RPW Exclusive: Final Caution In Super DIRT Week Big Block 200 Sealed Anthony Perrego’s Fate

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – OSWEGO, NY – Anthony Perrego had one of the best cars in the weaning laps of the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 last Sunday afternoon. He was reeling in leader Mat Williamson, and with only a handful of laps remaining, he was on his back bumper.

Then, the dreaded caution came out which changed the entire complexity of the finish. On the ensuing restart, the #18 Graham Racing ride began to run dry of VP racing fuel, which allowed Williamson to get away.

On the final circuit, the tank officially produced its last drop of gasoline to the carburetor and Perrego limped home to a 13th place finish…after starting the lap in second.

Did Anthony and the team know they had a car that could compete for the win in their first attempt at the 200?

“The car was rolling good especially early in the race,” Perrego said. “After the pit stop, we made a lot of passes in turns three and four to get us back to top 10. It was surprising how quick we got back to front. Personally, I didn’t know that we were even close on fuel.”

So fuel was never a concern?

“To me, in the cockpit, no,” he said. “Maybe it was on pit road, but nothing was said over the radio.”

Once Perrego had reached the runner-up spot, he was more than four seconds behind the lead car of Williamson, and began to mow down the leader. He knew if he had any chance to win the 200 in his first attempt, he had to go. Again, everything looked like he was on his way, until that final caution flag flew.

“The last caution definitely killed any shot we had at the win,” he said. “The sun peaked back out in turns one and two and our car came alive there with 10 to go. One lap we were a half-second better than Mat and the next we were a full second better. Before we knew it, we were to his bumper in traffic and pulled along side in three and four, just as the yellow came out.”

That’s when he knew he was in trouble.

“On that restart, the car stumbled,” he said. “That’s when I knew something wasn’t right. That allowed Mat to get away.”

Before the yellow, Anthony had arguably the fastest car on the track. He had track conditions that suited his driving style, was hitting his marks and his car was handling the best it had all day. What was going through his head as he was catching the leader in such a rapid fashion in one of the biggest races of the year?

“I was really just focused on getting to him,” he said. I wanted to try and make a good move around Mat. He had more laps on his tires than we did and it would have been hard for him to keep us at bay.”

However, we’ll never know if he had been able to do so. The yellow flew, and without caution laps counting, extra circuits were run, and then his fuel cell ran dry. Even with that, the team has to be excited for how they ran in the 200, and all week really.

“Yeah, everyone is really happy,” he said. “I think we’re all more disappointed than anything. We ran a quiet and smart race with our Small Block Saturday and ended up sixth. Our Big Block was spot on right out of the trailer. One of the biggest races of the year…we probably had the best car and it ended with heartbreak.”

The fans and competitors knew that Anthony Perrego and Graham Racing were at Super DIRT Week in a major way. On Sunday, he led 85 laps and was on the cusp of winning.

If only…if only.