For the first time since 2020, the top Sportsman drivers in the Northeast will battle at the “Home of Heroes.”
The DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series returns to action at the Utica-Rome Speedway on Wednesday, Aug. 19, as part of SummerFAST with the Super DIRTcar Series.
Race two of the 2026 Championship Series will be a 30-lap Feature paying $1,500-to-win.
Where can you watch SummerFAST? Live on DIRTVision.
For more on the DIRTcar Northeast, follow the DIRTcar Northeast Facebook page.
Here’s a loot at what to watch for at Utica-Rome:
The Top Two Emerge: After one race in the DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series, two Regional Champions have emerged at the top of the Series standings.
With his second consecutive third-place finish at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, Tristan Ladouceur holds a six-point lead over Richard Murtaugh entering Wednesday night’s race. However, Murtaugh may have an advantage over Ladouceur this week, as the Alexandria, ON driver has never made a start at the 1/2-mile track.
Murtaugh, from Fulton, NY, has made two starts at Utica-Rome this season, finishing seventh and third in two July Features. He’s searching for his 10th career Series win.
Aiming to Strike: Behind Ladouceur and Murtaugh are Taylor Wason, who’s nine points out of the lead, and Nigel Pendykoski, who’s 20 points out of first.
Wednesday’s race at Utica-Rome will be uncharted territory for both drivers, as they haven’t made a start at the track this season.
Wason, from Middle Grove, NY, hasn’t officially won a Feature in 2026, although he did win a Feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway as a substitute driver for Chris Crane Jr. He has three top fives and 10 top 10s in 17 starts.
Pendykoski, who races at Ransomville Speedway and Merrittville Speedway weekly, has three victories between the two tracks in 2026, along with 17 top fives and 29 top 10s.
Both drivers are searching for their first career DIRTcar Sportsman Series victory.
UTICA 64: In 2026 at Utica-Rome, Tyler Corcoran has won most of the Features in the track’s return to the DIRTcar banner this season.
The Central Square, NY driver has won seven of the 13 Features and has 12 top fives and 12 top 10s in 14 starts. A win at Utica-Rome would be his 10th career DIRTcar Sportsman victory, and first at Utica-Rome.
Despite Corcoran’s success at the track this season, he’s not the points leader entering Wednesday night’s race. David Hackett holds an eight-point lead over Corcoran in the standings, as he searches for his first DIRTcar Sportsman Series victory. The Baldwinsville, NY driver doesn’t have a win, but has 11 top fives and 13 top 10s in 13 starts.
The only other 13-time winner at the track this season is Matt Guerreri, who’s reached Victory Lane on three occasions. Guerreri, from Waterloo, NY, has nine top fives and 14 top 10s this season. He’s aiming for his second career Series win.
2026 Championship Season Schedule:
Sunday, Aug. 9/Glen Ridge Motorsports Park/Fultonville, NY- Derrick McGrew Jr.
Wednesday, Aug. 19/Utica-Rome Speedway/Vernon, NY
Tuesday, Aug. 25/Ransomville Speedway/Ransomville, NY
Sunday, Sept. 6/Weedsport Speedway/Weedsport, NY
Saturday, Sept. 12/Can-Am Speedway/LaFargeville, NY
Friday, Sept. 18/Mohawk International Raceway/Akwesasne, NY
Saturday, Sept. 19/Land of Legends Raceway/Canandaigua, NY
Friday, Sept. 25/Albany-Saratoga Speedway/Malta, NY
Saturday, Oct. 10/Oswego Speedway/Oswego, NY
Saturday, Oct. 17/Brockville Ontario Speedway/Brockville, ON
DIRTCar Sportsman Championship Series Points Standings
- Tristan Ladouceur 644
- Richard Murtaugh -6
- Taylor Wason -9
- Nigel Pendykoski -20
- Joey Scarborough -26
- Nick Brundige -33
- Bodie Marks -36
- Jessica Power -37
- Derrick McGrew Jr. -39
- Cody Manitta -45
Note: Home Track bonus points will be added after Labor Day weekend.
