIRTcar Pro Stocks have also become one of the popular divisions at the speedway since 2000. With 2022 on the horizon, both divisions will make their return and DIRTcar track championships will be on the line.
Mohawk International Raceway staff and management have been working hard in the offseason to finalize the 2022 schedule, which last year included a full slate of events for the DIRTcar Sportsman as the headline class along with Novice Sportsman, Mod Lite and Bandits. But fans were missing the mighty Modifieds and 2021 saw the return of the division with the Twin Leaf Stores 358 Modified Series, which also saw 2 events held in conjunction with the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series.
Last season Tim Fuller was able to notch wins in the opening two events for the 4 race series only to be stopped by 5 time track champion Billy Dunn and Erick Rudolph, who claimed his first ever MIR feature win after several successful runs. Fuller would go on to claim his 4th consecutive series crown, which has never been accomplished in the brief history of the series.
Carey Terrance is the speedway’s winningest 358 Modified driver with 31 victories followed by Northeast Hall of Famers Pat O’Brien with 26 and Dave Heaslip at 25. Tim Fuller and Billy Dunn are tied at 4th on the list with 24 career wins a piece. The top 8 drivers on the all-time win list are also former track champions which also include Chris Raabe, Mike Perrotte and Brian McDonald, who have a combined 55 career wins in the DIRTcar 358 Modified division at MIR. Chris Raabe claimed the post recent DIRTcar 358 Modified title, which was his 2nd, in 2019.
The DIRTcar Pro Stocks have not competed at the speedway full time since the 2013 season when Stephane Lebrun claimed the final track championship, the second of his MIR career. The division has seen great racing with the DIRTcar Pro stock Series making several appearances since. Fans also have been hoping for a return for the division and 4 events were held, which saw great racing and new winners. Kevin Fetterly Jr. and Tyler Bushey claimed the first two events of the year while Ian Bressett found success early with his first career DIRTcar Pro Stock win on August 30th. Eventual DIRTcar Pro Stock and 2021 Super Dirt Week Champion “Bad” Chad Jeseo notched his first ever tour win during the Mohawk Nationals season finale in September.
With the popularity of the two longstanding divisions in the region and border restrictions allowing Canadian competitors to come back across the border, speedway staff and management feel this is a great opportunity to have the DIRTcar 358 Modifieds and DIRTcar Pro stocks back home and seeing who will be crowned champion at seasons end.
Dates for the Modified and Pro Stocks shows will be released but with possible restrictions at the international border crossing being reinstated, all dates could possibly change. For further information stay tuned to our website at mohawkintlraceway.com and give us a follow on our Facebook and Twitter pages for instant updates.
