One of the most grueling back-to-back races on the DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series awaits drivers this weekend, with two races across two different New York regions.
First, the Series visits Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, NY, on Friday, Sept. 18, for a 30-lap Feature paying $1,500-to-win.
Then, the Series heads to the Finger Lakes for a stop at Land of Legends Raceway in Canandaigua, NY, as part of the Gerald Haers Memorial on Saturday, Sept. 19. The event will also be 30 laps, but this time $2,000 is on the line.
Where can you watch Saturday’s DIRTcar Sportsman Series event? Watch every lap live on DIRTVision.
For more on the DIRTcar Northeast, follow the DIRTcar Northeast Facebook page.
Here’s a look at what to watch for at Mohawk, Land of Legends:
Tristan’s House: With half of the DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series complete, five different drivers have reached Victory Lane in five races.
However, this weekend produces the best chance for that to change. Series points leader Tristan Ladouceur returns to his home track at Mohawk, where he won all 11 Features in 2026 en route to the track championship.
The Alexandria, ON, driver also has momentum entering this weekend, after earning his first career DIRTcar Sportsman Series victory last weekend at Can-Am Speedway. Ladouceur had two strong runs during this weekend last season, finishing second at Mohawk and sixth at Land of Legends.
Home of the Rocket: While Ladouceur gets his chance to race at home on Friday, Land of Legends track champion Richard Murtaugh gets his turn on Saturday.
Murtaugh, from Fulton, NY, enters the weekend 42 points behind Ladouceur in the championship battle. He scored a Central Region win at the 1/2-mile track earlier this season and added three regular season victories.
The 10-time Series winner finished 24th during the Gerald Haers Memorial last season. But he beat Ladouceur to the line at Mohawk last year. A sweep by Murtaugh this weekend would keep him in contention on the road to the finale at Brockville Ontario Speedway.
The Battle for Fifth: As Ladouceur and Murtaugh battle for the championship, there’s a three-way battle for fifth in the standings behind them.
Bodie Marks, David Hackett Jr., and Jessica Power are separated by 13 points in the standings, with Marks currently in fifth.
Marks, from Scotia, NY, continues heading to tracks he’s never raced at, adding both Mohawk and Land of Legends to his resume. The 15-year-old driver has a top five and two top 10s this season on the Series.
Hackett, the Utica-Rome Speedway track champion, will also see Mohawk for the first time in his career and comes into the weekend seven points behind Marks for fifth. The Baldwinsville, NY driver made one start at Land of Legends in Series competition, finishing 13th in July.
Power has the most experience of the three drivers, especially at Mohawk where she’s made 10 Series starts. During that stretch, she has a top five and four top 10s.
At Land of Legends, the Kingston, ON driver has made five starts, with a top five and two top 10s. Her best finish at the Canandaigua, NY oval came last year, when she crossed the line third.
She’s searching for her third career Series triumph.
2026 Championship Season Schedule:
Sunday, Aug. 9/Glen Ridge Motorsports Park/Fultonville, NY- Derrick McGrew Jr.
Wednesday, Aug. 19/Utica-Rome Speedway/Vernon, NY- Tony Finch II
Tuesday, Aug. 25/Ransomville Speedway/Ransomville, NY- Cody McPherson
Sunday, Sept. 6/Weedsport Speedway/Weedsport, NY- Nigel Pendykoski
Saturday, Sept. 12/Can-Am Speedway/LaFargeville, NY- Tristan Ladouceur
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 2210
- Richard Murtaugh -42
- Derrick McGrew Jr. -62
- Nigel Pendykoski -107
- Bodie Marks -145
- David Hackett Jr. -152
- Jessica Power -158
- Connor Crane -181
- Tyler Stevenson -186
- Nick Brundige -194
