Heading into last weekend, Mat Williamson was looking for his first victory of 2019. 

Not only did he take the checkered flag at Brewerton Speedway, but he edged out Billy Dunn at Mohawk International Raceway the following night. Next up Albany-Saratoga Speedway. 

Watch 2019 Super DIRTcar Series Live From Albany-Saratoga Speedway

Written by Dustin Albino

The Super DIRTcar Series heads to Albany on Saturday (Sept. 21) for the second points-paying event of the season, as Stewart Friesen found victory lane in June, earning an automatic qualifying position to NAPA Super Dirt Week next month. 

On that warm, 111-lap summer night, Friesen came up clutch when it counted. His Halmar Racing car passed race promoter and eight-time Super DIRTcar champion Brett Hearn with two laps to go to claim the victory – his second of the season. 

Since then, Matt Sheppard has been on a tear, recording six of his eight victories. However, Williamson enters Albany with the hot shoe, closing the gap on Sheppard to 106 points as the season begins to wind down. 

Even with Williamson’s wins last week, Sheppard wasn’t far behind, finishing fourth at Brewerton and third at Mohawk. In order to close the gap significantly, Williamson will have to keep running at the front, if not win, and hope the 9s has some bad luck. If the race at Albany in June is indication, these two are going to run around each other, though that night it was Williamson getting the best of Sheppard.  

The race for third in points has become a little more clear, though it’s still a tight battle between Erick Rudolph and Larry Wright (four point separation). Billy Decker in fifth sits 34 markers behind third. 

 Saturday’s race is the last chance for an automatic qualifying position into Super Dirt Week. It’s also the last series race until the modifieds take the track at Weedsport Speedway on Wednesday, Oct. 9.