{"id":13955,"date":"2023-08-17T16:32:03","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T20:32:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/superdirtweek.com\/?p=13955"},"modified":"2023-08-17T16:52:32","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T20:52:32","slug":"75-125-drivers-talk-benefits-strategies-of-new-super-dirt-week-pit-stop-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/superdirtweek.com\/news\/75-125-drivers-talk-benefits-strategies-of-new-super-dirt-week-pit-stop-options\/","title":{"rendered":"75\/125: Drivers Talk Benefits, Strategies of New Super DIRT Week Pit Stop Options"},"content":{"rendered":"
Big Block Modified drivers will enter the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at Super DIRT Week with an all-new mindset this year.<\/p>\n
A new race day format, announced in July, for the 200-lap race on Sunday, Oct. 8, now provides the chance for a fuel stop on Lap 75 and\/or 125.<\/p>\n
The format removes the Lap 100 stop and no longer mandates a pit stop. There will now be a competition yellow \u2013at or around\u2013 laps 75 and 125, freezing the lap counter. Teams will have the option to enter the pit at that time or remain on the track \u2013\u00a0but these will be the only two times they\u2019re allowed to take fuel. Cars that remain on track will maintain their position. The cars that pitted will have four laps to get work done and will return to the track in the order they pitted \u2013\u00a0no passes will be made on pit road \u2013 lining up behind the cars that opted to not pit.<\/p>\n
While completely new to the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modified stars, several are seeing the benefits and intrigue it can provide at Oswego Speedway.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, I love the idea of no live [fuel] stops and no radios (with the teams),\u201d Super DIRTcar Series star and Oswego, NY resident Chris Hile said. \u201cI think it is going to make the racing better for all of the fans. Radio racing has obviously been in the history for Super DIRTcar Series and whatnot. I think that started to tally off a little bit when we left Syracuse. I think being that it’s up in Oswego, it is more of a short track feeling anyway.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be exciting for the fans because you\u2019re not going to know when drivers are coming in. Before it was, we always had a couple of laps to talk to our crew, say what are we going to do. Where now it\u2019s like, crews are going to have to be up on the wall and be ready. Your driver could pull in and all the sudden, it\u2019s like, \u2018Here we go.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
For two-time Billy Whittaker Cars champion Mat Williamson, the new format is also a safer option as crew members will no longer deal with the rush of live fuel stops.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a kid, going to Syracuse, I always looked forward to live pit stops, but as I grew older the stuff we see on pit road, I think that it\u2019s the safest option,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cI think as everything transpires; we just need to think about safety. We\u2019re not professionals working on these things. They\u2019re guys with full time jobs. We have to keep that in mind too. I think it is the safest option now.\u201d<\/p>\n
It’s also cost effective for teams too as they won\u2019t need a spotter, or as many crew members, and won\u2019t need a quick fill system for the car. Because of that, reigning Super DIRTcar Series Rookie of the Year Anthony Perrego said he thinks more teams will show up.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely going to throw a curve ball at things,\u201d Perrego said. \u201cBut for me, makes it a lot easier. Saves a lot of people from coming. Maybe for their sake you\u2019ll get a lot more cars by not having to put all the equipment and all that in. A lot more people are going to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jimmy Phelps, who has competed in 19 Billy Whittaker Cars 200 events \u2013 finishing fourth last year \u2013 said he sees both sides of the new format. While he\u2019s a driver that likes a lot of information and talking with his team during the race, he said there is a downside to it with the potential for blocking and teams copying strategies. So, with the new format, he said he\u2019s excited to see how it plays out.<\/p>\n
\u201c(If the surface is) like we had last year, it\u2019s a dog fight all night long,\u201d Phelps said. \u201cFuel doesn\u2019t really matter. You do see where tires cycle in and out and that becomes super important. And that\u2019s not going to change. A guy can still take tires on with 50 to go and still be a factor. Or a guy might try to stretch his tires from 75 when he takes on fuel and there might be some excitement and drama there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll adjust and probably do a little more scenario planning, leading up to race day so we\u2019re all on the same page of the what if<\/em> type of thing. Let\u2019s be ready to do this, this and this. Just a little bit more pre-prep, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n There will be more pressure on the driver to make the pit call during race, but Hile said he believes drivers and teams will still find creative ways of communicating.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore, it was a culmination of everybody saying, \u2018Where are we? \u2018How are we doing? Now it\u2019s more or less in the driver\u2019s hands,\u201d Hile said. \u201cI\u2019m sure there will be white pit boards and things like that where people will be writing on stuff. A lot of the drivers probably won\u2019t have to make that decision on their own. I think there will still be ways to have lines of communication. Obviously, we won\u2019t be able to talk back and forth but if you see a white board that says, Lap 85, time to come in<\/em>, then that\u2019s when you come in. We\u2019re excited for it. Just, it really levels the playing field off for everybody. I think it is going to be a great show for the fans for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss out on being a part of Racing\u2019s Biggest Party<\/em> at Oswego Speedway, Oct. 2-8, for Super DIRT Week 51 and get your tickets today HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Big Block Modified drivers will enter the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at Super DIRT Week with an all-new mindset this year. A new race day format, announced in July, for the 200-lap race on Sunday, Oct. 8, now provides the chance for a fuel stop on Lap 75 and\/or 125. The format removes the Lap … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":13956,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[283,330,109,49,64,316],"class_list":["post-13955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-anthony-perrego","tag-chris-hile","tag-jimmy-phelps","tag-mat-williamson","tag-oswego-speedway","tag-super-dirt-week-51","resize-featured-image"],"yoast_head":"\n