The payouts will be significant, with both races awarding the winner a starting spot in the 51st Super DIRT Week. Contenders will also compete for a top prize of $10,000 on the first night, followed by a $12,000 payday on the second night.
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 stories to follow:
• TEN-TIME: Matt Sheppard, nine-time defending Super DIRTcar Series champion, will begin his quest for an unprecedented 10th series title at Atomic Speedway.
The Waterloo, NY driver had one of the most pronounced seasons of his career last year, capturing seven Feature wins including a third Billy Whittaker Cars 200 title. With that accomplishment, he enters this season tied with Danny Johnson second on the all-time series wins list with 89, looking to make history with a 90th win.
• FOLLOW IT: After ending last year with two wins in three nights at the World Finals season finale, 2022 Series runner-up Mat Williamson returned to Florida last month for the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. all over again
With two wins in three nights during the Florida event, the native of St. Catharines, Ont., brought home his first career Big Gator Championship trophy. He will look to translate that momentum into a strong run in the Buckeye State and the rest of the Northeast Region when the championship season begins.
• NEW: Canada’s Mathieu Desjardins took center stage on the second night of last year’s World Finals when he beat eventual series champion Matt Sheppard to take the checkers in his only second start of the series on North American soil.
The veteran Sportsman Modified driver raced alongside his full-time teammate, series driver Paul St. Sauvuer, who retired at the end of last season. Desjardins will take over machine number 37 from St. Sauvuer, looking to quickly make his presence known and bring home wins.
• SECOND SEASON: 2022 Series Rookie of the Year Anthony Perrego will look to build on the success he found in his first full season with the series. His sixth-place finish in the points battle, the most successful result of any Series debutant, earned him the accolade.
His career was built on five top-five finishes, including a runner-up finish at his home track Orange County Fair Speedway. The Walden, NY native will get his first chance to compete for a win this year at Atomic Speedway.
• DOUBLE TROUBLE: Heinke-Baldwin Racing teammates Jimmy Phelps and Max McLaughlin have proven time and time again that they are a force to be reckoned with when they take to the track. Finishing third and fourth last season respectively, both will be candidates to watch at Atomic Speedway.
Last season, Phelps consistently reached the top of the standings. He picked up a Feature win at Weedsport Speedway on the opening night of SummerFAST before moving on to a fourth-place finish in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at Super DIRT Week. While he fell short of expectations at the 2023 Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, he plans to put that behind him and start with a clean slate with the start of racing in the Northeast.
McLaughlin showed why he is one of the Series’ up-and-coming starters after finishing fourth at age 22 last season. The Mooresville, NC native earned his first points paying series win along with a podium finish in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200. He carried that momentum into this season with a strong showing at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, capturing the win on the first night. . He will no doubt be looking to continue his strong showing this season from Atomic Speedway.
Follow up:
Atomic Speedway
Setup: 3/8 mile
Website: atomicspeedway.net.
AROUND THE TOURNAMENT: The Super DIRTcar Series will travel to LaFargeville, NY on Saturday, April 15th to compete at Can-Am Speedway in a $7,500-to-win spectacular.
2023 EARNINGS:
1-Matt Williamson-2
2-Max McLaughlin-1
2023 HEAT EARNINGS:
1-Jimmy Phelps-2
-Matt Williamson-2
-Erick Rudolph-2
-Rick Laubach-2
5-Stewart Friesen-1
-Peter Britten-1
-Justin Stone-1
-HJ Bunting-1
BILLY WHITTAKER CARS FAST TIME AWARD 2023:
1-Matt Williamson-2
2-Jack Lehner-1
LED VOLTS 2023:
1-Max McLaughlin-30
2-Demetrios Drellos-29
3-Jack Lehner-24
-Rick Laubach-24
5-Matt Williamson-3
2023 Super DIRTcar Series Schedule and Winners
#/Day, Date/Track/Location/Winner (Total Earnings)
1. Wednesday, February 15 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Florida / Max McLaughlin (1)
2. Thursday, February 16 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Florida / Mat Williamson (1)
3. Saturday, February 18 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Florida / Mat Williamson (2).
The Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans by many major sponsors and partners including: CASE Construction Equipment (Official Construction Equipment), CASE No.1 Engine Oil™ (Official Oil and Lubricant), DIRTVision (Official Live Streaming 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 Insulation -E.
Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Auto 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.
