A dual-region battle awaits the DIRTcar Sportsman Series as it returns to Northern New York.
Can-Am Speedway in LaFargeville, NY, will host the North and Central Regions on Wednesday, July 3, as part of the highly anticipated Pabst Shootout.
Drivers will aim for a $1,000 prize in a 30-lap Feature.
Joining the DIRTcar Sportsman Series are the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series and the Empire Super Sprints.
For more on the DIRTcar Northeast, follow the DIRTcar Facebook page and the Series’ X/(Twitter) page.
Here’s a look at what to watch for at Can-Am:
Fight For the North: The North Region returns to action for the first time since Memorial Day Weekend when Shane Pecore outdueled Gavin Eisele for the win at Brockville Ontario Speedway.
With two runner-up finishes, Eisele leads Pecore in the North Region standings by two points and has an opportunity to extend that lead at his Friday night home track.
Despite being held out of Victory Lane, he has seven top fives at the “Nasty Track of the North” and hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in eight starts. A win by the LaFargeville, NY driver would be his first career victory.
Eisele is also fourth in the Central Region standings after finishing fourth at Weedsport in June.
Pecore, meanwhile, finished fifth in the North Region opener at Can-Am and scored his 11th Series win at Brockville earlier this season. However, the 2016 Series champion has yet to earn a Series win at Can-Am.
Jessica Power enters the Pabst Shootout third in the North Region standings – 12 points behind Eisele after a fourth at Can-Am and sixth at Brockville.
The Kingston, ON driver has four top fives and seven top 10s in eight starts this season at Can-Am.
Defending Can-Am: Tyler Corcoran won the North Region opener in April. However, he’s focusing on the Central Region in 2024.
A return to his home track gives him the opportunity to move up the ladder after finishing ninth at Weedsport last month.
Four of Corcoran’s six DIRTcar Sportsman Series wins have come at the LaFargeville, NY oval.
Can-Am points leader Mike Fowler is hoping to get back on track after struggles in both the North and Central region opener. The Fulton, NY driver crashed at Can-Am in April, finishing 26th, and had carburetor and valve gasket issues at Weedsport, and was credited with a 29th-place finish.
On A Mission: After a third-place finish at Weedsport, Zach Sobotka sits behind West Region champion Cody McPherson and Cedric Gauvreau in the Central Region standings.
However, that podium may be the spark he needs to push him toward a Central Region title. The Parish, NY driver moved up 10 spots in the Feature, giving him valuable momentum entering the Pabst Shootout.
Despite scoring eight DIRTcar Sportsman Series victories, Sobotka is yet to win at Can-Am. He finished 10th in his last Series appearance in September 2023.
DIRTcar Sportsman Series North Region Schedule
Friday, April 26, Can-Am Speedway, LaFargeville, NY- Tyler Corcoran
Saturday, May 25, Brockville Ontario Speedway, Brockville, ON- Shane Pecore
Wednesday, July 3, Can-Am Speedway, LaFargeville, NY
Saturday, Aug. 3, Autodrome Drummond, Drummondville, QC
DIRTcar Sportsman Series Central Region Schedule
Tuesday, June 11, Weedsport Speedway, Weedsport, NY- Cody McPherson
Saturday, June 22, Land of Legends Raceway, Canandaigua, NY- Postponed
Wednesday, July 3, Can-Am Speedway, LaFargeville, NY
Saturday, July 27, Fulton Speedway, Fulton, NY