As tracks prepare for opening nights across the region, the battle for the top DIRTcar Northeast Weekend Warrior begins this weekend.
In 2025, five divisions will take center stage as part of the Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Racing Championships, where drivers will battle throughout the Northeast and Canada for extra money.
From now until Labor Day, the drivers in the Big Block Modifieds, 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stock, and 4 Cylinders will take their best 16 finishes and earn points toward the overall championship.
Five champions will be celebrated at the DIRTcar Northeast banquet in November, where more than $47,000 will be paid out to drivers.
Here’s a look at What to Watch For in the five divisions in 2025:
Big Block Modifieds
Peter Britten earned his first Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Racing championship in 2024. The Brisbane, QLD driver earned four wins between Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Land of Legends Raceway, and Orange County Fair Speedway last season and will call those three tracks home in 2025.
Peter Britten drives around Albany-Saratoga Speedway/Tom Morris
Two drivers he’ll battle against in weekly action will be defending Super DIRTcar Series champion Mat Williamson and former Weekly Racing champion Marc Johnson. Williamson finished second last season by grabbing five wins, 16 top fives, and 16 top 10s. He also earned his first track championship at Land of Legends Raceway.
Johnson, meanwhile, fell short of a second weekly crown despite earning four wins, 19 top fives, and 27 top 10s. The Guilderland, NY driver will call Albany-Saratoga and Lebanon Valley his home tracks again in 2025.
Brewerton Speedway regulars Jimmy Phelps and Tim Sears Jr. will also contend for a weekly championship, along with Lebanon Valley drivers Andy Bachetti and Brett Haas.
This year’s Big Block Modified champion will earn $7,000, and the top drivers will receive more than $18,000 at November’s banquet.
358 Modifieds
Lance Willix will defend his Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship for the second consecutive season. The Theresa, NY driver made 39 weekly starts last season, earning six wins, 20 top fives, and 36 top 10s.
Lance Willix races at Albany-Saratoga Speedway/Don Simpson
Willix narrowly beat our fellow Can-Am Speedway regular Billy Dunn by eight points after the Watertown, NY driver grabbed four wins, 16 top fives, and 23 top 10s.
Those two will battle it out on Friday nights again in 2025, and Willix will also contend with Andrew Buff, last season’s DIRTcar 358 Modified Rookie of the Year, on Sundays at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park. Buff finished third in last year’s standings with two wins, 12 top fives, and 19 tops 10s.
Can-Am track champion Tim Fuller and Fulton Speedway track champion Tim Sears Jr. will try to knock Willix off his throne as 358 Modified drivers battle for a $3,000 prize and more than $14,000 between the top 20 spots.
Sportsman
Cody McPherson dominated the DIRTcar Sportsman division in 2025, earning track championships at Merrittville Speedway and Ransomville Speedway. He also took home his third DIRTcar Sportsman Series championship.
Cody McPherson aims to defend Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship in 2025/Joe Grabianowski
In weekly competition, the St. Catharines, ON driver finished the year with 15 wins and never finished outside the top five in 26 starts.
Zach Buff and Cody Manitta are two drivers to watch to try and knock McPherson off that throne in 2025. Buff had six wins and 20 top fives between Fulton and Glen Ridge in 26 starts. Manitta, meanwhile, grabbed two wins, 17 top fives, and 23 top 10s on his way to the Fulton track championship.
Another driver to keep an eye on this season is Tim Hartman Jr. With both of his home tracks now offering weekly points, the Albany-Saratoga and Lebanon Valley regular could make the most of his opportunity. “TH2” had four wins at Albany-Saratoga but added 13 wins in 14 starts at Lebanon Valley, where the Sportsman division will be DIRTcar sanctioned in 2025.
This year’s Sportsman champion will take home $1,000 at the end of the season.
Pro Stocks
Like Willix, Glen Ridge Pro Stock driver Luke Horning earned his second consecutive Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship. “Cousin Luke” had three wins throughout the season and added 14 top fives and 17 top 10s in 18 starts.
Luke Horning practices at Oswego Speedway during Super DIRT Week/Brent Smith
Beau Ballard will be one of the drivers challenging Horning for the crown in 2025. He is looking to capitalize on the momentum from last season, which almost saw the Stamford, NY driver earn his first DIRTcar Pro Stock Series title.
However, it won’t just be the Capital Region represented in 2025. With the additions of Cornwall Motor Speedway and Mohawk International Raceway under the DIRTcar banner this season, Pro Stock veterans like Denis Gauvreau, Jocelyn Roy, and Marc Lalonde, along with many others, will have the chance to earn a weekly championship.
Whoever has the most points at the end of the 2025 season will earn $1,000.
4 Cylinders
Long-time 4 Cylinder competitor Chris Bonoffski will be back to defend his crown after a dominant 2024 season. The Fulton, NY driver had 11 victories and 16 top fives in 19 starts.
Kenny Hair and Justin Pope will try to outduel Bonoffski in 2025 after seasons where they both earned a combined seven victories, finishing only 28 points apart.
This year’s 4 Cylinder champion will take home $500 for their efforts.
Here is the list of tracks and divisions sanctioned by DIRTcar Northeast in 2025:
Airborne Park Speedway – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, 4 Cyl.
Albany-Saratoga Speedway – Big Block, 358, Sportsman, Pro Stock, 4 Cyl.
Autodrome Drummond – 358, Sportsman, Pro Stock
Bear Ridge Speedway – Sportsman, 4 Cyl.
Brewerton Speedway – Big Block, Sportsman, 4 Cyl.
Brockville Ontario Speedway – 358, Sportsman
Can-Am Speedway – 358, Sportsman, 4 Cyl.
Cornwall Motor Speedway – 358, Sportsman, Pro Stocks
Devil’s Bowl Speedway – 358, 4 Cyl.
Fulton Speedway – 358, Sportsman
Glen Ridge Motorsports Park – 358, Sportsman, Pro Stock, 4 Cyl.
Land of Legends Raceway – Big Block, Sportsman
Lebanon Valley Speedway – Big Block, Sportsman, Pro Stock, 4 Cyl.
Merrittville Speedway – Sportsman, 4 Cyl.
Mohawk International Raceway – 358, Sportsman, Pro Stocks, 4 Cyl.
Orange County Fair Speedway – Big Block
Ransomville Speedway – 358, Sportsman, 4 Cyl.
Thunder Mountain Speedway – 358, Sportsman, 4 Cyl.
Weedsport Speedway – Big Block, Sportsman
For more on the DIRTcar Northeast, follow the DIRTcar Facebook page and the Series’ X/(Twitter) page.
