The series heads to Cornwall Motor Speedway on June 26, Albany-Saratoga Speedway on June 28 and Canandaigua Motorsports Park on June 30
Story By: AARON FIEDLER / SUPER DIRTcar SERIES MEDIA Photos By: RACERSGUIDE.COM PHOTO STAFF
WEEDSPORT, NY- June 25, 2016- The Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds have a busy week ahead, as the series gears up for the heat of the summer and runs three races in five days.
On Sunday, the big blocks roll into Cornwall (Ont.) Motor Speedway then head back south to take on Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Tuesday for Brett Hearn’s The Big Show 8 with Kenny Wallace and Canandaigua Motorsports Park on Thursday for the Jan Corcoran Memorial.
As the 2016 series season heats up, the battles are starting to heat up and the storylines are starting to form.
Sheppard, Decker and Picking Back Up
The off-season proved to be a time of flux for Matt Sheppard and Billy Decker but if the last six months are any indication, both drivers, who happened to finish last season one, two in the points, are in old form.
Sheppard scored one non-points win at DIRTcar Nationals back in February and took home the coveted ‘Big Gator’ trophy for winning the Big-Block Modified Week Championship. At Fulton, he ran top-15 but returned to victory lane on Wednesday as the series made its return to Williams Grove Speedway.
Decker did not make the trip to Florida, but showed at Fulton, while the team may be new, the driver is still just as tough. He picked up his first win of the season. At Williams Grove, he finished fifth.
Fuller on Top
Though Sheppard and Decker have the wins, it’s Tim Fuller with the points lead – albeit a slim seven over Decker.
Fuller, who did claim one of the non-points wins down at DIRTcar Nationals, has been the picture of consistency through the first two points-paying features. He is the only driver to score podium finishes on the first two nights – a second at Fulton and third at Williams Grove – and thus far, the only driver to start on the pole in a points race.
Cornwall, Albany-Saratoga and Canandaigua
As the rest of the series regulars look for wins to start the season, the Super DIRTcar Series takes on three tracks in the next five days.
Cornwall is the first to welcome the series in their first Canadian appearance of the season. Brett Hearn picked up the win at the track in 2015 – at that point, his third win of the season. Hearn currently sits seventh in the championship standings and has one non-points win on the year.
Speaking of Hearn, after Cornwall, the series returns to Albany-Saratoga Speedway for Brett Hearn’s The Big Show 8 with Kenny Wallace on Tuesday. The eighth annual event makes its fifth appearance at Albany-Saratoga. Decker and Jimmy Phelps both have two wins at the event with Bobby Varin, Hearn and Danny Johnson the other drivers to have claimed wins over the years.
Then, on Thursday, Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park plays host to the Big-Blocks. It was eventual series champion Sheppard who took the checkered flag first there in 2015.
The Heat Is On
The season is now set to get fully underway with a busy July coming up. After a two week stretch through New York, the series joins the NASCAR truck series and makes its much anticipated return to Eldora Speedway on July 19 and 20. It then heads to Sharon Speedway for the first time ever.
For more race information on the Super DIRTcar Series, visit www.superdirtcarseries.com.
ABOUT THE TRACK
CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY is a 1/4 mile, high-banked clay oval. For more information and to learn how to purchase tickets, visit CornwallSpeedway.com.
ALBANY-SARATOGA SPEEDWAY is a 4/10 mile, semi-banked clay oval. For more information and to learn how to purchase tickets, visit BigShow8.com .
CANANDAIGUA MOTORSPORTS PARK is a 1/2-mile, slightly-banked dirt oval. For more information and to learn how to purchase tickets, visit CanandaiguaMotorsportsPark.com
DRIVER INFO
The following Super DIRTcar Series drivers maintain websites:
Frank Cozze: frankcozze.com
Keith Flach: keithflachracing.com
Brett Hearn: bretthearn.com
Mike Mahaney: mikemahaneyracing.com
Max McLaughlin: maxmclaughlinracing.com
Jimmy Phelps: jimmyphelps.com
Erick Rudolph: erickrudolph.com
Matt Sheppard: matt-sheppard.com
For more driver information, visit: superdirtcarseries.com
SEASON WINNERS: Billy Decker – 1 (Fulton Speedway on April 30); Matt Sheppard – 1 (Williams Grove Speedway on June 22)
LIVE ONLINE UPDATES: Tune in to listen live for FREE to all the action at Cornwall, Albany-Saratoga and Canandaigua on the DIRTVision.com Radio Network.
GET SOCIAL: Follow the Super DIRTcar Series on Twitter at twitter.com/SuperDIRTcar and like it on Facebook atfacebook.com/DIRTcar/. Check out the latest videos on YouTube at youtube.com/user/DIRTcarRacing. The official hashtag is #BigBlock.
COMING UP NEXT: The Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds return to action on Sunday, July 3 at Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, N.Y.
2016 STAT ATTACK
There has been 2 Super DIRTcar Series features this season.
Winners (2 Driver)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins
1. – BILLY DECKER, Watertown, N.Y. – 1
– MATT SHEPPARD, Waterloo, N.Y. – 1
Pole Positions (1 Driver)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Poles
1. – TIM FULLER, Watertown, N.Y. – 2
Time Trial leaders (1 Driver)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Quick Times
1. – BRETT HEARN, Sussex, N.J. – 1
– TOM SEARS, JR., Clay, N.Y. – 1
Podium Finishes (3 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Finishes in the Top-Three
1. – TIM FULLER, Watertown, N.Y. – 2
2. – DAVE BLANEY, Hartford, Ohio – 1
– BILLY DECKER, Waterloo, N.Y. – 1
– JIMMY PHELPS, Baldwinsville, N.Y.- 1
– MATT SHEPPARD, Waterloo, N.Y. – 1
Heat Race Winners (5 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Win
1. – BRETT HEARN, Sussex, N.J. – 2
2. – FRANK COZZE, Wind Gap, Pa. – 1
– STEWART FRIESEN, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. – 1
– TIM FULLER, Watertown, N.Y. – 1
– JIMMY PHELPS, Baldwinsville, N.Y. – 1
– TOM SEARS JR., Clay, N.Y. – 1
– MATT SHEPPARD, Waterlook, N.Y. – 1
– LARRY WIGHT, Phoenix, N.Y. – 1
Last Chance Showdown Winners (2 Different Drivers)
Rank Driver, Hometown – Wins
1. – ROB BELLINGER, Cicero, N.Y. – 1
– JUSTIN HAERS, Phelps, N.Y.- 1
– DUANE HOWARD, Oley, Pa. – 1
2016 Super DIRTcar Series Schedule & Winners
No. / Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Number of Wins in 2016)
1. Saturday, April 30 / Fulton Speedway / Fulton, N.Y. / Billy Decker (1)
2. Wednesday, June 22 / Williams Grove Speedway / Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Matt Sheppard (1)
The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts and NAPA Auto Parts; in addition to contingency sponsors, including: ASI Race Wear, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Fox Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust Systems, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, KSE Racing Products, Mike’s Racing Heads, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD, Pole Position Raceway, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Beyea Headers, Racing Electronics and TNT Rescue.
