The top 358 Modified stars are gearing up for a battle on the shores of Lake Champlain.
The DIRTcar 358 Modified Series will make its lone appearance at Airborne Park Speedway on Thursday, June 11, for the Battle of Plattsburgh. Drivers will battle in a 75-lap Feature paying $5,000-to-win.
Joining the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series are the DIRTcar Sportsman Series East Region, and the track’s Mini Stock, Renegade, and Limited Sportsman divisions.
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Here’s a look at what to watch for at Airborne:
Smooth n’ Hot: Mike Mahaney has gotten off to a hot start behind the wheel of his 358 Modified in 2026, earning five victories. Three of those wins have come over the past three Features at Airborne, where he currently holds the track points lead.
The Elizabethtown, NY driver also leads the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series standings by two points over Alex Payne and has a chance to extend that advantage on Thursday at his home track.
A win by “Smooth Shoe” on Thursday would be his third career DIRTcar 358 Modified Series win, and 12th victory at Airborne.
Payne, meanwhile, has made one start at the track, finishing third in a Short Track Super Series event in 2024.
The Number 6: Last season marked the return of the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series to Airborne. It also marked the first of Mat Williamson’s five Series wins in 2025 en route to the championship.
“Money Mat” has made four starts at Airborne in his career, earning a win, two top fives, and three top 10s between Big Block and Small Block competition. He’s also looking for his second Series win of the season after winning at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in April.
A win by the St. Catharines, ON driver will be his 22nd career Series triumph, tying Tim Fuller for fourth all-time.
Thursday Night Thunder: One of Airborne’s unique features is that their weekly action is on Thursday night. They also boast a field of former DIRTcar 358 Modified Series champions looking to defend home turf at the 1/2-mile track.
Defending track champion and 2024 Series champion Felix Roy joins Mahaney as a Feature winner at the track this season. The Napierville, QC driver has seven wins at Airborne, along with 26 top fives and 34 top 10s in 36 starts. “Hollywood” is currently second in track points, 14 points behind Mahaney, and is aiming for his first career Series win.
Fuller, who won the Series title in 2003, sits third in the track standings with four top-five finishes in four starts. The Edwards, NY driver is a three-time winner at the “Big A” in his career and is searching for his first there since last September.
Another driver to watch is 2016 Series champion, Chris Raabe. The Alexandria, ON, driver, who’s also a two-time Airborne champion, sits third in the Series standings, 20 points behind Mahaney for the top spot.
Raabe has 17 Feature wins at Airborne in his career, but is looking for his first since last July. He’s also looking for his fourth career Series win and first since 2022 at Brockville Ontario Speedway.
2026 DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Schedule
Saturday, April 18/Lebanon Valley Speedway/West Lebanon, NY- Andy Bachetti
Saturday, April 25/Devil’s Bowl Speedway/West Haven, VT- Mat Williamson
Sunday, June 7/Glen Ridge Motorsports Park/Fultonville, NY- PPD
Thursday, June 11/Airborne Park Speedway/Plattsburgh, NY
Tuesday, June 30/Weedsport Speedway/Weedsport, NY
Wednesday, July 1/Can-Am Speedway/LaFargeville, NY
Wednesday, July 15/Utica-Rome Speedway/Vernon, NY
Sunday, Aug. 2/Cornwall Motor Speedway/Long Sault, ON
Tuesday, Aug. 25/Ransomville Speedway/Ransomville, NY
Friday, Sept. 11/Can-Am Speedway/LaFargeville, NY
Friday, Sept. 18/Mohawk International Raceway/Akwesasne, NY
Friday, Sept. 25/Albany-Saratoga Speedway/Malta, NY
Friday, Oct. 9/Oswego Speedway/Oswego, NY
Saturday, Oct. 17/Brockville Ontario Speedway/Brockville, ON
Current DIRTcar 358 Modified Series Standings
- Mike Mahaney 288
- Alex Payne -2
- Chris Raabe -20
- Lance Willix -32
- Mat Williamson -36
- Peter Britten -52
- Brad Rouse -52
- Andrew Buff -62
- Jack Butler -72
- Brendan Gibbons -78
For a complete look at the Series points standings, CLICK HERE.
This article was republished with the permission of DIRTcar. You can find the original article here: https://dirtcar.com/dirtcar-ne/358-modifieds/dirtcar-358-modified-series/what-to-watch-for-battle-of-plattsburgh-welcomes-dirtcar-358-modified-series-stars-at-airborne/
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