Column By: RYAN LOEFFLER / RPW – MALTA, NY – The Super DIRTcar Series was back at the “Great Race Place” for the second time in 2023 this past weekend, and it proved to be another amazing event at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
With most of the Goliath’s in Big Block Modified racing facing issues throughout the night, Clifton Park, NY’s James Meehan was in a prime position for a career night, and he capitalized.
Meehan ran at Albany-Saratoga at select times throughout the year, finishing 28th in points. However, racing at the speedway for multiple events over the years proved helped to prove that Meehan was no stranger to the ‘Great Race Place,’
He was fourth fastest in Group B of qualifying and following that up with a second in his heat, taking him to the redraw.
Meehan pulled the number four spot and made his way into second in no time, following the 44 of Stewart Friesen.
Friesen went on to lead all 115 laps to take home the $11,500 payday and guaranteed spot for Super DIRT Week, just one week after his big $53,000 Fonda 200 victory.
Meehan held off Felix Roy’s #91 for 80 laps. However, Roy, the 18-year-old rookie from north of the border, was able to get around Meehan’s #32 on his way to a first-career podium finish on the series.
Meehan joined Friesen and Roy on that podium, earning a career-best finish in the process.
“When we come to race, we try to win,” Meehan stated. “However, we’re racing against professionals here. We just built this car this summer and we’ve got a great piece under us.”
James thanks his brother, Patrick, for the work he does on the car which allowed him to run upfront with the best of the business.
“Kevin Enders builds great power,” he said. “I can’t thank everybody enough for all the hard work they do.”
Meehan ran his own race, not worrying about cars like the 9s of Sheppard or 99L of Larry Wight behind him. He focused on clicking off consistent laps and learning from what Friesen and Roy were doing ahead.
Now, the team’s focus looks ahead to Oswego Speedway where they’ll attempt to make the Billy Whitaker Cars 200.
“This is a big deal for us,” he said. “My girlfriend, Sam, is expecting a baby, so right now, we are really happy to get this thing rolling.”
This year’s Malta Massive Weekend plays a pivotal role in the Series point standings. Heading into the night on Saturday, leader Matt Sheppard paced second place Mat Williamson by 97 followed by Tim Sears Jr. sitting three spots in front of Mike Mahaney for third with veteran Jimmy Phelps in fifth.
Williamson and Mahaney dueled on Friday night in the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series 50-lap feature with Williamson taking the win. Mahaney was “pretty happy” with his Big Block after a Friday’s practice sessions while Williamson hoped to be in the hunt for the win and close in on Sheppard Saturday.
It was not all sunshine and rainbows for the top 4 in points in the 115-lap, $11,500-to-win feature event, though.
Mahaney was forced to go to his backup car and start deep in the field. He would later retire from the event early on and lose ground to the point leaders. He would record a DNF and finish 25th.
Williamson suffered a flat tire on lap 42 and his championship hopes seemed to diminish with it. He would rebound for a solid top 10 finish at the end (eighth).
“It was not the night we wanted,” Williamson said. “However, it was a good points night. Now we’re going to some places that I run good at with Oswego and Charlotte. We’ve got a shot at it.”
This looked like a golden opportunity for Sheppard, who was able to make his way up to fourth after starting in 10th. However, fate struck down the defending series champ too as he brought out the caution on lap 90 with a flat tire of his own.
The Savannah, NY driver would return and gain several positions and be credited with 17th at the finish.
Sears Jr. ducked into the pit area multiple times throughout the night but drove his #83x to ninth when the race saw the checkered flag.
Phelps had a solid run all evening bringing his HBR #98H home in seventh.
Now, heading into Super DIRT Week, Sheppard has an 80-point lead on Williamson with Sears third, closely followed by Phelps, who has leapfrogged Mahaney for fourth.