A Sunday night battle awaits Sportsman drivers in the Northeast as the DIRTcar Sportsman Series Central Region begins its 2025 season.
The Series kicks off the year at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY, on Sunday, May 4, in a 30-lap battle paying $1,000-to-win.
Joining the Series this weekend is the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds in the track’s Ice Breaker 50 and the Hoosier 600 Sprint Tour.
For more on the DIRTcar Northeast, follow the DIRTcar Facebook page and the Series’ X/(Twitter) page.
Here’s a look at what to watch for at Weedsport:
A New Champion: With reigning Central Region champion Zach Sobotka expected to run a limited schedule in 2025 and Nick Root racing Big Block Modifieds, a new regional champion will be crowned this season.
Emmett Waldron leads that charge after finishing third in the standings last year. The Savannah, NY driver has made four Series starts at the 3/8-mile oval in his career, finishing 11th in last year’s North Region opener.
Hunter Hollenbeck and Tony Finch II are also aiming for the championship, with Hollenbeck earning a top five during Weedsport’s lone Central Region stop. The Fulton, NY driver earned a top five and two top 10s toward a fourth-place finish in the standings.
Finch, meanwhile, had top 10s at Weedsport and Land of Legends Raceway, rounding out the top five at the end of the regional Series.
All three drivers are searching for their first Series victory.
Maple Leaf Magic: While Sunday’s event is for Central Region points, defending DIRTcar Sportsman Series champion Cody McPherson will be at Weedsport this weekend.
Cody McPherson gets ready to race at Super DIRT Week/Brent Smith
The St. Catharines, ON driver is the defending winner of the event, and enters the weekend as the all-time winningest driver in DIRTcar Sportsman Series history with 27 triumphs.
McPherson has three wins at Weedsport in his career, and all four of his top fives in Series action at the track are podium finishes.
Back in Action: With Can-Am Speedway hosting North and Central Region events this season, a few drivers who raced in last weekend’s North Region event will also enter Sunday’s race at Weedsport.
Tyler Corcoran aims for back-to-back Series victories after winning the North Region event at Can-Am last Friday. The Central Square, NY driver has seven Series victories but has yet to reach Victory Lane at Weedsport. His best Series finish at the track is a fifth in 2021.
Tyler Corcoran celebrates his win at Can-Am last weekend/DIRTcar Racing
Richard Murtaugh, who finished second last week at Can-Am, is the most recent Series winner at Weedsport after winning the Sportsman Classic for the second straight year. The Fulton, NY driver is searching for his fourth DIRTcar Sportsman Series victory this weekend. He finished eighth in last year’s regional event.
Last week’s third-place finisher, Gavin Eisele, found success at Weedsport in 2025, finishing fourth in last year’s Central Region opener. The LaFargeville, NY driver earned two wins during the Fall Championship season, finishing second to McPherson in the battle for the overall title. A win on Thursday would be his third career Series victory
2025 DIRTcar Sportsman Series Central Region Schedule
Sunday, May 4, Weedsport Speedway
Friday, June 27, Brewerton Speedway
Wednesday, July 2, Can-Am Speedway
Saturday, July 19, Land of Legends Raceway (Combined with West Region)
Saturday, July 26, Fulton Speedway
