TheSuper DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds is a North Americanbig block modified touring series currently promoted byWorld Racing Group. The series primarily races ondirt ovals in theNortheastern United States andCanada along with select dates inFlorida andNorth Carolina.
The cars featurebig block V8 engines (up to 467 c.i.) that develops over 750 hp and a center-steer style chassis that weighs at least 2,500 lb with driver included.
The series was founded in 1972 by Glenn Donnelly as a series of qualifier races for the inauguralSuper Dirt Week at theNew York State Fairgrounds Racetrack inSyracuse, New York. The series became a true points championship in 1974 that also awarded a points fund. Will Cagle won the first points championship in 1974 over two-time Super DIRT Week champion Buzzie Reutimann.
The series andSuper Dirt Week grew in popularity along with corporate title sponsors & television coverage throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Past series title sponsors includeSchaefer Beer (1972–1975 and 1978),CRC Industries (1979–1985),Sun Country Cooler (1986),U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (1987–1998) andAdvance Auto Parts (1999–2008).
The series briefly included asphalt races on the championship trail from 1988 to 1992 at tracks such asCayuga,Flemington,Nazareth,Oswego,Sanair andThompson.
The series was acquired byWorld Racing Group (then Boundless Motorsports) in 2003.
The crown jewel event of the series,Super Dirt Week had to changed venues for the first time in 2016 to a dirt-coveredOswego Speedway inOswego, New York following the demise & razing of theNew York State Fairgrounds Racetrack.
The premiere event for the series is the Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux 200, a part ofNAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week which is currently held at theOswego Speedway inOswego, New York. The race features one of the biggest purses in dirt modified racing with the purse paying $50,000 to the winner. The race is currently broadcast by[1] (live video),DIRTVision.com (live radio) &MavTV (delayed television).[1] The race was originally held at the New York State Fairgrounds Mile inSyracuse until the track was razed in 2016. Previous broadcasters of Super DIRT Week includeCBS Sports Network, Empire Sports Network,ESPN,SPEED &TNN.
Other major events currently on the Super DIRTcar Series schedule include DIRTcar Nationals atVolusia Speedway Park, Hall of Fame 100 atWeedsport Speedway, Mr. DIRT Track USA atLebanon Valley Speedway and theWorld of Outlaws World Finals atCharlotte Motor Speedway.
Beginning with the 1976 season points earned in the Super DIRTcar Series were credited toward crowning an overall Mr. DIRT champion. Over the years, a variety of formulas have been used, and included bonus points for feature wins and/or seasonal standings at weekly home tracks.[2] In 1998, the two titles were merged.[3] Beginning in 2007 the Mr. DIRT series was rebranded to Mr. DIRTcar, and separate regional champions were also named.[4] Since 2011 the overall title has been decided only on a driver's best 16 finishes at their weekly home track.[5][6] In 2019 the contest garnered a title sponsor and was renamed theHoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship.[6]
In 1983, the Mr. Dirt 320 Modified Championship trail was created. These small block modifieds emerged fromNASCAR's Sportsman division, which had been revamped in 1968.[7][8] Many Northeast race tracks continued to run the old class, and the new series allowed these racers from theSt. Lawrence Valley to compete against their counterparts in theHudson Valley andTwin Tiers regions of Pennsylvania and New York.[9]
In 1985 the 358 cubic inch engine was introduced to the class, and in 2006 DIRT MotorSports initiated a new "Regional Point System" for the 358-Modified, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Each race run within a specified region was added into a driver's point standings for that region. A driver's top 12 finishes were then used to calculate the regional point standings and determine a regional Mr. DIRT champion.[10] Later the weekly home track competition replaced the regional points in determining the overall Mr. DIRTcar title.[6][11]
| Year | Super DIRTcar Series[3][12] | Mr. DIRTcar /Hoosier Champion[13] | DIRTcar 358 Modified Series[14] | Mr. DIRTcar /Hoosier 358 Champion[14] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mat Williamson | Peter Britten | Felix Roy | Lance Willix II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Matt Sheppard | Marc Johnson | Mat Williamson | Lance Willix II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Matt Sheppard | Larry Wight | Dave Marcuccilli | Mat Williamson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Matt Sheppard | Matt Sheppard | Billy Dunn | Mat Williamson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Stewart Friesen | Stewart Friesen | -- | Mat Williamson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Mat Williamson | Matt Sheppard | Erick Rudolph | Mat Williamson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Matt Sheppard | Matt Sheppard | Larry Wight | Steve Bernier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Matt Sheppard | Matt Sheppard | Steve Bernard | David Herbert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Matt Sheppard | Matt Sheppard | Chris Raabe | David Herbert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Matt Sheppard | Brett Hearn | Steve Bernard | David Herbert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Billy Decker | Brett Hearn | Erick Rudolph | David Herbert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn | Erick Rudolph | Erick Rudolph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Matt Sheppard | Brett Hearn | Dale Planck | Dale Planck | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Matt Sheppard | Matt Sheppard | Danny Johnson | David Herbert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. DIRTcar Super Series Champion[4] | Mr. DIRTcar 358 Series Champion[4] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Matt Sheppard† | Danny Johnson† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Brett Hearn† | Dale Planck† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Billy Decker[15]† | Pete Bicknell[16]† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Brett Hearn[17]† | Mario Clair[18]† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. DIRT Super Series Champion | Mr. DIRT 358 Champion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Alan Johnson[19] | Brett Hearn[17]† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Tim Fuller[20] | Alan Johnson[21] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Gary Tomkins[22] | Pat Ward[23] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Alan Johnson[19] | Tim Fuller[9] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | Alan Johnson[19] | Steve Paine[24] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Brett Hearn[17] | Alan Johnson[21] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Steve Paine[24] | Danny Johnson[21] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Danny Johnson[25] | Steve Paine[24] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Billy Decker[15] | Alan Johnson[26] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Super DIRT Series[12] | Mr. DIRT Champion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Danny Johnson | D.Johnson /B.Hearn[17] | Alan Johnson[26] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn[17] | Danny Johnson[27] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Bob McCreadie | Bob McCreadie[28] | Pat O'Brien[26] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Bob McCreadie | Bob McCreadie[28] | Pete Bicknell[16] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn[17] | Tim Fuller[29] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | Danny Johnson | Danny Johnson[25] | Pat O'Brien[26] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991 | Doug Hoffman | Doug Hoffman[30] | Pete Bicknell[16] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990 | Brett Hearn | Brett Hearn[17] | Pat O'Brien[26] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Danny Johnson | Danny Johnson[25] | Laurent Ladouceur[9] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | Jack Johnson | Jack Johnson[31] | Pat O'Brien[26] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 | Jack Johnson | Jack Johnson[31] | Curt Van Pelt[32] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | Charlie Rudolph | Charlie Rudolph[33] | Doug Carlyle[9] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Bob McCreadie | Jack Johnson[31] | Lin Hough[34] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Jack Johnson | Jack Johnson[31] | Jeff Hoetzler[35] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983 | Alan Johnson | Alan Johnson[36] | Tony Corcoran[9] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | Dave Lape | Jack Johnson[31] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981 | Alan Johnson | Alan Johnson[36] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | Jack Johnson | Jack Johnson[31] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979 | Jack Johnson | Will Cagle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1978 | No Points | Will Cagle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977 | Will Cagle | Dave Lape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976 | Will Cagle | Will Cagle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1975 | Will Cagle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974 | Will Cagle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1973 | No points | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1972 | No points | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||