After falling short in last year’s chase for a DIRTcar Sportsman Series championship, Gavin Eisele is hungrier than ever to earn a title in 2025.
The battle for the championship begins on Sunday, Aug. 3, at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, spanning 10 races, including the DIRTcar Sportsman Great Lakes 75 during Super DIRT Week 53 at Oswego Speedway.
Eisele, who won the Central Region championship this season, said he’s confident he’ll be able to maintain his consistency throughout the 10 races.
“We’ve been pretty consistent,” Eisele said. “We won last year at Glen Ridge and won at Fulton the week after. We’re just trying to put everything together and hopefully put together a full season.”
The LaFargeville, NY driver’s fast start catapulted him into a battle with three-time Series champion Cody McPherson. And his win at Glen Ridge was only the third time he’s been at the track.
“I was just handed the lead when the leaders wrecked, and kind of held on,” Eisele said. “I don’t think we led the points at all, but it helped us stay close until all of the region and track points got added in. But it definitely helped a bunch.”
He’s not only confident about a championship run in 2025, but also a chance at winning during Super DIRT Week 53. Eisele earned his first top 10 at Oswego in last year’s Great Lakes 75. However, with more than 90 cars expected to try and qualify for the event, he said it’s essential to unload fast.
“If you don’t end up on the board in Time Trials, it’s usually going to be a long night for you,” Eisele said. “Last year, we time trialed 21st out of 90-some-odd cars. And in the Heat Race, we gained a few spots. That put us starting like 10th.
“It was a huge confidence booster because the last few years, we really haven’t been great there. And last year, we kind of were OK. We made some changes for the Feature, but we weren’t where we needed to be. But we’ll take an eighth-place finish at Super DIRT Week anytime.”
Among those 90 cars at Super DIRT Week will be drivers like 2016 Series champion Shane Pecore, Fulton Speedway points leader Emmett Waldron, and Can-Am Speedway points leader Richard Murtaugh III. Those three will also challenge Eisele for the overall crown beginning on Sunday.
After competing for a title last year, Eisele said he knows what to expect throughout the Fall.
“Pecore is good just about everywhere,” Eisele said. “Especially when it comes to Canada and the Northern tracks. But he hasn’t been to Glen Ridge, hasn’t been to Albany, and hasn’t been to Ransomville in many years. So, I think we’ll have a little bit of an advantage there.
“Murtaugh is always fast, Emmett is fast, so you just have to take the best night and make it worthwhile.”
Eisele’s quest for a DIRTcar Sportsman Series title begins on Sunday, Aug. 3, at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park.
In October, he’ll aim for his first Great Lakes 75 victory during Super DIRT Week 53 at Oswego Speedway, Oct. 6-11.
If you can’t make it to the track, watch every lap of Super DIRT Week 53 live on DIRTVision.
