WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Super DIRTcar Series takes over Central New York for Second Annual SummerFAST
BREWERTON, NY (AUG. 11, 2023) – The Super DIRTcar Series tour gets ready for three straight nights of racing at Brewerton Speedway (Aug. 14), Fulton Speedway (Aug. 15), and Land of Legends Raceway (Aug. 16).
For a second year in a row, the stars of the Super DIRTcar Series are headed to Central New York to battle it out for the title of SummerFAST champion.
The Beasts of the Northeast will kick things off at Brewerton Speedway on Monday, Aug. 14, in a 60-lap, $7,500-to-win, showcase followed by another 60-lap, $7,500-to-win, showcase at Fulton Speedway on Aug. 15.
The final night of competition will be a third 60-lap, $7,500-to-win, showcase at Land of Legends Raceway where the SummerFAST champion will be crowned.
With Central New York known for turning out exceptional DIRTcar Big Block Modified talent and seven different winners in the last eight contests, the battle for the title is sure to be competitive and a must-watch.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.
Here are the top storylines to follow:
DEFENDING THE TITLE: Nine-time and defending Series champion Matt Sheppard comes into the matchups as the Series points leader, with a 59-point cushion, and as the defending SummerFAST champion. This time around, he’ll look to replicate similar success.
The Waterloo, NY driver has had an immense amount of success at Brewerton, scoring his seventh career victory during last year’s race before going on to close out the event with a win at Land of Legends Raceway.
He finished second to Northeast DIRT Modified Hall of Famer Tim Fuller back on July 19 at Land of Legends and has finished in the top-five during all four weekly starts.
RACE TO THE FINISH: Mat Williamson currently sits second in Series points, 59 points behind leader Matt Sheppard, after three-top five finishes during the Canadian swing.
The St. Catharines, ON driver will be a top contender for the victory at the Brewerton, NY track, recording wins in two of his last three visits. He posted a fourth-place finish last year.
The Buzz Chew Racing driver has found success at the 1/2-mile Land of Legends Raceway too, notching three top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes, including a ninth-place finish back on July 19. However, he’ll be looking to record his first win there.
HOME GROWN: SummerFAST will be a homecoming for Central Square, NY native Tim Sears Jr., who grew up learning how to race on Central New York tracks as a teenager. Going into the final weekend of competition before the event, he sits atop the leaderboard in DIRTcar Big Block Modified track points at Brewerton Speedway along with leading the DIRTcar 358 Modified track points battle at Fulton Speedway.
He has one top-five finish in Series competition thus far and will look to use his home track advantage to notch his first career Series victory.
HIS TIME: Peter Britten has posted one of his most consistent seasons to date thus far, with six top-five finishes, including a third-place performance during the last Series visit to his home track Land of Legends Raceway on July 19. He notched his second career Series victory at the track in 2021.
The Brisbane, QLD native comes into the event third in points, 135 points behind leader Matt Sheppard. A win at his home track would enliven his campaign for a podium finish in the points battle and would be his first of the season.
STIFF COMPETITION: Brewerton Speedway and Fulton Speedway have helped produce some of the biggest Super DIRTcar Series stars. And many of those stars still compete at the two tracks weekly.
With one weekend of competition remaining before the event, Tim Sears Jr. sits in the Big Block Modified track points lead at Brewerton, with the rest of the top five occupied by Series contenders: Chris Hile, Larry Wight, Ronnie Davis III, and Jimmy Phelps. Max McLaughlin and Darren Smith are not far behind in eighth and ninth place, respectively.
Over at Fulton Speedway, Sears Jr. is the driver to beat there as well, with Fulton, NY native Larry Wight right behind him in second.
With the combined experience of the current top-10 Series drivers at the three tracks, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will end up in Victory Lane and eventually carry home the title of 2023 SummerFAST champion.
Stat Glance
Track Facts:
Brewerton Speedway
Configuration: 1/3 mile
website: www.brewertonspeedway.com
Fulton Speedway
Configuration: 1/3 mile
website: www.fultonspeedway.com
Land of Legends Raceway
Configuration: 1/2 mile
www.landoflegendsraceway.com
AROUND THE TURN: The Super DIRTcar Series will travel to Ransomville, NY on Aug. 22 to compete at Ransomville Speedway in a 75-lap, $7,500-to-win, spectacular.
2023 FEATURE WINS:
1-Mat Williamson-5
2-Matt Sheppard-2
-Tim Fuller-2
4-Max McLaughlin-1
5-Chris Hile-1
-Anthony Perrego-1
-Erick Rudolph-1
-Mike Mahaney-1
2023 HEAT WINS:
1-Matt Sheppard-9
2-Peter Britten-6
3-Jimmy Phelps-4
4-Mat Williamson-3
-Mike Mahaney-3
6-Mathieu Desjardins-2
-Jack Lehner-2
-Erick Rudolph-2
-Rick Laubach-2
-Darren Smith-2
-Chris Hile-2
12-Stewart Friesen-1
-Justin Stone-1
-HJ Bunting-1
-Matthew Stangle-1
-Billy Decker-1
-Larry Wight-1
-Brett Hearn-1
-Dan Creeden-1
-Anthony Perrego-1
-Marc Johnson-1
-Andy Bachetti-1
-Ronnie Johnson-1
-Marc Johnson-1
-Andy Bachetti-1
-Mathieu Desjardins-1
-Chris Hile-1
-Ronnie Johnson-1
-Felix Roy-1
-Jordan McCreadie-1
-Tim Fuller-1
-McLaughlin-1
-Steve Bernard-1
-Francois Bernier-1
2023 BILLY WHITTAKER CARS FAST TIME AWARD
1-Darren Smith-3
2-Mat Williamson-2
-Matt Sheppard-2
-Marc Johnson-2
5-Jack Lehner-1
-Mathieu Desjardins-1
-Max McLaughlin-1
-Jimmy Phelps-1
-Steve Bernier-1
2023 LAPS LED
1-Matt Sheppard-167
2-Mat Williamson-138
3-Tim Fuller-95
4-Anthony Perrego-77
5-Darren Smith-59
6-Stewart Friesen-56
7-Francois Bernier -46
8-Perrego-39
9-Chris Hile- 32
-Larry Wight-32
-Sears Jr.-32
12-Max McLaughlin-48
13-Demetrios Drellos-29
-Erick Rudolph-29
15-Jack Lehner-24
-Rick Laubach-24
17-Peter Britten-22
18-Mike Mahaney-19
19-Felix Roy 13
20-Brett Hearn-11
21-David Hebert-10
2023 Super DIRTcar Series Schedule & Winners
#/Day, Date/Track/Location/Winner (Total Wins)
1. Wednesday, Feb. 15 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Max McLaughlin (1)
2. Thursday, Feb. 16 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Mat Williamson (1)
3. Saturday, Feb. 18 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Mat Williamson (2)
4. Sunday, April 23/Bridgeport Motorsports Park/ Swedesboro, NJ/ Mat Williamson (3)
5. Sunday, May 28/ Weedsport Speedway/ Weedsport, NY/ Mat Williamson (4)
6. Monday, May 29/ Lebanon Valley Speedway/ West Lebanon, NY/ Matt Sheppard (1)
7. Tuesday, June 13/Albany-Saratoga Speedway/ Malta, New York/ Chris Hile (1)
8. Monday, July 3/ Orange County Fair Speedway/ Middletown, NY/ Matt Sheppard (2)
9. Tuesday, July 11/ Big Diamond Speedway/Pottsville, PA/ Anthony Perrego (1)
10. Sunday, July 16/ Weedsport Speedway/ Weedsport, NY/ Mat Williamson (5)
11. Wednesday, July 19/ Land of Legends Raceway/ Canandaigua, NY/ Tim Fuller (1)
12. Monday, July 31/ Autodrome Drummond/ Drummondville, QC/ Erick Rudolph (1)
13. Tuesday, August 1/Autodrome Drummond/ Drummondville, QC/ Mike Mahaney (1)
14. Wednesday, August 2/ Brockville-Ontario Speedway/ Brockville, ON/ Tim Fuller (2)
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: Michelina Friss, Super DIRTcar Series PR
PHOTO: Quentin Young