By Mandee Pauch

The Super DIRTcar Series is less than a month away from kicking off its 2018 season, and FloRacing is your home to watch the action.

The first race of the season, the Highbank Holdup 100, gets underway LIVE on FloRacing at Fulton Speedway in Fulton, NY, on April 28.

In last year's race, Billy Decker surged from the sixth starting position to take the lead from veteran driver Brett Hearn on lap 46. Once there, he held off "Super" Matt Sheppard to claim his third straight Highbank Holdup 100 victory with the Super DIRTcar Series.

Will Decker be able to keep his streak alive and make it four straight?

DIRTcar Nationals

The annual DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida saw only one Super DIRTcar Series regular in victory lane out of the four races that were held in February. Despite the event being a non-points race, several series regulars made the trek south. 

Out of 28 races on the tour, last year saw five different invaders dominate the series regulars and find their way to victory lane.

Drivers To Watch

Australian standout Peter Britten will be running full-time with new car owner Ray Graham on the tour. Britten’s first career Super DIRTcar Series victory came last year at Sharon Speedway. After Britten’s runner-up finish at Super DIRT Week with Graham Racing, the new team combo made it known it will be a force to be reckoned with on the tour this season.

Max McLaughlin of Mooresville, NC, picked up his first two career Big Block Modified wins last season at his local home tracks. The young gun still has his eyes set on his first Super DIRTcar Series victory.

.@PeterBritten21a, Graham Join Forces to Chase @SuperDIRTcar Title - https://t.co/HoU1rV0Awy pic.twitter.com/rS6rdwAduf

— Speed51.com - PFC Brakes News Feed (@speed51dotcom) February 26, 2018

Due to a midseason penalty last season, Matt Sheppard lost the series points lead, leaving several fans and drivers optimistic that they’d see a new champion be crowned. In thrilling fashion, Sheppard was able to claw his way back to the top and clinch his third consecutive championship.

Mike Mahaney out of King Ferry, NY, will be traveling with the same team for their third season together. Last year saw Mahaney put on a show at Fonda Speedway and clinch his first win with the team. Mahaney will also be in the hunt this season to collect his first career Super DIRTcar Series victory.

Qualifiers Return For 2018

The Super DIRTcar Series is upping the ante on six of its scheduled events this season. 

Any driver who wins a qualifier will earn a starting spot in the Big-Block Modified finale to Racing’s Biggest Party, NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLVII. These marquee events, now official NAPA Super DIRT Week Qualifiers, are sure to thrill dirt racing fans in the Northeast and beyond.

All series events with a purse of $7,500 or higher will serve as NAPA Super DIRT Week Qualifiers. As of now, there are five of these on the schedule: three at Weedsport Speedway, one at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, and one at Lebanon Valley Speedway. In addition, the Jack Johnson Tribute race at Fonda Speedway will guarantee the winner a starting position at NAPA Super DIRT Week.

Tracks not currently participating in the NAPA Super DIRT Week Qualifier program will have the opportunity to raise their purse and be added to the schedule.

NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week Qualifiers:

Monday, May 28: Memorial Day 100 at Weedsport Speedway, Weedsport, NY
Tuesday, June 26: The BIG Show 10 at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta, NY
Saturday, July 28: Hall of Fame 100 at Weedsport Speedway, Weedsport, NY
Wednesday, Aug. 1: Jack Johnson Tribute at Fonda Speedway, Fonda, NY
Saturday, Sept. 1: Mr. DIRT Track USA at Lebanon Valley Speedway, West Lebanon, NY
Monday, Sept. 3: Labor Day Double Play 100 at Weedsport Speedway, Weedsport, NY

Who Won Where Last Year

April 29 / Fulton Speedway / Billy Decker
May 16 / Bridgeport Speedway / Ryan Watt
June 11 / Five Mile Point Speedway / Matt Sheppard
June 20 / Outlaw Speedway / Billy Decker
June 27 / Albany-Saratoga Speedway / Tim McCreadie
July 2 / Utica-Rome Speedway / Stewart Friesen
July 6 / Airborne Park Speedway / Larry Wight
July 11 / Weedsport Speedway / Stewart Friesen
July 18 / Eldora Speedway / Billy Decker
July 19 / Eldora Speedway / Billy Whittaker
July 20 / Sharon Speedway / Peter Britten
July 25 / Autodrome Granby / Matt Sheppard
July 26 / Autodrome Drummond / Matt Sheppard
Aug. 8 / Ransomville Speedway / Matt Sheppard
Aug. 9 / Merrittville Speedway / Matt Sheppard
Aug. 24 / Ohsweken Speedway / Matt Sheppard
Aug. 31 / Lebanon Valley Speedway / Brett Hearn
Sept. 4 / Weedsport Speedway / Matt Sheppard
Sept. 8 / Autodrome Granby / Larry Wight
Sept. 9 / Le RPM Speedway / Matt Sheppard
Sept. 15 / Brewerton Speedway / Matt Sheppard
Sept. 16 / Mohawk International Raceway / Tim Fuller
Sept. 17 / Cornwall Motor Speedway / Matt Sheppard
Sept. 23 / Fonda Speedway / Bobby Varin
Oct. 8 / Oswego Speedway / Matt Sheppard
Oct. 13 / Brockville Ontario Speedway / Billy Decker
Nov. 3 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Mat Williamson
Nov. 4 / The Dirt Track at Charlotte / Matt Sheppard

Season Outlook

With 29 races scheduled at 21 different tracks, fans will get to watch some of the greatest racing in action all across the state of New York, Canada, and North Carolina.

Last year, the series only saw three different repeat victors. Matt Sheppard collected the most series wins with 12, Billy Decker won four times, and Larry Wight and Stewart Friesen both notched a pair of victories. 

Doubting Sheppard’s ability to keep it going in 2018 would be ill-advised, but with a group of racers as talented as the Super DIRTcar series will feature this season, one thing is for certain: He’ll have his work cut out for him.