Column: Ronnie Davis III Eager To Build Notebook In Freshman Super DIRTcar Series Season

Column By: MICHELINA FRISS / DIRTCAR – MALTA, NY – Ronnie Davis III entered 2023 eager for the biggest challenge of his career – running full-time with the Super DIRTcar Series.

For the Syracuse, NY driver, it’s a dream come true. There was no hesitation when long-time sponsor Syracuse Haulers approached him with the idea of joining the tour for his rookie year – which continues at Albany-Saratoga Speedway (Tuesday, June 13) and Airborne Speedway (Wednesday, June 14).

“Even when I was racing Sportsman, my goal was to race the Super DIRTcar Series,” Davis said. “It was so prestigious, and it really is now, still. I think it may be even more since I’ve started racing. It was kind of a dream of mine when I was racing Sportsman cars. To follow the whole Series and be somewhat of a touring class, and go to all these special events, that’s what everybody goes to these special events for, is the Big Blocks.”

Davis cut his teeth in the DIRTcar Sportsmans garnering a plethora of success in the division. He scored five DIRTcar Sportsman Series wins, earned back-to-back runner-up finishes in Series points (2016, 2017), earned track championships at Brewerton Speedway and Fulton Speedway and won at the World Short Track Championship.

With that success came the move to DIRTcar 358 Modifieds – where he’s mainly competed for the last six years. Davis continued to make a name for himself in the division, scoring multiple wins and finishing second in Series points in 2021. He backed that up last year with a fifth-place finish in Series points and second-place finish in track points at Fulton Speedway.

While 2023 is his rookie year with the Super DIRTcar Series, “RD III” has been building Big Block Modified experience the past few years in weekly racing competition and a handful of Super DIRTcar Series starts. He scored his first top-10 finish with the Series in his second start – at Weedsport Speedway in 2019 – and then another at Brewerton Speedway, where’s he captured weekly Big Block wins, in 2021.

He kicked off the 2023 season with a journey to Volusia Speedway Park in February for a non-points event at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. He finished 22nd the first time and then issues kept him out of the next two Features. In the first three races of the championship season, Davis has finished 22nd, 19th and 25th, respectively, taking notes each time as many of the tracks on the tour – like the upcoming Albany-Saratoga Speedway and Airborne Speedway events – are first-time ventures for his with the Series.

“I think just building a notebook is the biggest challenge right now,” Davis said. “Completing these races and saving my equipment until the end, and just trying to be consistent. Getting laps and getting experience under my belt is another big thing that needs to get done right now.”

Even though the change in division and competition level has been an adjustment, Davis still has his sights set upward and has high expectations for himself.

“Consistency is the biggest thing; a top five every track we go to, even wins, everyone wants to win,” he said. “For now, consistency is the biggest thing, I think. Being there and being a contender is what I strive for…a top-10 in points and high finishes is what would make me happy.”

The Super DIRTcar Series travels to Malta, New York to compete at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in a 71-lap, $7,500-to-win, showcase event on Tuesday, June 13. Then, the Series goes north to compete at Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY in a 75-lap, $7,500-to-win, matchup on Wednesday, June 14.