{"id":15058,"date":"2024-08-16T14:01:33","date_gmt":"2024-08-16T18:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/superdirtweek.com\/?p=15058"},"modified":"2024-08-16T14:02:06","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T18:02:06","slug":"mat-williamson-reflects-on-billy-whittaker-cars-200-salute-to-the-troops-150-victories-at-super-dirt-week-51","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/superdirtweek.com\/dirtcar-ne\/mat-williamson-reflects-on-billy-whittaker-cars-200-salute-to-the-troops-150-victories-at-super-dirt-week-51\/","title":{"rendered":"Mat Williamson Reflects on Billy Whittaker Cars 200, Salute to The Troops 150 Victories at Super DIRT Week 51"},"content":{"rendered":"
In 2023, Mat Williamson made history at Super DIRT Week 51 at Oswego Speedway, becoming the first driver to win the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 and Salute to the Troops 150 on the same day.<\/p>\n
While it was the third Big Block Modified win for the St. Catharines, ON driver, it was the first time he reached Super DIRT Week Victory Lane in a 358 Modified.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney Mat\u201d looked back at his wins at \u201cRacing\u2019s Biggest Party\u201d and what it was like racing two of the longest events of the season on the same day after weather pushed both races to Monday.<\/p>\n
What was going through your head knowing you would have to race the 358-Modified and Big Block on the same day?<\/strong><\/p>\n Williamson: <\/strong>\u201cDon\u2019t drink too much. Obviously, we\u2019ve never done 350 laps in a day anywhere, whether it\u2019s testing or racing. I didn\u2019t know how I\u2019d feel at the end of it. So, I was kind of worried about the unknown of it, so you just had to hydrate and put yourself in the best mental spot where you could come out and do it the best that you can.\u201d<\/p>\n How surprised were you about the track conditions once you got on the track?<\/strong><\/p>\n Williamson:<\/strong> \u201cI was worried with the rain because if you get that rain at any kind of racetrack, it\u2019s going to make it tough. I said it that day, and I still say it, the track crew did an amazing job giving us something to race on, and even at the end of the 200, the track was still pretty good to race on.\u201d<\/p>\n It seems odd to say that the Salute to the Troops 150 win for you was more monumental, but it\u2019s because it was your first 358 win at Oswego. How did it feel to get that off your plate finally?<\/strong><\/p>\n Williamson:<\/strong> \u201cIt was one of them races that eluded us. We ran second a couple of times, and really wanted to win it. To win that race and get that checkmark on the bucket list was pretty cool. The unfortunate thing about racing two races was that you didn\u2019t get to celebrate the first one, so to do it all in one day was cool, but it took away from the specialness in the Salute to the Troops 150.\u201d<\/p>\n How quickly did you have to start thinking about the 200 right after you took the checkered flag?<\/strong><\/p>\n Williamson:<\/strong> \u201cEveryone wanted to talk and take pictures and do interviews and stuff, and you kind of had to blow people off because you had to focus on the big race. And ultimately, we were still racing for a championship and trying to keep ourselves in the fight. I drank a couple of Gatorades, water, and Red Bulls and tried to keep my head in the game for the next race. You really try and forget the 358 race and try to focus everything into the Big Block.<\/p>\n What did you take from the 150 to apply to the 200 about an hour later?<\/strong><\/p>\n Williamson:<\/strong> \u201cI think we tried to change the car a little bit to try and mimic what we did in the 358 race because the car was so good. But at the end of the day, Big Blocks or Small Blocks, you can only take so much between the two and try to treat them as their own.\u00a0 But it certainly did make us change our gameplan for the Big Block race and probably helped us a little bit, too.\u201d<\/p>\n