What to Watch for: Super DIRTcar Series Prepares for Back-to-back Nights at Albany-saratoga, Airborne
The stars of the Super DIRTcar Series head to Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Tuesday, June 13 followed up by a trip to Airborne Speedway on Wednesday, June 14
MALTA, NEW YORK (JUNE 12, 2023) – The Super DIRTcar Series roars back into action this week when the Beasts of the Northeast head to Malta, NY to compete at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in a 71-lap, $7,500-to-win, showcase before heading north to Plattsburgh to face off in a 75-lap, $8,000-to-win, matchup.
It will be the first of two stops at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this season and the first stop at Airborne Speedway since 2019.
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:
SECOND IN A ROW: Nine-time and defending Series champion Matt Sheppard heads into this stretch three points behind leader Mat Williamson. After his first win of the season at Lebanon Valley Speedway, he’ll see if he can double up and score another triumph at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. The Waterloo, NY driver’s Malta Massive Weekend victory last year was his first Series win at Albany-Saratoga.
Sheppard will also look for his first career Series win at Airborne Speedway when the Big Blocks pull in on June 14. He finished runner-up to Larry Wight during the last Series visit in 2019.
LEAD THE WAY: Mat Williamson comes into the two matchups as the points leader after recording victories at Bridgeport Motorsports Park and Weedsport Speedway. The St. Catharines, ON driver struggled at the Malta, NY track last year, with a 12th then 17th place finish. But he’s already built considerable momentum thus far and will come into the contention ready to grab his first career victory at the track.
Williamson will also battle for his first career win at Airborne Speedway on Wednesday to stay on top of the leaderboard and keep his momentum intact.
LIGHTNING STRIKES: “Lightning” Larry Wight is back as a full-time Series driver ready to make an impact. After a delivering a 12th and 19th place finish over Memorial Day Weekend, he comes into the matchups sitting 14th in the points battle. He notched a top-10 finish at Albany-Saratoga Speedway during last year’s Massive Malta Weekend and will look to land his first Series victory at the track.
Wight could be the man to beat when the Series ventures north to Airborne Speedway on Wednesday as he’s taken the checkers in two of the last three Series races there. He won the inaugural Series visit in 2017, then again in 2019. He’ll look to add a third win to his resume with another solid performance.
SOPHOMORE STANDOUT: Sophomore driver Darren Smith has started his second year on the tour with vast improvement from his rookie form. He currently sits fourth in points after his first top-five Series finish at Bridgeport Motorsports Park, and then a 10th-place finish at Lebanon Valley Speedway.
Smith finished 18th the first Series visit to Albany-Saratoga Speedway last season and then suffered a DNF the second visit.
His trip to Airborne Speedway will be his first with the Series. A win at either track for the Binghamton, NY native would be his first with the Series.
HOMECOMING: The Albany-Saratoga matchup is sure to be competitive as many Series stars call the 4/10-mile oval their home in weekly racing and are familiar with characteristics.
Sophomore driver Adam Pierson came in 14th during the Series first visit to Albany-Saratoga last year and then had a standout showing during the second stop. He held the lead for 83 laps of the 100-lap Feature before having to exit the track due to motor issues. Even though the result was not the desired finish, it showed the East Corinth, VT driver has the potential to be a formidable contender for the checkers when the cars hit the track.
Aussie Peter Britten finished eighth and then sixth place at Albany in 2022, on his way to finishing fifth overall in Series points. The Brisbane, QLD native has already captured one win at the track during weekly racing this season and will be ready to compete for his first Series win this time.
Mike Mahaney, now full-time with the Super DIRTcar Series, has had a special touch when running at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, recording wins in two out of the last three visits. The King Ferry, NY native has already captured one win during weekly racing thus far and will look to repeat the magic for this year’s matchup to take home the checkers a third time.
Defending Albany-Saratoga Big Block track champion Matt DeLorenzo took home four Big Block victories in 2022, on his way to capturing the title. He’ll look to translate that into his first Super DIRTcar Series victory on Tuesday.
Stat Glance
Track Facts:
Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Configuration: 4/10-mile, semi-banked clay
Website: www.albany-
Airborne Speedway
Configuration: 1/2-mile
Website: www.airborne-
AROUND THE TURN: The Super DIRTcar Series will make its first trip of the season to Land of Legends Raceway on Monday, July 3 for the 70-lap, $7,500-to-win, spectacular followed by a trip back to Orange County Fair Speedway on Wednesday, July 5 to finish the postponed event from May.
2023 FEATURE WINS:
1-Mat Williamson-4
2-Max McLaughlin-1
-Matt Sheppard-1
2023 HEAT WINS:
1-Mat Williamson-3
-Peter Britten-3
-Peter Britten-3
-Matt Sheppard-3
5-Jimmy Phelps-2
-Jack Lehner-2
-Erick Rudolph-2
-Rick Laubach-2
9-Stewart Friesen-1
-Justin Stone-1
-HJ Bunting-1
-Mike Mahaney-1
-Matthew Stangle-1
-Billy Decker-1
-Larry Wight-1
-Brett Hearn-1
-Dan Creeden-1
-Darren Smith-1
-Anthony Perrego-1
-Marc Johnson-1
-Andy Bachetti-1
2023 BILLY WHITTAKER CARS FAST TIME AWARD
1-Mat Williamson-2
-Darren Smith-2
-Marc Johnson-2
4-Jack Lehner-1
2023 LAPS LED
1-Matt Sheppard-99
2-Mat Williamson-96
3-Darren Smith-59
4-Max McLaughlin-30
5-Demetrios Drellos-29
6-Jack Lehner-24
-Rick Laubach-24
8-Peter Britten-22
9-Mike Mahaney-2
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)
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: Mark Brown