Super DIRTcar Series
| Category | Auto Racing/Dirt Track |
|---|---|
| Country | Northeast United States, Canada |
| Inaugural season | 1972 1st Series Of Qualifying Events For Shaffer 100 At Syracuse |
| Inaugural season | 1974 1st Actual SDS Champion Honored With Point Fund Payout |
| Engine suppliers | 467 Cubic Inch Big Block |
| Tire suppliers | 92" Hoosier Racing Tires |
| Makes' champion | Teo Pro Car/Bicknell Chassis/Troyer Race Cars/HigFab Chassis |
| Official website | Super DIRTcar Series |
The Super DIRTcar Series is a modified racing touring series in the United States. It races primarily in the Northeastern United States[1] with a few dates in the Midwestern United States, Florida, and Canada.
Many long-time race enthusiasts felt that an end to an era had come when Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway closed for the final time after the 1971 Race of Champions. Just a half-dozen years earlier another era had quietly passed by when the Langhorne one-mile oval was paved. Since its beginning in 1951 the Race Of Champions had evolved into the biggest year-end extravaganza for Modified teams and their loyal supporters. When the asphalt arrived in 1965 it seemed to once and for all end the great years of major league dirt track racing in the Northeast.
Enter Glenn Donnelly. The fledgling track owner announced the first Schaefer 100 (today’s VP Small Engine Fuels 200) at the New York State Fairgrounds in 1972 and a brand new era in dirt racing was begun. To promote the inaugural 'World Series of Dirt Track Racing' event at the historic Syracuse Mile he devised a series of qualifying races to guarantee starting berths for the autumn event. Today the same tour is recognized in motorsports arenas everywhere as the Super DIRTcar Series, yet it now runs from spring to fall and determines the best Big-Block Modified team in the Northeast. Thirteen events comprised the 1972 & '73 Syracuse qualifying trails but Super Series III in 1974 was the first to declare a true champion and offer a season-ending point fund. Will Cagle out-gained two-time Schaefer champion Buzzie Reutimann to capture the inaugural title that rewarded him with a $4,500 payoff.
As the years rolled on, company money was secured to keep the qualifying trail alive and help it generate an identity of its own. While a Syracuse trophy still remained the top prize in DIRTcar Racing, the prestige of capturing the Super DIRTcar Series became just as evident to competing teams. Today, lucrative purses and ‘live’ webcast schedule have made it one of the most recognized series of its kind in the country.
1st Super DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Champion... One of the first 358 Modified SDS champions was Tony Corcoran. Tony drove his number 25 to an impressive championship with 4 top 5 finishes out of 11 races including a 358 SDS win at Brockville Ontario Speedway. Corcoran also put together 13 consecutive wins at Can-Am Motorsports Park in 1983. Today Tony Corcoran owns a successful parts business which is the official parts supplier at his home track, Brockville.
Let There Be Sportsman... Back on September 8, 1990 Rick Mill was victorious in one of the first Super DIRTcar Sportsman Series races at the Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, NY. He would go on to win 3 of the 5 races in the Mr. DIRTcar Sportsman Series that season, BUT did NOT claim the title. That honor went to Mike Button who claimed a win at Rolling Wheels Raceway on September 22, 1990 to go with a pair of top 5 finishes. It gave him an 8 point win over Chris Moore for the championship.
Pro Stock Series Takes Form... Steve Pesarek became the first Super DIRTcar Pro Stock Series champion after a 2nd place finish at Paradise Speedway. During the '95 season Pesarek had 7 top 5 finishes in 11 SDS Pro Stock races including a win at his home stomping grounds of Canandaigua Motorsports Park. He beat out Fonda Speedway's own Phlan Hart for the championship and can still be found racing. In 2013 he became the oldest winner in the history of the Land Of Legends.
Events
The premiere event in the series is the Super DIRT Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York.[1] From 2004 until 2012 the feature event (the Syracuse 200) was televised on SPEED. In 2013 Super DIRT Week was moved to CBS Sports Newtwork. The 1980 race was televised live on ESPN, the 1985 event was televised live on TNN, and the entire Super Dirt Series was televised live on Empire Sports Net from mid-1996 until late 1999. Every Super Dirt Week since 1980 has been shown on cable television. The feature event pays $50,000 to the winner.[2]
Other high-profile events include; Mr. Dirt Track USA which is hosted at Lebanon Valley Speedway which pays $17,500 to win; the Eastern States 200, run at Orange County Fair Speedway, which pays $20,000 to win. The Series champion is crowned each year at the season finale, The DIRTcar World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Champions by year
| Year | Driver |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Matt Sheppard |
| 2014 | Billy Decker |
| 2013 | Brett Hearn |
| 2012 | Matt Sheppard |
| 2011 | Matt Sheppard |
| 2010 | Matt Sheppard |
| 2009 | Brett Hearn |
| 2008 | Billy Decker |
| 2007 | Brett Hearn |
| 2006 | Alan Johnson |
| 2005 | Tim Fuller |
| 2004 | Gary Tompkins |
| 2003 | Alan Johnson |
| 2002 | Alan Johnson |
| 2001 | Brett Hearn |
| 2000 | Steve Paine |
| 1999 | Danny Johnson |
| 1998 | Billy Decker |
| 1997 | Danny Johnson / Brett Hearn |
| 1996 | Brett Hearn |
| 1995 | Bob McCreadie |
| 1994 | Bob McCreadie |
| 1993 | Brett Hearn |
| 1992 | Danny Johnson |
| 1991 | Doug Hoffman |
| 1990 | Brett Hearn |
| 1989 | Danny Johnson |
| 1988 | Jack Johnson |
| 1987 | Jack Johnson |
| 1986 | Charlie Rudolph |
| 1985 | Jack Johnson |
| 1984 | Jack Johnson |
| 1983 | Alan Johnson |
| 1982 | Jack Johnson |
| 1981 | Alan Johnson |
| 1980 | Jack Johnson |
| 1979 | Will Cagle |
| 1978 | Will Cagle |
| 1977 | Dave Lape |
| 1976 | Will Cagle |
Rookie of the Year winners
| Year | Driver |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Tyler Dippel |
| 2014 | Erick Rudolph |
| 2013 | Matt Billings |
| 2012 | Tyler Siri |
| 2011 | Michel Chicoine |
| 2010 | Lance Willix |
| 2009 | Rich Scagliotta |
| 2008 | Larry Wight |
| 2007 | Mike Bowman |
| 2006 | Kenny Stafford |
| 2005 | Stewart Friesen |
| 2004 | Justin Haers |
| 2003 | Matt Sheppard |
| 2002 | Joe Beyea |
| 2001 | Frankie Caprara |
| 2000 | Jeff Brownell Jr |
| 1999 | Josh Skarzenski |
| 1998 | Todd Milton |
| 1997 | Tim McCreadie |
| 1996 | Vic Coffey |
| 1995 | Tim Fuller |
| 1994 | Jamie Mills |
| 1993 | Scott Scrader |
| 1992 | Ricky Elliott |
| 1991 | Lenny Boyd |
| 1990 | Scott Prentice |
| 1989 | John Ventura |
| 1988 | Mike Jeffery |
| 1987 | Steve Behrent |
| 1986 | Jim Ruston |
| 1985 | Rich Burgess |
| 1984 | Ray Underwood |
| 1983 | Jimmy Begolo |
| 1982 | Randy Glenski |
| 1981 | Craig Keel |
| 1980 | Roger Phelps |
| 1979 | Jim Jarvis |
| 1978 | Jerry Knox |
| 1977 | Rick Martell |
Records
- Most career wins: Brett Hearn (118)
- Most DIRTcar titles: Brett Hearn (8)
- Most wins in a season: 10 (Brett Hearn 2002, Billy Decker 2008)
- Consecutive wins: 3 (Alan Johnson 2002 & 1983, Danny Johnson 1989, Brett Hearn 2001, Billy Decker 2008, Matt Sheppard 2009)
- Most seasons with at least 1 win: Brett Hearn (30)
- Consecutive seasons with at least one win: Brett Hearn (20)
- Different track wins: Danny Johnson (30)[5]
References
- 1 2 "Rite Aid Corporation Partners With World Racing Group For Premier 2008 Events in Charlotte and Syracuse". The Auto Channel. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ↑ "Corporate America Shares in the Success of World Racing Group's Super DIRT Week XXXVI and UMP DIRTcar Championships". Business Wire. 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ↑ Super DIRTcar Series Champions by Year
- ↑ Rookie of the Year Winners
- ↑ Super DIRT Series Statistics
External links
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