RPW Exclusive: 2026 Pre-Season Questions Lebanon Valley Speedway Big Block Modifieds: Matt Pupello
Column By: Stephen Durham / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – Each spring, there comes a time, where all race-fans, drivers, team owners, and track owners are just about ready for the first green flag of the season. With Lebanon Valley’s annual banquet this coming weekend, what’s a better way then talking with the top 10 guys from the DIRTcar big block modified division.
It was an under the radar type of season for Matt Pupello and the famed Tremont racing 115 team in 2025. Pupello was fighting hard all season long, battling for the top 5 in points until the second to last regular season night, where he was involved in a big wreck. Pupello would finish the season 8th in the standings, with three top 5’s and nine top 10’s. Pupello will once again be teaming up with the Tremonts in 2026.
Here are Matt Pupello’s pre-season thoughts as we head into a new season at Lebanon Valley Speedway.
Q: How do you feel the 2025 Season was?
Matt Pupello: “It was headed in the right direction with a very competitive car running the top week after week, but then it really got turned upside down in the second to last points race, holding us back from a top 5 points finish on the year.”
Q: What’s new for this upcoming season with your team?
Matt Pupello: “We have a new PMC chassis being built by Pete along with Ken Tremont Sr. rebuilding last year’s motor. We’ve welcomed a handful of new sponsors this year in Hatchet Hardware, Chip’s Automotive Repair, Imperial Trailer Sales, Advance Auto, Travis Witbeck with ‘405 Heating and Cooling’, and Joe Grossetti to go along with our returning sponsors in Winn Construction, Tacos Diablo and Capital Plumbing.”
Q: What are your team’s expectations for 2026?
Matt Pupello: “Our goals for the 2026 season are to put the 115 back in victory lane along with a top 5 points finish.”
Q: Thoughts on Fonda Speedway and Lebanon Valley working together in 2026?
Matt Pupello: “Its a surprising partnership but one that definitely could help build our sport.”
Q:Thoughts on Lyle Devore and what he meant to the racing in the capital region
Matt Pupello: “Lyle is probably the only person in the world who could make Malta into the premier venue it has become. The fans across the Northeast certainly have him to thank for the countless exceptional races they had the pleasure of seeing there. On a personal level I always appreciated Lyles friendship and “tell it how it is attitude” while always trying to do the best he could for the sport.”
Q: What part of the 2026 season schedule are you most looking forward to?
Matt Pupello: “Mr. DIRT is always an exciting race to look forward to every year and the addition of an STSS show to the schedule are two races were are looking forward to.”
Q: If you had to predict, who’d you think would be the 2026 champion?
Matt Pupello: “Merv Treichler.”
Lebanon Valley Speedway opens the gates for warm-ups April 4th, with opening night for the DIRTcar big block modifieds being April 25th.
