Column By: STEPHEN DURHAM / RPW – LAFARGEVILLE, NY – It is Mat Williamson continuing to be number 1 this week as he had a top 5 to kick off the regular season for the Super DIRTcar Series in 2022.
Ryan Godown stole the show and defended his hometrack with the win after starting 10th. Sheppard had motor issues that would ultimately end his night.
Phelps and Decker came from Last Chance Showdowns and would come away with top 10s at the end of the night. Now they all head to Can-Am near the international border tonight to do battle for 75 laps.
1. Mat Williamson (Previous Rank: 1):
It was another stout and strong run for Williamson at the high banks of Bridgeport, coming home with a top 5 in fourth place. Williamson came home second in his heat race behind Friesen. Williamson would redraw 11 for his starting spot. Can Am wasn’t friendly to Williamson in 2021, coming home in 15th, but did have a strong runner-up finish back in 2019.
2. Max McLaughlin (Previous Rank: 2):
McLaughlin continues his hot start in Super DIRTcar Series action in 2022, coming home 5th. Mad-Max snagged a heat race win and would re-drawn to start in the 9th position. Can-Am hasn’t been too kind to McLaughlin in recent races, with a 20th place finish last year and 25th place finish in 2019.
3. Peter Britten (Previous Rank: 3):
Peter Britten is continuing a strong start with the Super DIRTcar series, coming home with his fifth top 10 on the season so far. Britten will look to keep the momentum rolling into Can-Am, finishing 6th last season and 14th in 2019.
4. Jimmy Phelps (Previous Rank: 5):
Phelps had to fight his way through the field on the high banks of Bridgeport, starting 21st after winning the Last Chance Showdown. Phelps would end up just outside the top 10 in 11th at the end of the day. Phelps did not finish last year at Can Am, and 18th back in 2019.
5. Matt Sheppard (Previous Rank: 4):
It was definitely not Sheppard’s night at Bridgeport, after motor issues would end his night and be left with a 24th place finish after starting 6th. Sheppard did win at Can Am back in 2019, so he will definitely be eager to get things rolling quickly again, and a 7th place finish last year.
6. Stewart Friesen (Previous Rank: 7):
It was a hard fought 2nd place finish, trying to reel in Godown. Friesen had a strong night on the high banks, winning heat 2 over Williamson. Friesen, the defending winner at Can Am from 2021 will be looking to do one spot better after being runner-up at Bridgeport.
7. Larry Wight (Previous Rank: 6):
Larry Wight was not in attendance at Bridgeport. Wight had a podium finish last season, coming home in 3rd. In 2019 Wight had a strong top 10, coming home in 6th.
8. Jack Lehner (Previous Rank: 10):
Lehner continues to show strides of speed and strength, and he did just that at Bridgeport. The “Ginga Ninja” would finish 3rd in his heat behind Friesen and Williamson, and just ahead of Gular and Perrego. Lehner would start 5th in the 75 lapper, and would fall back to 11th, but still an impressive run for the young hot shoe. Lehner finished 12th last season and 16th in 2019 at Can Am, he will be eager to crack that top 10.
9. Mike Mahaney (Previous Rank: 9):
It wasn’t Mahaney’s day at Bridgeport, coming through the Last Chance Showdown in 2nd behind Phelps. He would start 22nd and finish the night in 20th. In the last two visits to Can Am, Mahaney has finished 8th in both his starts.
10. Marc Johnson (Previous Rank: Unranked):
For Marc Johnson, he’s been known to be a wheelman, and is showing that at multiple tracks. Johnson would finish 3rd in his heat behind Ryan Krachun and Peter Britten. Johnson would start 3rd for the main event, but would fall back to 14th by race end. Johnson did have a top 5 at Volusia, and Johnson has already claimed a win at Lebanon Valley. Keep an eye on Johnson as things heat up this season.
On the Radar:
Billy Decker: Billy Decker was the Hard Charger of the race at Bridgeport. “The Franklin Flyer” would come through the Last Chance Showdown and start 24th to finish 9th in the 75 lapper. Decker had a 4th place run in 2021 to his credit at Can-Am.