Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – CONCORD, NC – In any Super DIRTcar Series race, making it into the feature redraw can either make or break how you strategize for the main event.
If you qualify for it, drawing a good number can help in your quest for the big payday. However, you usually have 75 laps or more to make it happen.
This past week at the Dirt Track at Charlotte, drivers had at the most 40 laps to get the job done so drawing a good number for the features was key.
During Saturday evening’s 40-lap finale, the draw bit Mat Williamson who picked the number 8 but was able to get his Buzz Chew Chevrolet #88 to third at the finish.
Unfortunately for Williamson, though, he and his team had to make a decision before the main that probably hurt his chances at the win.
“We had to do what we had to do because of the redraw,” Williamson said. “Starting eighth, you have to fly. You can’t really go with a harder tire and give up the early laps of the feature.”
That’s what Williamson did. His car moved through the field extremely quickly early in Saturday’s main event, getting as high as third and challenging Jimmy Phelps for the runner-up spot just passed halfway.
However, the St. Catherines, ONT driver believes his car began to fall off as the race went on.
“I think at the end, we were just kind of hanging on,” he said. “I don’t believe we had anything for Jimmy or Matt (Sheppard) but to come out of Charlotte with three top three finishes says a lot about this team. I really have to thank them for that.”
Early in the event, it looked like Williamson might have been able to get to battle Sheppard for the top spot. As quickly has his car drove through the field, it appeared as though the #88 was on his way to a possible run at the $15,000 first place check, but alas, it was not to be.
“Our car fired off really good,” he said. “I knew I would be struggling at the end as good as it fired.”
Last year, Williamson walked out of the Dirt Track at Charlotte with two victories. While he didn’t grace victory lane this season, he still loves the track.
“It’s always fun racing down here,” he said. “I think the track crew did a better job tonight getting it a little racier. We just did what we could with where we started.”
To conclude the 2023 season on the Super DIRTcar Series, while it wasn’t a championship year, Williamson had another banner season for Buzz & Bryon Chew, Ron Ste-Marie and the entire #88 team. They were able to match Sheppard for the most wins on tour with five. They came away second in points on the strength of those victories as well as 14 top 5’s and 18 top 10’s in 20 events.