Alex Yankowski had a plan in 2026. Just win races and the Super DIRTcar Series points would take care of themselves.
That’s exactly what the Covington Township, PA driver did Friday night, narrowly holding off Mat Williamson at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for his second Dave Smith Motors World Finals victory and fifth Series triumph of the season.
With the win, “Kid Rocket” has mathematically secured the 2026 championship and will officially be crowned the youngest champion in Series history on Saturday night.
“What a sigh of relief,” Yankowski said. “To get this championship is just an unbelievable feat. It’s always been the Northern guys beating up on us. I know Doug Hoffman got one. There’s a lot of people that aren’t with us that I wish were today.
“I’m really proud of this whole group. We’re going to keep plugging. To win it and to clinch it is something special.”
Felix Roy, the SRI Performance and Stock Car Steel Pole Award winner, led the field to the green in the 30-lap Feature, beating Jack Lehner into Turns 1 and 2. But behind the Napierville, QC driver, it didn’t take long for Yankowski to start moving forward.
Yankowski had the runner-up spot by Turn 2, while Williamson followed to take over third by the time they completed Lap 1. Williamson lurked behind the top two, but in the first half of the race, Roy and Yankowski battled for the top spot.
Roy played defense through the race’s first half, holding off challenges from the No. 84Y, whether it was Yankowski trying to power around the outside, or diamonding the corner and trying to pass Roy low. While Roy held off every attempt, things changed for the 2023 Series Rookie of the Year when a caution came out on Lap 15 for Paul Mancini.
When the race resumed, Roy fired on the outside lane, but Yankowski started better and he pulled even with the No. 91 as they entered Turn 1. Roy held off Yankowski again as they exited Turn 2, but Yankowski found his opportunity as they raced down the backstretch.
Roy slid in front of Yankowski in Turn 4, trying to take his momentum away. But once Yankowski saw Roy slide up, he crossed over to the bottom and stormed to the lead as they completed Lap 16.
Yankowski raced to a full straightaway advantage through the next 10 laps, but when he caught lap traffic, it allowed Roy and Williamson to close in. And for the second straight night, Williamson made a late charge for the win.
The three-time Series champion found momentum on the inside lane while battling Roy in traffic, diving underneath Roy as they exited Turn 2 to take over second on Lap 29. Then, Williamson set his sights on Yankowski, who was struggling to get by Francois Bellemare, a lap car.
On the race’s final lap, Williamson continued that momentum in Turns 1 and 2, pulling up to the middle of Yankowski’s car. But it wasn’t enough to take the lead. However, Williamson had one more shot as they entered Turns 3 and 4.
Yankowski chose the bottom as they went into the corner, and Williamson followed at first. But midway through Turns 3 and 4, Williamson switched to the outside, trying to power around Yankowski as they exited the corner. Williamson got one last burst of speed off Turn 4, but it wasn’t enough as Yankowski held on to win the $10,000 prize by 0.036 seconds.
“I didn’t know where to be (in traffic),” Yankowski said. “[Bellemare] was sliding himself the whole time so I couldn’t slide him. I couldn’t get under him. And Williamson did a great job trying to take advantage of that.
“I beat myself up all winter long about things I felt I could’ve been better about, and this race team has been unbelievable.”
Williamson settled for second, narrowly missing a win for the second straight night. It’s his fourth-straight top-two Series finish.
Mike Maresca earned his first Series podium of the season, crossing the line third after starting 12th.
Felix Roy finished fourth after leading the first 15 laps, and Ryan Godown rounded out the top five.
UP NEXT: The Super DIRTcar Series returns to The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Saturday, Nov. 7, for the 2026 season finale at the Dave Smith Motors World Finals. Drivers will compete in a 40-lap Feature, paying $15,000-to-win.
Where can you buy tickets to World Finals? You can buy tickets at http://worldofoutlawsworldfinals.com/.
Where can you watch the Super DIRTcar Series? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.
RACE NOTES:
JAM Performance Fastest Hot Lap Award: Jimmy Phelps
Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux Quick Time Award: Mat Williamson
Bicknell Racing Products Heat Race 1 Winner: Mat Williamson
DIG Race Products Heat Race 2 Winner: Tyler Dippel
Wix Filters Heat Race 3 Winner: Alex Yankowski
The Greatest Store on Dirt Heat Race 4 Winner: Felix Roy
SRI Performance/Stock Car Steel Pole Award Winner: Felix Roy
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse One Lap to Go: Alex Yankowski
Super DIRTcar Series Feature (30 Laps): 1. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[4]; 2. 88-Mat Williamson[3]; 3. 7MM-Michael Maresca[12]; 4. 91-Felix Roy[1]; 5. 26-Ryan Godown[5]; 6. 70A-Alex Payne[14]; 7. 1-Tyler Dippel[6]; 8. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[10]; 9. 2-Jack Lehner[2]; 10. 3-Justin Haers[13]; 11. 12-Darren Smith[8]; 12. 35-Mike Mahaney[7]; 13. 33-Eddie Strada[11]; 14. 21A-Peter Britten[15]; 15. 28-Michael Trautschold[22]; 16. 4M-Logan Watt[21]; 17. 99L-Larry Wight[23]; 18. 6-Matt Stangle[9]; 19. 29-Ryan Krachun[30]; 20. 165-Rex King Jr[17]; 21. 7M-Paul Mancini[18]; 22. 9S-Matt Sheppard[27]; 23. 15X-Justin Stone[29]; 24. 11-Matt Caprara[25]; 25. 21M-Bob Mcgannon[26]; 26. 35B-Francois Bellemare[24]; 27. 25-Erick Rudolph[28]; 28. (DNF) 16-Louden Reimert[19]; 29. (DNF) 9-Tim McCreadie[16]; 30. (DNF) 0-Glenn Styres[20]
