Former Champions, Rising Stars Highlight Super DIRTcar Series Roster
Photo by Josh James Artwork
WEEDSPORT, N.Y.—The road to the 2026 Super DIRTcar Series championship begins when the Beasts of the Northeast visit Can-Am Speedway for the Thunder in the Thousand Islands.
Making up this year’s 17-driver roster are two former champions, Series veterans trying to earn their first title, and rising superstars aiming to become the best driver in Big Block Modified racing.
Those 17 drivers will battle for eight months, with one driver raising the trophy at The Dirt Track at Charlotte during the World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 4-7.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Roster:
Mat Williamson/3x Series Champions/St. Catharines, ON
Fresh off a successful title defense in 2025, Mat Williamson returns to the Super DIRTcar Series in 2026 in search of his fourth championship. The St. Catharines, ON driver and Buzz Chew Racing already have momentum entering this year, after winning their third Big Gator trophy at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.
Williamson had a monumental season last year, earning five wins – Super DIRT Week 53, World Finals, Ransomville Speedway, Land of Legends Raceway, and Brockville Ontario Speedway. He also added 21 top fives and 25 top 10s in 26 starts.
“Money Mat” enters the championship season with 38 career Series wins, one away from tying Bob McCreadie for seventh on the Series all-time wins list.
Alex Yankowski/Covington Township, PA
Alex Yankowski turned heads in his second full-time season with the Super DIRTcar Series, holding the Series points lead before being overtaken by Williamson in July. The Covington Township, PA driver held on to finish second at the end of the season, with two victories at Volusia Speedway Park and at Can-Am Speedway in September. He finished the championship season with 17 top fives and 23 top 10s.
“Kid Rocket” enters the year with four career Series wins.
Alex Payne/Hopewell, NY
From one Alex to another, Alex Payne took a massive leap in 2025, finishing in the top three in the standings for the first time in his career. He also made a late charge to get to that spot, winning two of the final four races of the year (Georgetown and Charlotte), along with a win at Brockville in July. His consistency also played a role in his third-place finish, earning 16 top fives and 20 top 10s.
Payne, like Yankowski, has four career Series victories.
Matt Sheppard/10x Series Champion/Savannah, NY
Despite not winning a Series championship in 2025, Matt Sheppard still celebrated a major milestone. “Super Matt” earned his 100th career Series victory last season at Autodrome Drummond, along with another win at Drummond, and triumphs at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Thunder Mountain Speedway, Volusia Speedway Park, and The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Sheppard continues to chase Brett Hearn for two of the Series most significant milestones. If he wins his first championship since 2022, and 11th overall, he’ll break a tie with Hearn for the most titles in Series history.
The Savannah, NY driver will also have a new look in 2026, sporting a red, white, and blue color scheme on his No. 9S.
Erick Rudolph/Ransomville, NY
Erick Rudolph made his return to the Super DIRTcar Series in 2025, earning a fifth-place finish at the end of the season. The Ransomville, NY driver scored his lone win of the season last February in the DIRTcar Nationals finale, and stayed consistent for most of the season, finishing in a top 10 position 21 times in 26 starts.
Rudolph enters the season searching for his 12th career victory.
Mike Mahaney/Elizabethtown, NY
Mike Mahaney returns to the Super DIRTcar Series for his seventh full-time season in 2026 after a sixth-place finish last year. Despite being held out of Victory Lane, “Smooth Shoe” had seven top fives and 16 top 10s, including a second-place finish at Weedsport in the Heroes Remembered last May.
Mahaney is a three-time Super DIRTcar Series Feature winner.
Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville, NY
For the 21st time in his career, Jimmy Phelps will be a full-time Super DIRTcar Series member.
The Baldwinsville, NY driver rebounded from a tough start to the 2025 season to finish seventh in the standings on the strength of three top fives and 15 top 10s. Phelps knocked on the door to Victory Lane twice throughout the season, earning podium finishes at Brewerton Speedway during SummerFAST and Albany-Saratoga during Malta Massive Weekend.
Phelps is a 22-time Super DIRTcar Series winner, tied with Will Cagle for 15th on the Series all-time wins list.
Peter Britten/Brisbane, QLD
Peter Britten had a memorable season in 2025, his first year, in which he won two Super DIRTcar Series events.
The “Batman’s” first win came on Valentine’s Day during DIRTcar Nationals, and the second came at Weedsport Speedway in exciting fashion during SummerFAST. Britten finished the championship season with four top fives at Thunder Mountain, Weedsport, Ransomville Speedway, and Mohawk International Raceway, along with 13 top 10s.
He enters 2026 as a five-time Super DIRTcar Series winner.
Tim Sears Jr./Hastings, NY
Tim Sears Jr. is back for his sixth full-time Super DIRTcar Series season, after finishing ninth in 2025.
The Hastings, NY driver earned his first career Super DIRTcar Series victory last season, winning at Brewerton during SummerFAST in front of his hometown crowd. Along with the win, “Timmer” finished the season with five top fives at Brewerton, Drummond (2), Albany-Saratoga, and Georgetown. He also earned nine top 10s.
Jack Lehner/Saratoga Springs, NY
Jack Lehner returns to the Super DIRTcar Series for his seventh full-time season in 2026. By finishing 10th overall last year, the Saratoga Springs, NY driver earned his fourth consecutive top 10 season finish with two top fives and 12 top 10s, including a podium finish at Charlotte in the season finale.
The “Ginga Ninja’s” other top five came at Brockville.
Felix Roy/Napierville, QC
“Hollywood” Felix Roy is back for his fourth Super DIRTcar Series season, following an 11th-place finish in 2025. The Napierville, QC driver earned two top fives with fifth-place finishes at Brockville and Charlotte and added 10 top 10s.
Roy has already surpassed his best finish from a year ago, narrowly missing out on a DIRTcar Nationals win in this season’s opening race at Volusia Speedway Park.
Anthony Perrego/Montgomery, NY
Anthony Perrego is aiming to rebound after finishing 12th in the final season standings. Even with the bad luck that followed him throughout 2025, the Montgomery, NY driver still found Victory Lane when the Series returned to Sharon Speedway last August. He added two other top fives and three top 10s.
Perrego is currently tied for 32nd on the Series all-time wins list with six victories.
Justin Stone/Middlebury, VT
Justin Stone will represent Vermont in his third full-time Super DIRTcar Series season, still searching for his first Series victory. Stone finished 14th in last year’s standings, scoring two top 10 finishes, crossing the line 10th at both Albany-Saratoga, where he finished third in the track’s standings, and Mohawk.
Matt Stangle/MD3 Rookie of the Year/Neshanic Station, NJ
Matt Stangle made the most of his first season with the Super DIRTcar Series by earning MD3 Rookie of the Year honors in 2025. The Neshanic Station, NJ driver finished 15th in the overall standings, with a top five and two top 10s.
However, that top-five finish came on the season’s final night, when he finished fifth in the World Finals finale.
Marcus Dinkins/Watkins Glen, NY
Long-time Super DIRTcar Series supporter Marcus Dinkins is back in 2026 for his sixth season. The Watkins Glen, NY driver made 11 starts in 2025, earning his best finish, a 15th at Brockville in October.
Mike Trautschold/Roscoe, NY
Mike Trautschold returns for his third Super DIRTcar Series season, behind the wheel of his No. 28 machine. The Roscoe, NY driver started 11 Features last season, with his best finishes coming at Weedsport and Brockville, where he crossed the line 16th.
Matt Caprara/Clayton, NY
The lone newcomer on the Super DIRTcar Series in 2026 is Matt Caprara. The Clayton, NY driver will be an MD3 Rookie of the Year contender this season and has already made four Super DIRTcar Series starts this year after competing at DIRTcar Nationals.
Caprara has started 25 Super DIRTcar Series Features, earning his best finish of 11th at Brockville in 2024.
While Darren Smith had originally planned on running the entire Super DIRTcar Series season, he has elected to focus more on his business. We'll still see the Binghamton, NY driver at most of the Series events throughout 2026.
The Super DIRTcar Series kicks off its 2026 championship season at Can-Am Speedway with the Thunder in the Thousand Islands on Saturday, April 11.
BUY THUNDER IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS TICKETS HERE
Where can you watch every Super DIRTcar Series race? Live on DIRTVision.
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