(June 25, 2024) Malta, NY – On a night dedicated to honoring hall of fame motorsports journalist Don Davies, Mat Williamson added another victory to his illustrious career. The 2019 Super DIRTcar Series champion claimed his first Series win at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in the Don Davies New York Modifieds 76, holding off fierce competition to take the checkered flag.
“Don and Jo Ann have always been a staple around here,” Williamson said. “I’m from far away from here and they treated me like family. I miss Don being at the racetracks a lot. What a cool race, in honor of a great man.”
SEGMENT 1
Williamson and Matt Sheppard led the field to the green flag for the first 46-lap segment. Sheppard initially took the lead but was quickly overtaken by Williamson on Lap 3. Despite several cautions, Williamson managed to hold the front position until reaching lapped traffic. Alex Yankowski then made a strong move, passing both Williamson and the lapped car on Lap 36 to take the lead and win the first segment.
Sheppard also made progress in the final laps of Segment 1, passing Williamson for second place on Lap 46. Williamson finished third, with Stewart Friesen and Tim Sears Jr. rounding out the top five.
SEGMENT 2
The top six finishers from Segment 1 were inverted for the second segment, placing Ronnie Johnson and Sears on the front row. Sears quickly took the lead on Lap 47. Williamson and Friesen, starting from the second row, battled their way forward, with Williamson overtaking Sears on Lap 51.
Despite navigating through lapped traffic and facing pressure from Friesen, Williamson maintained his lead to secure the $7,600 prize and his 25th Super DIRTcar Series victory.
“That was a cool racetrack,” Williamson said. “I’d get into lap traffic in front of me on the bottom, and I didn’t know if I could get them in the middle. I slipped up there a couple of times, and Matt and Alex got by me. It seemed like I was doing all the wrong things. I finally got the car rolling in that second half. Got by Sears and Ronnie, and what a race. That was a lot of fun.”
Friesen finished second, marking his third consecutive Series podium, while Yankowski recovered from the inversion to claim third place. Sheppard and Sears completed the top five.
Looking Ahead
The Super DIRTcar Series will next compete on Thursday, July 4, at Land of Legends Raceway in Canandaigua, NY, for the Stars and Stripes Spectacular. Fans can watch the action live on DIRTVision.
Feature Results (76 Laps)
Don Davies NY Modifieds 76
- Mat Williamson [2]
- Stewart Friesen [8]
- Alex Yankowski [5]
- Matt Sheppard [1]
- Tim Sears Jr [10]
- Ronnie Johnson [3]
- Jimmy Phelps [11]
- Anthony Perrego [16]
- Matt Delorenzo [15]
- Alex Payne [13]
- Jack Lehner [20]
- Demetrios Drellos [4]
- Marc Johnson [19]
- Rich Scagliotta [18]
- Mike Mahaney [26]
- Peter Britten [23]
- Kolby Schroder [21]
- Larry Wight [25]
- Michael Trautschold [28]
- Darren Smith [7]
- Felix Roy [27]
- Justin Stone [9]
- David Schilling [22]
- James Meehan [12]
- Danny Johnson [17]
- (DNF) Tim Fuller [6]
- (DNF) Ryan Macartney [14]
- (DNF) Adam Pierson [24]
