WEST LEBANON, N.Y. — After nearly two decades, the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series returns to Lebanon Valley Speedway to kick off its 2026 season.
Drivers will battle in a 50-lap feature, paying $5,000-to-win in the first race at the track since 2007.
Along with the 358 Modifieds, the DIRTcar Sportsman Series East Region, DIRTcar Pro Stocks, Limited Sportsman, Street Stock and 4-Cylinder divisions.
Money on the High Banks
Defending series champion Mat Williamson has a chance to make his own history on Saturday by adding a win at Lebanon Valley Speedway to his resume. The oval is one of the few tracks he’s yet to score a victory at in his career.
While the St. Catharines, Ontario, driver hasn’t made a 358 start at Lebanon Valley in his career, he’s made eight Super DIRTcar Series starts. In those races, he’s earned four top fives and five top 10s.
A win on Saturday would be “Money Mat’s” 21st career series victory as he kicks off the chase for his third championship.
The Lone 3
Entering Saturday’s event, only two drivers who competed in the series’ 2007 visit to Lebanon Valley are expected to return this weekend—Andy Bachetti, Lance Willix, and Ryan Larkin.
Willix has made two starts at the track in his career but hasn’t returned since 2007. The Theresa, N.Y., driver is aiming for his third series victory.
Bachetti, meanwhile, is a 63-time 358 Modified winner at the track and earned four trips to victory lane last season. The Sheffield, Mass., driver is also a 11-time 358 Modified champion at the facility. Along with those accolades, all four of the “Wild Child’s” series victories have come at Lebanon Valley.
Ryan Larkin, from Alford, Mass., finished 15th in the 2007 event. He has six career wins at Lebanon Valley, with four of them coming in the track’s Small Block class.
A Stout Class of Small Blocks
While Bachetti has won the 358 Modified championship 11 times at Lebanon Valley, he didn’t win the title in 2025.
Chris Curtis earned that honor for the first time, grabbing five wins, 10 top fives, and 11 top 10s in 13 starts. The East Canaan, Conn., driver was one of five drivers who made a trip to victory lane, joining Bachetti (4), Joey Coppola (1), Larkin (1) and Brett Haas (2).
While those five drivers earned wins, the top five in the track’s points standings proved how important consistency was throughout the season. Joining Curtis, Bachetti and Coppola on that list were Jeff Watson and Kyle Sheldon. All of them earned at least seven top fives in 13 starts, with all of them finishing in the top 10 on at least 10 occasions.
