New Pit Strategy Options Highlight Exciting Super DIRT Week Additions
Super DIRT Week returns to Oswego Speedway, Oct. 2-8, with plans to be the biggest party yet
OSWEGO, NY (July 10, 2023) – Super DIRT Week 51 will start a new era for Racing’s Biggest Party at Oswego Speedway.
While the Northeast’s biggest dirt racing event will still see the best drivers from across the country contend in the historic event (Oct. 2-8), new additions, on and off the track, are set to enhance the experience for drivers and fans.
Announcements will be made throughout the year leading up to the event, but kicking off the first round of exciting advancements is the iconic Billy Whittaker Cars 200’s new race day format which now provides the chance for a fuel stop on lap 75 and/or 125 and the winner’s payday increasing to $51,000 for the 51st running of the event.
The new format removes the Lap 100 stop and no longer mandates a pit stop. There will now be a competition yellow –at or around– laps 75 and 125, freezing the lap counter. Teams will have the option to enter the pit at that time or remain on the track – but these will be the only two times they’re allowed to take fuel. Cars that remain on track will maintain their position. The cars that pitted will have four laps to get work done and will return to the track in the order they pitted – no passes will be made on pit road – lining up behind the cars that opted to not pit.
“With three months still to go until Super DIRT Week, there’s already a buzz of excitement around the new race day format as it adds a whole new strategy element to the Billy Whittaker Cars 200,” said Super DIRT Week Executive Director of Events, Jeff Hachmann. “This developed from feedback we received from the drivers and grew into an exciting opportunity to continue enhancing the Super DIRT Week experience for drivers and fans.”
Adding to the strategy element is drivers will no longer have two-way radios, putting the decision of when, or if, to pit more in their hands.
FULL COMPETITOR NOTES: CLICK HERE
The weekly schedule for competition will be the same as last year, again bringing fans the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds, DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman, and DIRTcar Pro Stocks. After the fan-favorite City of Oswego Parade, on Wednesday, Oct. 4, drivers will return to Oswego Speedway for a couple sessions of practice – free for fans to attend. Later that night will be the 30th Hurricane Harvey 75 at Brewerton Speedway.
Like last year, Time Trials and Qualifying Heats for the DIRTcar 358s and DIRTcar Pro Stocks will be on Thursday, Oct. 5, while the Big Block Modifieds and Sportsman will run theirs on Friday, Oct. 6.
After a few rounds of Last Chance Showdowns for the DIRTcar 358s and DIRTcar Pro Stocks on Saturday, Oct. 7, the night’s main events will commence with the DIRTcar Pro Stocks 50 at 4 p.m. (ET), followed by the DIRTcar 358 Modified Salute to the Troops 150 at 6 p.m. (ET).
Then, all eyes will be on Sunday, Oct. 8. Afternoon Last Chance Showdowns will lead to the DIRTcar Sportsman Chevrolet Performance 75 at 3 p.m. (ET) and the legendary $51,000-to-win Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at 5 p.m. (ET).
Along with the on-track excitement, Super DIRT Week will continue to provide an abundance of track activities for fans. Early load-in for campers will commence Sunday, Oct. 1, and then everyone is invited to the Super DIRT Week Kickoff Party at Lighthouse Lanes at 6 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 2, is the official opening day and will feature the return of the Super DIRT Week Charity Golf Tournament at Radisson Greens in Baldwinsville, NY.
Wednesday through Saturday, there will be a DJ performing at the Island Stage every night and fans will also be treated to a live concert during the week.
At noon on Sunday, the fan-favorite Top-30 Driver Autograph session will again take place in the midway by the entrance to the front stretch.
And that’s only a sample of what to expect. More fan activities will be announced throughout the lead-up to Super DIRT Week 51.
Tickets are now available for Super DIRT Week 51, CLICK HERE.
So far, reigning Billy Whittaker Cars 200 champion Matt Sheppard is the only driver locked into Sunday’s main event in October after winning the Super DIRT Week Qualifier at Lebanon Valley Speedway. Drivers have five more chances to lock themselves in during one of the five remaining Super DIRT Week Qualifiers – Weedsport Speedway (Sunday, July 16 & Sunday, Sept. 10), Autodrome Drummond (Tuesday, Aug. 1), Lebanon Valley Speedway (Saturday, Sept. 2) and Albany-Saratoga Speedway (Saturday, Sept. 23).
If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.
Drivers looking to compete in Super DIRT Week 51 should register HERE.
Super DIRT Week is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux, CASE Construction Equipment, Chevrolet Performance and SIS Insurance. Other Super DIRT Week sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), A-Verdi, Area Auto Racing News, ASI Race Wear, Bart Contracting Inc, Best Western Plus-Oswego, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, City of Oswego, C&S Companies, Clarion Hotel – Oswego, Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, Dig Race Products, Empire Golf Carts, Fast Line Performance, Fast Shafts, Finishing Touch Construction, Firebull, Fox Factory, Gypsum Express, Harborfest, Hoosier Racing Tire, Integra Racing Shocks, Intercomp, iRacing, K1 Race Gear, Low-E Insulation, MSD, My Place Hotels, MPi, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, SRI Performance, Swift Springs, Tracey Road Equipment, VP Racing Fuels, and Wrisco-Wieland Metal Services. Special thanks to New York State.
The Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: CASE Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), CASE No.1 Engine Oil™ (Official Oil and Lubricant), DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), Toyota (Official Vehicle), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts, iRacing (Official Online Racing Game) and Low-E Insulation. Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), ASI Race Wear, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Bicknell Racing Products, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux, Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DIG Race, Fox Factory, MSD, SRI / SCAS, Swift Springs, and Wieland Metal Services (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: ButlerBuilt, FIREBULL, HYTORC of New York, Intercomp, and Racing Electronics.
Sources: Nick Graziano, Super DIRTcar Series PR