RPW Exclusive: Phelps & HBR Close; Lehner Enjoys First New Egypt Visit; Schilling Runs Well In Super DIRTcar ’24 Opener

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – NEW EGYPT, NJ – Jimmy Phelps feels his team is almost there to compete for his first Super DIRTcar Series title in 2024.

He showcased it during the DIRTcar Nationals in Florida where he was quick early in the night and garnered two top 5’s in the three races at Volusia.

That was backed up on Saturday at New Egypt where the HBR driver was near the front in hot laps, time trials, won his heat race and came home with a solid top 10 finish.

However, he knows his team still has work to do.

“I think we’re close,” Phelps said. “All-in-all, I believe we’ve got a good package. I’m excited about our speed so far this year and am looking forward to getting the season started at the tracks up north.”

Saturday in the Power In The Pines 75-lap Series race, a light mist just before the main event plus dusty track conditions made things a little difficult for Phelps.

“It was brutal,” he said. “It made things very challenging. We moved around a bunch during the feature to try and find the right lane. I feel we had a good car, with good overall speed, but just misjudged how the track would gain speed after the sun went down.”

The decision has left Phelps rethinking how he should have tackled the New Egypt track.

“If we had it to do over again, we definitely would have gone a different direction with our adjustments,” he said. “We tightened the car up too much in hindsight. After it rained a bit, the track seemed to have a lot more grip. That kind of hurt our corner speed.”

Moving forward, though, the Lysander, NY driver is excited for the next tour event at Can-Am on April 13th.

“I think we have shown that we’re on the right track so far this year,” he said. “Al (Heinke) gives us everything we need and we’re putting it to good use right now. We just have to keep digging as we’re always learning. Even those who win championships are learning how to get better and right now I think we’re showing we’re heading in the right direction.”

How’d Jack Lehner Like His First Trip To New Egypt…

Jack Lehner had never made a competitive lap around the New Egypt Speedway before Saturday evening’s race.

Lehner, who’s still searching for that coveted first career Super DIRTcar Series win, just missed out on the redraw but was solid in his heat, finishing third.

He started the feature in 11th but didn’t get the result he was looking for at the end of the night, bringing his Benson’s Pet Center #2 home in 20th.

“It’s definitely a tricky place,” Lehner said. “The surface wasn’t the best but it was much better than on Friday night during the practice session.”

What was the biggest challenge Lehner faced on Saturday night in the main event?

“It felt like it was hard to make up any ground,” he said. “Everyone was using the whole track. That made it hard to get a run on anyone anywhere on the track.”

Lehner believes his car could have been better Saturday.

“We weren’t that good,” he said. “We probably could have gotten to 10th until we got run over on a restart. But, there’s always the next race.”

David Schilling Thrills From 17th Saturday…

There were a lot of firsts for David Schilling on Saturday at New Egypt Speedway.

“This was the first time with a Big Block and first with the DKM Fabrication Cyclone Chassis,” Schilling said. “Once the driver figured things out, it turned into a great night.”

Schilling qualified through his heat race for the 75-lap Super DIRTcar Series lid-lifter and proceeded to drive forward during the feature, coming home 11th at the end.

This wasn’t his first time at New Egypt Speedway to compete, but was the first on Hoosier tires.

“I don’t think the difference in tires was an issue,” he said. “The surface was, though, and that played a role but I’m glad we were able to run well.”