Sheppard Inches Closer to 10th Series Title
By Michelina Friss | November 3, 2023
Matt Sheppard’s timing couldn’t be better.
The nine-time and defending Series champion returned to Victory Lane at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the first time since 2017 on Thursday night with a potential 10th Super DIRTcar Series title two races away.
Now, with an 83-point lead over Mat Williamson, the Waterloo, NY native is eyeing a clearer shot at history.
Williamson didn’t make Sheppard’s path to victory during Thursday’s 30-lap World of Outlaws World Finals Feature easy, though.
At the drop of the green flag, Williamson played his hand aggressively, shooting out in front around pole-sitter Max McLaughlin – who drew the SRI Performance/Stock Car Steel pole award – to take the lead on Lap 1. Sheppard was not far behind, passing McLaughlin on Lap 5 for second place, setting up a battle between the top two Series contenders – a storyline seen throughout the year.
Williamson created a sizable lead out front with his #88 machine. The challenge arose as the Buzz Chew Racing driver approached lapped traffic heading into Lap 8, tightening the battle with Sheppard as he remained in hot pursuit. As the two Series stars weaved in and out of traffic, Sheppard saw an opening coming off Turn 2 that gave him enough space to pass Williamson on Lap 13.
Both competitors kept the pressure on, staying within half a car length of the other as they fought for the lead. Williamson repaid the favor as he found his way around Sheppard just three laps later, regaining the lead on Lap 16.
With half of the race completed, and the laps ticking off the counter, the effects of every decision made was magnified.
“I kind of decided I needed to change my strategy,” Sheppard said. “Lucky for me, I was able to move back up and carry some really good speed in the middle of the track and was able to get back around (Mat Williamson).”
The two veteran drivers passed by the flag stand to clock Lap 22 with Williamson running the inside and Sheppard on the outside. The defending Series champion rocketed off Turn 2 to push his way around Williamson and find clean air once again.
Once out in front, his #9S machine gained a second wind, increasing his lead in front of the field. His lead stayed steady through the second restart of the race on Lap 24, as Williamson began to lose steam behind him.
Queensbury, NY driver Demetrios Drellos found his way around Williamson on the restart, passing him for second place, after charging up from a 10th place starting position. Sheppard finished off the remaining laps unchallenged, scoring his 93rd Series win of his career and fourth of the season to inch one step closer to capturing his 10th Series title.
“Yeah, we’re happy with how tonight went,” Sheppard said. “It feels good to get back to Victory Lane after all the second places that I had. We just put a new motor in. It’s been running for us real strong all weekend, but everyone else is going to improve, so we’re going to have to improve too.”
