As reigning Super DIRTcar Series champion Matt Sheppard battles for his 11th Series title, another significant milestone awaits him in October.
If the Waterloo, NY driver wins his fourth Billy Whittaker Cars 200 – now on Saturday, Oct. 12 – at Super DIRT Week 52 (Oct. 7-12), he’ll join Brett Hearn, Stewart Friesen, Billy Decker, and Gary Balough as the only drivers to accomplish that feat.
But while another Super DIRT Week milestone is on the horizon for “Super Matt,” he has one focus as he prepares the No. 9S for Oswego Speedway.
“We have to win it first,” Sheppard said. “That’s the goal every year is to try and win it. It’s the biggest race of the year. To add my name even further into the record book would be a huge deal for me.”
The last time Sheppard won the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 was at Super DIRT Week 50 in 2022 when he passed Marc Johnson for the lead in traffic with 40 laps to go.
He also won the Salute to the Troops 150 that season, sweeping the weekend for the second time.
However, while the extra track time in the 358 Modified is valuable, Sheppard said there’s only so much you can take from one car to another.
“The Small Block cars and the Big Block cars aren’t exactly the same,” Sheppard said. “But it does seem like if you stumble on what’s working good with one car, it does translate to the other and helps give you a little bit of a feel.”
Sheppard’s success in 200-lap races – including his wins at The Mile, Oswego and Fonda 200 (recently this month) – will also be a factor this year.
“(Super) DIRT Week is going to be a whole separate deal,” Sheppard said. “But at the same time, coming off a big 200 win is good for team morale, my morale, and everyone’s morale.”
Along with the momentum, he’ll be one of a few drivers who will enter the event knowing their guaranteed a starting spot in Saturday’s Billy Whittaker Cars 200. He won the Super DIRT Week Qualifier at Autodrome Drummond in July, putting him another step closer for another significant milestone in October.
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Before “Racing’s Biggest Party” begins, he’ll battle his Super DIRTcar Series competitors at Albany-Saratoga Speedway during the Malta Massive Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 21, and at Atomic Speedway for the Rumble in the Hills, Sept. 27-28. For tickets to Atomic, CLICK HERE.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all of the Super DIRTcar Series action on DIRTVision, either online or with the DIRTVision app.
