For the first time in 2024, the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series will roar to life this weekend at Fulton Speedway.
The Highbank Holdup 60 is the first in an eight-race chase to determine the best 358 Modified driver in the Northeast, which includes Super DIRT Week 52 at Oswego Speedway and ends in October during Fall Nationals at Brockville Ontario Speedway.
Drivers will first wage war in a 60-lap, $4,500-to-win, Feature on Saturday, April 27, as part of Fulton’s Highbank Holdup weekend – the track’s season opener.
Joining the 358 Modifieds on the card are the DIRTcar Sportsman and 4-Cylinders.
Here’s a look at what to watch for this weekend:
Series Regulars: In 2023, more than 40 cars entered each DIRTcar 358 Modified Series event. Dean Reynolds, DIRTcar Northeast Series Director, said he believes this number will only grow in this year’s eight scheduled races.
“The DIRTcar 358 Series is coming off an awesome 2023,” he said. “Every race boasted 40 cars or more, and I feel the momentum will continue this year. We had very good crowds as well, and bringing the curtain down at Brockville was huge. We had Canadian support last year for the first time since COVID; crowning a champion North of the Border was very important.”
This year, 15 drivers are projected to run for a Series championship. There will also likely be a new champion in 2024, as Mat Williamson isn’t expected to compete in every event due to scheduling conflicts.
Here are the 15 drivers expected to be at every DIRTcar 358 Modified Series event in 2024:
Lance Willix
CJ Castelletti
Dave Marcuccilli
Felix Roy
Jordan McCreadie
Amy Holland
Andrew Buff
Derek Webb
Scott Webb
Nick Webb
Bob Hentschel
Jarrett Herbison
Ryan Bartlett
Aaron Jacobs
Alex Payne
Defending Home Turf: Out of the full-time drivers expected to run the complete Series, Dave Marcuccilli, Amy Holland, C.J. Castelletti, and Derek Webb get the chance to defend home turf at Fulton this weekend.
Marcuccilli, the 2022 Series champion, finished second in the track’s standings last season, earning a win, nine top fives, and 10 top 10s. However, he’s hoping for a better run in this year’s Highbank Holdup after finishing 14th in 2023.
The Cayuga, NY driver is aiming for his second DIRTcar 358 Modified Series victory. He won at Mohawk International Raceway in September 2019 and finished fourth in the Series standings last year.
Holland, meanwhile, finished third in last year’s Highbank Holdup and is searching for her first Series victory this weekend. The Fulton, NY driver finished sixth in the track’s standings last year with four top fives and nine top 10s.
Webb and Castelletti also made Fulton their home in 2023, with Webb reaching Victory Lane last June.
North Country Standouts: Lance Willix and Jordan McCreadie, who battled for the Hoosier Tire Weekly Championship in 2023, will both battle for a Series title in 2024.
Related: Hoosier Tire Weekly Racing Championships Begin For Five DIRTcar Northeast Divisions
McCreadie, from Watertown, NY, finished seventh in the Series standings with two top fives and four top 10s. Willix, from Theresa, NY, finished three points behind McCreadie in eighth.
In last year’s Highbank Holdup 60, McCreadie finished 10th, while WIllix crossed the line 12th.
Willix has previously won a DIRTcar 358 Modified Series event, grabbing the checkered flag at Cornwall Motor Speedway in 2016.
Billy Dunn, the 2021 Series champion, will also battle in Saturday’s Highbank Holdup. The Watertown, NY driver enters the weekend 11th on the Series all-time wins list with 12 after scoring a victory at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park in 2023.
Dunn finished ninth at last year’s Highbank Holdup and third in the track’s point standings with a win, eight top fives, and 10 top 10s.
Moving Up the Ladder: Reigning DIRTcar Sportsman Series champion Andrew Buff will compete full-time in 358 Modifieds in 2024 and will kick off his season this weekend.
The Latham, NY driver, who also won Fulton’s Sportsman championship last season, raced a 358 Modified toward the end of the season, including a start in the Salute to the Troops 150 at Oswego Speedway.
Buff reached Victory Lane four times at Fulton in 2023, along with nine top fives and 10 top 10s.
SummerFAST Preview: Five Super DIRTcar Series stars are expected to be in DIRTcar 358 Modified Series action this weekend at Fulton.
Defending track champion Tim Sears Jr. leads that charge, coming off a three-win season in which he never finished outside the top five in 11 weekly Features. “Timmer” finished sixth in last year’s Highbank Holdup and aims for his second DIRTcar 358 Modified Series win after scoring a victory at Brewerton in 2018.
He’ll go up against 2023 Super DIRTcar Series Rookie of the Year Felix Roy, who finished second in last year’s DIRTcar 358 Modified Series standings. The Napierville, QC driver finished eighth in 2023’s Highbank Holdup and had two top fives and five top 10s.
Both drivers will have to deal with reigning Series champion Mat Williamson, who will be at Fulton on Saturday now that Land of Legends Raceway’s opener has been postponed. The St. Catharines, ON driver had four Series wins in 2023, including his first Salute to the Troops 150 win at Super DIRT Week.
“Money Mat” is ninth on the Series all-time wins list with 14 victories.
Larry Wight and Mike Mahaney will also return to DIRTcar 358 Modified Series action at Fulton.
“Lightning Larry,” who competes weekly at Fulton, finished fourth in the track’s standings last year with four wins, 10 top fives, and 10 top 10s in 10 Features. He also finished second to Williamson in last year’s event.
Wight enters the weekend with two DIRTcar 358 Modified wins.
Mahaney, meanwhile, finished fourth in the 2023 Highbank Holdup and third in Series points last season with three top fives and four top 10s. The King Ferry, NY driver has never won a DIRTcar 358 Modified Series event.
Current Series Rookie of the Year contender Alex Payne will also start the season racing in DIRTcar 358 Modified Series events.
Despite driving a 358 Modified, all four drivers will get valuable track time for when the Super DIRTcar Series visits for the SummerFAST finale on Wednesday, August 14. For tickets, CLICK HERE.
2024 DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Schedule
Saturday, April 27, Fulton Speedway
Sunday, June 2, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park
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.
