Column: Super DIRTcar Series Vs. The Valley “Bad Boys” Saturday For Mr. DIRT Track USA

Column By: MIKE WARREN / SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES – WEST LEBANON, NY – A Labor Day weekend staple is on tap for the Super DIRTcar Series as it returns to New York’s Capital Region.

The Series visits Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, NY, on Saturday, Aug. 31, for Mr. DIRT Track USA, a 100-lap, $15,500-to-win/$1,000-to-start Feature.

Saturday’s race also locks another driver into the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 (Saturday, Oct. 12), as the fourth guaranteed spot at Super DIRT Week is up for grabs.

Joining the Super DIRTcar Series on Saturday are DIRTcar Pro Stocks, Sportsman, Limited Sportsman, and Super Street Stocks.

Here’s a look at What to Watch For at Lebanon Valley:

Battling For the Lead: Matt Sheppard and Mat Williamson have separated themselves from the rest of the Super DIRTcar Series field entering Labor Day Weekend.

Despite six victories, Williamson trails Sheppard by 34 points going into a track where Sheppard has succeeded.

The 10-time and defending champion has three Series victories in his last 10 starts, including a Mr. DIRT Track USA triumph in 2016 and a King of Spring victory last year. In 33 starts at the track, Sheppard has 13 top fives and 23 top 10s.

Meanwhile, Williamson has three top fives and four top 10s at Lebanon Valley, but he’s yet to reach Victory Lane. However, he finished second to Sheppard in the 2021 King of Spring event.

Home of the Wild Child: If Sheppard or Williamson want to reach Victory Lane, they must beat seven-time Lebanon Valley Speedway track champion Andy Bachetti.

The Sheffield, MA driver has won the last three Mr. DIRT Track USAs, and seven of his eight Series victories have come at “The Valley.”

Bachetti won his seventh track title over the weekend by three points over Brett Haas, who earned five DIRTcar Big Block Modified wins this season.

Other Lebanon Valley drivers to watch at Mr. DIRT Track USA include Kolby Schroder, who earned a victory earlier this month, and Marc Johnson, whose best Series finish at the track is second during the King of Spring in 2022.

A Super Opportunity: It isn’t just a $15,500 winner’s purse on the line Saturday night.

This year’s Mr. DIRT Track USA will be the fourth opportunity for drivers to earn a guaranteed starting spot at Super DIRT Week 52.

Stewart Friesen, Jimmy Phelps, and Sheppard have already punched their ticket into the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at Oswego Speedway.

If one of those three drivers wins Mr. DIRT Track USA on Saturday, the guaranteed starting spot will go to the next highest finisher who isn’t locked into “Racing’s Biggest Party.”

High Banked House Call: Over the past five Super DIRTcar Series races, only two drivers have five consecutive top 11 finishes.

Along with Sheppard, Danny Johnson has been on a consistent streak since the opening night of King of the North at Autodrome Drummond.

Like Ransomville, Johnson returns to a track where he’s had success in his career. In 57 starts at Lebanon Valley, “The Doctor” has five wins, 22 top fives, and 29 top 10s. Three of those victories are Super DIRTcar Series triumphs, including Mr. DIRT Track USA wins in 1987 and 1997.

Johnson is searching for his first Series win since 2018.

Getting Experience: Three drivers went to Lebanon Valley over the weekend to get experience before Saturday’s Mr. DIRT Track USA.

Joining Phelps were Rookie of the Year contender Mike Trautschold and 2024 SummerFAST champion Alex Yankowski.

Yankowski earned the best finish in the 30-lap Feature, crossing the line 10th.

Phelps has made 24 Series starts at Lebanon Valley, knocking on the door to Victory Lane twice with runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2012. Yankowski, meanwhile, has made three Series starts at the track. His best finish was a seventh in last year’s King of Spring.

Trautschold has attempted to qualify twice in Series events at Lebanon Valley but hasn’t made a start in his No. 28.