RPW Column: An Interesting Driver In The Lebanon Valley Pits Practicing Saturday…Mat Williamson

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – Yes…2019 Super DIRTcar Series Champion Mat Williamson was at Lebanon Valley Speedway’s open practice on Saturday. However, he wasn’t in one of his customary rides.

Williamson, whose will be running his Buzz Chew Racing #88 on Sunday at the rescheduled Albany-Saratoga Speedway lid-lifter, was in the Valley’s pits on Saturday afternoon, working with the Kevin Starchak-owned S&S Asphalt Paving #9 team.

That car will be driven this year by asphalt Modified standout Chase Dowling on a part-time basis as he gets his feet wet on dirt. However, Dowling was making laps at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in preparation for the Modified portion of the inaugural Northeast Classic.

Enter, Mat Williamson.

“We have a really good working relationship with the Buzz Chew team and the other teams Mat runs for,” Joe Matthews, crewman for the S&S team said. “Mat was great to help us today.”

For Williamson, his time at the Valley was two-fold…help the S&S team dial their new car in, but also, help himself get better on the high banks.

“We’ve run well here with Buzz’s car, but I think with Joe (owner of JAM Performance Shocks), I’m going to get better as a driver at the Valley,” Williamson said. “Hopefully, this will help us get better for the Series races and such here.”

How did Saturday go? Was the test a success all around?

“The car was really good,” he said. “It got better all day. At the end, I felt like we have a car that can win. As a driver, that’s all you can ask for.”

What did Matthews think of working with Williamson?

“We tried a conglomeration of stuff today,” Matthews said. “He had some spring ideas. I had some shock ideas. His feel in a race car is unbelievable. When you have a driver telling you exactly what the car needs, it makes the job a lot easier.”

Valley fans may get to see Williamson in the #9 during actual race conditions. Plans are in the works to see him compete on opening night. While nothing is confirmed as of yet, Dowling will not be able to compete and Williamson may be the logical choice to fill in.

“Right now, we’re hoping opening night is a go,” Matthews said. “Mat has a pretty full schedule and with COVID restrictions, it’s tough to fill in spots on his schedule. Hopefully we can do this, and maybe some more, but we’re not overly optimistic right now.”