When the 2025 season began, Kolby Schroder had no plans of racing at Super DIRT Week 53.
But after earning the most significant win of his career at Lebanon Valley Speedway in August, his plans changed.
The Staatsburg, NY driver not only took home $15,500 at Mr. DIRT Track USA, but8 also earned a guaranteed starting spot in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200. That made it an easy decision to head to Oswego Speedway, Oct. 6-11, for his first trip to “Racing’s Biggest Party.”
“Going to Super DIRT Week is a big undertaking,” Schroder said. “It’s not even the cost of the racing. It’s getting everyone up there. Just all of it together. Usually, at the end of the year, we just decide to invest everything into next year, because it’s just a risk, because you can go up there and not qualify.
“So, getting the guaranteed spot made the decision for us. I called up all my sponsors, and everyone involved. Everyone chipped in to help, so we’re just going to go and enjoy the whole process. It’s always something we wanted to do; we just never had things line up to make it happen.”
In his Mr. DIRT Track USA win, Schroder said it was the culmination of having speed all season at Lebanon Valley and having the proper setup. However, a close call early in the race almost ended his opportunity at the guaranteed Super DIRT Week spot.
While racing Kyle Armstrong for fifth on Lap 9, a slide job by Andy Bachetti on Marc Johnson in front of them altered their lines through Turns 3 and 4. When that happened, Armstrong and Schroder collided.
At that point, Schroder was worried a flat tire might have cost him his chance to win.
“I knew I had a really good car, and I had to go,” Schroder said. “I was battling with Armstrong, and I couldn’t quite clear him off the turn. So, I was starting to crowd him up a little bit and break his momentum. I left him room, but every ounce of room I left disappeared when Andy ran Marc up the track.
“Then they were coming down, and we collided, and he jumped the right rear, and I figured I was going to get a flat and knock something off in the car. But a few laps later, everything felt good. It was close, though. I had a big mark in my car where he hit it. Somehow it didn’t tear it down, though.”
Schroder’s car stayed together from that point forward, as he drove to his first career Super DIRTcar Series victory.
But while he’s familiar with Lebanon Valley, Oswego will be a new challenge for the 35-year-old driver, as he’ll race on the 5/8-mile track for the first time.
“We’ve never turned a lap there or at Syracuse,” Schroder said. “We’re relying on Bicknell (Racing Products) and our other friends who’ve done it like Marc Johnson to help guide us a little bit and help us get into the ballpark.
“We went to Lebanon Valley and scuffed some tires a little bit, just kind of getting everything ready.”
Not only will Super DIRT Week 53 be Schroder’s first visit to “Racing’s Biggest Party,” the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 will also be his first 200-lap race. Knowing that heading into Oswego, Schroder said his expectations are set.
“I’d be happy with just completing all 200 laps,” Schroder said. “I’d be completely content with that. But I’d be over the moon just finishing top 15. I think that’s a realistic goal for the way we’ve been running. I tend to do well in long races, so I think this might be right up my alley.”
Schroder makes his first visit to Super DIRT Week 53 at Oswego Speedway with the Super DIRTcar Series, Oct. 6-11, culminating in the $53,000-to-win Billy Whittaker Cars 200 on Saturday, Oct. 11.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all of the Super DIRT Week action on DIRTVision, either online or with the DIRTVision app.
