In his first season at Lernerville Speedway, the 24-year-old from St. Catharines, Ontario, won the track's V-8 Modified championship.
This year Williamson is set to make that 480-mile round trip each week to defend his championship.
“I'd say it was one of those years where we had a lot of races that went our way; that was mostly on Fridays,” Williamson said. “We also had some nights that we just wanted to forget. On Saturday at Merrittville (Speedway in Ontario) we won the most races, four, but still finished third in points because we had a couple of DNFs due to mechanical issues.”
Williamson races his 358 Modified on Saturday at Merrittville so that makes Friday night racing at Lernerville a bit easier to handle because the team does not have to prep the car for two consecutive nights of racing.
Last season's championship was Williamson's first. He won five features at the track and also scored 13 top-five finishes. His worst finish of the season was fourth, and part of that was due to a tire issue while he was running second. Williamson's points lead at the end of the season was 53 over seven-time track champion Brian Swartzlander.
Two weeks ago Swartzlander took the checkered flag in the V-8 Modified feature, his 83rd Lernerville victory. Williamson finished second.
“Last season was very good,” Williamson said. “I certainly didn't expect to come down and win a championship but we got lucky a few times and things came together.
“Lernerville is a wide track and that certainly allows you the ability to pass and to work your way up through the field,” Williamson added. “At Lernerville you get a handicap after you win and have to start the next feature in 12th, so it helps that there is enough room to pass.”
The team did make adjustments for this season.
“One of the biggest changes from last year is that we didn't have a shop,” Williamson said. “We have a shop now, and I'd say we are bit better stocked with parts. This is a whole new car. There is not much you would see that would show it is new, but most of the parts are new.”
Williamson does feel he is a different driver than he was last season, due mainly to an accumulation of experience.
“I really think you learn more each year as you go out and race,” Williamson said. “Just by doing more it helps you know what to do to prepare. As a team we have all been together for about 10 years so there are no surprises, and we all know what to do.”
Williamson's father, Randy, is a partner in Bicknell Racing Products with Pete Bicknell and Bob Slack. It is also where Mat works, but it is not as much of an advantage as some would suspect.
“We are, and we aren't, a guinea pig for the factory,” Williamson said. “You can try to do some new and innovative things but the rules have gotten so tight that it makes it tough to make anything new. You have to ask for approval and by the time you do that, everybody else has it too.”
Lernerville's history with V-8 Modifieds is well regarded and some of the sport's biggest stars have won titles, including Blackie Watt, Ed Lynch Sr., Bob Wearing Sr., Swartzlander and of course, Lou Blaney.
“It really is something to win a championship at Lernerville because you watch some of these guys get inducted into various halls of fame,” Williamson said. “One day you hope to be in that same situation. But for now we are going out and trying to win races.”
Williamson does feel he is a different driver than he was last season, due mainly to an accumulation of experience.
“I really think you learn more each year as you go out and race,” Williamson said. “Just by doing more it helps you know what to do to prepare. As a team we have all been together for about 10 years so there are no surprises, and we all know what to do.”
Williamson's father, Randy, is a partner in Bicknell Racing Products with Pete Bicknell and Bob Slack. It is also where Mat works, but it is not as much of an advantage as some would suspect.
“We are, and we aren't, a guinea pig for the factory,” Williamson said. “You can try to do some new and innovative things but the rules have gotten so tight that it makes it tough to make anything new. You have to ask for approval and by the time you do that, everybody else has it too.”
Lernerville's history with V-8 Modifieds is well regarded and some of the sport's biggest stars have won titles, including Blackie Watt, Ed Lynch Sr., Bob Wearing Sr., Swartzlander and of course, Lou Blaney.
“It really is something to win a championship at Lernerville because you watch some of these guys get inducted into various halls of fame,” Williamson said. “One day you hope to be in that same situation. But for now we are going out and trying to win races.”
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