WEEDSPORT, NY – After finishing second in the Super DIRTcar Series points standings three consecutive times, Mat Williamson is taking a new approach in 2024.
The St. Catharines, ON driver wants to get more comfortable in a Big Block Modified.
To do that, he’s racing at Land of Legends Raceway weekly to learn more about the car for Series events.
“I feel like we get beat because I was racing a 358 Modified more and more, and with the Big Block, we’re not really super comfortable,” Williamson said. “And then it takes Hot Laps and [Qualifying] to figure out what to do to be comfortable. And then we’re behind the eight ball.
“The ultimate goal is to try and be better right out of the box with the Big Block. And I think going to Land of Legends weekly is going to help that.”
Williamson’s next chance to test his comfortability with the Super DIRTcar Series is at Weedsport Speedway in the Heroes Remembered 100 on Sunday, May 26.
Weedsport brings some familiarity to Williamson and the Buzz Chew Chevrolet No. 88 team, who swept both Series events in 2023, including his dominating 16-second victory in the Heroes Remembered 100.
Even though he made it look easy last year and had more Super DIRTcar Series wins than any other driver in 2023 (seven), he said he understands how hard it is to find Victory Lane consistently.
“It’s tough to win these races, let alone in that kind of fashion,” Williamson said. “So obviously, with everything that was going down at the time, it was nice to get out there and show that we’re pretty damn good at this every once in a while. Weedsport’s a place I hadn’t been great at consistently, so to go out there and be really good last year every time was pretty cool.
“To be able to follow up [New Egypt] with Weedsport is right up my alley. It’s tough to be consistent with these cars, but hopefully we’ll be just as good as last year.”
Once Weedsport is complete, two of the following three Super DIRTcar Series events races are at Thunder Mountain Speedway on May 27 and Selinsgrove Speedway on June 5 – the Series’ debut for both facilities.
Williamson said these new tracks may favor him since everyone is on the same playing field.
“It kind of works out better for me,” Williamson said. “Matt (Sheppard) has a pretty long notebook, and a lot of the guys have been at these places a lot, but I haven’t. I think in the past we’ve been pretty good at those races too; we just hope that remains the same.”
With three more scheduled races at Land of Legends before the Super DIRTcar Series resumes, Williamson hopes his new approach will give him the knowledge he needs to get a fast start at every Series event, potentially leading to his second Series title.
The Super DIRTcar Series returns to action with a Memorial Day Weekend doubleheader. First, drivers will battle at Weedsport Speedway on Sunday, May 26, in the Heroes Remembered 100.
Then, on Monday, May 27, the Series heads south to Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, NY, for Thunder on the Mountain.
Before that, Williamson will return to action at Land of Legends on Saturday, May 11, for another weekly show.
