Super DIRT Week 51 is fast approaching with the event set to begin on October 4.
The legendary week at New York’s Oswego Speedway for the Super DIRTcar Series will be an opportunity for many drivers to make their mark on history.
One driver in particular, Mat Williamson, is hunting for a third Billy Whittaker Cars 200 Super DIRT Week triumph.
Though it’ll be a busy five-day stretch for the 33-year-old as he’ll balance competing in his usual big-block modified for Buzz Chew Racing, along with wheeling a 358 modified for CW Racing.
Despite the movement between two different cars, Williamson stressed the importance of having a solid group of people around him to ensure a smooth week.
“It’s not too bad. We’ve got a lot of good helpers that make it so that I can be here in my garage working on my stuff, they’re working on their stuff, and Buzz is working on his stuff,” Williamson said.
“That takes a big team effort and a lot of good people behind us. Last year at Oswego we tried to run my car in the small-block race, and it just distracted us from the big-block stuff a little bit. So, we’ll see how this year goes,” Williamson continued. “Going back to kind of more of a driver’s standpoint in the small block, not necessarily driver-owner. That should allow us to focus on racing more than the logistics of things.”
With a solid plan in place, Williamson can pivot his attention elsewhere. This year, the format for the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 has changed.
With the removal of a pit stop on lap 100, a competition caution flag will wave at/or around laps 75 and 125.
The change will allow for varying strategy for the drivers and teams during the 200-lap race.
“This year’s gonna be a little bit more interesting,” Williamson said. “Obviously without pit stops, it makes it more of a driver’s race. A little bit of luck always played into the pit stop game.
“So, obviously you’re gonna still need to be lucky, but I think it’s going to be more up to the drivers on whether you can be in victory lane at the end.”
While Super DIRT Week looms large over the series, a championship is still at stake for Williamson.
The 2019 Super DIRTcar Series champion is 90 points behind championship leader Matt Sheppard with Saturday’s race at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, the Oswego Super DIRT Week round and three features at The Dirt Track at Charlotte (N.C.) remaining.
Williamson believes chopping down Sheppard’s gap will be crucial entering the Nov. 1-4 World Finals.
“As we’ve seen in the past, anything can happen at DIRT Week. Charlotte’s probably the great equalizer, we can close up some points hopefully,” Williamson said. “We could have motor problems, he could have motor problems. It’s anybody’s game when you get down there if points are close.
“Hopefully we can get through the next few races, Weedsport (canceled), Albany and DIRT Week and maybe close up that 90-point lead that he has now to something that’s a little bit more reasonable going into Charlotte.”