A bullring battle awaits the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series as it kicks off its 2024 season.
The Series visits Glen Ridge Motorsports Park for the Mohawk Valley Showdown on Sunday, June 2, for a 50-lap Feature paying $4,000-to-win.
Sunday’s race at Glen Ridge is the opening round of an eight-race schedule, which includes Super DIRT Week 52 at Oswego Speedway and ends in October during Fall Nationals at Brockville Ontario Speedway.
Here’s a look at what to watch for this weekend:
Mat’s On Fire: Entering this weekend’s DIRTcar 358 Modified Series opener, reigning Series champion Mat Williamson is on a hot streak.
The St. Catharines, ON driver earned three victories last week – one at Action Track USA, one at Ransomville Speedway, and a Super DIRTcar Series win at Weedsport Speedway.
Williamson won four of the eight races en route to the 2023 DIRTcar 358 Modified championship, which included a third-place finish at Glen Ridge.
“Money Mat” is ninth on the Series all-time wins list with 14 victories.
Lance And the Ridge Runners: While Williamson had three wins last week, defending Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship winner Lance Willix also had multiple victories.
The Theresa, NY driver earned wins at Can-Am Speedway and Glen Ridge, where he currently holds the points lead.
Willix finished sixth in this event last year and is searching for his second career Series victory.
He’ll have to contend with fellow track regulars Tucker O’Connor and reigning DIRTcar Sportsman champion Andrew Buff, who are second and third in the track points standings.
In three races at The Ridge, O’Connor and Buff have two top-five finishes but have been held out of Victory Lane. O’Connor’s best finish at The Ridge this season is second, while Buff’s is third.
North Country Success: Billy Dunn kicked off his DIRTcar 358 Modified Series season last season with a win in the Mohawk Valley Showdown.
This year, the Watertown, NY driver is back to try and repeat in 2024. So far, Dunn has a victory and four podium finishes between Glen Ridge and Fulton Speedway, including a runner-up finish to Willix last Friday. He’s aiming for his 13th career Series win.
He’ll be joined by reigning Glen Ridge track champion Jordan McCreadie, who finished seventh in the Series standings last year. McCreadie, also from Watertown, NY, finished eighth in 2023’s Mohawk Valley Showdown.
The Stars Are Coming: Williamson isn’t the only Super DIRTcar Series star aiming for the $4,000 prize on Sunday.
Quebec driver Felix Roy finished seventh in last year’s Mohawk Valley Showdown and is expected to return to the 1/4-mile bullring on Sunday night. The 2023 Super DIRTcar Series Rookie of the Year won at Airborne Park Speedway earlier this month and is searching for his first DIRTcar 358 Modified Series victory.
He’ll be joined by Mike Mahaney, who finished second in the Mohawk Valley Showdown in 2023. “Smooth Shoe” has yet to win a DIRTcar 358 Modified Series event but has finished second three times. His most recent runner-up finish came at Albany-Saratoga Speedway during Malta Massive Weekend.
Those two must contend with NASCAR Trucks star Stewart Friesen, who’s making his second appearance at The Ridge in 2024. The Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON driver, won on opening night at the track and aims for his eighth career DIRTcar 358 Modified Series win.
Friesen has won six times in 2024 and is coming off a third-place finish during the Heroes Remembered 100 at Weedsport Speedway.
2024 DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Schedule
Sunday, June 2, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park
Wednesday June 17, Fulton Speedway
Wednesday, July 3, Can-Am Speedway
Sunday, July 7, Weedsport Speedway
Friday, Sept. 20, Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Tuesday, Oct. 8, Brewerton Speedway
Friday, Oct. 11, Super DIRT Week 52 at Oswego Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 19, Brockville Ontario Speedway
For more on the DIRTcar Northeast, follow the DIRTcar Facebook page and the Series’ X/(Twitter) page.
