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. (more…)

358-Modified Track Champion Struts his Stuff at Mohawk International Raceway

HOGANSBURG, N. Y. – September 16, 2012 – Just coming off winning Mohawk’s 358-Modified track championship, Billy Dunn proved his prowess navigating his 23d small block through the turns of Mohawk International Raceway, charging from an 11^th starting position to the lead spot by lap 28 at the DIRTcar 358-Modified Series Round 7 Saturday, Sept. 15.

“I had to work hard for that race. It locked down a little toward the end and once I got the lead it was just tire management, trying to keep the car straight,” said Dunn, who also won the first DIRTcar 358-Modified Series event at Mohawk earlier in the year. “We made it to the end, so it’s a good deal.” (more…)

Hogansburg, N. Y. – Saturday, September 15, 2012 – Martin Bélanger, DIRTcar Correspondent – The DIRTcar Sportsman Series stopped in Mohawk International Raceway for round five as another strong field of drivers showed up.

Mathieu Desjardins grabbed the early lead in the 50-lap event with Brandon Easey and Devin Caron were right behind the leader. Ryan Arbuthnot slowed in the backstretch and caution came out on lap 4.

Desjardins came on strong off the restart with Devon Caron taking second over Easey. The race ran two laps on green conditions as Nolan Swamp slowed in turn 3.  On the following green, Desjardins still in the lead with Caron, Easey, Chris Herbison and Martin Pelletier the top 5 as the feature reached the 15-lap mark. (more…)

HOGANSBURG, N. Y. – September 16, 2012 – Martin Bélanger, DIRTcar Correspondent – Cool temperatures greeted DIRTcar Pro-Stock Series drivers at Mohawk International Raceway but Joey Ladouceur was hot on the speedway as he went to win in a dominant fashion to extend his lead in the series.

Mohawk local runners Owen White and Jody Swamp shared the top row on the initial start in the 50-lap DIRTcar Pro-Stock feature. White took the top spot as Bruno Cyr slipped to second with Swamp in third. Cyr used the inside lane to grab the lead as DIRTcar series contenders Rob Yetman and Joey Ladouceur were already in the top 5 as Ladouceur grabbed fourth with 4 laps in the books. (more…)

After Braving Friday’s Rainout, Phelps Comes out on Top

HOGANSBURG, N. Y. – September 16, 2012 – Jimmy Phelps faced an uphill battle on the way to his first Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series win of the season Saturday, Sept. 15, at Mohawk International Raceway, battling seven-time titlist Brett Hearn for the lead and facing late-race challenges from small block standout Dale Planck.

After finishing 13^th in Friday’s time trials before rain put a stop to qualifiers, and finishing second in his heat, Phelps drew the seventh spot in the grid. Hearn, with the pole at the green flag, took the initial lead, and kept it through a caution in lap 1 and restart in lap 5. Mario Clair pursued from second and Phelps was gradually working his way up the ranks. By lap 17, Brett “the Jet” Hearn was lapping cars, and Phelps had made it to second.

Phelps was just slightly better at maneuvering lapped traffic on Mohawk’s slick track Saturday and passed Hearn in lap 32, but Hearn refused to relinquish easily. He followed Phelps through the turns and challenged him when the second caution brought a double-file restart in lap 42, but just two laps later mechanical issues forced him to the pits and he was unable to return to the race. (more…)

Colton Builds Chassis for Phelps, Britten, McGrail and Working on Unique Entries for “the Mile”

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – Sept. 12, 2012 -When the VP Small Engine Fuels 200 winner pulls into victory lane to celebrate a NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week triumph, it may be the driver who captures the crowd’s attention, but in those 200 laps it was the car that turned heads in the grandstand.

As NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLI nears, car builders like Bill Colton of Troyer Race Cars are working hard behind the scenes to prepare for one of the most challenging and most rewarding races of the season.

“It is such a big undertaking from a car builder’s standpoint,” Colton said during a conference call with media on Tuesday. “Syracuse is an endurance race. You have to really have performance. You have to have a fast race car. You have you have a car that is fast in all conditions because you go to Syracuse and you don’t know what you’re going to get.”

(CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL FEATURING BILL COLTON) (more…)

McPherson takes Ransomville, Merrittville and Humberstone

WEEDSPORT, N. Y. – September 13, 2012 – Tyler McPherson charged ahead of the pack for victory in three races in as many days, winning DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series events at Ransomville Speedway Friday, Sept. 7, Merrittville Speedway Saturday, Sept. 8, and Humberstone Speedway Sunday, Sept. 9.

Friday at Ransomville, for the second round of the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Series, McPherson started 24th on the grid, but survived several early-race cautions and a pair of red flags, working his way up to the lead spot, which he gained in lap 34. He led the remainder of the race, with Don Spatorico coming in second, Brandon Easey third, Cody McPherson fourth, and Alan Willis fifth.

Mark Chiddy led early in Saturday’s 50-lapper at Merrittville Speedway, until Dave Marcuccilli took control of the top spot in lap 7. Once again, McPherson propelled forward and was soon challenging the leader, with three-wide battles for first between Chiddy, Marcuccilli, and McPherson characterizing the race at the halfway point. (more…)