WEEDSPORT, NY – Winning a DIRTcar Sportsman Series championship isn’t a new feeling for Cody McPherson. It’s something he’s already accomplished twice.
But as he chased his third title in 2024, his motivation was different. He wanted to win it all for his grandfather.
“My grandpa was the one that got me started in racing,” McPherson said. “He bought me my first go-kart when I was five and my first Sportsman car back when we were wrecking every week. He let us learn and did everything for us, and unfortunately, he passed away during the winter.
“One of the last things I said to him was I was going to go out and win everything I possibly could this year in honour of him, and fortunately enough, we were able to do just that. It’s all for him.”
McPherson’s goal started in the DIRTcar Sportsman Series Western Region, where he swept all three events at Ransomville Speedway, Merrittville Speedway, and Humberstone Speedway en route to the regional title. He also won track championships at Ransomville and Merrittville.
Despite his dominance out West, winning a Central Region race at Weedsport Speedway in June proved he’d be a threat for the 2024 title.
“We just went to it because we love running Weedsport,” McPherson said. “I think we only had about 30 cars, but it was the top Sportsman runners and the guys that follow the tour. So, to win that, I knew we had a really good piece and could compete.”
When the championship season began in August, the St. Catharines, ON, driver was locked in a battle with Gavin Eisele. McPherson drove to three top fives in the first three Features, including a win in the Mike Bonesky Memorial at Ransomville.
After that, he struggled, finishing 16th at Can-Am Speedway and sixth in Weedsport’s Sportsman Classic. That’s when he turned to a friend who also won a championship in 2024.
“We just had to regroup,” McPherson said. “Fortunately, we had a couple of beers with my buddy Mat Williamson after Weedsport, and he said to bring the car to my shop, and we’ll go through it. “
“And that’s what we did; we found a couple of things wrong, and after that, we were pretty much top five every race after that.”
He started the next swing of races by finishing sixth at Land of Legends Raceway in the Gerald Haers Memorial.
Then, came the turning point in the 2024 championship season. McPherson finished third at Albany-Saratoga Speedway during Malta Massive Weekend—the first Series car that took the checkered flag behind Chris Crane Jr. and Connor Crane.
That finish gave him a confidence boost for the rest of the season.
“I remember we had a really stacked group, and we were able to put it on the pole in the heat,” McPherson said. “Being my second time there, we learned from the first time. I thought we had a really good car, but the (Crane’s) were really good.”
A runner-up in the Chevrolet Performance 75 at Super DIRT Week and a fifth at Brockville Ontario Speedway earned McPherson his third DIRTcar Sportsman Series title, more than any other driver. He’s also at the top of the Series all-time wins list with 27 victories.
Earning that third championship proved McPherson accomplished what he planned to do in 2024, win everything in honor of his grandfather.
“It’s pretty special,” McPherson said. “I feel like such an old man in the sport. I’m only 32, but I might as well be 60 in the Sportsman group because everyone’s so young. But there’s a lot of talent, a lot of guys, and a lot of cars.
“I think this year we had the most cars following the tour that we’ve had in a while. So, to win the thing again and be on the top is pretty special.”
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