Column By: STEPHEN DURHAM / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Matt Sheppard is the first repeat winner of the 2022 season, picking up a win back in early May at Can-Am and now Big Diamond.
The Super DIRTcar Series heads to a very familiar track for Sheppard, where possibly he could grab a third win at Orange County Fair Speedway. Williamson had a consistent, quick top 10 run, keeping him in the hunt for the title. McLaughlin will be eager to get redemption to put him closer to the top of the championship standings after a DNF.
The legendary Brett Hearn returns to racing action and could play spoiler, and so could for so many others like Ryan Godown, Dillon Steuer, and many more. Here are the Super Dirt Series rankings as they head to Orange County Fair Speedway.
1: Matt Sheppard (Previous Rank: 2):
Sheppard was back in victory lane with the Super DIRTcar Series at Big Diamond. It is his second win of the season, winning at Can-Am earlier in the season. Sheppard won his heat race, and would redraw stating position number 3. Sheppard will be eager to continue his winning ways, at his Saturday night home of Orange County Fair Speedway, where he has 5 weekly wins so far in 2022. In recent visits, Sheppard finished 3rd after starting 16th last year, and won in 2019 for the Battle of the Midway.
2: Mat Williamson (Previous Rank: 3):
It was a steady night for Mat Williamson, winning his heat race over a field made of mostly weekly regulars. Williamson would redraw the 9th starting position. Williamson sits 32 points behind Sheppard, the current points leading heading to OCFS. In the recent two visits, Williamson finished 4th last year and 9th in 2021.
3: Max McLaughlin(Previous Rank: 1):
It was not the night McLaughlin was hoping for, getting involved in a wreck early on, ending his night prematurely, with a 27th place finish. It will be a welcoming sight for McLaughlin as the SDS series heads to his weekly hometrack for Saturday nights. In 2021, McLaughlin finished 5th in the most recent for the Super DiRTcar Series. Expect Max to turn things around and begin to heat up again.
4: Stewart Friesen (Previous Rank: 4):
Another stellar run for Friesen, coming home in second behind Sheppard. Friesen would win his heat race and would redraw 7th. Frisen won the most recent series race for the Super DIRTcar series back in 2021. They also head to Weedsport this weekend, where Friesen won back on Memorial Day weekend.
5: Jimmy Phelps (Previous Rank: 5):
It was a steady finish for Phelps, coming home in 15th after starting in 17th. The Hard Clay hasn’t been the kindest to Phelps, finishing 25th in 2021 and 10th back in 2019.
6: Marc Johnson (Previous Rank: 7):
Johnson continues to show speed and strength each time the Super DIRTcar Series heads out to a track, coming home in 11th at Big Diamond. Johnson didn’t race in recent visits to Orange County, but is no stranger to new places like Orange County.
7: Anthony Perrego (Previous Rank: 8):
It has been a strong start to the season for Perrego, currently 3rd in points, 51 points out of the lead. Perrego currently has 4 wins this season on Saturday nights while running at OCFS as his hometrack. In 2021, AP finished 15th for the Battle of the Midday, and finished 24th back back in 2019. Expect AP to keep the momentum up and to continue to make moves.
8: Peter Britten (Previous Rank: 6):
Was a strong start to the night for Britten capturing him in his heat race and would redraw 5th for his starting position. Britten finished 7th back in 2019.
9: Jack Lehner (Previous Rank: 9):
It was a steady night for Lehner, coming home in 13th at the end of the night. Lehner currently sits in the 9th position in the standings ahead of OCFS. In the most recent 2 visits, OCFS hasn’t been kind to them . Two DNFS have plagued the young hotshoe.
10: Alex Yankowski (Previous Rank: Unranked):
The youngest full time driver on the Super DIRTCar series has been showing consistency and speed.Yankowski picked up a win last November at Charlotte, and is eager to find wins anyway possible.
On the Radar:
– Ryan Godown: A winner already on the Super DIRTcar Series on the 2022 back in May at Bridgeport speedway. With strong runs on different series and tracks, Godown will continue to be a favorite to potentially upset the powerhouse names invading Orange County.
– OCFS Regulars: Many weekly regulars at Orange County Fair Speedway will prepare to fight against the powerhouse names on the series such as Sheppard, Williamson, and more. Driers that compete weekly who you need to keep an eye on are Mike Gular, Jimmy Horton, Dillon Steuer, and more.