Column By: MIKE WARREN / SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES – WEEDSPORT, NY – Before the Super DIRTcar Series returns to action on Memorial Day Weekend, Series competitors will begin their hunt for Big Block Modified Track Championships.
Fans can see them chase titles weekly at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Brewerton Speedway, and Land of Legends Raceway.
Weedsport Speedway will also hold six Big Block Modified races throughout the season, including three Super DIRTcar Series events.
Here’s a look at what to watch for at these tracks in 2024:
Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Albany-Saratoga Speedway will kick off the 2024 DIRTcar Northeast campaign with a $3,000-to-win DIRTcar Big Block Modified event on Friday, April 19.
Six Super DIRTcar Series regulars will call “The Great Race Place” home in 2024, with four aiming to become the eighth different champion in as many years.
Mike Mahaney (2020) and Peter Britten (2017) have already won a championship, but Jack Lehner, C.G. Morey, Adam Pierson, and Justin Stone look to add their names to the list of champions this season.
Those six drivers will try to dethrone defending champion Demetrios Drellos and fend off the challenges from former track champions Marc Johnson and Matt Delorenzo.
The Super DIRTcar Series will make two stops at Albany-Saratoga in 2024. The first is on Tuesday, June 25, for the Don Davies New York Modifieds 76. Then, the Series returns on Saturday, Sept. 21, during the Malta Massive Weekend.
Brewerton Speedway
Fresh off his first track championship at Brewerton Speedway, Tim Sears Jr. will return to defend his title in 2024.
The Hastings, NY driver bested Larry Wight, who won the title in 2019 by 24 points. Both must contend with five-time Brewerton Speedway track champion Jimmy Phelps to earn a second championship.
Darren Smith and Matt Caprara will join the three drivers on Friday nights at “The D-Shaped Dirt Demon.”
Brewerton opens its 2024 season on Friday, May 3.
The Super DIRTcar Series makes its lone stop at Brewerton during SummerFAST on Monday, Aug. 11, kicking off the three-night mini-Series for the third straight year.
Land of Legends Raceway
Like Brewerton, Land of Legends Raceway will have five Super DIRTcar Series regulars in the field every Saturday night.
Britten, Alex Payne, Daniel Johnson, and Marcus Dinkins will return to the Canandaigua oval as they search for their first champion. However, they’ll be joined by a newcomer in 2024, as 2019 Series champion Mat Williamson will make Land of Legends his Saturday night home this season.
Those five drivers will be chasing three-time and reigning track champion Justin Haers for the title, along with former Super DIRTcar Series champions Danny and Alan Johnson.
Land of Legends kicks off 2024 with their 71st season opener on Saturday, April 27.
The Super DIRTcar Series visits Land of Legends twice in 2024, opening with the Stars and Stripes Spectacular on July 4. Then, the Series returns for the second night of SummerFAST on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
Weedsport Speedway
Weedsport Speedway will hold six Big Block Modified Races in 2024, starting with the Heroes Remembered 100 on Sunday, May 26.
In four races in 2023, 10-time and defending Series champion Matt Sheppard and Williamson each earned two victories, with Williamson scoring two Super DIRTcar Series triumphs.
After the Heroes Remembered 100, the Super DIRTcar Series returns twice. First, on Sunday, July 14, for the Hall of Fame 100, and then on Saturday, Sept. 7, to kick off the Cavalcade Cup Weekend.
Fans can expect to see several Series regulars compete at the Weedsport, NY oval throughout the season, including on Sunday, July 28, with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.
Lebanon Valley Speedway will host DIRTcar Big Block Modified action on Saturday nights. However, none of the Super DIRTcar Series regulars plan to make the track their home this season, giving track regulars a true home-track advantage when the Series visits for Mr. DIRT Track USA on Saturday, Aug. 30.
After six weeks of weekly racing, the Super DIRTcar Series returns to action with a Memorial Day Weekend doubleheader. First, the Series stops at Weedsport Speedway for the Heroes Remembered 100 on Sunday, May 26.
Then, the Super DIRTcar Series finishes the weekend with its debut at Thunder Mountain Speedway for Thunder on the Mountain on Monday, May 27.