Darren Smith wins dramatic Super DIRT Week 200

Saturday night’s 54th running of the Super DIRT Week 200 finale for big-block modifieds concluded with an unexpected finish. Darren Smith, a 26-year-old Binghamton driver, moved from 17th place to the lead in the last seven laps, securing a $54,000 victory.

While most of the field stayed on the lower groove of the 5/8-mile Oswego Speedway oval, Smith took the high groove and worked his way through the field. On the final turn of the 200th lap, he passed Mat Williamson, who was leading the race, for the win.

Smith, who had never won a Super DIRT Series race before, was this year’s Brewerton Speedway track champion. The race initially saw Larry Wight leading the first 107 laps before Mat Williamson took over and appeared to be on track for another victory.

However, with four laps remaining, Matt Sheppard overtook Williamson for the lead, but ran out of fuel on the next lap. Williamson regained the lead, but Smith’s final lap charge proved decisive. Alex Yankowski finished third, Jimmy Phelps fourth, and Michael Maresca fifth, though he was disqualified for being underweight.

Stewart Friesen, who won the last chance qualifier and started 32nd, finished seventh. Erick Rudolph, Jack Lehner, and Ryan Godown completed the top ten. Two 15-lap last chance qualifiers were held, with Erich Rudolph and Stewart Friesen each coming away with a win.