RPW Exclusive: Several Northeast Teams Are Ready For DIRTcar’s World Short Track Championship In Charlotte

Column By: TREVOR GAVIN / RPW – CONCORD, NC – It is roughly 770 miles from the capital district of New York to The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, NC but the 12 hour drive has become an annual trek for drivers and car owners in the northeast.

2018 marks the third year of the World Short Track Championship, a three day event that showcases nine divisions under the DIRTcar banner.

Local divisions, the DIRTcar Northeast Sportsman have been on the card for all three years and the DIRTcar Pro Stocks are making their maiden voyage to North Carolina to be a part of the festivities.

The nine classes that will be competing for in excess of $120,000 in prize money at the 4/10 mile dirt track include DIRTcar/SECA* Pro Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, 602 Late Models, SECA Crate Sportsman (stock wheel base with stock looking bodies), MMSA^ Mini Stocks and FWD/Hornets.

Defending Sportsman winner David Marcuccilli driver of the Page Trucking, All-Star Contractors, Mohawk Northeast, Quicktime Shocks number M1 returns to The Dirt Track to defend his title this year. The Montezuma, NY is happy to be back

“The attraction to the event is it being held in Charlotte across the street from the big speedway,” he said, speaking very highly of the track. “This is the best facility we have ever been to. This is our third year here and I am going to keep coming.”

Marcuccilli is looking to improve on his 30th place finish at Super Dirt Week and didn’t run Eastern States weekend. As much as he enjoys coming down for the event, he said it was not without its challenges.

“The hardest part is the logistics,” he said. “Getting a hotel room for a few days and it is hard to get family down since it is such a far distance.”

Despite being about 700 miles from his regular tracks of Land of Legends Raceway (Canandaigua, NY) and Weedsport Speedway, Marcuccilli isn’t about to change how he and his team prepare for the event.

“We are taking the same approach as we do every week,” he said. “I drive to win and we do that every time we’re at the track”.

Robert Bublak, Jr. set quick time at this event in 2016 but failed to make the A-Main last year. He returns in 2018 hoping to best his 2016 finish of ninth. Despite the long trip from his home in Charlton, NY, Bublak, is able to make the most of his visit to the heart of NASCAR country.

“When you come down here, it’s like a vacation because during the day you can go to see the NASCAR race shops,” Bublak said. “It’s more relaxing.”

With 2018 being his third year running the event, Bublak knows what to expect from the weekend.

“Over the last two years, I learned the track conditions can change,” he said. “You need to watch the track to see if it takes rubber.”

The last time Bublak was behind the wheel of his M&J Construction, Reds Roll-Off Rentals, Matco Tools numbers 27B, he lost to Shane Pecore at Super Dirt Week in heartbreaking fashion, getting passed on the last lap of the 75-lap feature. However, he said not much transfers from Oswego to this weekend.

“There isn’t a lot that you can apply to the Charlotte track from Oswego because they are definitely different surfaces,” he said. “Both, though, are momentum tracks and you have to get the car has to rotate through the corners well”.

Tyler Thompson from Volney, NY won the Sportsman All-Star invitational last year in his number 98T and is back again this year. Thompson is a unique driver because he runs weekly at Brewerton on the dirt and then on the pavement on Oswego Speedway in the Supermodifieds.

Now on to the first trip by the Pro Stocks to the event. Jason Casey had a top 10 finish at Super Dirt Week and the Canaan, CT native jumped at the chance to represent the division at Charlotte’s dirt track.

“This is the first chance I’ve have had to come South,” Casey said. “There is only one Dirt Track at Charlotte too.”

The speedway is very different than his weekly track at Lebanon Valley, so to prepare, he reached out to those who had already raced there.

“We did a lot of asking Sportsman teams to see what they changed from last year, gear ratios and figured out set ups from there,” he said.

Casey is hoping for a strong showing in his Jay’s Lawn Care, Scag Commercial Mowers, Crane’s Outdoor Power Equipment, Dave’s Tire and Auto number #324

2018 Albany-Saratoga Pro Stock Champion Kenny Martin Jr is also in attendance to compete this weekend. The Scotia, NY driver is coming off a seventh place finish at Super Dirt Week and is excited about what the fans can expect from the Pro Stocks.

“For my first time being down here, I think it’s awesome and I think we’re going to be able to put on a good race,” Martn Said.

The veteran race draws comparisons to one of his former home tracks, the Fonda Speedway.

“You just stand on it,” Martin said.

Look for “Krazy Kenny” in the number 93 Carman Body, Charlton Oil Company, Bobco video machine to be one of the favorites all weekend.

300 cars entered in the inaugural event in 2016 with over 280 entries in eight classes for 2017. According to the DIRTcar Racing twitter page, 347 cars were officially entered as of practice on Thursday night.

The event began Thursday with registration, inspection, drivers meetings and hot laps for all classes. Friday serves as qualifying night with timed hot laps setting the field for heat races. The Northeast Sportsman and Pro Stocks will also run All Star Invitational Features Friday night along with the Pro Late Models, UMP MOdifieds, and two features for the FWD/Hornet cars.

Saturday kicks off with last chance showdowns starting at 3:00pm and then concludes with all nine classes running features. Schedule subject to change.

*SECA: South Eastern Crate Association
^MMSA: Monster Mini Stock Association