{"id":4944,"date":"2023-02-16T03:19:28","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T07:19:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dirtcarnationals.com\/uncategorized\/right-start-max-mclaughlin-opens-season-with-dirtcar-nationals-win\/"},"modified":"2023-03-29T15:16:27","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T19:16:27","slug":"right-start-max-mclaughlin-opens-season-with-dirtcar-nationals-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dirtcarnationals.com\/recaps\/right-start-max-mclaughlin-opens-season-with-dirtcar-nationals-win\/","title":{"rendered":"RIGHT START: Max McLaughlin Opens Season With DIRTcar Nationals Win"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n
Max McLaughlin opened the 2023 Super DIRTcar Series season at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals exactly how he wanted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
In Victory Lane at Volusia Speedway Park.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Mooresville, NC driver led all 30 laps in the first Super DIRTcar Series Feature of the year after drawing the outside pole.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
McLaughlin, 22, is no stranger to racing at Volusia or visiting the track\u2019s Victory Lane. He came into the night\u2019s matchup with two career DIRTcar Nationals Feature victories already and a Big Gator championship (2021).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
After charging past pole sitter Erick Rudolph at the start of the Feature, he steadily distanced himself from the rest of the field and became the driver to catch. Nine-time and defending Series champion Matt Sheppard was the strongest threat to challenge him, charging from seventh to second after two laps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cI was actually able to roll the bottom pretty good, better than some of the guys in front of me,\u201d Sheppard said. \u201cI was just able to sneak by really quick.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
He continued to chase McLaughlin with little time to spare. And with 10 laps to go, an error by McLaughlin almost played into \u201cSuper\u201d Matt\u2019s hands. While reaching to pull one tear off from his helmet, McLaughlin accidentally pulled all of them. As clay splatter on his visor each lap, visibility became an issue, causing him to jump the cushion in the closing laps.
Sheppard cut a few tenths of a second into McLaughlin\u2019s lead but still didn\u2019t have enough to catch \u201cMad Max.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cNot quite enough for Max at the end, but we could certainly see him,\u201d Sheppard said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
McLaughlin crossed the finish line first, winning his third career golden gator trophy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n