“Lightning” Larry Wight scored the biggest win of his life on Sunday at Oswego Speedway, claiming the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modified event, NAPA Super DIRT Week. Wight pulled off a late-race pass on Jimmy Phelps and went on to hold off the five-time NAPA Super DIRT Week Champion, Stewart Friesen, for the $50,000 payday.

Phelps, who gambled on racing the entire 200 without stopping for fuel, was sideline with only four laps remaining in need of a splash and had to go down pit lane and forfeit his second-place position.

Friesen followed in pursuit but didn’t have what he needed to get around Wight. Friesen finished in a close second, while last year’s runner up, Peter Britten, rounded out the podium.

This year’s NAPA Super DIRT Week will be remembered as one of the greatest weeks in dirt racing history. Despite mother nature’s attempt at putting a damper on the week, with the five-day event being pushed into three full days, every single feature event had everyone at the edge of their seats with late-race passes for the lead. The Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds had a total of 70 drivers in attendance to compete for the famed 200-lap event.

Taking the Gamble

Polesitter, Jimmy Phelps, and the entire 98h team tried to do the impossible. They took the gamble and tried to run the entire 200 laps without stopping for fuel or tires. After leading the majority of the race, Phelps started to fall off pace by lap 190. After a yellow flag waived on lap 196, Phelps knew he wasn’t going to make it so elected to pit for a splash of fuel, surrendering his second-place position with only four laps remaining. Phelps crossed the line in 22^nd.

Rookie Driver Stirs Up Super DIRT Week

Gary Lindberg, the driver out of Ontario, Canada, stirred up quite the commotion by going out in a Big Block Modified for the very first time and setting the third fastest lap overall in time trials, which had him lining up on the inside of the second row for Sunday’s 200. Lindberg has 12 years of racing under his belt but never strapped into a Big Block Modified until this past week. Lindberg is a regular campaigner at Merritville Speedway in the small block modifieds. In 2014, Lindberg won one of the Sportsman qualifiers when DIRT week was held the Syracuse Mile. Lindberg was scored 34th in the 200 on Sunday.

Ryan Watt Makes it Into the Dance

The Boyertown, PA driver, Ryan Watt shocked the field by rim riding all the way around the track to dominate the 25-lap Last Chance race Saturday evening, locking himself into Sunday’s Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux 200. Watt was tangled up in two incidents, making him restart tail of the field not only once, but twice. Not only did Watt charge through the field to qualify but took the lead over Rich Scagliotta and pulled away in dominant fashion to take the checkers. Watt typically competes in NJ, PA, and DE, to show up and put on such a show against some of the top names in business sure had all heads turned.

Kenny Tremont Runs 38^thStraight 200

Veteran driver, Kenny Tremont Jr. is no stranger to Super DIRT Week. Sunday evenings race marked Tremont’s 38th consecutive 200, something not many drivers can say they’ve done. It all started when he came to Super Dirt Week with his father in 1972 with Chuck Ely behind the wheel of their car. Tremont has been a dedicated supporter and driver of Super DIRT Week. Tremont holds one Super DIRT Week title which came in 1999, unfortunately, he was unable to add to his rankings Sunday evening but could possibly be back again in 2019 for his 39th 200.

Super DIRTcar Series Regulars

With pit strategies playing a tremendous roll on Sunday’s 200, the 41-car field was continuously being mixed throughout the race. Three fulltime Super DIRTcar Series drivers were locked into the top ten spots at the start of the 200; Jimmy Phelps, Peter Britten, and Danny Johnson. With pit strategies and spotters being put into play, Britten, Erick Rudolph, and Max McLaughlin were able to take advantage and maneuver their way into the top ten at the checkered, benefiting them tremendously in the points chase.

This Friday evening will be the Super DIRTcar Series final points race of the season before they head south to Charlotte, NC for the World Finals finale. This Friday will be the Loud & Dirty Northeast Fall Nationals at Brockville Ontario Speedway.

2018 STAT ATTACK

There have been 21 Super DIRTcar Series features this season:

SEASON WINNERS

Stewart Friesen - 5 (Weedsport Speedway on May 29, Albany-Saratoga Speedway on June 26, Orange County Fair Speedway on July 19, Autodrome Granby on July 23, Ransomville Speedway on August 7)

Matt Sheppard – 4 (Brewerton Speedway on June 15, Cornwall Motor Speedway on July 1, Autodrome Drummond on July 24, Brewerton Speedway on September 14)

Danny Johnson – 3 (Land of Legends Raceway on July 5, Airborne Park Speedway on July 31, Autodrome Drummond on September 8); Jimmy Phelps – 2 (Utica-Rome Speedway on July 8, Le RPM on September 7)

Tim Fuller – 2 (Mohawk International Raceway on September 15, Fonda Speedway on September 22)

Brett Hearn – 1 (Outlaw Speedway on July 10)

Erick Rudolph – 1 (Weedsport Speedway on July 28)

Ryan Susice – 1 (Merrittville Speedway on August 6)

Kenny Tremont Jr. – 1 (Lebanon Valley Speedway on September 1)

Larry Wight – 1 (Oswego Speedway on October 7)

Super DIRTcar Championship Standings as of October 8, 2018

Winners (10 Drivers)
Rank, Driver - Wins                                                                                                         

1. STEWART FRIESEN - 5
2. MATT SHEPPARD – 4
3. DANNY JOHNSON – 3
4. JIMMY PHELPS, TIM FULLER – 2
5. BRETT HEARN, ERICK RUDOLPH, RYAN SUSICE, KENNY TREMONT JR, LARRY WIGHT - 1

Pole Positions (14 Drivers)

Rank, Driver - Poles                                                                                                        

1. MATT SHEPPARD – 4
2. ERICK RUDOLPH – 3
3. MAX MCLAUGHLIN, JIMMY PHELPS – 2
4. STEWART FRIESEN, CHRIS RAABE, DANNY JOHNSON, TIM FULLER, STEVE BERNARD, RYAN SUSICE, CHAD BRACHMANN, MIKE MAHANEY, LARRY WIGHT, WILLY DECKER - 1

Time Trial leaders (11 Drivers)

Rank, Driver - Quick Times                                                                                                           

1. MATT SHEPPARD – 6
2. STEWART FRIESEN – 4
3. JIMMY PHELPS – 3
4. BILLY DECKER, TIM FULLER, DANNY JOHNSON, ANTHONY PERREGO, BRETT HEARN, MAX MCLAUGHLIN, STEVE BERNARD, LARRY WIGHT - 1

Podium Finishes (23 Different Drivers)                                                                                                     

Rank, Driver - Finishes in the Top-Three                                                                                                     

1. MATT SHEPPARD – 11
2. DANNY JOHNSON – 7
3. STEWART FRIESEN – 8
4. JIMMY PHELPS – 6
5. ERICK RUDOLPH, MAX MCLAUGHLIN, BRETT HEARN – 4
6. MAT WILLIAMSON – 3
7. TIM FULLER – 2
8. BILLY DECKER, CHRIS RAABE, KYLE DINGWALL, RYAN SUSICE, CHAD BRACHMANN, KENNY TREMONT JR, MIKE MAHANEY, MATHIEU BOISVERT, YAN BUSSIERE, PAT WARD, TIM SEARS JR., BILLY DUNN, LARRY WIGHT, PETER BRITTEN - 1

Heat Race Winners (28 Different Drivers)                                                                                                  

Rank, Driver - Wins                                                                                                         

1. MATT SHEPPARD – 12
2. BRETT HEARN, PETER BRITTEN – 8
3. STEWART FRIESEN – 7
4. JIMMY PHELPS – 5
5. MAX MCLAUGHLIN - 4
6. PAT WARD, ERICK RUDOLPH, LARRY WIGHT, DANNY JOHNSON – 3
7. TIM FULLER, BILLY DECKER, MAT WILLIAMSON, KEITH FLACH – 2
8. TIM SEARS JR., WILLY DECKER, JESSEY MUELLER, MICHAEL PARENT, BILLY DUNN, PIERRE HEBERT, MATHIEU DESJARDINS, RICH SCAGLIOTTA, CHAD BRACHMANN, ANDY BACHETTI, STEVE BERNARD, MATT HULSIZER, JUSTIN HAERS, DANNY VARIN, GARY LINDBERG - 1

Last Chance Showdown Winners (16 Different Drivers)       

Rank Driver, Hometown - Wins                                                                                                      

1. ADAM ROBERTS – 3
2. ROB BELLINGER, ANDREW FERGUSON – 2
3. MATT WILLIAMSON, TIM MCCREADIE, ERICK RUDOLPH, TOMMY MEIER, DANY BILODEAU, PAUL GILARDI, KOLBY SCHROEDER, MATHIEU LARRAMEE, CHAD BRACHMANN, ROCKY WARNER, DEMTRIOS DRELLOS, RYAN WATT, JACK LEHNER - 1

2018 Super DIRTcar Series Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Number of Wins in 2018)


1. Sat. April 28 / High Bank Holdup / Fulton Speedway / Fulton, N.Y. / RAIN                            
2. Wed. May 16 / Battle at the Bridge / Bridgeport Speedway / Bridgeport, N.J. / RAIN                          
3. Mon. May 28 / Memorial Day 100 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, N.Y. / Stewart Friesen (1)                    
4. Fri. June 15 / Brewerton Speedway / Brewerton, N.Y. / Matt Sheppard (1)                                                    
5. Tues. June 26 / The BIG Show 10 / Albany-Saratoga Speedway / Malta, N.Y. /         Stewart Friesen (2)          
6. Sun. July 1 / Cornwall Motor Speedway / Cornwall, Ont. / Matt Sheppard (2)                                                
7. Thurs. July 5 / Land of Legends Raceway / Canandaigua, N.Y. / Danny Johnson (1)                                    
8. Sun. July 8 / Freedom Fighter 100 / Utica-Rome Speedway / Vernon, N.Y. / Jimmy Phelps (1)            
9. Tues. July 10 / Outlaw Speedway / Dundee, N.Y. / Brett Hearn (1)                                                                
10. Thurs. July 19 / Orange County fair Speedway / Middletown, N.Y. / Stewart Friesen (3)                                            
11. Mon. July 23 / Autodrome Granby / Granby, Que. / Stewart Friesen (4)                                                      
12. Tues. July 24 / Racing Stock 100 / Autodrome Drummond / Drummondville, Que. / Matt Sheppard (3)
13. Sat. July 28 / Hall of Fame 100 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, N.Y./ Erick Rudolph (1)                        
14. Tues. July 31 / Battle of Plattsburgh 100 / Airborne Park Speedway / Plattsburgh, N.Y./ Danny Johnson (2)        
15. Wed. Aug. 1 / Jack Johnson Tribute / Fonda Speedway / Fonda, N.Y. / RAIN
16. Mon. Aug. 6 / Bob St. Amand Sr Memorial / Merrittville Speedway / Thorold, Ont. / Ryan Susice (1)  
17. Tues. Aug. 7 / Summer Nationals / Ransomville Speedway / Ransomville, N.Y. / Stewart Friesen (5)  
18. Sat. Sept. 1 / Mr. DIRT Track USA / Lebanon Valley Speedway / West Lebanon, N.Y. / Kenny Tremont Jr. (1)    
19. Mon. Sept. 3 / Labor Day Double Play 100 / Weedsport Speedway / Weedsport, N.Y. / RAIN                
20. Fri. Sept. 7 / Le RPM Speedway / Saint-Marcel-de-Richelieu, Que. /          Jimmy Phelps (2)
21. Sat. Sept. 8 / Blackout Race / Autodrome Drummond / Drummondville, Que. /         Danny Johnson (3)                    
22. Fri. Sept. 14 / Duel at the Demon / Brewerton Speedway / Brewerton, N.Y. / Matt Sheppard (4)
23. Sat. Sept. 15 / Mohawk 100 / Mohawk International Raceway / Akwesasne, N.Y. / Tim Fuller (1)        
24. Sat. Sept. 22 / Thunder Along the Mohawk / Fonda Speedway / Fonda, N.Y. /         Tim Fuller (2)    
25. Sun. Oct. 7 / NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLVII / Oswego Speedway / Oswego, N.Y. / Larry Wight (1)            
26. Fri. Oct. 12 / The Loud & Dirty Northeast Fall Nationals / Brockville Ontario Speedway / Brockville, Ont. /     
27. Fri. Nov. 2 / Textron Off Road World of Outlaws World Finals / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, N.C. /
28. Sat. Nov. 3 / Textron Off Road World of Outlaws World Finals / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Concord, N.C. /