8.4.21 Super DIRTcar Series Results
Hidden from fans and competitors in the seat of his #21A Big Block Modified, Peter Britten couldn’t hold back the tears.
He won. Finally. Again.
After claiming his first career Super DIRTcar Series win in 2017, the Australian had used everything in his utility belt to land in Victory Lane again with the Series. However, each time he was defeated by another.
Not Wednesday night at Land of Legends Raceway. Not in front of his home crowd. The “Batman” was back.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Britten said.
The event had to be postponed due to rain weeks prior and was paired with the already scheduled Wednesday, Aug. 4, Series event at the Canandaigua track – making it a Twin 60s night with both Super DIRTcar Series Features running 60 laps.
In the first of the Twins, Britten started on the outside pole alongside Tim Fuller. When the race commenced, Fuller and Britten race side-by-side, wheel-to-wheel for the entirety of the first lap. Both drivers not wanting to succumb to the other. However, when they made their way to Turn 1 for the second time, Fuller launched his #19 machine ahead of Britten by a car length and continued to pull away down the backstretch.
Fuller’s glory out front lasted for five green flag laps before a caution flew for Stewart Friesen, who suffered a flat right-front tire.
The race resumed on Lap 8, and this time the Batmobile’s thrusters were primed and ready. Britten edged ahead of Fuller into the first corner and powered past him for the lead down the backstretch. From there, Britten was in a universe of his own.
By Lap 15, he was ahead by three seconds. However, two laps later were an obstacle course of slower cars ahead of him. If Fuller wanted a chance at victory again, this was his chance to attack.
The best he could do, cut into Britten’s lead by about a second. When the 21A found clean air again, the final 30 laps of the Feature were a race for second.
While Britten pulled away to a five-second lead with 20 laps to go, Larry Wight closed on Fuller for the runner-up spot and Jimmy Phelps closed on Wight. The three drivers tested who could run the bottom of the track better. And while he did, Erick Rudolph found grip like no one else around the top.
With 14 laps to go, Rudolph passed Phelps around the outside for fourth. With 13 laps to go, the blue #25 passed Wight around the outside for third. And with 11 laps to go, Rudolph made his way around the outside of Fuller for second. If anyone was going to challenge Britten, Rudolph looked to be the only contender. His only problem, Britten was now eight seconds ahead of him.
Mastering every lane of the track and navigating lap cars like a preprogrammed machine, Britten brought the Canandaigua crowd to their feet when he took the checkered flag for the second time in his Super DIRTcar Series career.
“I got most of my tears out on the cool-down lap,” said Britten, who started racing weekly at Canandaigua this season. “This deal is just so freaking hard. I’m very fortunate to have great people around me. I only had one like four years ago. I’ve been close a lot of times. Awesome to finally get it done at my home track on Saturday nights. And in front of all the fans out there cheering me on, thank you.”
Rudolph crossed the line second, 9.5 seconds behind Britten, but the event is his second consecutive top-five and third of the 2021 season. He contributes that momentum to returning to tracks he’s comfortable at.
“I think it’s more along the lines of we’re racing at places in Central New York where we’re more comfortable running,” Rudolph said. “Earlier in the year, we went to Bridgeport and places I haven’t historically done well at. We’ve always ran pretty well at Canandaigua and Weedsport. I am happy that we’re turning things around a little bit.”
Fuller rounded out the podium and stated with the level of talent in the Series this year he’s satisfied with the result.
Behind him, Phelps finished fourth and Jack Lehner made an incredible run from 26th to fifth.
He wasn’t even entered in the event’s original date due to an injury. He had to race his way into the Feature through the Last Chance Showdown, grabbing the last qualifying spot to do so. His secret…
“I wish I knew,” Lehner said with a chuckle. “After the [Last Chance Showdown] it felt pretty good. I just threw some things at the car and it felt pretty good. Just wanted to try some stuff. The car was really good and I could put it wherever I wanted. It felt like we were better than most the other cars out there. And it is usually not like that.”
While he ended the first race with a smile, there wasn’t a bigger one to start the night than Britten’s after his dominant performance. However, he joked he wasn’t sure if he had a good enough car for the second Twin Feature of the night. Or maybe he’ll win again… Finally.
UP NEXT
The Super DIRTcar Series continues Wednesday night at Land of Legends Raceway for the second of the Twin 60s. Watch all the action live on DIRTVision.
Feature (60 Laps)
1. 21A-Peter Britten [2][$7,500]; 2. 25R-Erick Rudolph [10][$4,000]; 3. 19F-Tim Fuller [1][$2,500]; 4. 98H-Jimmy Phelps [5][$1,800]; 5. 2L-Jack Lehner [25][$1,600]; 6. 99L-Larry Wight [4][$1,400]; 7. 44F-Stewart Friesen [11][$1,300]; 8. 88W-Mat Williamson [3][$1,200]; 9. 83X-Tim Sears [20][$1,100]; 10. 9S-Matt Sheppard [6][$1,000]; 11. 91D-Billy Decker [8][$800]; 12. 32CC-Max Mclaughlin [19][$700]; 13. 111D-Demetrios Drellos [7][$600]; 14. 5H-Chris Hile [26][$575]; 15. 34R-Kevin Root [15][$550]; 16. 35M-Mike Mahaney [12][$525]; 17. 32R-Ronnie Davis [13][$500]; 18. 19W-Justin Wright [16][$500]; 19. 3H-Justin Haers [9][$500]; 20. 23C-Kyle Coffey [14][$500]; 21. 121T-Gary Tomkins [23][$500]; 22. M1-Dave Marcuccilli [22][$500]; 23. 7z-Zach Payne [17][$500]; 24. 28M-Jordan McCreadie [27][$500]; 25. 48T-Dave Rauscher [28][$]; 26. 215p-Adam Pierson [24][$500]; 27. 14j-Alan Johnson [21][$500]; 28. 42P-Pat Ward [18][$500]
Hard Charger Award: 2L-Jack Lehner[+20]
Qualifying Flight-A
1. 35M-Mike Mahaney, 20.515; 2. 25R-Erick Rudolph, 20.608; 3. 98H-Jimmy Phelps, 20.678; 4. 7Z-Zach Payne, 20.773; 5. 14j-Alan Johnson, 20.841; 6. 32R-Ronnie Davis, 20.922; 7. 121T-Gary Tomkins, 20.981; 8. 27JR-Daniel Johnson, 21.106; 9. 22W-Brandon Walters, 21.26; 10. 21P-Derrick Podsiadlo, 21.365; 11. 2L-Jack Lehner, NT
Qualifying Flight-B
1. 21A-Peter Britten, 20.309; 2. 44F-Stewart Friesen, 20.503; 3. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 20.604; 4. 23C-Kyle Coffey, 20.792; 5. 48T-Dave Rauscher, 20.796; 6. 42P-Pat Ward, 20.836; 7. 26-Derrick McGrew, 20.85; 8. 88Jr-Olden Dywer, 21.197; 9. 14M-C.G. Morey, 21.319; 10. 31m-Jamie Maier, 21.347; 11. 63R-Adam Roberts, NT
Qualifying Flight-C
1. 9S-Matt Sheppard, 20.545; 2. 19F-Tim Fuller, 20.637; 3. 99L-Larry Wight, 20.657; 4. 34R-Kevin Root, 20.821; 5. M1-Dave Marcuccilli, 20.833; 6. 32CC-Max Mclaughlin, 20.865; 7. 5H-Chris Hile, 20.97; 8. 56K-Garrson Krentz, 21.073; 9. 215p-Adam Pierson, 21.135; 10. 66W-Dan Wiesner, 21.565; 11. 60D-Darryl Barrett, NT
Qualifying Flight-D
1. 91D-Billy Decker, 20.546; 2. 88W-Mat Williamson, 20.579; 3. 3H-Justin Haers, 20.611; 4. 19W-Justin Wright, 20.853; 5. 83X-Tim Sears, 20.929; 6. 33J-Robbie Johnston, 21.295; 7. 77D-Lance Dusett, 21.341; 8. 28M-Jordan McCreadie, 21.526; 9. 17D-Marcus Dinkins, 21.822; 10. 14s-Brian Swarthout, 22.355; 11. 11J-James Sweeting, NT
Heat #1 – Flight (A) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer
1. 25R-Erick Rudolph [2]; 2. 35M-Mike Mahaney [1]; 3. 98H-Jimmy Phelps [3]; 4. 32R-Ronnie Davis [6]; 5. 7Z-Zach Payne [4]; 6. 14j-Alan Johnson [5]; 7. 121T-Gary Tomkins [7]; 8. 22W-Brandon Walters [9]; 9. 27JR-Daniel Johnson [8]; 10. 21P-Derrick Podsiadlo [10]; 11. 2L-Jack Lehner [11]
Heat #2 – Flight (B) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer
1. 21A-Peter Britten [1]; 2. 44F-Stewart Friesen [2]; 3. 111D-Demetrios Drellos [3]; 4. 23C-Kyle Coffey [4]; 5. 42P-Pat Ward [6]; 6. 26-Derrick McGrew [7]; 7. 14M-C.G. Morey [9]; 8. 31m-Jamie Maier [10]; 9. 88Jr-Olden Dywer [8]; 10. 48T-Dave Rauscher [5]; 11. 63R-Adam Roberts [11]
Heat #3 – Flight (C) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer
1. 9S-Matt Sheppard [1]; 2. 99L-Larry Wight [3]; 3. 19F-Tim Fuller [2]; 4. 34R-Kevin Root [4]; 5. 32CC-Max Mclaughlin [6]; 6. M1-Dave Marcuccilli [5]; 7. 5H-Chris Hile [7]; 8. 215p-Adam Pierson [9]; 9. 56K-Garrson Krentz [8]; 10. 66W-Dan Wiesner [10]
Heat #4 – Flight (D) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer
1. 91D-Billy Decker [1]; 2. 88W-Mat Williamson [2]; 3. 3H-Justin Haers [3]; 4. 19W-Justin Wright [4]; 5. 83X-Tim Sears [5]; 6. 33J-Robbie Johnston [6]; 7. 28M-Jordan McCreadie [8]; 8. 17D-Marcus Dinkins [9]; 9. 77D-Lance Dusett [7]; 10. 14s-Brian Swarthout [10]
Last Chance Showdown 1 (10 Laps) – Top 2 Transfer
1. 14j-Alan Johnson [1][]; 2. 121T-Gary Tomkins [3][]; 3. 27JR-Daniel Johnson [7][]; 4. 2L-Jack Lehner [11][]; 5. 21P-Derrick Podsiadlo [9][]; 6. 48T-Dave Rauscher [10][]; 7. 63R-Adam Roberts [12][]; 8. 14M-C.G. Morey [4][]; 9. 22W-Brandon Walters [5][]
Last Chance Showdown 2 ( Laps)
1. M1-Dave Marcuccilli [1][]; 2. 215p-Adam Pierson [5][]; 3. 5H-Chris Hile [3][]; 4. 28M-Jordan McCreadie [4][]; 5. 11J-James Sweeting [11][]; 6. 33J-Robbie Johnston [2][]; 7. 17D-Marcus Dinkins [6][]; 8. 56K-Garrson Krentz [7][]; 9. 77D-Lance Dusett [8][]; 10. 60D-Darryl Barrett [12][]; 11. 14S-Brian Swarthout [10][]; 12. 60D-Darryl Barrett [12][]
CANANDAIGUA, NY – Stewart Friesen, the seven-time NAPA Super DIRT Week champion, unlocked his legendary status at Land of Legends Raceway with a statement victory in Feature Two of the Twin 60-lap races.
Two fierce competitors, Stewart Friesen and Mike Mahaney, lead the 26-car Super DIRTcar Series field to the green flag but the #44 Halmar car came out on top in the end.
After a grinding crash on lap one of the race, the field was halted under red flag conditions. The field wsa haulted under red flag conditions after a grinding crash on lap one of the race took out four racers. Larry Wight was stopped prone on the front stretch before Daniel Johnson, Jordan McCreadie, and Justin Wright piled into him causing the #99L to roll. All drivers emerged from the incident unhurt.
When the green flag came back out Mike Mahaney found grip on the top side and pulled away from Friesen and the rest of the field.
As the race wore on, the smooth bottom became the dominant line and Friesen was able to capitalize on that for the race-winning pass. Mahaney was forced to settle for third.
“Mahaney has been fast everywhere all year,” noted Friesen, the driver out of Sprakers, NY. “It was tough. We got him on the initial start but then on the restart he got lane choice. He got out there, but we were able to track him down and pass him.”
Friesen had not graced the Land of Legends Raceway Victory Lane in a Big Block since 2005.
“This has been a tough track for us,” the race-winner noted. “I got a couple Big Block wins in 2005. The Madsens were about to fire me I think but then I got two wins in late August. But we haven’t really had a good package for this place. We threw a bunch of stuff at it tonight and after Hot Laps it was good.”
Racers and teams came into the night’s races with a lot of questions about the track surface and how it would change throughout the evening with two Big Block Features plus DIRTcar Sportsman Modified qualifying.
“We ran the same tires in the second Feature as the first, “Friesen said. “We put a new set on for the Heat Race but we went back to the old ones for the race. Not sure if it was the right call but it worked out.”
Runner-up Tim Fuller had the crowd on their feet in the final 10 laps. Fuller took his black #19 to the topside after a late-race restart for Dave Marcucilli, who stopped on the backstretch. Fuller passed Erick Rudolph, Matt Sheppard, and Mike Mahaney in the space of a few laps. The North Country ace was reeling in Friesen for the lead, but he ran out of time as the right rear started getting hot.
“When the right rear cooled down under caution I was sitting in eighth. I knew I could ring that outside for a little bit before the right rear overheated. You get what you can get like that at the end. Friesen was just too strong. I was able to catch everybody slamming to the bottom and running nose-to-tail. It was cleaner down there. Smooth. No rubber. You had to be on the bottom or way outside.”
After a great start off the pole, Mike Mahaney kept the #35 in a podium position for the duration of the 60-lapper.
“I want to thank my fiancé Mandee for pulling the pole in the redraw,” Mahaney said with a smile. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a decent starting spot. It seems like it’s been since Bristol. We were terrible in the first feature. We made some wholesale changes to the car. I think I made it slightly better in the Heat Race and much better in the Feature. We seem to be really loose or really tight.”
“I got lane choice on the second start, so I took the top,” Mahaney said. “My top groove kind of went away. It didn’t surprise me that Friesen got by. After how poor the first Feature was, I just knew I had to get a good finish and stay on my game plan. Friesen just had a better, faster car tonight.”
UP NEXT: The Super DIRTcar Series returns to Orange County Fair Speedway as a part of their annual centennial celebration. This year the Centennial 102 is 102 laps and $10,000-to-win The Big Blocks take the green on Thursday, April 12.
Then, the long-awaited return of the D-Shaped Dirt Demon, Brewerton Speedway, takes center stage on Tuesday, April 17 for another $10,000-to-win NAPA Super DIRT Week qualifier.
Race Results: 8/4/2021 – Land of Legends Raceway – Twin 60s #2
Feature (60 Laps)
1. 44F-Stewart Friesen [2][$7,500]; 2. 19F-Tim Fuller [7][$4,000]; 3. 35M-Mike Mahaney [1][$2,500]; 4. 25R-Erick Rudolph [3][$1,800]; 5. 9S-Matt Sheppard [6][$1,600]; 6. 3H-Justin Haers [8][$1,400]; 7. 88W-Mat Williamson [5][$1,300]; 8. 14j-Alan Johnson [10][$1,200]; 9. 91D-Billy Decker [13][$1,100]; 10. 2L-Jack Lehner [20][$1,000]; 11. 21A-Peter Britten [11][$800]; 12. 98H-Jimmy Phelps [15][$700]; 13. 42P-Pat Ward [21][$600]; 14. 111D-Demetrios Drellos [18][$575]; 15. 32R-Ronnie Davis [4][$550]; 16. 5H-Chris Hile [12][$525]; 17. 32CC-Max Mclaughlin [14][$500]; 18. 83X-Tim Sears [25][$500]; 19. 34R-Kevin Root [22][$500]; 20. 23C-Kyle Coffey [23][$500]; 21. M1-Dave Marcuccilli [17][$500]; 22. 121T-Gary Tomkins [16][$500]; 23. 27JR-Daniel Johnson [19][$500]; 24. 99L-Larry Wight [9][$500]; 25. 19W-Justin Wright [24][]; 26. 28M-Jordan McCreadie [26][]
Hard Charger Award: 35M-Mike Mahaney[+28]
Qualifying Flight-A
1. 25R-Erick Rudolph, 19.37; 2. 19F-Tim Fuller, 19.387; 3. M1-Dave Marcuccilli, 19.524; 4. 14j-Alan Johnson, 19.645; 5. 91D-Billy Decker, 19.699; 6. 23C-Kyle Coffey, 19.799; 7. 28M-Jordan McCreadie, 19.823; 8. 21P-Derrick Podsiadlo, 19.986; DNS. 56K-Garrson Krentz, NT; DNS. 83X-Tim Sears, NT
Qualifying Flight-B
1. 35M-Mike Mahaney, 19.407; 2. 88W-Mat Williamson, 19.563; 3. 5H-Chris Hile, 19.589; 4. 215p-Adam Pierson, 19.805; 5. 32CC-Max Mclaughlin, 19.88; 6. 42P-Pat Ward, 20.084; 7. 111D-Demetrios Drellos, 20.108; 8. 60D-Darryl Barrett, 20.497; 9. 11J-James Sweeting, 20.552; DNS. 77D-Lance Dusett, NT
Qualifying Flight-C
1. 21A-Peter Britten, 19.532; 2. 9S-Matt Sheppard, 19.708; 3. 27JR-Daniel Johnson, 19.937; 4. 3H-Justin Haers, 20.035; 5. 98H-Jimmy Phelps, 20.118; 6. 19W-Justin Wright, 20.281; 7. 48T-Dave Rauscher, 20.437; 8. 33J-Robbie Johnston, 20.485; 9. 63R-Adam Roberts, 20.589
Qualifying Flight-D
1. 44F-Stewart Friesen, 19.729; 2. 32R-Ronnie Davis, 19.973; 3. 99L-Larry Wight, 20.089; 4. 121T-Gary Tomkins, 20.13; 5. 2L-Jack Lehner, 20.206; 6. 34R-Kevin Root, 20.337; 7. 22W-Brandon Walters, 20.604; 8. 14M-CG Morey, 20.733; 9. 17D-Marcus Dinkins, 20.959
Heat #1 – Flight (A) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer
1. 19F-Tim Fuller [2]; 2. 25R-Erick Rudolph [1]; 3. 14j-Alan Johnson [4]; 4. 91D-Billy Decker [5]; 5. M1-Dave Marcuccilli [3]; 6. 23C-Kyle Coffey [6]; 7. 21P-Derrick Podsiadlo [8]; 8. 83X-Tim Sears [10]; 9. 28M-Jordan McCreadie [7]; 10. 56K-Garrson Krentz [9]
Heat #2 – Flight (B) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer
1. 88W-Mat Williamson [2]; 2. 35M-Mike Mahaney [1]; 3. 5H-Chris Hile [3]; 4. 32CC-Max Mclaughlin [5]; 5. 111D-Demetrios Drellos [7]; 6. 42P-Pat Ward [6]; 7. 215p-Adam Pierson [4]; 8. 11J-James Sweeting [9]; 9. 60D-Darryl Barrett [8]; 10. 77D-Lance Dusett [10]
Heat #3 – Flight (C) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer
1. 21A-Peter Britten [1]; 2. 9S-Matt Sheppard [2]; 3. 3H-Justin Haers [4]; 4. 98H-Jimmy Phelps [5]; 5. 27JR-Daniel Johnson [3]; 6. 19W-Justin Wright [6]; 7. 33J-Robbie Johnston [8]; 8. 48T-Dave Rauscher [7]; 9. 63R-Adam Roberts [9]
Heat #4 – Flight (D) (8 Laps) – Top 5 Transfer
1. 44F-Stewart Friesen [1]; 2. 32R-Ronnie Davis [2]; 3. 99L-Larry Wight [3]; 4. 121T-Gary Tomkins [4]; 5. 2L-Jack Lehner [5]; 6. 34R-Kevin Root [6]; 7. 22W-Brandon Walters [7]; 8. 14M-CG Morey [8]; 9. 17D-Marcus Dinkins [9]
Last Chance Showdown 1 (10 Laps) – Top 2 Transfer
1. 42P-Pat Ward [2][]; 2. 23C-Kyle Coffey [1][]; 3. 83X-Tim Sears [5][]; 4. 28M-Jordan McCreadie [7][]; 5. 21P-Derrick Podsiadlo [3][]; 6. 11J-James Sweeting [6][]; 7. 215p-Adam Pierson [4][]; 8. 60D-Darryl Barrett [8][]
Last Chance Showdown 2 ( Laps)
1. 34R-Kevin Root [2][]; 2. 19W-Justin Wright [1][]; 3. 33J-Robbie Johnston [3][]; 4. 14M-CG Morey [6][]; 5. 48T-Dave Rauscher [5][]; 6. 63R-Adam Roberts [7][]; 7. 17D-Marcus Dinkins [8][]; 8. 22W-Brandon Walters [4]