Defending Series champion Matt Sheppard looks for his first points-paying win of the season, Mat Williamson looks to continue with early season momentum, and Hall of Famer Brett Hearn makes his Super DIRTcar Series return
The Super DIRTcar Series will make its first trip of the championship season to Orange County Fair Speedway for the Battle of the Fairgrounds showcase on Sunday, May 7.
The 75-lap, $7,500-to-win, spectacular will be the lone stop for the Series at the Middletown, NY oval this season.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.
Here are the top storylines to follow:
SIX FOR EIGHT: 2022 Series runner-up Mat Williamson will enter the Orange County Fair Speedway matchup on a hot streak. The St. Catharines, ON driver has taken the checkers in five of the last seven Series matchups, dating back to last season. After his victory at Bridgeport Motorsports Park to open up the points battle, he will look to continue with the success by capturing his first career Series victory at the Middletown, NY oval.
Last season saw the Buzz Chew Racing driver finish 14th at the 5/8-mile track.
THE LEGEND CONTINUES: Dirt Modified Hall of Famer Brett Hearn, of Sussex, NJ will make his first Super DIRTcar Series appearance this season at the Battle for the Fairgrounds – running a prototype Teo-built chassis with a motor supplied by long-time owner Brian Madsen.
Hearn will continue racing his #20 Modified around a track he knows like the back of his hand and has raced numerous times before. He started his racing career at Orange County and has collected more than 300 wins there alone. His last win with the Series there came in 2014.
DEFENDING CHAMP: Nine-time and defending Series champion Matt Sheppard landed the victory during last season’s Series matchup at Orange County Fair Speedway over local driver Anthony Perrego. It was his second career victory at the track and his third victory on the season.
The Waterloo, NY driver finished seventh at Bridgeport Motorsport Park for the start of the points battle on April 23 and will look to rally back and fight his way up the leaderboard.
HOME TURF: 2022 Rookie of the Year Anthony Perrego will contend for his third Series victory when the Big Blocks take to Orange County Fair Speedway. He enters the race with a plethora of recent success at the track, including a track championship in the Big Block and Small Block divisions.
The Montgomery, NY resident posted a valiant second place finish at last year’s contention, charging up from 10th. He finished behind eventual Series champion Matt Sheppard. He will look to surpass the performance this time around and end up in the top spot.
Perrego finished in 15th place during the first race of the championship season at Bridgeport Motorsports Park.
READY TO GO: Heinke-Baldwin Racing duo Max McLaughlin and Jimmy Phelps will be competitors to keep an eye on when the cars hit the track for the Battle for the Fairgrounds.
Only 23 years old, McLaughlin has already established himself as a serious contender on tour. After a fourth-place finish in points last season including his first points-paying victory and a podium finish in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200, he punctuated the start of this season with a win on opening night of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.
With two top-five career finishes at the track including last season’s third-place performance, the Mooresville, NC native will undoubtedly demand attention with his racing this visit.
Teammate Jimmy Phelps comes into the matchup with four top-five finishes to his name at the southern New York track including one victory. He will look to repeat the feat and kick his program into high gear. Phelps has posted two top-10 finishes thus far this season and will look to perform to his highest potential when the cars hit the track this Sunday.
Track Facts:
Orange County Fair Speedway
Configuration: 5/8 mile
Website: orangecountyfairspeedway.net
AROUND THE TURN: The Super DIRTcar Series will next travel to Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY on Sunday, May 28 for the 100-lap, $7,500-to-win showcase event. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
2023 FEATURE WINS:
1-Mat Williamson-3
2-Max McLaughlin-1
2023 HEAT WINS:
1-Jimmy Phelps-2
-Mat Williamson-2
-Erick Rudolph-2
-Rick Laubach-2
5-Stewart Friesen-1
-Peter Britten-1
-Justin Stone-1
-HJ Bunting-1
-Jack Lehner-1
-Matt Sheppard-1
-Mike Mahaney-1
-Matthew Stangle-1
2023 BILLY WHITTAKER CARS FAST TIME AWARD
1-Mat Williamson-2
2-Jack Lehner-1
-Darren Smith-1
2023 LAPS LED
1-Darren Smith-59
2-Max McLaughlin-30
3-Demetrios Drellos-29
4-Jack Lehner-24
-Rick Laubach-24
6-Mat Williamson-18
7-Matt Sheppard-1
2023 Super DIRTcar Series Schedule & Winners
#/Day, Date/Track/Location/Winner (Total Wins)
1. Wednesday, Feb. 15 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Max McLaughlin (1)
2. Thursday, Feb. 16 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Mat Williamson (1)
3. Saturday, Feb. 18 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, FL / Mat Williamson (2)
4. Sunday, April 23/Bridgeport Motorsports Park/ Swedesboro, NJ/ Mat Williamson (3)
