Fourth of July weekend will be busy for the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series, as they prepare for two races over the next five days.
First, they’ll kick off the weekend with a stop at Can-Am Speedway on Wednesday, July 2, for the annual Pabst Shootout. Drivers will battle in a 50-lap Feature paying $4,000-to-win.
Then, they finish the weekend with a visit to Weedsport Speedway on Sunday, July 6, for another 50-lap Feature. But this time, there’s $5,000 on the line.
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Here’s a look at What to Watch For at Can-Am and Weedsport:
Separated By Single Digits: Fans watching the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series this weekend will see a tight battle at the top of the Series points standings.
Even though he’s won two of the three Features this season, 2023 Series champion Mat Williamson holds a narrow six-point lead over Mike Mahaney.
“Money Mat” has the upper hand after winning at Airborne Park Speedway and Fulton Speedway, but Mahaney has stayed with him every step of the way with three top fives.
In four Series starts at Can-Am, Williamson has finished in the top 10 every time. However, he has only one top-five finish, coming in third in 2019. The St. Catharines, ON driver has reached Victory Lane in a Big Block, though, winning the R.D. Hutchinson Memorial with the Super DIRTcar Series last September.
He also has a 358 Modified Series win at Weedsport in 2021.
Like Williamson, Mahaney has made four Series starts at Can-Am, with his only top five coming in 2019. At Weedsport, Mahaney has six straight top 10s in DIRTcar 358 Modified Series events, including a third during Super DIRT Week in 2016.
North Country Boys: A trip to Can-Am means Series drivers will battle with a strong contingent of regulars from the North Country hoping to earn the $4,000 prize.
Billy Dunn, from Watertown, NY, enters the Pabst Shootout with the most momentum after back-to-back runner-up finishes at Fulton, including one in last week’s DIRTcar 358 Modified Series event.
Dunn has a win, six top fives, and seven top 10s at the “Nasty Track of the North” this season.
The only driver ahead of him in the track’s points standings is Lance Willix, who narrowly missed out on a Series title last season. The Theresa, NY driver has two wins at Can-Am in 2025 and hasn’t finished outside the top five in seven starts.
Entering the Pabst Shootout, Willix is fourth in the Series standings, 30 points behind Williamson.
Four-time and defending track champion Tim Fuller is aiming for his 22nd Series win on Wednesday, and first since winning at Can-Am in 2023. The Edwards, NY driver has one trip to Victory Lane at the track this season, with five top fives and seven top tens in seven starts.
A Hollywood Rebound: While defending Series champion Felix Roy has finished in the top 10 in all three Series events this season, his lone finish outside the top five at Fulton has dropped him back to 20 points behind Williamson.
The good news for Roy is that he’s found success at Can-Am. The Napierville, QC driver finished third in his only Series start at the track.
Meanwhile, at Weedsport, he’s made two starts, finishing 11th in 2023 and 10th in 2024.
Back to the Port: For the second straight season, a battle at Weedsport highlights the first weekend of July, which means a few Super DIRTcar Series stars who don’t run the Series will join the field.
That starts with Jimmy Phelps, who won last year’s stop at the 3/8-mile facility, holding off Alex Payne. The Baldwinsville, NY driver is a seven-time Series winner, including two at Weedsport.
Tim Sears Jr. will also join the field on Sunday, aiming for his second career Series victory. The Hastings, NY driver finished fourth in last year’s event and earned a sixth last week at Fulton.
In six Series starts at Weedsport, “Timmer” hasn’t finished outside the top 10, including two runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2021.
2025 DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Schedule:
Thursday, June 12, Airborne Park Speedway, $5,000-to-win-Mat Williamson
Sunday, June 22, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, $4,000-to-win-Brian Calabrese
Wednesday, June 25, Fulton Speedway, $4,000-to-win- Mat Williamson
Wednesday, July 2, Can-Am Speedway, $4,000-to-win
Sunday, July 6, Weedsport Speedway, $5,000-to-win
Wednesday, July 16, Cornwall Motor Speedway, $10,000-to-win (Canadian)
Thursday, July 17, Mohawk International Raceway, $4,000-to-win
Friday, Sept. 19, Albany Saratoga Speedway, $4,000-to-win
Tuesday, Oct. 7, Brewerton Speedway, $4,000-to-win
Friday, Oct. 10, Oswego Speedway, $20,000-to-win
Saturday, Oct. 18, Brockville Ontario Speedway, $10,000-to-win (Canadian)
