Column By: DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – FULTONVILLE, NY – Billy Dunn took the lead from pole-sitter Mat Williamson on lap 39 to come away with the first ever DIRTcar 358-Modified Series race at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park.
The pass for the lead that Dunn pulled on Williamson is a classic example of what happens when cars get into lap traffic.
“He got leader-screwed in traffic,” Dunn said of the pass. “We’ve all been there. To beat Mat is awesome. I’ve lost races like that. It’s nice to get one like that with this group of cars here. It’s about a 358 (modified) field as you’re gonna get so it’s nice.”
The win, while a nice one for Dunn, reinforces that he’s still a top talent in the northeast despite his troubles in 2023. He is winless at Can-Am speedway his home track where he has been hard to beat the last decade.
“We haven’t won in about a month.” He said. “It lets you know that you can still do it. We had the lead last night and finished fourth. Haven’t been good at Can-Am as we should. It’s a confidence booster for my guys. We all work really hard without getting much out of it other than the satisfaction of a good run.”
For never having held a 358 DirtCar series race at Glen Ridge the field did not disappoint, it was splattered with regulars as well as invaders to make up an almost 50 car field for the first event. The drivers had nothing but praise
“This track is awesome.” Billy Said. “It’s real racy. It took some rubber at the end. I hope they keep having 358 races here. I wish I could visit this place more often, I like it.”
The fans, the cars, the drivers all made Glen Ridge’s first ever Modified series race a special one and gave one of the best northeast small block drivers a huge confidence boost.