DRUMMONDVILLE, QC — A three-night swing awaits the Super DIRTcar Series as it visits Canada for the only time in 2024.
The swing starts with two nights at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, QC, on Monday, July 22, and Tuesday, July 23, for the King of the North.
A $7,500 prize is up for grabs on night one. Then, drivers return on night two to battle for $10,000 and a guaranteed starting spot at Super DIRT Week. Both features are 75 laps.
Then, the Super DIRTcar Series makes its lone stop in Ontario with a visit to Brockville Ontario Speedway for the Canadian Classic on Wednesday, July 24.
Another $7,500 is on the line in a 75-lap feature.
Four-Way Battle
Entering the King of the North, the top four drivers in the Super DIRTcar Series standings are separated by 10 points.
Ten-time defending Series champion Matt Sheppard leads by two points over Anthony Perrego and three points over Jimmy Phelps. Mat Williamson is in fourth, 10 points behind.
Out of the four drivers battling for the top spot, Sheppard has found the most success in Canada.
The Waterloo, N.Y. driver has six victories at Drummond, including his first series win in 2004. He also won at Brockville in 2019.
Phelps has also been successful in Canada, with seven top fives and 13 top 10s in 21 total starts at Drummond. That includes a DIRTcar 358 Modified Series win in 2009. In 15 starts at Brockville, he has five top fives, including second-place finishes in 2008 and 2017.
Despite being winless in Super DIRTcar Series competition, Mat Williamson has won at both tracks.
The St. Catharines, Ontario, driver scored a Canadian Big Block Series win at Drummond in 2022 and hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in his last four series starts.
At Brockville, he hasn’t finished off the podium in his last five starts between the Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar 358 Modified Series, including a win in 2018.
In his last six Super DIRTcar Series starts at the bullring, he has four top fives including three thirds.
Perrego has the least experience out of the top four at Drummond and Brockville, making only one series start between the two tracks. He finished 25th on night one of the King of the North at Drummond last year.
The Streak Continues
The Super DIRTcar Series has visited Drummond since 1978, when Kenny Brightbill won. However, a driver from Quebec hasn’t won a series event in the last 22 races, dating back to 2002, when Steve Poirier took the checkered flag.
Two drivers came close to breaking the streak last year. Francois Bernier led most of the feature on night one of last year’s King of the North until he hopped the cushion in turn 1 with two laps to go.
David Hebert also narrowly missed out on a win last year, finishing second to Erick Rudolph on night one and Mike Mahaney in the finale.
Hebert will aim for redemption in this year’s two-night swing. He has six wins in 2024, all at Autodrome Granby.
The King of the North also marks the return of former full-time Super DIRTcar Series driver Steve Bernard. He finished 13th and fourth in the 2023 event.Â
Felix’s Homecoming
Racing in Quebec means a homecoming for 2023 series rookie of the year Felix Roy.
While he hasn’t reached victory lane with the Super DIRTcar Series this season, he’s scored three wins this year, including a Canadian Big Block Series triumph at Drummond.
Roy earned back-to-back sixth-place finishes at Drummond in 2023 and laps during night two of the King of the North.
He is currently second in the track’s point standings.
Back to Brockville
Wednesday’s Canadian Classic is the 17th visit for the Super DIRTcar Series.
In 16 races, the Ontario track has had 10 different winners, with only four of them winning more than once.
Billy Decker, Rudolph, Tim Fuller and Danny Johnson have more than one series victory in their career. Fuller is the most recent winner, outdueling Sheppard and Williamson for the $7,500 win last year.
Sheppard is the most recent full-time driver to reach victory lane, winning in 2019.