Canadian Chauffeur Williamson Celebrates U.S. Birthday In LOLR Victory Lane
Paddock holds off all-time Canandaigua sprint winner Ruggles for 1st career CRSA 305 victory
Canandaigua, NY – July 4, 2024 – Tom Skibinski, Land of Legends Raceway PR
Three weeks ago Mat Williamson had never before won at Land Of Legends Raceway. On Thursday night the red hot Canadian chauffeur from St. Catharines, Ont. made it two straight at the popular Ontario County Fairgrounds oval as he outlasted local standout Matt Sheppard to capture the Super DIRTcar Series 'Stars & Stripes 76' title event presented by Honeoye Auto Parts, DC Rauscher Contractor, Empire Seneca and Magee Transportation.
“First of all, gotta say hats off to the track crew, that was the best we’ve seen it all year,” remarked Williamson, on the heels of his 26th tour triumph, this one worth $7,600. “It was fast early, wasn’t dusty and in the feature you could run all over. It’s cool to get a win here this year then to win the series race was really the ultimate goal and why we came here every week. Think we got it figured out somewhat now.”
The 2024 A-Verdi Storage Containers CRSA Sprint Car Series powered by SuperGen Products returned to Canandaigua for the second time this season and for a second straight DisBatch Brewing Company Challenge Series show a first-time winner reached victory lane as Dillon Paddock topped another stellar field of MighTea Boba 305 winged machines.
The Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in Weedsport was the Beneficiary of the weekly 50/50 drawing on Independence Day with lucky number winners also rewarded trackside in customary post-race ceremonies.
With LOLR losing the previous two Saturday Spectaculars due to rain, eager racers and even hungrier race fans responded in the first mid-week special of the season to help celebrate the holiday. Williamson led an all-star cast of 31 Big-Block entries while Paddock headed an elite group of 36 wingmen in CRSA’s return to the historic fairgrounds half-miler.
While 17 of the Top-20 Super DIRTcar Series point earners signed in Thursday, it was familiar surroundings for three of the front-4 in SDS points with current Canandaigua points runner-up Williamson leading the way. Through five series shows, current LOLR high point man Sheppard ranks second while Peter Britten is fourth in both SDS and LOLR point chases.
On a steamy night in the Finger Lakes Region it was all ‘Money Mat’ as the 2019 Super DIRTcar Series titlist blew by pole-sitter Anthony Perrego on an early race restart and stretched his victory margin to 20 car-lengths over Sheppard under the final checkered flag. Third-place Jimmy Phelps logged his first podium finish of SDS ‘24 ahead of Britten and second-generation driver Perrego.
“It starts with our #6 car here on Saturday nights when we can build a program and time trial better,” noted Williamson, who in 13 straight previous series starts posted a pair of seconds among a handful of top-five tallies. “I think our biggest weakness over the last couple years has been going to the race track and being behind the 8-ball, time trialing crappy and putting us back in a heat race. It showed tonight as we did the same thing we do on Saturdays. Went out and set quick time in our group, won the heat race and transferred to a feature win.”
“We’ve been building a notebook and getting better and better at all these race tracks and I think we’ve got some pretty cool ones that we run good at coming up,” Williamson said.
While fellow Canadian Dalton Slack posted the best overall time of 17.702 sec. (101.683 mph), Williamson was quickest in the third and final set of group time trials with a time of 17.773 sec. From there he led all eight laps to cop his heat race qualifier before selecting ‘4’ in the customary pre-race redraw to start outside row two in the feature.
Downstate traveler Perrego paced the 26-car starting field at the drop of head flagman Scott Hixson’s initial green followed by front row partner Jack Lehner hauling in from Saratoga Springs. Williamson improved to third past Phelps on lap five and overtook Lehner for second after three more times around. Starting sixth on the grid, Sheppard grabbed third before Lehner slowed down the back chute to incur the first caution period with 11 laps complete.
The ensuing lap 15 restart proved pivotal as Williamson overpowered Perrego to forge the lone lead change with 60 laps still to go. Sheppard followed suit and moved into second on lap 18 yet fell short in his best effort to overtake Williamson on a lap 37 restart following a flat tire suffered by Zach Payne. A final caution on lap 53 was still not enough as eight-time LOLR series race winner Sheppard was unable to track down the winning Billy The Kid-powered #88 Buzz Chew Chevrolet Racing-North Country Market-Behrent’s Performance Warehouse/Bicknell ride over the remaining 10 miles.
“I didn’t know where to be, felt really good through the middle keeping the torque arms loaded,” relayed Williamson, after becoming the 23rd series winner in 55 tour events staged on the fairgrounds since 1976 with his third points race win in five tour starts this season. “It didn’t steer very good, was tight but I think that’s why we were so good getting off the corners. Used the lapped cars to kinda judge how good I was on the bottom or on the top. Man, when Matt’s behind you never stop thinking. He stole one from us last night (Fonda) and I didn’t want him to steal this one. It meant a lot for the #88 team and its cool to get the win.”
Still in search of his first series win of the ‘24 campaign, 10-time and reigning tour points king Sheppard settled for second at a track he has cracked the winner’s circle over 100 times.
“Matty’s been really, really good when its been super slick like this,” commented Waterloo native Sheppard, who pulled out his back-up after time trialing fifth fastest in Williamson’s group and still came away with his sixth successive podium finish in SDS competition at Canandaigua. “I kinda killed myself in the middle of the race. I got up on the top and tried passing him there but at the same time I fried the right rear (tire) off this thing and then I was pretty much a sitting duck the rest of the race.”
“Was hoping I could get by him there maybe and then could hold him off in clean air but he’s just been so strong. Feel like we’re getting closer believe it or not, really good tonight but we’re just a tick off. We’ve been knocking on the door, just gotta get a little bit better. Still proud of this team the way we rebounded, starting dead-last in the last heat to coming out of here second, not a bad night. Track was outstanding tonight. What a difference when Jamie Friesen is here, this place was awesome,” added Sheppard, a three-time ‘Fourth of July’ race winner who took the first holiday tour stop in Canandaigua when it was named the Jan Corcoran Memorial in 2015.
Now with nine top-five feature finishes in 26 series starts at his one time Saturday night hangout, third-place remains the best in Ontario County for Baldwinsville veteran Phelps.
“We’ve struggled here a little bit the last few years, tonight felt like we were solidly in the ball game,” figured Phelps, who placed third on the LOLR Big-Block points chart to close out the 2012, ‘13 and ‘18 (track promoter Pauls Cole’s first year) race seasons. “Had a good car and a good points night. Right now think we’ve got a little momentum moving so its a good thing.”
“Tonight was still a guessing game, a lot of grip in (track). Been rare that we’ve seen this much grip but I think it was nice, was smooth, a little bit of character here and there. You could move around and that’s all you could really ask for,” Phelps added.
Headline sponsor Honeoye Auto Parts posted additional awards for the top-three finishers with Williamson ($500), Sheppard ($250) and Phelps ($100) each collecting gas cards to use at the pump. VP Racing Fuels added gas cans to the prize pot.
Super DIRTcar Series '24 is back in action Tue. July 9 as the Northeast’s premier Big-Block tour makes its first appearance at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, NY. In honor of the late Dale Planck and his familiar car number 77, the main event is slated to cover 77 laps and pay the winner $7,700. Williamson (736) tops the updated tour standings followed by Sheppard (721), Perrego (717), Britten (710) and Phelps (697).
The SDS returns to LOLR on Tue. Aug. 13 as the second leg of the Super DIRTcar Series SummerFAST, with another $7,500 on top for the 75-lap victor. A DIRTcar 358-Modified special fills out the mid-week show presented by Honeoye Auto Parts.
The ever-growing CRSA 305 Series has conducted five events so far in this rain-reduced season resulting in four drivers reaching victory lane. Half of those are first-time winners and with Thursday’s run to the checkers, Paddock joins Matt Rotz as the newest member of the exclusive CRSA club with both making their mark on the Canandaigua clay.
“First win ever, feels awesome,” beamed Paddock, 26, who joined both Timmy Lotz and Rotz after becoming Canandaigua’s 34th winner since 305s were introduced in 2012 while emerging as the 79th newest tour victor for CRSA, now enjoying its 19th year of existence. “About damn time these guys hit it right, long overdue.”
“After the way last year ended, this year kinda started the same way so it kinda sucked. About time I got these guys a win. They break their backs for me and don’t give up. I think we have about 20 people in the pits with us every week, they all want us to do good and keep coming back no matter what the outcome,” Paddock said.
Despite his pole-position start to open the 20-lap A-Main, Paddock had his hands full the entire distance. The second-year pilot from Savannah relinquished the point to Ruggles in a bold lap three criss-cross maneuver rounding turns one and two yet never let the Hopewell hotshoe out of sight.
At the halfway mark the battle heated up front further with Paddock riding the rim as seven-time LOLR points champ Ruggles continued to cling low in search of career win number 49 in Canandaigua. Lap 13 proved lucky for Paddock as he pulled off a perfect slide job entering turn three before ultimately exiting turn four with his black no. 8 Carrier Customs-Stone 8 Tap House-Pour House-Kitto's Carting/Maxim in the lead once more.
The margin between Paddock and Ruggles swelled to 10 car-lengths and victory seemed well in hand with only a handful of circuits left. Yet without warning the commanding 2.9-sec. lead suddenly evaporated with just over a lap to go as a turn four skirmish involving Tyler Chartrand and Dustin Sehn put any celebration on hold.
Paddock left nothing up to chance for the upcoming green-white-checkered flag finish, ballooning his advantage to nearly a dozen car-lengths with Ruggles staving off a late race rally from Frenchman Tomy Moreau to secure second at the line. Season-opening winner and 10th-place starter Bobby Bobby followed in fourth ahead of current points leader and defending CRSA champion Jordan Hutton, who bolted onto his no. 66 entry a #121 wing in honor of Steve Glover after a June 1 crash at the same fairgrounds site ended Glover’s season.
“Think Darryl was getting a little snug,” stated Paddock, who remained sixth in LOLR points after registering his second top-five finish worth $1,000, with Ruggles leading Parrow, 220-216, entering the mid-season scrum. “Was just trying to go where he wasn’t at times, and at other times just made the mistake of following him in the corner. Luckily, it didn’t bite me too bad in the end.”
“Without help from all these guys this would never be possible. And it’s cool to finally do it (win) in front of a packed house tonight, especially on DIRTvision too,” added Paddock, who earned a $500 gas card from Honeoye Auto while Ruggles ($250) and Moreau ($100) shared in the holiday offerings from HAP owner Doug Dulen Jr.
CRSA returns to action at Genesee Speedway on Sat. July 6. The third and final round of the DisBatch Brewing Company CRSA mini-series in Canandaigua arrives Sept. 28 as part of the 2004 LOLR season-finale the last weekend of the month. Check out the most updated info regarding the series, schedule, results and points by visiting www.crsasprints.com throughout the season.
LEGEND LEDGER
While there will be no racing at the fairgrounds on July 6, the 'Saturday Spectacular' presented by Auto Value Parts Stores and Seneca Meadows on July 13 includes a sensational six-star show with the Pepsi Big-Block Modifieds once again taking center stage. Stirling Lubricants Sportsman, MighTea Boba 305 Sprints, Eldredge & Sons Scrap Recycling Street Stocks, Lloyd's Contracting Hobby Stocks and Maguire Ford of Canandaigua New Legends Sportsman join in with heat race qualifiers going green at 6:30pm. Practice sessions kick off on-track activity at 5:30pm with pit gates opening at 3:30pm and spectators entering into the main grandstands at 5 o'clock.
LOLR WALL OF FAME EXTENDED
Joining the second program of the month on 7/13 will be the first enshrinement for the Class of 2024 Land Of Legends Raceway Wall of Fame. Himself a long-time full-fender advocate and crew chief for active racing son Marc, 33-time Canandaigua stock car winner Mike Minutolo Sr. will be the 21st addition to the order of merit that recognizes his lifetime of achievement in Canandaigua’s motorsports community.
Previous selections are 2018 LOLR WoF charter members Donald 'Dutch' Hoag, 'Barefoot' Bob McCreadie, DIRT Motorsports founder Glenn Donnelly and still active ace Alan Johnson, Class of '19 inductees Steve Pesarek, Milt Johnson, Gary Montgomery and Gary & Donna Spaid, '21 honorees Steve Paine, Paul Guererri, Mike Welch and Fred Taney, ‘22 recipients Danny Johnson, Gary Tomkins, Tom & Kim Ewing and Brad Ovens, along with last year’s drivers Vic Coffey, Joe Plazek, Charlie Rudolph and Darryl Ruggles, with each individual recognized in their own timely tribute held behind the main grandstands.
SKIDMARKS
Guided by award-winning executive producer Art Rorick, the talented LOLR TV broadcast team boasting production assistants Makenna Hansen & C.J. Miller, graphics coordinator Mark Rore, camera operators Mike Yawney, Jim & Michelle Mullen, and veteran voices Steve Ovens (PA announcer) and Doug Elkins (pit reporter) is once again on-site to provide LIVE video coverage of every event through Land of Legends TV, with LIVE streaming continuing to be offered FREE in 2024. On-line registration at https://landoflegendstv.com for a free account is the only step to take.
Also available for download is the LOLR mobile app found at Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goodbarber.landoflegends or
App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/land-of-legends/id1508128970?uo=4 to secure your raceday pass today.
In addition to LOLR's weekly racing being simulcast on Land of Legends Raceway TV, each show will also be broadcast live on DIRTVision and highlighted by the mighty DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds. To watch, sign up for an annual Platinum FAST PASS with DIRTVision and experience every event either online or through the DIRTVision App.
2024 TICKET BUNDLES & PIT PASS SPECIALS REMAIN AVAILABLE
General Admission Ticket and Pit Pass bundles continue to be offered to LOLR fans and race teams while providing a great opportunity to save money in the process. G.A. packs of 20 ($220) or 50 ($475) and Pit bundles of 20 ($700) or 50 ($1,700) must be pre-ordered to be used during the upcoming season.
Regular weekly G.A. ticket prices stay set at $15 Adults and $13 Seniors while Kids 16 yrs. and under (must be accompanied by an adult) remain FREE. Pit passes are $40. For those youngsters needing pit access, a Child Season Pit Pass is $50 for tykes under 2 yrs. and $150 each for kids 2-13. Camping is FREE at all race events.
To purchase ticket and pit pass bundles or discuss marketing opportunities available at the track in 2024, please contact LOLR Director of Marketing & Operations Tana Robinson via e-mail tana@landoflegendsraceway.com or cell 716-799-5669.
Check out www.landoflegendsraceway.com often as the latest news and season schedule information will be posted right up to raceday.
Land of Legends Raceway is located at the Ontario County Fairgrounds, east of the city on Town Line Road (County Road 10), with easy access off either Exit 43 (Manchester, Route 21 South) or Exit 44 (Farmington, Route 332 South) of the New York State Thruway, just ½-hour southeast of Rochester.
Land of Legends Raceway Event Summary – July 4, 2024
Honeoye Auto Parts, DC Rauscher Contractor, Empire Seneca & Magee Transportation present Super Spectacular - Super DIRTcar Series Race #5
Pepsi Big-Block Modified “Stars & Stripes 76”
*Feature (76 laps): 1. 88-Mat Williamson ($7,600), 2. 9s-Matt Sheppard, 3. 98h-Jimmy Phelps, 4. 21a-Peter Britten, 5. 4*-Anthony Perrego, 6. 70a-Alex Payne, 7. 99L-Larry Wight, 8. 83x-Tim Sears Jr., 9. 15x-Justin Stone, 10. 35-Mike Mahaney, 11. 25-Erick Rudolph, 12. 14j-Alan Johnson, 13. 27j-Danny Johnson, 14. 3rs-Dalton Slack, 15. 3-Justin Haers, 16. 12-Darren Smith, 17. 27jr-Daniel Johnson Jr., 18. 28-Mike Trautschold, 19. 19w-Justin Wright, 20. 91-Felix Roy, 21. 14-CG Morey, 22. 17-Marcus Dinkins , 23. 7z-Zach Payne, 24. 48too-Dave Rauscher, 25. 15-Todd Root, 26. 2-Jack Lehner.
Heats (8 laps / 6 qualify / top-4 redraw)
#1: Slack, A.Payne, Z.Payne, Lehner, Mahaney, T.Root, Wight, Martin, Dinkins, Swarthout, Podsiadlo.
#2: Stone, D.Johnson Jr, Perrego, Phelps, A.Johnson, Haers, D.Johnson, Rauscher, K.Root, Britten.
#3: Williamson, Roy, Sears, Sheppard, Rudolph, Wright, Trautschold, Morey, Smith, Tomkins.
Last Chance Showdown (10 laps / 6 qualify)
#1: Wight, D.Johnson, Trautschold, Britten, Morey, Smith, Rauscher, K.Root, Podsiadlo, Dinkins, Tomkins, Swarthout, Martin(DNS).
Provisionals: Rauscher, Dinkins.
Group Time Trials (3 laps / 31 cars)
#1: Slack 17.702sec. (101.683 mph), A.Payne 17.720, Lehner 17.761, T.Root 17.941, Z.Payne 18.005, Wight 18.009, Mahaney 18.841, Dinkins 18.265, Martin 18.398, Swarthout 18.630, Podsiado(-NT-).
#2: Stone 17.855sec. (100.812 mph), Perrego 17.858, D.Johnson Jr 17.953, Haers 17.979, Phelps 17.988, A.Johnson 17.990, Britten 18.005, D.Johnson 18.105, Rauscher 18.184, K.Root(-NT-).
#3: Williamson 17.773sec. (101.277 mph), Roy 17.907, Sears 18.021, Wright 18.121, Sheppard 18.144, Rudolph 18.236, Smith 18.289, Trautschold 18.306, Tomkins 18.470, Morey 18.520.
DNQ: 07-Gary Tomkins, 14s-Brian Swarthout, 18k-Dalton Martin, 21-Derrick Podsiadlo, 34-Kevin Root.
A-Verdi Storage Containers CRSA Sprint Car Series powered by SuperGen Products Race #5
DisBatch Brewing Company Challenge Series Race #2
MighTea Boba 305 Sprint
*Feature (20 laps): 1. 8-Dillon Paddock ($1,000), 2. 48jr.-Darryl Ruggles, 3. 22-Tomy Moreau, 4. 80-Bobby Parrow, 5. 66-Jordan Hutton, 6. 21b-Blake Warner, 7. 29h-Dalton Herrick, 8. 14-James Layton, 9. 45-David Ferguson, 10. 28-Ronnie Greek, 11. j27-John Cunningham, 12. 26j-Johnny Kolosek, 13. 9k-Kyle Pierce, 14. 2-Randy Years, 15. 18c-Dan Craun, 16. 99-Adam DePuy, 17. 4-Cliff Pierce, 18. 12-Tyler Chartrand, 19. 23-John Smith, 20. 77-Matt Rotz, 21. d9-Dustin Sehn, 22. 33-Scott Landers, 23. 17e-Ethan Gray, 24. 14x-Lance Dusett, 25. 18-Timmy Lotz, 25g-Tyler Graves(DNS).
Heats (8 laps / 5 qualify)
#1: Gray, Smith, Ruggles, Paddock, Graves, Cunningham, Kolosek, Buchanan, Dombroski.
#2: Chartrand, Moreau, Ferguson, Rotz, D.Sehn, Reynolds, Kaplin, N.Pierce, Bay.
#3: Greek, Parrow, Years, Lotz, K.Pierce, Landers, C.Pierce, DePuy, Donath.
#4: Warner, Hutton, Dusett, Herrick, Layton, Craun, Wetherbee, J.Sehn, Burley.
B-Main (12 laps / 5 qualify)
#1: Landers, Cunningham, Craun, Kolosek, C.Pierce, DePuy, Bay, Kaplin, J.Sehn, Buchanan, N.Pierce, Reynolds, Wetherbee, Burley, Dombroski, Donath(DNS).
DNQ (11): 1ny-Mark Reynolds, 9-Alan Buchanan, 10-Nathan Pierce, z28-Tucker Donath, 29-Tori Kaplin, 30-Kirsten Dombroski, 33z-Sydney Wetherbee, 48a-Alysha Bay, 121-Spencer Burley, 410-Jerry Sehn Jr.
NEXT EVENT: Saturday Spectacular, July 13 @ 6:30pm; Auto Value Parts Stores & Seneca Meadows present Big-Block Modified/Sportsman/305 Sprint/Street Stock/Hobby Stock plus New Legends Sportsman with Family Promise of Ontario County Benefit.
*No Racing Sat., July 6.
Track Instant Info
Website: www.LandOfLegendsRaceway.com
E-Mail: info@LandOfLegendsRaceway.com
Twitter: @LandofLegendsNY
Facebook: @LandofLegendsNY
Instagram: @LandofLegendsNY
Live Stream: https://landoflegendstv.com/
Along with recognizing its weekly 50/50 raffle fund beneficiaries, Land of Legends Raceway is proud to salute several sponsors and corporate partners that continue to help bring its fans the best Saturday night racing show in the Northeast. Listed alphabetically are 2024 division sponsors Eldredge & Sons Scrap Recycling, Lloyd's Contracting, Maguire Ford of Canandaigua, MighTea Boba, Pepsi Geneva Club Beverage, Stirling Lubricants; event sponsors Auto Value Parts Stores, AMS Enterprises, A-Verdi Storage Containers, Busch Light/Lake Beverage, Cargill, Disbatch Brewing Company, DC Rauscher Contractor, Empire Seneca, Ferris Mowers, Honeoye Auto Parts, Hoselton Auto Mall, Jack Howell Properties, iFreeze Storage & Distribution Center, Labatt/Wright Beverage, LSI Solutions, Maguire Ford of Canandaigua, Pepsi/Geneva Club Beverage, Phelps Cement Products, Prouty's Bar & Grill, Regional Truck & Trailer, Rushco Gas Company, Ryan Phelps Auto Sales, Seneca Meadows Landfill, Smith Drywall, Tradition Automotive Group, Wilbert's Premium Auto Parts; promotional partners Always Locked Self Storage, American Woman Designs, Auto Wash Car Wash, Baker's Exterminating, Champion Power Equipment, Close Racing Supply(CRS), Disbatch Brewing Company, Ed's Garage/Krown Undercoating of Ransomville, Elab Smokers Boutique, Elderlee, Emerson Oil Company/Castrol, Fox Pest Control, Hoosier Racing Tire, Legott's Club 86, Mac's Dairy Bar & Mini Golf, Meyer's Finger Lakes RV, Mike Emhof Motorsports, Ontario County Fairboard, On The Rocks Bar & Grill, The "Original" Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Schultz Heating & Cooling, Speed Connection, Stop DWI NYS, Turn 5 Media, VP Racing Fuels, Weedsport Hall of Fame, Wicked Tees.