Super DIRT Week 51 at Oswego Speedway delivered an unforgettable week on, and off, the track.
New additions. Moving parts. A lot of moving parts. Non-stop action. And excitement for what’s to come next year pieced together a historic 51st running of Racing’s Biggest Party.
From Mat Williamson sweeping the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 and Salute to the Troops 150 to the Super DIRT Week team battling Mother Nature throughout the week, several moments highlight Super DIRT Week 51.
Top Moments of Super DIRT Week 51:
MAKE IT A DOUBLE: Mat Williamson dominated the latest pages of Super DIRT Week’s history book this year by winning his third Billy Whittaker Cars 200 title in five years – or in four events as 2020 was postponed by the pandemic – and his first DIRTcar 358 Modified Salute to the Troops 150.
He became the fourth driver in the event’s history to win the Big Block and Small Block Features in the same year – joining Brett Hearn, Danny Johnson and Matt Sheppard – and the first driver to win both on the same day. Adding on to the history making feat, he’s now the first driver to win both events on a Monday.
Williamson will return to Super DIRT Week in 2024, looking to be the first to win Super DIRT Week during its new Saturday night placement. If he wins, he’ll have won the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
ANOTHER STEP CLOSER: Before rolling to the track for the Salute to the Troops 150 on Monday, Max McLaughlin told his crew, “I’m about to do some racing.” Minutes later, he was upside down in the first turn on the first lap.
However, his night wasn’t done yet. Later in the day he was back behind the wheel of his #8H Big Block, vying for his first Billy Whittaker Cars 200 victory. And finally, he did some racing.
McLaughlin led several laps throughout the 200-lap race, battling with the likes of Matt Sheppard and Mat Williamson, before settling for a second-place finish – his career best Super DIRT Week finish (a spot better than his third-place finish in 2022).
While he turns his attention to a full schedule with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models in 2024, McLaughlin is still set to compete in Super DIRT Week 52 for Heinke-Baldwin Racing, eyeing another spot better.
THE FIRST TIME: In addition to Mat Williamson’s first DIRTcar 358 Modified Salute to the Troops 150 triumph, the DIRTcar Pro Stocks and DIRTcar Sportsman also saw first-time winners.
After 11 years of trying, Luke Horning finally scored his first Super DIRT Week win with the DIRTcar Pro Stock division. “Cousin Luke” raced his way from seventh to the lead by Lap 13 and led the rest of the way unchallenged. With the win, he also clinched his first DIRTcar Pro Stock Series championship.
Then, Matt Janczuk took his turn as the next first-time winner by claiming the DIRTcar Sportsman Chevrolet Performance 50 title (shortened from 75 laps due to weather). From the outside pole, Janczuk jumped to the lead on the opening lap and never looked back. Once declared the winner, he became the sixth different DIRTcar Sportsman winner in the last six Sportsman races.
OSWEGO V.S. MOTHER NATURE: When it came time for on track action at Oswego Speedway, Mother Nature had no interest in cooperating. But that didn’t stop Super DIRT Week officials from making sure the show pressed on.
Races had to be removed and times consistently changed, but through team coordination – which included input from drivers and teams – the best scenario came to be moving the event’s three remaining Features to Monday afternoon.
RELATED: How Super DIRT Week 51 Prevailed Through Unfavorable Conditions
In 50 years of the event, the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 had been moved from its Sunday date only twice – both being Saturdays. And while the track had taken a week’s worth of rain, the track crew had it in prime shape on Monday to produce three unforgettable Feature events.
FUTURE STAR MANIA: Before the superstars of the sport took to the 5/8-mile dirt oval, future stars put on a show Tuesday night with the inaugural Quarter Midget and Microd Mania. Drivers 5- to 16-years-old from the Syracuse Quarter Midget and Microd clubs battled in the infield of the speedway, live on DIRTVision.
Fans will get to watch them do so again in 2024 with the event now moved to Monday, Oct. 7. Heat Race action will start at 2 p.m. ET. for all divisions. Then, Feature racing will start at 6 p.m.
LOOKING AHEAD: Continuing to enhance the driver and fan experience at Super DIRT Week, on track action has been moved a day earlier in 2024, putting all racing for the Super DIRTcar Series, DIRTcar 358 Modified, DIRTcar Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro Stock under the lights.
With the move, that puts the Billy Whittaker Cars 200, now paying $52,000 to win, on Saturday night (at 7 p.m.). Sunday will be the new rain date.
The DIRTcar Sportsman Chevrolet Performance 75 will also be Saturday night, while the DIRTcar 358 Modified 150 Feature and DIRTcar Pro Stock 50 will be Friday night.
The Super DIRT Week Charity Golf Tournament at Radisson Greens Golf Course returns on Monday, Oct. 7. In 2023 $30,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society and $30,000 was raised for Race to Stop Suicide.
Brewerton Speedway’s Hurricane Harvey moves to Tuesday night (Oct. 8). And the fan-favorite City of Oswego Parade remains on Wednesday at 12 p.m.
The party also gets ramped up with a DJ party Tuesday through Saturday and a live band at the end of the week.
Tickets for Super DIRT Week 52 at Oswego Speedway (Oct. 7-12) are now on sale HERE.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.
Mat Williamson celebrates his Billy Whittaker Cars 200 win (Robert Clark photo)
