CONCORD, N.C. — Jimmy Phelps led all 30 laps of Thursday’s Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals feature at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, holding off Mat Williamson for his 25th career Super DIRTcar Series victory and third of 2026.
The Baldwinsville, N.Y., driver, who won the SRI Performance and Stock Car Steel Pole Award, took the lead at the green and pulled away. He held a lead of over a second before the first caution, on Lap 7 for Paul Mancini. Logan Watt dropped out on Lap 11 when his driveshaft broke, handing second to Williamson, who started sixth.
Williamson closed in during lap traffic, and a caution with 10 laps to go for Rex King Jr. put him within striking distance. He tried the extreme outside lane down the backstretch and got a strong run out of Turn 2 with two laps left, pulling even with Phelps before Phelps held the inside line through Turn 3.
“Just an awesome car,” Phelps said. “We had a good Heat Race. Had a good pill draw. And we really needed to make tonight count because we’re a little deeper tomorrow. But for right now we’ll celebrate. It feels good.”
“We fired really good,” Phelps said. “And as the right-rear tire started to wear, I knew I needed to make an adjustment in (Turns) 1 and 2. The 88 made us earn it toward the end. He got me to move. I’m not really even sure if I moved to the right line compared to where he was running, but I think it might’ve got me into the grip enough to hold him off the rest of the way.”
Williamson finished second, his third straight top-two Series finish. Alex Yankowski was third and holds an 87-point lead over Williamson with two races remaining. Alex Payne was fourth and Felix Roy fifth.
Feature results (30 laps, Night 1)
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98H | Jimmy Phelps | 1 |
| 2 | 88 | Mat Williamson | 6 |
| 3 | 84Y | Alex Yankowski | 8 |
| 4 | 70A | Alex Payne | 12 |
| 5 | 91 | Felix Roy | 3 |
| 6 | 26 | Ryan Godown | 4 |
| 7 | 12 | Darren Smith | 9 |
| 8 | 1 | Tyler Dippel | 7 |
| 9 | 2 | Jack Lehner | 15 |
| 10 | 21A | Peter Britten | 13 |
| 11 | 7MM | Michael Maresca | 22 |
| 12 | 35 | Mike Mahaney | 11 |
| 13 | 9S | Matt Sheppard | 10 |
| 14 | 16 | Louden Reimert | 18 |
| 15 | 9 | Tim McCreadie | 16 |
| 16 | 11 | Matt Caprara | 19 |
| 17 | 25 | Erick Rudolph | 20 |
| 18 | 6 | Matt Stangle | 17 |
| 19 | 35C | Chris Curtis | 26 |
| 20 | 3 | Justin Haers | 27 |
| 21 | 29 | Ryan Krachun | 24 |
| 22 | 15X | Justin Stone | 25 |
| 23 | 11T | Jeff Taylor | 23 |
| 24 | 44G | Sebastien Gougeon | 28 |
| 25 | 99L | Larry Wight | 14 |
| 26 | 165 | Rex King Jr. | 5 |
| 27 | 7M | Paul Mancini | 30 |
| 28 | 17 | Marcus Dinkins (DNF) | 29 |
| 29 | 14W | Logan Watt (DNF) | 2 |
| 30 | 28 | Michael Trautschold (DNF) | 21 |
