OSWEGO, N.Y. — The most historic motorsports event of the year has arrived.
For the sixth time in its illustrious history, Oswego Speedway will host NAPA Super DIRT Week — this time for the 50th Running of the event, Oct. 3-9.
The 50th Super DIRT Week brings the stars of the Northeast and beyond back to the “Clay Palace,” as drivers in the Super DIRTcar Series, DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro Stocks duel to put their names in the record books.
Currently more than 250 are entered between the four divisions, representing nine states and three countries (Australia, Canada and the United States).
Here are some of the events to keep an eye on at NAPA Super DIRT Week 50:
BILLY WHITTAKER CARS 200
The warriors of the Super DIRTcar Series are ready for the biggest race on the schedule — the 200-lap, $50,000-to-win Billy Whittaker Cars 200 on Sunday, Oct. 9.
Mat Williamson is the two-time defending champion of the event, having bested five-time winner Billy Decker for the win last year. He’ll have to fend off Super DIRTcar Series points leader Matt Sheppard who’s searching for his third Super DIRT Week victory.
The Waterloo, N.Y., driver enters the weekend with a 155-point lead over second-place Williamson as he aims for his ninth Super DIRTcar Series title.
Another name to keep an eye on is Stewart Friesen, who hopes to win the big-block modified crown jewel for the sixth time. Friesen hasn’t won the event since 2016, which was the year of Super DIRT Week’s debut at Oswego Speedway.
SALUTE TO THE TROOPS 150
While Friesen hasn’t found victory lane recently at Oswego in a big block, that’s not the case in the DIRTcar 358 Modifieds. “Mr. Freeze” is the defending Salute to the Troops 150 winner, winning the race for the first time in 2021.
This year’s race will run on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Billy Dunn, the defending pole winner of the race and defending DIRTcar 358 Modified Series champion, finds himself at the top of the standings for the second consecutive year. While a second-straight championship is on Dunn’s mind, he still hasn’t found the pinnacle of victory lane in the Salute to the Troops 150.
His best finish in the event is second to Jimmy Phelps in 2015.
Two-time DIRTcar Sportsman Chevrolet Performance 75 winner Dave Marcuccilli aims for his first championship as he enters the 50th NAPA Super DIRT Week 12 points behind Dunn.
DIRTcar SPORTSMAN CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE 75
Zach Sobotka is looking to make history in this year’s DIRTcar Sportsman Championship. He’s hoping to join Marcuccilli as the only two drivers to win the Chevrolet Performance 75 in back-to-back years.
The race will run on Sunday, Oct. 9.
He enters the weekend with momentum after scoring a DIRTcar Sportsman Series win at Fulton Speedway and sits fourth in the series standings — 49 points behind leader Tyler Corcoran. Four drivers are within 49 points, as Cocoran holds a 34-point lead on Cody McPherson and a 41-point lead on Cameron Tuttle.
Cedric Gauvreau, who won the opening race in the DIRTcar Sportsman Fall Championship chase at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, is 65 points behind Corcoran in fifth.
DIRTcar PRO STOCK 50
The man atop the points standings entering October is Canada’s Bruno Richard, who hopes to end his pro stock career excitingly with a DIRTcar Pro Stock 50 win and DIRTcar Pro Stock Championship. The race will run on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Richard previously announced this will be his last season in a pro stock and hopes to end it on a high note in victory lane. As of Oct. 1, he owns a 31-point lead over Tyler Bushey who is also searching for his first win at Oswego.
Chad Jeseo is the defending winner of the event, as he looks to become the first driver to win back-to-back at Super DIRT Week since Rob Yetman won five straight from 2013-2017.
This year’s DIRTcar Pro Stock 50 will also have some NASCAR flare as Kenny Wallace and Kenny Schrader compete in the division for the first time at the “Clay Palace.”
SATELLITE SHOWS
The racing at the “Clay Palace” isn’t the only high-octane action on tap for the 50th NAPA Super DIRT Week.
For the second straight year, the week starts off with two big nights of racing in Central, N.Y.
Weedsport Speedway will start Super DIRT Week on Tuesday, Oct. 4, with the Super DIRT Week Kickoff Party. The DIRTcar 358 Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro Stocks will be in action.
Then, on Wednesday, Oct. 5, the action moves to Brewerton Speedway for the annual Hurricane 75. DIRTcar 358 Modified and DIRTcar Sportsman drivers have their chance to tame “The D-Shaped Dirt Demon” as the final tune-up before the racing action starts at Oswego.