Mat Williamson Ready to Put the Pressure on 358-Modified Point Leader Dale Planck
BRIGHTON, ONTARIO – September 18, 2012 – The weather may be cooling as autumn approaches, but the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series and DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series just keep heating up, with upcoming events at Brighton Speedway‘s Cool 100 Applefest Shootout Weekend presented by Benson Auto Parts giving competitors their last hurrah before NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week in Syracuse.
The Applefest features the 30-lap sixth round of the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series on Friday, Sept. 21, and the 100-lap eighth round of the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series on Saturday, Sept. 22. Friday’s racing action also includes Eastern Ontario Vintage Cars, Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, Bill’s Johns Comp 4s, and Quinte Septic 6-Cylinder Stingers. Saturday’s schedule includes Vanderlaan’s Pro Late Models, Bainer’s Radiators Canadian Modifieds, and the $100-to-win Brighton Automotive Pro Stock Duel.
DIRTcar 358-Modified Series point runner-up Mat Williamson hopes the upcoming weekend will give him the opportunity to make up some of the 142-point difference that separates him from leader Dale Planck.
“This past weekend we really didn’t get the good luck we wanted, so we’ve really got to step it up for Brighton this weekend,” said Williamson, who hit an infield tire off a restart at the last series race at Mohawk International Raceway, taking out the front end of his car and causing him to finish 29 th. “We’ve worked on the car a lot this week and, with preparations for (Super) DIRT Week coming up, we split up the cars and spent some time on the Syracuse car as well, but we got the car fixed back up.”
The 22-year-old from St-Catharines, Ontario, has yet to see a DIRTcar 358-Modified Series win this season, but with strong finishes – four in the top-five and five in the top-ten – and a second-place finish in track points at Merrittville Speedway, he is a strong contender for the series championship.
“We race the Applefest every year,” Williamson said. “I’ve always like racing Brighton. It’s a nice little track and they get a lot of fans up this weekend.”
Friday’s DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series event also comes at a dramatic point in the series, with point leader Brandon Easey holding just a 14-point advantage over runner-up Martin Pelletier.
The back gate opens at 3 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday at Brighton Speedway. Front gates open on 5 p.m. both days. For more information, visit www.brightonspeedway.com.