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Jimmy Phelps Leads Every Lap and Holds Off Mat Williamson for His Third World Finals Win at Charlotte

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Jimmy Phelps' No. 98H Big Block Modified racing in Super DIRTcar Series action
Jimmy Phelps' No. 98H Big Block Modified in Super DIRTcar Series action. Photo via Super DIRTcar Series.

Jimmy Phelps made Thursday night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte his own. The Baldwinsville driver led all 30 laps, survived a late charge from Mat Williamson with two laps to go, and claimed his third World Finals victory and 25th career Super DIRTcar Series triumph, while Alex Yankowski kept an 87-point lead with two races left.

During one of his best Super DIRTcar Series seasons, Jimmy Phelps added another milestone moment at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The Baldwinsville, NY driver led all 30 laps of Thursday’s Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals Feature, holding off a late charge by Mat Williamson for his 25th career Series triumph.

“Just an awesome car,” Phelps said. “We had a good Heat Race. Had a good pill draw. And we really needed to make tonight count because we’re a little deeper tomorrow. But for right now we’ll celebrate. It feels good.”

Phelps, the SRI Performance and Stock Car Steel Pole Award winner, led the field to the green in the 30-lap Feature, using the outside lane to pull away from Logan Watt. It wasn’t long before Phelps gained a significant advantage, taking a lead of over a second before the race’s first caution on Lap 7 for Paul Mancini.

When the race resumed, Phelps controlled the field again, this time getting a larger advantage on a long green-flag run. Behind Phelps, Watt dropped out on Lap 11 after the driveshaft broke on the No. 14W, handing the runner-up position to Williamson, who started sixth.

Williamson gained some ground on Phelps as the “Baldwinsville Bandit” battled through lap traffic, but a caution with 10 laps to go for Rex King Jr. brought the Buzz Chew Racing No. 88 within striking distance.

Phelps beat Williamson into Turns 1 and 2, but with a chance to tie Matt Sheppard for the most World Finals wins, “Money Mat” wasn’t going away. While Phelps ran the middle of the track, Williamson went to the extreme outside lane, closing within two car lengths on multiple occasions down the backstretch.

Williamson’s best shot to pass Phelps came with two laps to go, when he got a monstrous run exiting Turn 2. Williamson pulled even with the No. 98H as they raced down the backstretch and tried to inch ahead in Turn 3.

But Phelps’ momentum was too much for the three-time Series champion to overcome, as the Super DIRTcar Series veteran held off Williamson to earn the $10,000 victory and his third Series triumph of 2026.

“We fired really good,” Phelps said. “And as the right-rear tire started to wear, I knew I needed to make an adjustment in (Turns) 1 and 2. The 88 made us earn it toward the end. He got me to move. I’m not really even sure if I moved to the right line compared to where he was running, but I think it might’ve got me into the grip enough to hold him off the rest of the way.”

Williamson settled for second, earning his third straight top-two Series finish. The St. Catharines, ON driver said he wanted to make sure he ran Phelps clean while battling for the lead, after Phelps did the same thing at Georgetown last weekend.

“I don’t know if I needed any more, or if I needed the race to play out any differently,” Williamson said. “Obviously drawing six hurts, because you use your shit up getting to the front.

“The car and motor were really stout. I don’t think I could get any more out of it. I hate losing, but it was a lot of fun.”

Alex Yankowski rounded out the podium and holds an 87-point lead over Williamson with two races remaining.

Alex Payne finished fourth, and Felix Roy crossed the line fifth.

UP NEXT: The Super DIRTcar Series returns to The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Friday, Nov. 6, for another night of racing action at the Dave Smith Motors World Finals. For the second straight night, drivers will compete in a 30-lap Feature, paying $10,000-to-win.

RACE NOTES: JAM Performance Fastest Hot Lap Award: Jimmy Phelps. Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux Quick Time Award: Logan Watt. Bicknell Racing Products Heat Race 1 Winner: Jimmy Phelps. DIG Race Products Heat Race 2 Winner: Alex Yankowski. Wix Filters Heat Race 3 Winner: Mat Williamson. The Greatest Store on Dirt Heat Race 4 Winner: Felix Roy. SRI Performance/Stock Car Steel Pole Award Winner: Jimmy Phelps. Behrent’s Performance Warehouse One Lap to Go: Jimmy Phelps.

World Finals Night 1 (30 Laps): 1. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[1]; 2. 88-Mat Williamson[6]; 3. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[8]; 4. 70A-Alex Payne[12]; 5. 91-Felix Roy[3]; 6. 26-Ryan Godown[4]; 7. 12-Darren Smith[9]; 8. 1-Tyler Dippel[7]; 9. 2-Jack Lehner[15]; 10. 21A-Peter Britten[13]; 11. 7MM-Michael Maresca[22]; 12. 35-Mike Mahaney[11]; 13. 9S-Matt Sheppard[10]; 14. 16-Louden Reimert[18]; 15. 9-Tim McCreadie[16]; 16. 11-Matt Caprara[19]; 17. 25-Erick Rudolph[20]; 18. 6-Matt Stangle[17]; 19. 35C-Chris Curtis[26]; 20. 3-Justin Haers[27]; 21. 29-Ryan Krachun[24]; 22. 15X-Justin Stone[25]; 23. 11T-Jeff Taylor[23]; 24. 44G-Sebastien Gougeon[28]; 25. 99L-Larry Wight[14]; 26. 165-Rex King Jr[5]; 27. 7M-Paul Mancini[30]; 28. (DNF) 17-Marcus Dinkins[29]; 29. (DNF) 14W-Logan Watt[2]; 30. (DNF) 28-Michael Trautschold[21]

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Steven Drevicki Wins Record Sixth USAC East Coast Sprint Car Title in Closest Points Race in Series History

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November 6, 2026

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Steven Drevicki driving the No. 19 sprint car in USAC East Coast Sprint Cars action at Bridgeport Motorsports Park
Steven Drevicki, 2026 USAC East Coast Sprint Cars Presented by Baer Den Farms champion. Photo by Steve Koletar.

Steven Drevicki extended his own record with a sixth USAC East Coast Sprint Cars Presented by Baer Den Farms championship in 2026, holding off Christian Bruno by 28 points in the closest title fight in series history to complete his second three-peat in the No. 19.

“It doesn’t ever get old.”

Steven Drevicki can confidently say that after achieving his record-extending sixth career USAC East Coast Sprint Cars Presented by Baer Den Farms driving championship in 2026.

In what was the closest points race in series history, Reading, Pennsylvania’s Drevicki claimed the title by a 28-point margin over Christian Bruno. The previous closest title fight (44 points) came during the series’ inaugural season in 2018 and had the very same driver standing at the top — Steven Drevicki.

Drevicki won the first three series crowns in 2018, 2019, and 2020. He has now achieved his second three-peat after grabbing the championship in 2024, 2025, and 2026, all six of which have come in his own No. 19.

“It’s wild to think about six,” Drevicki reflected. “I don’t know that it’s even sunk in.”

Drevicki achieved two feature victories, both at New Jersey’s Bridgeport Motorsports Park, to go along with a series high 11 top five finishes, plus top 10 results in all 12 of his feature starts during the 2026 campaign.

After chasing after the point lead for much of the season, Drevicki took over the top spot from Bruno with three races remaining, then capped the title with a 4th, a 1st, and a 6th in his final three outings of the year.

“This one was tougher,” Drevicki acknowledged. “The competition keeps getting tougher and tougher every year with where the series is at. The series is really going into a good direction. The level of competition took a big step up again this year and they kept the pressure on and that makes it cool to win them.”

Drevicki credits a midseason stretch in which he delivered top five after top five from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, including a dominant wire-to-wire win at Bridgeport in August where he led all 25 laps. In a September return to Bridgeport he slid J.R. Fulper for the lead amid a three-car battle with two laps remaining; Fulper’s car soon began to stumble without fuel. As Drevicki quipped, “a little luck never hurts.”

Drevicki is a mechanical engineer by trade for the Industrial Crane Company, a graduate of Penn State University’s Mechanical Engineering department, and grew up in a racing family. He started in quarter midgets in 2000, advanced to micros and then to midgets, where he was a two-time American Racing Drivers Club titlist in 2014 and 2015.

“My mom and dad have been huge supporters throughout my entire racing career,” Drevicki praised. “I wouldn’t be where I am without all of their support through the years. I basically own the team, more or less, myself. Dad helps where he can, but it’s pretty much my team. Scott (Gantert) has been helping on the crew for 17 years.”

He credits longtime supporters DeGre Engineering, Roadrunner Race Fuels, Fastener Specialties, Fastlane Jewelry, BDB Graphics, NAPA of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, RPM Chassis, and Penske Shocks.

“When you think about that part, most of the sponsors and people that I’ve been with have been with me for 10 years in one capacity or another. They’re not sponsors; they’re friends at this point. To keep those relationships and that support structure around me intact for that long is really special to me.”

Five different drivers earned USAC East Coast victories in 2026: Christian Bruno, Briggs Danner, Steven Drevicki, Kenny Miller III, and Chelby Hinton.

Bruno was runner-up for the second time in three years, led all drivers with five victories (Big Diamond Speedway in May, all three Selinsgrove Speedway events, and Port Royal Speedway in September), and led in feature laps led (69) and heat race victories (7).

Briggs Danner raised his USAC East Coast record win total to 32 with two wins in the Hogue Racing Enterprises No. 39 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park and Action Track USA.

Kenny Miller III won twice in nailbiters (Bedford in April and Action Track USA in August), took third in the standings in the family owned No. 23m, and made the biggest charge of the season, +11 from 19th to 8th in July at Action Track USA.

Chelby Hinton took over the Hogue Racing Enterprises No. 39 at season’s end and swept the final Halloween weekend events at Bridgeport in his USAC East Coast debut, winning Friday’s Non-Winners Showdown and Saturday’s final points race.

Kyle Spence finished fourth and Joe Kata fifth, both with their best career points performances. Olivia Thayer finished eighth and was honored as Rookie of the Year. Bob Swavely, crewman on Christian Bruno’s JMO Motorsports No. 3BC, was named Mechanic of the Year.

Four drivers started all 12 feature events in 2026: Christian Bruno, Steven Drevicki, Joe Kata, and Kenny Miller III.

Stat leaders: Driver Champion Steven Drevicki; Rookie of the Year Olivia Thayer; Most Wins 5 — Christian Bruno; Most Laps Led 69 — Christian Bruno; Most Top-Fives 11 — Steven Drevicki; Most Top-Tens 12 — Steven Drevicki; Most Heat Race Wins 7 — Christian Bruno; Biggest Charge (+11) Jul 8 at Action Track USA — Kenny Miller III (19th to 8th).

Final driver points (top 10): 1 Steven Drevicki, Reading, Pennsylvania — 847; 2 Christian Bruno, Deptford, New Jersey — 819; 3 Kenny Miller III, Morgantown, Pennsylvania — 787; 4 Kyle Spence, Bear, Delaware — 671; 5 Joe Kata, Goshen, New York — 643; 6 Ed Aikin, Lincoln University, Pennsylvania — 572; 7 Ronald Helmick, Quakertown, Pennsylvania — 551; 8 (R) Olivia Thayer, Hanover, Pennsylvania — 496; 9 Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania — 433; 10 Chris Allen Jr., Old Bridge, New Jersey — 419.

By Richie Murray — USAC Media

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