The biggest Big-Block Modified race of the year will be held this weekend at the “Clay Palace” of Oswego Speedway (NY). We get you ready for the big race in this edition of “By the Numbers” on Speed51.com.
3: The race on average can take over three hours to complete. It’s one of the truest test of endurance in short track racing.
3: This is the third year the race has been held at the Oswego Speedway. It was previously held at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
4: Matt Sheppard has four Super DIRTcar Series wins this season and leads the points.
6: Brett Hearn is the only six-time winner of the Big-Block Modified feature. Stewart Friesen looks to catch him after winning five, including three of the last four.
7: The main event has been won back-to-back on seven occasions. Most recently, Stewart Friesen has won the race back-to-back on two separate occasions.
7: Billy Decker is a seven-time pole winner for the Big-Block Modified race.
14: Erick Rudolph is second in the Super DIRTcar Series points with only one victory, but his 14 top-five finishes are the most of any driver. That has him within striking distance of Sheppard as they head down the stretch.
30: Fresh off his 30th start in the big show last year, Billy Decker hopes to add to his four wins and 14 top-10 finishes.
40: The number of starts for Brett Hearn in the main event. He has 14 top-10 finishes. “The Jet” finished 12th last year.
55: The number of Big-Block Modifieds that entered the race in 2017.
216: The number of drivers who have earned points this season with the Super DIRTcar Series.
358: While much of the focus will be on Sunday’s Big-Block Modified race, the DIRTcar 358 Modifieds will have their time to shine Saturday night. Many of the stars will be competing in both the Small Block and Big Block races. Matt Sheppard swept the races one year ago.
744: According to 51’s Third Turn, there have been 744 different drivers to run this event.
1972: The year the race was run for the first time.
$50,000: The winner of Sunday’s main event will pocket a whopping $50,000.
$51,200: The amount of money Stewart Friesen has earned in only 12 Super DIRTcar Series races this year. His five wins is the most this season.
Three-Peat: Gary Balough and Stewart Friesen are the only two drivers to win the race three years in a row. He is also the only Snowball Derby winner to win the Big-Block Modified race.
Past Winners
2017 Matt Sheppard
2016 Stewart Friesen
2015 Stewart Friesen
2014 Stewart Friesen
2013 Billy Dunn
2012 Brett Hearn
2011 Stewart Friesen
2010 Stewart Friesen
2009 Matt Sheppard
2008 Frank Cozze
2007 Vic Coffey
2006 Danny Johnson (NY)
2005 Billy Decker
2004 Tim Fuller (NY)
2003 Alan Johnson (NY)
2002 Vic Coffey
2001 Billy Decker
2000 Billy Decker
1999 Kenny Tremont, Jr.
1998 Billy Decker
1997 Danny Johnson (NY)
1996 Doug Hoffman
1995 Brett Hearn
1994 Jimmy Horton
1993 Brett Hearn
1992 Toby Tobias, Jr.
1991 Brett Hearn
1990 Brett Hearn
1989 Alan Johnson (NY)
1988 Kenny Brightbill
1987 Jimmy Horton
1986 Bob McCreadie
1985 Brett Hearn
1984 Jack Johnson (NY)
1983 Alan Johnson (NY)
1982 Merv Treichler
1981 Merv Treichler
1980 Gary Balough
1979 Jack Johnson (NY)
1978 Gary Balough
1977 Gary Balough
1976 Gary Balough
1975 Toby Tobias
1974 Billy Osmun
1973 Buzzie Reutimann
1972 Buzzie Reutimann
-By Elgin Traylor, Speed51.com Southeast Correspondent
-Photo credit: Speed51.com / MoJo Photos
