The Super DIRTcar Series’ 20-race season concluded at the World of Outlaws World Finals with Matt Sheppard adding a new page to the Series’ record book and several full-timers achieving career-best finishes in the standings.
LATEST RACE(S): World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Nov. 1-4
2023 CHAMPION: Matt Sheppard reached a new milestone for the Super DIRTcar Series, securing his 10th Series title this year.
The Waterloo, NY accomplished that feat in a remarkable 14-year span – 13-season time frame as the 2020 season only had six non-points races due to the pandemic. He won his first Super DIRTcar Series championship in 2010 and hasn’t finished worse than second in points since.
“Ten is a big number, it’s a lot of championships,” Sheppard said. “It’s just a huge accomplishment for myself and my team.”
He ended the season with five wins and an average finish of 3.8, leading to his 83-point advantage over Mat Williamson at the conclusion of the season.
PODIUM ROUND UP: Mat Williamson ended the season second in points for the third straight year, while Jimmy Phelps was able to jump from fifth in points to third after the three World of Outlaws World Finals Features.
Williamson kept in step with Sheppard all year, winning five (points) races – including the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 for the third time – and held an average finish of 4.9. However, Sheppard’s consistency was a step better, and Williamson had to settle for second again.
With finishes of sixth, ninth and second during the World of Outlaws World Finals, Phelps propelled himself from fifth to third in points by the end of the year. It’s his eighth podium points finish and fifth time he’s finished third in points.
CAREER-BEST FINISH:
Mike Mahaney (4th): Prior to this season, Mahaney had never finished inside the top 10 in Super DIRTcar Series points. Now, not only did he finish inside the top 10, he also earned a top-five finish with one win, six top fives and 10 top 10s – including a third-place finish in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200.
Tim Sears Jr. (5th): Sears entered the 2023 season in the same situation as Mahaney, having never finished inside the top 10 in points. And like Mahaney, he blew that stat out of the water by ending the year fifth in points. He was on the verge of a potential podium points finish but finishes of 26th, sixth and 30th in the final three races of the year, dropped him from third to fifth.
Jack Lehner (7th): Lehner continues to show steady improvement after finishing 10th in points last year and now seventh in the Super DIRTcar Series standings this year. He ended the season with a career-high two top fives and eight top-10 finishes.
Chris Hile (8th): After taking a year off from racing full-time with the Series, Hile made a strong return, scoring his first Series win at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in the spring and finishing a career-high eighth in points.
TOP 10 IN FINAL POINTS:
1.) Matt Sheppard, 4167 (Matt Sheppard Motorsports)
2.) Mat Williamson, (-83) (Buzz Chew Racing)
3.) Jimmy Phelps (-316) (Heinke-Baldwin Racing)
4.) Mike Mahaney (-355) (Huttig Motorsports)
5.) Tim Sears Jr. (-374) (Tim Sears Jr. Racing)
6.) Max McLaughlin (-400) (Heinke-Baldwin Racing)
7.) Jack Lehner (-449) (Jack Lehner Racing)
8.) Chris Hile (-464) (Hile Motorsports)
9.) Peter Britten (-499) (Peter Britten Racing)
10.) Larry Wight (-541) (LJL Racing)
For full Series points, CLICK HERE.
UP NEXT: The Super DIRTcar Series will commence its 2024 season during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, Feb. 14-17 (a non-points event). For tickets, CLICK HERE.
