Column: Super DIRTcar Series ‘Powers’ Into New Egypt For ’25 Title Opener This Saturday
Column By: MIKE WARREN / SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES – NEW EGYPT, NJ – A battle in New Jersey kicks off the chase for the most prestigious championship in Big Block Modified racing.
The Super DIRTcar Series travels to New Egypt Speedway in New Egypt, NJ, on Saturday, March 29, for the Power in the Pines. Nineteen full-time Series drivers will try to outduel New Jersey’s best for a $7,500 prize in the 75-lap race.
Joining the Beasts of the Northeast on the program will be the track’s Sportsman and 4-cylinder divisions.
Here are the key storylines to watch at New Egypt:
The Title Defense Begins: Mat Williamson outdueled Matt Sheppard to earn his second Super DIRTcar Series title last November and will begin his title defense this weekend at New Egypt.
Despite his success with the Series, it may be an uphill climb for the St. Catherines, ON driver. He only has one top 10 (seventh) in three starts at the track, coming during last year’s Power in the Pines.
It’s also the first time Williamson has entered the championship season without a victory since 2021 after going winless at DIRTcar Nationals. However, he did earn three top fives and four top 10s, showing the Buzz Chew Racing No. 88 team has maintained the consistency that helped them win a title in 2024.
A Super History: Matt Sheppard begins his quest for an 11th championship on Saturday at New Egypt – a place he’s reached Victory Lane on multiple occasions.
The Waterloo, NY driver has three Super DIRTcar Series wins at the track (2005, 2007, 2014) and currently sits 12th on the track’s all-time wins list with 13 Modified triumphs. Along with the victories, he earned the 2007 track championship at New Egypt, driving the Randy Ross-owned No. 44.
“Super Matt’s” quest for an 11th title is joined by his chase for 100 Series wins. He enters the weekend with 98 victories – two away from joining Brett Hearn as the only drivers to reach 100 Series triumphs.
Ant’s Marching Forward: The last time the Super DIRTcar Series battled in a points-paying event, Anthony Perrego stood in Victory Lane at The Dirt Track at Charlotte during the World of Outlaws World Finals. He’s also the defending winner of Power in the Pines, stealing the victory away from Darren Smith as they took the white flag last season.
Perrego is coming off his best Super DIRTcar Series season, finishing third in points with two wins, 10 top fives, and 15 top 10s. Along with his win last year, he added a victory at New Egypt in the Dirty Jersey event in 2021. In 10 starts at the track, the “Ant-Man” has six top fives and seven top 10s.
Aiming For Redemption: No Super DIRTcar Series driver has been better than Darren Smith in New Jersey over the past two seasons.
The Binghamton, NY driver is the only driver to finish in the top five in those two races, finishing fifth at Bridgeport Motorsports Park in 2023 and second at New Egypt in 2024 – his best Series result. He also led a combined 96 laps in those two events.
The Jersey Boys: When the Super DIRTcar Series heads to New Jersey, a stout field of regional competitors awaits. But this time, one of New Jersey’s own will start his first season as a full-time Series driver.
Matt Stangle, from Neshanic Station, NJ, will battle for MD3 Rookie of the Year honors this season and has already earned a Series podium. He narrowly missed out on a win at Bridgeport in 2023, finishing second to Williamson by 0.056 seconds.
Stangle has reached Victory Lane in his career at New Egypt, winning a regular Saturday night Feature in 2018.
Another driver to keep an eye on from the Garden State is former Super DIRTcar Series regular Ryan Godown. The Ringoes, NJ competitor is the six-time defending champion at the facility and sits second on the track’s all-time wins list with 60 victories.
Godown has already reached Super DIRTcar Series Victory Lane, scoring a win at Bridgeport in 2022.
Kid Rocket and Stew: Two drivers making their highly anticipated return to Super DIRTcar Series action this weekend at New Egypt are Alex Yankowski and Stewart Friesen.
Yankowski got off to a fast start in 2025, earning a victory at Volusia Speedway Park and becoming this year’s “Big Gator” winner at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. “Kid Rocket” has three career Super DIRTcar Series wins and aims for his first win at New Egypt after finishing third in last year’s Dirty Jersey event.
Friesen, meanwhile, is also off to a fast start in 2025 despite going winless in two Super DIRTcar Series starts. The NASCAR Craftsman Trucks star has four Modified wins this season, including three at All-Tech Raceway and a win last Saturday at Bridgeport.
At New Egypt, Friesen earned a Race of Champions Series win in 2012, a second with the Super DIRTcar Series in 2013, and back-to-back podiums in the last two seasons with the Short Track Super Series. The defending Billy Whittaker Cars 200 winner has two career wins at the track.
