Super DIRT Week Champion Richard Murtaugh to Make Super DIRTcar Series Debut at Volusia
Story By: MIKE WARREN / SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES – BARBERVILLE, FL – After becoming a DIRTcar Sportsman Super DIRT Week champion last year, Richard Murtaugh is ready to take his next big step.
The Fulton, NY driver will drive a Big Block Modified for the first time when the Super DIRTcar Series kicks off its 2026 season at Volusia Speedway Park during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 11-14.
It’s an opportunity that started with a simple phone call prior to Super DIRT Week 53.
“I was at the garage working on the Super DIRT Week car, and I got a phone call from John McPhee,” Murtaugh said. “He said he’s looking for a driver for 2026 to run his Big Block and take over the seat. So, we talked for a while, and I told him I was interested and just needed to get more details.
“As the weeks went on, we talked and figured we’d hit up Volusia and go from there.”
While DIRTcar Nationals will be the first time he’ll officially race McPhee’s No. 22 car, he won’t be getting in the car for the first time at Volusia. Murtaugh is expected to test at All-Tech Speedway following the final night of Dirt Track Digest’s Showdown in the Sunshine State, where he’ll compete in a Sportsman.
Even with little experience, he said he isn’t nervous, but confident.
“We got a good piece under us,” Murtaugh said. “I’ve been doing a lot of research, and I’ve been talking with all the guys at DIG Race Products. We took the car over there, and got it scaled up, went through it, and we’re looking forward to getting to Volusia.”
The four nights with the Super DIRTcar Series at DIRTcar Nationals are the only races Murtaugh has planned with McPhee – for now. He still plans on running a full Sportsman schedule in his family-owned No. 33 car, and will chase another Great Lakes 75 win at Super DIRT Week 54.
However, that doesn’t mean you won’t see him back in the Big Block throughout the season.
“They gave me the opportunity to pick and choose what I wanted to do,” Murtaugh said. “But I told them I was pretty packed in 2026 already with the Sportsman stuff. I’m very dedicated and really want to win a couple of championships in that, and win Super DIRT Week again, and get the Vermont 200.
“Those are some of the races I’m focusing on in 2026, doing the Sportsman stuff again, and some special events in the Big Block car. 2027 may be a totally different deal where we run a Big Block weekly. We’ll know more after Volusia.”
While Murtaugh is confident about racing at DIRTcar Nationals, he’s not reaching for unattainable goals. He said he’s going to start off small and aim to make every Feature, while soaking up his chance to race against the top drivers in the Northeast.
“It’s going to be very exciting racing against the guys I’ve grown up watching,” Murtaugh said. “I talk with most of the Big Block guys all the time, so I’m very familiar with all the guys, and they’ve already been a lot of help. I’m looking forward to racing against the top guys and seeing what we can do. I know it’s going to be a huge learning curve.”
Murtaugh will join the Super DIRTcar Series when it kicks off the 2026 season at Volusia Speedway Park during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 11-14.
