Mat Williamson was fastest in Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar 358 Modified Practice
After a couple of days of campers and race teams moving in, the on-track action at the historic 50th running of NAPA Super DIRT Week kicked off Wednesday as cars from all four divisions tested out the race surface for the first time this year at Oswego Speedway.
Drivers had their first laps at the “Clay Palace” during practice sessions where the track conditions looked extremely favorable.
Each division had three sessions in preparation for Time Trials and Heat Races on Thursday and Friday. The top six drivers in Time Trials will be locked into the first three rows of this weekend’s Features.
A pair of drivers started Super DIRT Week 50 the same place they left it in 2022—at the top of their respective divisions.
Two-time and defending Billy Whittaker Cars 200 winner Mat Williamson ran the fastest lap in both Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar 358 Modified Series practice.
His quickest lap in the 358 Modifieds (21.551) was faster than his quickest in the Big Block Modified (21.925).
“The track is really good,” said Williamson, of St. Catharines, ONT. “Jeremie (Corcoran) did an awesome job. Hopefully, it stays together, and it doesn’t take rubber. At Oswego, you never know what will happen.
“We showed a little speed early, and hopefully, we can keep the momentum rolling throughout the week. A disappointing night (on Tuesday at Weedsport) led us to be fast out of the gate.”
Williamson isn’t the only driver who remains at the head of his class. Defending Chevrolet Performance 75 winner Zach Sobotka, from Parish, NY, also set the fastest time of the day in DIRTcar Sportsman action (21.888).
Sobotka feels confident knowing he picked up where he left off.
“We pretty much came out how we ran the Feature last year here,” Sobotka said. “The track is smoother than it was last year, so I believe the track should be pretty racy.”
A DIRTcar Pro Stock veteran was at the top of the charts after practice as Jay Casey clocked in at 25.515.
The Canaan, CT driver, said he feels confident in what he needs to do to stay on top all weekend.
“The car responds to everything I commanded it to do,” Casey said. “It’s a great handling car. We’ll see what it does in traffic and out of traffic and running up front.”
“The track will cool off quite a bit, and the dew will settle in. So, we’ll probably set the car up just a little stiffer, so it holds its ride heights and stuff and glides through the corners.”
Earlier in the day, the Super DIRT Week Parade in the City of Oswego delighted fans — especially hundreds of kids who lined the route — with an up-close look at the cars. The five-mile parade route started and finished at the intersection of City Line Road and E Albany St and included competitors from all divisions plus several vintage cars from former champions of the event.
UP NEXT: The DIRTcar 358 Modifieds and DIRTcar Pro Stocks kick off the racing action at the track with Thursday Night Thunder, as both divisions will Qualify and run Heat Races. FOR TICKETS: CLICK HERE.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either at DIRTVision.com or by downloading the DIRTVision App.
