RPW Exclusive: Mat Williamson’s First Super DIRTcar Series Title Was Unexpected; The Second Wasn’t

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – SYRACUSE, NY – In 2019, Mat Williamson won the Super DIRTcar Series championship.  It was his first career Series title in his first year with the Buzz Chew Racing Team.

By his own accord, that championship was a surprise.  Since then, though, another was not just desired but, in his words, it was expected.

“That first year, we just hoped to be in contention,” Williamson said.  “We were shooting for a top three.  We wanted at least a top five and to maybe be in contention for some race wins.  We ended up winning it.  Since then, we wanted to get back to the top of the mountain.  We expected it out of ourselves.”

In 2024, Williamson delivered.

“Since we got the first championship, our hopes have been high,” he said.  “We knew we were capable of winning the title again.  To come out here and compete with Matt (Sheppard) and that entire 9 team, those guys set the bar really high but Buzz (Chew, car owner) set our bar even higher.”

Setting even loftier goals proved to be perfect for Williamson and the 88 team as they captured eight Series points-paying victories (most of any driver & nine including one at the DIRTcar Nationals) and only finished outside the top 10 on two occasions.

“We just go out each time to try and win,” he said.  “You hope that the good runs you have turn into a championship formula.  Fortunately for us, this year, that’s what happened.”

That formula is the primary reason the driver they call “Money Mat” covets this year’s title so much.  Being a Super DIRTcar Series champion means a great deal.

“There’s a reason why, when we go to Charlotte for World Finals, they run the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, Late Models and the Big Block Modifieds,” he said.  “This Series is up there in this country as one of the best in the United States.  Matt set the bar really high for many years and hopefully we can compete at this high level again next year.”

This season wasn’t a cake walk for Williamson, however.  Even though he had the most wins, he still had one misfortune, an engine issue at Weedsport Speedway on July 14th which resulted in a 23rd place finish.  That, coupled with a ninth by Sheppard on that evening, left the Buzz Chew team playing catch up.

They went into the final weekend of racing at Charlotte in November down by 15 points to Super Matt.  However, the tides turned when the 9s endured engine trouble and gave the lead back to Williamson.

“Charlotte was a bag of emotions for sure,” he said.  “Matt (Sheppard) is like a juggernaut.  It’s like the Bills against the Patriots when I was a kid.  It felt like we couldn’t win those games and Charlotte was the same feeling.  Obviously, Matt had some bad luck down there but we had some bad luck early in the year.  It all worked itself out.”

For Williamson, though, it was 100% offense that final weekend of action.

“He went down there with everything to lose and we had everything to win,” he said.  “Our goal was to just go down there and win races and let things fall where they may.  It turned out where we were leading the points going into Friday and I didn’t like it.”

That ended up changing the team’s mindset.

“I don’t ever get emotional in a race car,” he said.  “I don’t get nervous in the car.  If you go out and win the race, it’s cool.  If you go out and run 18th, it is what it is.  You pick yourself up and go on to the next one but I got a little on edge Friday because we had everything to lose.  That sets up your Saturday for the finale but hats off to my whole team.  They got it done.”

The other cool deal for Williamson is that with his victories in 2024, he now sits ninth on the all-time Super DIRTcar Series wins list, tied with the legendary Jumpin’ Jack Johnson.

“Honestly, that’s unbelievable,” he said.  “We just wanted to get one win.  That one came with my own stuff.  Then the second was at Charlotte and now they seem like they come a little bit easier.  However, that’s no where near the case.”

Williamson doesn’t take any victory he gets for granted.

“This field is tough,” he said.  “Any of the Series regular can win but we also go to some places where the regulars are tough too.  To win on the Super DIRTcar Series is a huge deal.”

Williamson’s success this season wasn’t just confined to the Super DIRTcar Series.  The St. Catherines, ONT driver also took home the big hardware from the Land of Legends Raceway in 2024, capturing his first career track championship in his maiden voyage at the Canandaigua, NY track.

“It’s funny because that place is somewhere we figured we’d go and run in the top 15,” he said.  “It was a big thorn in my side.  We’d go there and think we had it down pat and then find out we had a lot to learn.  That’s a tough place to figure out.”

He got the job done in 2024 against the likes of Matt Sheppard, Peter Britten, Alex and Zach Payne and defending champion Justin Haers.

“Paul (Cole) has a great facility and it was fun to race there this year,” he said.  “Fortunately, we turn that into a championship but it’s a tough, tough deal to race there weekly on Saturday nights.  The competition is so strong.”

Mat knows this championship wasn’t won by himself alone.  It takes a total team effort, and Williamson is grateful for piece to the Buzz Chew Racing team’s puzzle.

“There’s a whole bunch of guys who do a whole hell of a lot for this race team,” he said.  “We really miss Scotty (Bugdin, part of the team who passed away this year).  He was a big part of our racing and we miss him.  I also have to thank my car owners.  Buzz, Bryan, Marilyn, Lisa and everyone on the Buzz Chew team that makes it happen.”

It didn’t stop at the Super DIRTcar Series team for Williamson.

“I also have to remember and thank each and every team that I drive for, he said.  “From Jeff and Harry with the Behrents 3 to Pete and Paul with the CW6 as well as Wayne, Rob, and Randal with our S&W car, I’m pretty lucky that I get to go to these races with such great car owners.”

Williamson said he can’t forget the team members that helped him get to this point.

“My crew is second-to-none,” he said.  “A lot of them have full-time jobs and still make it to all of these races.  Without them, we wouldn’t be as successful.  I am also grateful for all of our amazing sponsors that support the 88 and all of our teams as well as my family for their love and encouragement.  My mom, dad and my wife, Natalie, have always been behind everything I do and truly are no. 1 for me.”

Now, the 88 team’s focus shifts to 2025 where, once again, their expectations are to visit victory lane on multiple occasions and secure their third Super DIRTcar Series title.

They know they won’t be able to sneak up on anyone anymore.  They’re a favorite at any track they pull into and that’s just fine with Williamson.

He’s ready, and he wants more.