Story By: MIKE WARREN / DIRTCAR – LAFARGEVILLE, NY – The DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series kicks off a busy September with a weekend doubleheader.
First, the Series stops at Can-Am Speedway in LaFargeville, NY, for the Showdown in September, a 30-lap Feature paying $ 1,500-to-win on Friday, Sept. 6.
Then, drivers will visit Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY, on Saturday, Sept. 7, for the 10th edition of the Sportsman Classic. A $2,500 prize is on the line in a 75-lap Feature.
Joining the DIRTcar Sportsman Series on both nights is the Super DIRTcar Series.
Here’s a look at what to watch for this weekend:
McPherson Leads the Charge: With home track and regional bonus points added to the Series standings, Cody McPherson is the current point leader entering Friday.
The St. Catharines, ON driver won the last event at Ransomville and aims to pad his 38-point lead over Zach Sobotka.
McPherson has more DIRTcar Sportsman Series wins than any other driver (25) and can add a new track to his win total at Can-Am.
He already scored a victory in Central Region competition at Weedsport in June and won the Sportsman Classic in 2022.
Eisele Aims for Three: While McPherson won at Ransomville, Gavin Eisele won the other two championship Series events at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park and Fulton Speedway.
He can add a third at Can-Am, his home track, on Friday. He had 10 top fives in 13 races at the “Nasty Track of the North” in 2024, narrowly missing out on a track championship by 20 points.
Eisele hasn’t finished outside the top three in three championship Series starts. He also earned a runner-up finish at Can-Am in April during a North Region event.
Fear The Beard: Mike Fowler was the driver who beat Eisele and Eric Nier to win the Can-Am track championship.
The Fulton, NY driver finished the season at the 1/2-mile with two wins, six top fives, and 11 top 10s in 13 starts. However, he’s yet to earn a top five finish in three championship Series events.
Fowler enters the weekend seventh in points, 80 points behind McPherson. He finished fifth in last year’s Showdown in September.
Root’s Advantage: While McPherson won the lone Series stop at Weedsport this season, Nick Root is undefeated when the DIRTcar Sportsman race with the Super DIRTcar Series at the track in 2024.
The Geneva, NY driver won the Sportsman Feature at the Heroes Remembered 100 and Hall of Fame 100, gaining momentum heading into Saturday’s Sportsman Classic.
The Brewerton Speedway track champion enters the weekend fourth in the Series standings, 51 points behind McPherson with a top five in three starts.
DIRTcar Sportsman Series Championship Season Schedule:
- Sunday, August 11/Glen Ridge Motorsports Park/Gavin Eisele
- Wednesday, August 14/Fulton Speedway/Gavin Eisele
- Tuesday, August 20/Ransomville Speedway/Cody McPherson
- Friday, Sept. 6/Can-Am Speedway
- Saturday, Sept. 7/Weedsport Speedway
- Saturday, Sept. 14/Land of Legends Raceway
- Friday, September 20/Albany-Saratoga Speedway
- Tuesday, Oct. 8/Brewerton Speedway
- Saturday, October 12/Oswego Speedway
- Saturday, October 19/Brockville Ontario Speedway
- Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 2/ The Dirt Track at Charlotte*
*Denotes Non-Points Paying event