Column By: STEPHEN DURHAM / RPW – WEEDSPORT, NY – It has been nearly a month since the Super DIRTcar Series has run its full program, as rain ended the night early at Orange County Fair Speedway earlier this month.
The series will now enter its busy months of the schedule, first with back to back nights of racing this Sunday at Weedsport Speedway and on Memorial Day Monday at Lebanon Valley Speedway.
Mat Williamson will look to continue his winning ways this busy weekend and start to grow an early points lead. Sheppard will look to get into victory lane for the first time with the series in 2023.
Who will win at Lebanon Valley Speedway, will it be a Super DIRTcar Series star, or will the Lebanon regulars continue to defend their turf like they did in 2022?
Here is how things shape up with the Super DIRTcar Series Power Rankings heading into Memorial Day Weekend.
1) Mat Williamson (Previous Rank: 2):
Williamson never skips a beat, and continues to keep the momentum he had going from the 2022 season. Williamson ended 2022 with a win at Charlotte, and started it off with two wins at Volusia, and the regular season now underway, another win at Bridgeport. The series heads into Memorial Day weekend, where last year Williamson finished 9th at Weedsport, followed up by a 4th place finish at the Lebanon Valley.
2) Matt Sheppard (Previous Rank: 1):
Sheppard did get the heat race win at Bridgeport and pulled the 1 pill to start shotgun on the field. Sheppard would eventually fall back and bring home a stronger finish in 7th this time around at Bridgeport, compared to last year’s DNF result. Sheppard will look to build the momentum into the summer months at Weedsport where he finished 4th, but struggled at the High Banks in 14th.
3) Max McLaughlin (Previous Rank: 3):
It was a strong and under the radar type run for McLaughlin, despite the track conditions. McLaughlin started 13th, being the first driver not to qualify for the redraw in heat one. McLaughlin crossed the line in 6th to bring home a strong top 10 finish. McLaughlin. For “Mad-Max” he has had success at Weedsport, winning back in 2020, and has been building his notes for Lebanon Valley. Last Memorial Day Weekend, McLaughlin finished 6th at Weedsport and came home 16th at Lebanon Valley.
4) Peter Britten (Previous Rank: 4):
It wasn’t a friendly night to many drivers at Bridgeport with tough early season track conditions. Britten would retire early and come home 17th on the night. For the “Batman”, he will look to gain momentum this weekend. Last year, Britten brought it home in 14th at Weedsport and would retire early at Lebanon Valley after starting off strong leading the early portion of the race.
5) Anthony Perrego (Previous Rank: 5):
For Perrego, it was a tough night for him, but was able to take advantage of other drivers’ issues of pulling in early with a 15th place finish. For the 2022 Rookie of the Year Driver, Perrego will look to gain confidence heading into the summer months at tracks he found success at last Memorial Day weekend, finishing 13th at Weedsport and a top 10 finish at Lebanon Valley in 9th.
6) Jimmy Phelps (Previous Rank: 6):
It was a steady night for Jimmy Phelps at Bridgeport, coming home in 10th position after starting 4th. Phelps will be hungry in his backyard at Weedsport, where he won last August. Last year on Memorial Day weekend, Phelps brought home a top 10 in 8th position, but struggled at the Valley of Speed, coming home in 17th.
7) Tim Sears Jr (Previous Rank: 8):
For Sears, it is a solid start to the 2023 season, coming home from Bridgeport in 8th place. Sears continues to be a driver flying under the radar and bringing home steady and strong finishes. Last year on Memorial Day Weekend, Sears came home in 11th at Weedsport, but would struggle at Lebanon Valley like many Super DIRTcar Series regulars do.
8) Jack Lehner (Previous Rank: 7):
It was a solid start to the night for “Ginga Ninja”, gaining a heat race win and redrawing the 7th position. Lehner would bring the car home in 14th to get the regular season kicked off. Lehner has been able to find speed at the regular tracks for Memorial Day Weekend, last year coming home with a pair of top 10s, in 10th at Weedsport and finishing 8th at Lebanon Valley, and most recently at Lebanon came home in 7th for Mr Dirt in September.
9) Adam Pierson (Previous Rank: 9):
It was a quiet, but steady night for Pierson and the Adam Gage Motorsports team out of Vermont, coming home in 12th. Weedsport last season was slightly more friendly to Pierson than Lebanon, coming home 15th Memorial Day weekend, and would retire early in last year’s edition of the King of Spring 100. Pierson did grab a heat race win in September at Lebanon, so expect him to build on those notes.
10) Darren Smith (Previous Rank: UR):
For Smith, it was a special night at Bridgeport, recording his best finish with the Super DIRTcar Series in 5th and also setting fast time on the night. Smith led 59 laps of the 75, before eventual winner Williamson got by him in traffic. In his rookie season, Smith had a tough go at Weedsport coming home 22nd and came home 18th at Lebanon Valley, but expect the young driver to carry this Bridgeport speed into this weekend.
On the Radar:
– Mike Mahaney:
It was an early night as well for Mahaney, retiring to save his car for the long season and coming home with a 21st place finish. Mahaney will look to do one spot better at Weedsport after coming home in 2nd last year behind Stewart Friesen and also 2nd behind Phelps in August.
– Stewart Friesen:
Friesen who won’t run the full Super DIRTcar Series schedule as at times will conflict with his NASCAR schedule, will be a likely threat at either tracks this weekend. Friesen grabbed the win last spring at Weedsport and came home 8th at Lebanon Valley. Expect Friesen to be a threat to steal at least one, if not both races.
– Lebanon Valley Regulars:
Lebanon Valley is known by many who have ran the Super DIRTcar Series to be one of the tougher tracks between competition and for getting the perfect combination of setup and motor right. Weekly regulars who will make it tough for the stars of the series are those of multi Mr DIRT winner Andy Bachetti, defending King of Spring LJ Lombardo, Brett Haas, Kenny Tremont, Marc Johnson, and many others there.