RPW Exclusive: Previewing the 2019 Super DIRTcar Series

Column By: DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – ALBANY, NY – With the Super DIRTcar Series starting up in just over two weeks it is time to sit down and look at this year’s campaign.

One of the major differences this season is the pay structure for the series. While in the past it was a minimum of $6,000 to win with the Super DIRT Week Qualifiers being $7,500+, this year that’s the new Minimum to win and the qualifiers are now $10,000+. It was also announced that 8-time series champion Brett ‘The Jet’ Hearn will not be following the tour on a full time basis this year and will be headed back to where it all started for him on Saturday Nights at the Orange County Fairgrounds Speedway.

With the new pay structure we have the re-addition of an Ohio swing after a one year absence, with Sharon and then Eldora Speedway alongside the Gander Outdoors NASCAR Truck Series. The event will be a Super DIRT Week Qualifier.

Others Include the series opener in the North East at Can-Am Speedway on April 13th, The Big Show at Albany-Saratoga Speedway On June 25th, Plattsburgh-Airborne on July 1st, Orange County on July 18th, Weedsport Speedway on July 28th, Eldora Speedway on July 31st, Lebanon Valley on August 31st, and finally Mohawk International Raceway on September 14th.

Prediction: In the last few years the gap between everyone else and Matt Sheppard has closed up. With runaway victories in the 2 years prior to 2018, I do not think we saw this coming. Sheppard who won a Series record 12 races in 2017 suffered a 2 race suspension and still easily won. It was a different tale in 2018. He had only 4 wins with Stewart Friesen having 5, however many weren’t far behind with Rudolph, Phelps, Hearn, Johnson and others having multiple wins on the year. It is going be hard for me to pick against the driver from Waterloo, NY so he is my pick for 2019 and any years in the future until someone shows they can beat him.

Dark Horses: New talent is joining the series in 2019 with the addition of drivers like Anthony Perrego and Ryan Godown. The return of Billy Decker, and reigning Super DIRT Week Champion Larry Wight means a large crop of talent looks to challenge Sheppard along with series runner up Erick Rudolph. The biggest challenges may be Erick Rudolph and Larry Wight if the Phoenix, N.Y. native can be consistent and keep the tires under him. This might be the year someone pounces on the closing gap between the field and Sheppard and do not be surprised if they do.