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Mike Warren September 25th, 2024
Photo Joe Grabianowski
After going without a top 10 finish in the first seven races, Felix Roy is hitting his stride with the Super DIRTcar Series. Just in time for Super DIRT Week 52.
When he arrives at Oswego Speedway for Super DIRT Week (Oct. 7-12), he enters with three consecutive top 10s and six top 10s in his last eight Features.
Those finishes have boosted his confidence as he prepares for his second Billy Whittaker Cars 200.
“Last year was the first year I’ve ran there, and I like the place,” Roy said. “It’s a different track, but not that much different. It’s a big track, but we run a big track weekly, so I’m used to that. We’ve been on a hot streak lately with top 10s and all that, so we’re really confident for Oswego.”
Consistent laps at multiple tracks have benefited the 2023 Series Rookie of the Year this season. His streak of top 10s came at tracks he’s visited previously and loves racing at.
“We had issues at the start of the season, but we’ve fixed it, and now we’re competitive like we should’ve been from the start,” Roy said. “It’s a combination of plenty of things and more experience.
“At Albany-Saratoga (Speedway), I knew the track; Brockville (Ontario Speedway), I knew the track; Can-Am (Speedway), I’ve been there twice, and Fulton (Speedway), too. I knew the tracks and knew what to do with the car for sure.”
After an eighth at Albany-Saratoga during Malta Massive Weekend, the Napierville, QC driver climbed to seventh in the Series standings, the highest position he’s reached in his two years with the Series. However, he said he realizes he’s still learning what it takes to succeed on and off the track.
“I’ve learned a lot about saving my stuff and not using it up in the first 40 laps,” Roy said. “People don’t think it’s tough physically, but it’s tough physically to drive a Big Block. I’ve trained outside of the racing world just to be in shape and be at the top of my game to perform. I think that’s helped me prep for not just the first 40 laps but the last 40, too.”
Now, he turns his attention to Oswego, where he made his first Super DIRT Week appearance in 2023.
As he approaches his second trip to the “Clay Palace,” championship aspirations are on his mind. He currently leads the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series points standings by two points over Lance Willix entering “Racing’s Biggest Party.”
Last year, he finished 12th in the Salute to the Troops 150 and 30th in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200. Despite finishing outside the top 10 in both, he has a goal when he hits the “Clay Palace” at Super DIRT Week 52.
“In the [358], we had a good run and didn’t use up our stuff,” Roy said. “Pit strategy is always important. It’s something to think about, and everything has to go well. If I can get a top five in the Small Block and top 10 in the Big Block, I’ll be happy.”
Roy and the Super DIRTcar Series visit Oswego Speedway, Oct. 7-12, for Super DIRT Week 52, culminating with the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 run under the lights on Saturday, Oct. 12.
TICKETS: SuperDIRTWeek.com
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all of the Super DIRTcar Series action on DIRTVision, either online or with the DIRTVision app.
