Mat Williamson Is Now Two-For-Two In Big Block Mod Action At Sharon In ’23; Wins Wednesday
Story By: MIKE LEONE / SHARON SPEEDWAY – HARTFORD, OH – After winning his career first Sharon Speedway race on July 8 for the $2,500 “Lou Blaney Memorial” with the BRP Tour Series, Mat Williamson returned on Wednesday night and made the three hour plus tow worthwhile.
Dropping back to sixth early on in the 25-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply feature, Williamson charged to the front on the outside and passed fellow Northeast DIRTcar standout Erick Rudolph on lap 22 then pulled away to make it two-for-two in Big-Block Modified competition this season.
Williamson earned $2,000 for his 199th career win in the caution-free event timed in 7:38.176.
“It’s a ton of fun coming down here to race,” acknowledged the 33-year-old Ridgeway, Ontario professional racer. “I wish we had more tracks like this up north. You fans are really lucky to have tracks like this down here. You fans are the best in the world and I love coming down here. The top came around to me. The beginning of the race I got passed by a few people on the bottom. I didn’t want to give up on the top because I knew I wasn’t going to win if I stuck to the bottom so I kept beating the cushion up and she came in about 15 laps into the race.”
Rick Regalski, Jr. raced out to the early lead in search of his first career Big-Block Modified victory. Regalski, who also runs a RUSH Sprint Car, led the first five laps before Rudolph snuck under in turn three for the lead on lap six. While the top five were all running the bottom, Williamson stuck it out on the top and eventually cleaned it off and made headway.
Williamson passed both Will Thomas III and last Saturday night’s winner Rex King, Jr. on lap 12 to move into fourth. Williamson then snuck under Garrett Krummert for third on lap 13 before driving around Regalski for second off turn two on lap 15.
By the time Williamson made his way to second, he faced a deficit of 2.291 seconds with just 10 laps remaining. Williamson continued to run the top as he chewed into Rudolph’s lead and closed in with five laps to go. With Rudolph running the bottom, Williamson drove around the New York star in turn four to lead lap 22.
Once in front, Williamson pulled away in his S&W Service Centre/Becker Bros. Trucking/Marin Drywall/Williamson Welding/Bicknell Racing Products-sponsored #6 to become the first repeat Big-Block Modified winner of the season.
Rudolph earned $1,200 for second. Krummert, who started eighth, passed Regalski on lap 21 to finish third. Regalski dropped to fourth over King.
Mike Kinney was sixth as Jim Rasey, Mike Dougherty, Jr., Justin Shea, and Ayden Cipriano completed the top 10. Heat winners were Regalski and Rudolph.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds (25 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. 6-MAT WILLIAMSON[5]; 2. 25-Erick Rudolph[2]; 3. 29-Garrett Krummert[8]; 4. 13-Rick Regalski Jr[1]; 5. 165-Rex King Jr[3]; 6. 20P-Mike Kinney[4]; 7. 32-Jim Rasey[7]; 8. 18JR-Mike Dougherty Jr[9]; 9. 14S-Justin Shea[11]; 10. 5C-Ayden Cipriano[6]; 11. 9-Will Thomas[10]; 12. 11R-Brad Rapp[14]; 13. 45-Steve Feder[12]; 14. 35-Steve Slater[16]; 15. 5A-Austin Eyler[13]; 16. 00-Rob Kristyak[15].
