Column: Rebuilding His Racing Program Paid Off For First-Time Super DIRTcar Series Winner Chris Hile
News Director 
Column By: MICHELINA FRISS / DIRTCAR – WEEDSPORT, NY – Chris Hile climbed from his #5H Big Block Modified at Albany-Saratoga Speedway with the biggest smile of his career, waving the checkered flag to a roar of cheering fans around him. He, and everyone else, knew his hard work hard work had finally paid off.
The Syracuse, NY native scored his first Series win at Albany-Saratoga on June 13 in his 78th career start.
“To get a win like we did at Albany-Saratoga, at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about,” Hile said. “All the hours and time and effort that you put in with your crew and family and friends, it just kind of comes to a big culmination and a huge boost for everybody mentality-wise to keep pushing forward and try to do all the things right and keep rolling that wave of momentum.”
Hile joined the Super DIRTcar Series full-time in 2021, ending the season with four top-five finishes, seven top 10s and the Rookie of the Year honors. But winless. Wanting to be on the same level as champions like Matt Sheppard and Mat Williamson, decided to return to weekly racing in 2022 to build up his program for a 2023 Series return.
“The Super DIRTcar Series is one thing that will really test your drive and ambition to want to well,” Hile said. “When you unload and there’s 45 cars there, 29 of them can win that race at any point, you really have to up your game. There’s fine details and things you can get away with on a 35-lap show on a weekend…there’s an extra layer of attention to detail that we try to carry in the shop, especially following the Series…you really try to make sure your car is top notch and make sure your trailer is outfitted correctly.”
It didn’t take long for his year of prep to prove successful with his Albany-Saratoga win coming four races into his sophomore season. On top of that, he currently sits fifth in points – only 49 points behind leader Matt Sheppard – with his win, two top fives and three top 10s.
Now, he’ll look to ride that momentum into the rest of the 2023 season, starting at Land of Legends Raceway on July 3 and Orange County Fair Speedway on July 5, when the Series returns to finish the postponed Feature.
Hile has already found success at Land of Legends, having won a Big Block Modified track event in 2020 and scored a top-10 finish with the Super DIRTcar Series there in 2021. He’ll look to add to that success with another night of climbing out of his car with the biggest smile of his career and a roar of cheering fans around him.
“You have to unload well,” Hile said. “If you unload well and then time well, that’s half your battle. We just try to work hard in the shop and make sure stuff is right and hopefully when we go there (Land of Legends), we unload good and maybe we can draw a one and do it again.”
The Super DIRTcar Series travels to Land of Legends Raceway on Monday, July 3, for a 70-lap, $7,500-to-win, showcase followed by a return to Orange County Fair Speedway on Wednesday, July 5 for a 75-lap, $7,500-to-win, showcase.
