CONCORD, NC – The 2024 Super DIRTcar Series season was full of exciting victories, heartbreaking losses and edge-of-your-seat racing.
There were enthusiastic beer-smashing victory lanes by Canadian Mat Williamson before he was crowned the 2024 champion; emotional triumphs for honoring those who have passed; joyous celebrations of first-time victors; and many more memorable moments.
While the list of those moments could fill a novel, we’ll collect the five races that stood out the most.
Here’s a look at the top five races of the 2024 season:
5. Power in The Pines at New Egypt Speedway, March 30
Winner: Anthony Perrego
The opening race of the 2024 championship season saw the series return to New Egypt Speedway for the first time in a decade.
Anthony Perrego needed almost all 75 laps to drive toward the front and score his first of two Super DIRTcar Series wins this season.
After starting eighth, the “Ant-Man” reeled in Darren Smith in the race’s closing laps and drove underneath him in traffic in Turn 4 to wrestle the lead away with two laps to go. Perrego held on in those final two laps to score his then-fourth career series victory.
FULL RECAP and HIGHLIGHTS
4. Canadian Classic at Brockville Ontario Speedway, Sept. 5
Winner: Alex Payne
The final Canadian stop of 2024 came at Brockville Ontario Speedway’s Canadian Classic on September 5, ending with a driver etching his name into the history books for the first time.
After taking the lead on Lap 19, Alex Payne looked poised to win his first Super DIRTcar Series feature. But that chance almost slipped away when he went off the track on Lap 32.
Payne held onto the lead after that miscue but faced a challenge from Matt Sheppard. Payne did everything to hold off the 10-time champion, which was enough to score his first career Super DIRTcar Series victory.
FULL RECAP and HIGHLIGHTS
3. King of the North Finale at Autodrome Drummond, July 23
Winner: Matt Sheppard
While he fell short of stealing a win from Payne at Brockville, that wasn’t the case for Sheppard during the King of the North finale at Autodrome Drummond in July.
After starting eighth, Sheppard closed in on race leader Tim Sears Jr. on Lap 50, throwing everything at the No. 83X to try and pass him.
Sears held Sheppard off on a few occasions before Sheppard broke through with five laps to go, sliding Sears in Turn 3 and taking the lead as they exited Turn 4. That’s all Sheppard needed to score his third series win of 2024 and seventh at Drummond.
FULL RECAP and HIGHLIGHTS
2. Malta Massive Weekend at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Sept. 21
Winner: Mat Williamson
The band Earth, Wind, and Fire once asked, “Do you remember the 21st night of September.” That was the case for the Super DIRTcar Series in 2024, as Albany-Saratoga hosted one of the most memorable races of the season.
Mat Williamson started ninth in the 100-lap feature and bided his time getting to the front, reaching the top-three on Lap 73. That entered the St. Catharines, ON driver into a three-car battle with Sheppard and Demetrios Drellos for the $10,000 prize.
On a restart with 17 laps to go, “Money Mat” saw his opportunity, taking the lead when Sheppard and Drellos made contact in Turns 1 and 2. From there, Williamson drove away to score one of his leading nine Super DIRTcar Series feature wins in 2024.
FULL RECAP and HIGHLIGHTS
1. SummerFAST Finale at Fulton Speedway, Aug. 14
Winner: Alex Yankowski
The Super DIRTcar Series’ number one race of 2024 was the epic return to Fulton Speedway for the first time since 2020. It was also the SummerFAST finale, during which a new champion was crowned.
Alex Yankowski used his seventh starting position to move forward through the field, getting his chance to take the lead on a Lap 56 restart, when Sears had steering woes.
The Covington Township, PA driver took advantage of the restart, taking the lead away from Chris Hile after a four-lap battle. However, it wasn’t smooth sailing after he cleared Hile, as Adam Pierson caught “Kid Rocket” in traffic to create the closest finish of the 2024 season.
Pierson’s momentum wasn’t enough to get by Yankowski, as the Pennsylvania driver beat the No. 215 to the line by 0.091 seconds to score the win.
FULL RECAP and HIGHLIGHTS
The Super DIRTcar Series now turns its attention to 2025, where they’ll battle on 33 occasions.
- By Mike Warren/Super DIRTcar Series
