Charlotte Kickoff Gives Phelps His 25th Super DIRTcar Win
Jimmy Phelps (98H) battles Mat Williamson en route to victory in the World Finals opener. (KR Poole Photos)
By Jacob Seelman, SWN News Editor
CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 5, 2026) – In one of the most decorated Super DIRTcar Series seasons of his 30-year career, Jimmy Phelps reached a threshold Thursday night that only a small fraternity of touring big-block modified drivers have ever achieved.
Phelps drove to his milestone 25th Super DIRTcar Series victory during the opening act of the tour’s tripleheader weekend at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, leading all 30 laps and banking $10,000 for his efforts during the Dave Smith Motors World Finals.
The Baldwinsville, N.Y., native fended off three-time and defending series champion Mat Williamson during the latter stages of Thursday’s main event, ultimately taking the checkered flag in front by .439 seconds.
“Just an awesome car,” Phelps said of his No. 98H. “We had a good heat race. Had a good pill draw. And we really needed to make tonight count because we’re [starting] a little deeper tomorrow. But for right now we’ll celebrate. It feels good.”
Phelps pulled away from Logan Watt early, before a caution on lap seven for Paul Mancini slowing in turns three and four. Williamson was fourth at that point, but quickly took third place on the ensuing restart to move closer to contention at the front.
Watt pulled in with a driveshaft failure on lap 11, gifting second to Williamson and setting the stage for a veteran duel down the stretch, but it wasn’t until 10 to go when Rex King Jr. brought out a caution that Williamson was able to try and strike.
Williamson went to work after the final restart banging the cushion, building momentum in turns one and two and taking several runs at Phelps as the laps wound down.
The Canadian squeezed Phelps out near the outside wall in turns three and four with two laps left, after taking a huge run down the backstretch and to Phelps’ inside on corner entry, but Phelps would not be denied and scooted back past down the frontstretch with inches to spare.
After that, the Baldwinsville Bandit took off like a bandit and never gave Williamson another chance.
“We fired (off) 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 (No.) 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.”
“I don’t know if I needed any more, or if I needed the race to play out any differently,” Williamson lamented. “Obviously drawing six hurts, because you use your [stuff] 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.”
Series point leader Alex Yankowski completed the podium, maintaining an 87-point advantage over Williamson with two features left in the season.
Fourth and fifth were Alex Payne and Felix Roy, respectively.
Other feature winners Thursday during the World Finals were Rico Abreu (sprint cars) and Ricky Thornton Jr. (late models).
Action continues at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Friday with the second of three racing programs during the Dave Smith Motors World Finals. Every lap of the week can be streamed live via DIRTvision.
The finish:
Feature (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].
