A trip to Land of Legends Raceway was all Mat Williamson needed to find his way back to Super DIRTcar Series Victory Lane.
The St. Catharines, ON driver passed Erick Rudolph in traffic on Lap 28 and never looked back to win the Stars and Stripes Spectacular 76, his first Series triumph of 2025.
“It took a long time to get to Victory Lane in the Super DIRTcar Series (this year), man,” Williamson said. “I’ve been looking forward to smashing those Real American Beers.
“This says a lot about our guys. We brought this car out for Mohawk (International Raceway) to try and shake it down for here, and my crew did a really great job of putting it together. We came here last year to get better and made this our home track, and it’s really paid off.”
Rudolph stormed to the early lead in the 76-lap Feature, moving ahead of SRI Performance and Stock Car Steel Pole Award Winner Alex Payne as they raced down the backstretch. The Ransomville, NY driver rolled through the middle of the track in Turns 3 and 4, staying ahead of Payne as they completed Lap 1.
Behind them, Williamson started moving forward in his Buzz Chew Racing No. 88 Big Block, passing Justin Haers to grab fourth on Lap 4, followed by an outside pass on Mike Mahaney to take over third on Lap 8.
While Williamson began to close in, Payne also started gaining on Rudolph as he reached Lap traffic on Lap 13. The Hopewell, NY driver got within a car-length of the No. 25 as Rudolph tried passing Marcus Dinkins, a lap car. But that opportunity was taken away when the race’s first caution came out moments later for Larry Wight, who slowed on the backstretch.
When the race resumed, Williamson grabbed another position, sneaking past Payne on the bottom in Turn 3 on Lap 17. At that point, the chase was on as Williamson started gaining on Rudolph.
Williamson’s opportunity to take the lead came when the Rudolph reached lap traffic for the second time on Lap 28. As Rudolph tried passing Dave Rauscher on the outside in Turns 1 and 2, Williamson saw a hole open on the bottom. With a burst of speed, “Money Mat” drove by Rudolph to take the lead in traffic.
The defending Series champion looked to be in control from there, but in the final five laps, Rudolph started catching him. However, he couldn’t get close enough to change the outcome as Williamson led the final 48 laps to score the $7,600 prize.
According to Williamson, his opportunity to pass Rudolph may not have been available if he waited longer to make his move.
“I knew at some point it was going to get single-file on the bottom,” Williamson said. “I didn’t know if I would get there in time. Fortunately, Erick tried to go around a lapper, and that was when I capitalized.
“If I waited another five laps, I think he would’ve been smart enough to stay on the bottom.”
With the win, Williamson is now four points behind Alex Yankowski in the battle for the coveted Super DIRTcar Series Championship. Yankowski, from Covington Township, PA, finished fifth.
Rudolph crossed the line second after leading the race’s first 28 laps. It’s his fourth top five and eighth top 10 finish in nine races. He said the decision to move to the outside in traffic cost him the race.
“I started second and got the lead on the first lap, and I’m out front, so I really don’t know what’s going on,” Rudolph said. “I knew three and four on the bottom was rubbered up pretty hard, but I couldn’t find it in (Turns) 1 and 2. I was a little late getting there and it cost us the win, but we started second and finished second, and anytime we get a podium with these guys, it’s good news.”
Haers crossed the line third, matching his best Series finish of the season, which came during the opening night of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.
His podium finish came in a new car, after crashing at Land of Legends last month.
“To run up front, it’s very rewarding for myself and my team,” Haers said. “We work hard, and it’s hard when you run one night a week, even though it’s your home track. Every week it’s a little bit different, and we don’t get to try much stuff.
“I destroyed a car here two weeks ago, and I have to thank Randy from Bicknell. They had a new frame sitting there for me, and they worked all day and got it together. It seems just as good as the last one.”
Payne, the 2024 Series Rookie of the Year, finished fourth.
UP NEXT: The Super DIRTcar Series returns to Weedsport Speedway on Saturday, July 26, for the Hall of Fame 100.
The event is part of a two-night weekend at the track, as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their lone stop at Weedsport on Sunday, July 27.
If you can’t make it to a Super DIRTcar Series event, watch all the action live on DIRTVision, either online or with the DIRTVision app.
Stars And Stripes Spectacular (76 Laps): 1. 88-Mat Williamson[5]; 2. 25-Erick Rudolph[2]; 3. 3-Justin Haers[4]; 4. 70A-Alex Payne[1]; 5. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[8]; 6. 21A-Peter Britten[9]; 7. 35-Mike Mahaney[3]; 8. 2-Jack Lehner[16]; 9. 9S-Matt Sheppard[6]; 10. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[7]; 11. 4-Anthony Perrego[11]; 12. 7Z-Zachary Payne[17]; 13. 12-Darren Smith[13]; 14. 91-Felix Roy[14]; 15. 83X-Tim Sears Jr[12]; 16. 30-Nicholas Root[10]; 17. 3RS-Dalton Slack[15]; 18. 99L-Larry Wight[18]; 19. 15X-Justin Stone[24]; 20. 58-Louden Reimert[19]; 21. 32C-Kasey Coffey[21]; 22. (DNF) 17-Marcus Dinkins[25]; 23. (DNF) 48T-Dave Rauscher[27]; 24. (DNF) 28-Michael Trautschold[23]; 25. (DNF) 29-Garrett Krummert[20]; 26. (DNF) 23C-Kyle Coffey[22]; 27. (DNF) 15-Todd Root[26]
