{"id":4933,"date":"2023-02-19T03:37:54","date_gmt":"2023-02-19T07:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dirtcarnationals.com\/uncategorized\/best-for-last-mat-williamson-captures-big-gator-championship-with-second-win\/"},"modified":"2023-02-21T23:43:59","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T03:43:59","slug":"best-for-last-mat-williamson-captures-big-gator-championship-with-second-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcarnationals.com\/recaps\/best-for-last-mat-williamson-captures-big-gator-championship-with-second-win\/","title":{"rendered":"BEST FOR LAST: Mat Williamson captures Big Gator championship with second win"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Mat Williamson makes last lap pass to win for the second race in a row, while Jack Lehner lands second DIRTcar Nationals podium finish<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mat Williamson quite literally \u201csaved the best for last,\u201d for a second race in a row at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. The St. Catharines, ON driver made a last lap pass around leader Jack Lehner who was caught behind lapped traffic to capture the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Buzzchew Racing driver started ninth on the pole, leave his work cut out for him from the start. But with a finely tuned secondary car that brought him the win on Thursday night and a few more laps to work with to chip away at the field, Williamson was up for the challenge. After steadily moving his way through lapped traffic, he made his way into fourth place by the half-way point of the 50-lap matchup. e caHe<\/p>\n\n\n\n While some cars struggled to keep up their pace, the #88 machine kicked it into high gear. After passing Erick Rudolph to move into third on Lap-27, he set his sights on the \u201cGinja Ninja\u201d Jack Lehner in second. The two traded the lead three times in four laps after passing leader Rick Laubach on Lap-39, setting the stage for a spectacular finish. Lehner went into the final 5 laps in the lead, looking to hold on to capture his first DIRTcar Nationals victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith seven or eight to go he kind of left me a little bit,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cThen I caught some more lapped cars and got back up to him to put myself in a position where we could win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still neck and neck going into the final lap, Lehner ran the bottom with Williamson in hot pursuit on the top. The instantaneous choice proved to be the deciding factor in the final moments. Going into the back stretch, Lehner found himself caught behind lapped traffic, stifling his speed and mobility. Williamson seized the opportunity, riding around him on the outside groove, and drove to victory for the second time in as many races. With the victory, he secured the 2023 Big Gator championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n