{"id":2779,"date":"2024-11-10T00:16:31","date_gmt":"2024-11-10T04:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldofoutlawsworldfinals.com\/?p=2779"},"modified":"2024-11-10T00:16:32","modified_gmt":"2024-11-10T04:16:32","slug":"charlotte-conqueror-anthony-perrego-bests-tim-fuller-in-2024-season-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldofoutlawsworldfinals.com\/recap\/charlotte-conqueror-anthony-perrego-bests-tim-fuller-in-2024-season-finale\/","title":{"rendered":"CHARLOTTE CONQUEROR: Anthony Perrego Bests Tim Fuller in 2024 Season Finale"},"content":{"rendered":"
If the 2024 Super DIRTcar Series season were a book, its first and last pages would look the same.<\/p>\n
After winning the season opener at New Egypt Speedway in March, Anthony Perrego finished the year in the same place he started by winning the World of Outlaws World Finals<\/em> finale Saturday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.<\/p>\n The Montgomery, NY driver outdueled Tim Fuller for the win, leading the last 11 laps to score the $15,000 victory and finish third in the standings\u2014his best Super DIRTcar Series points finish.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a night for us,\u201d Perrego said. \u201cAt the end of the season, it\u2019s like we get fired back up, and hopefully, that will run into next year. And when we get into that summer swing, hopefully, we won\u2019t get in a slump.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is huge. This is number one right now. Fifteen grand, I think it was tonight and 20 grand in the points. It was a good night.\u201d<\/p>\n Tim Fuller, the SRI Performance\/Stock Car Steel Redraw Bonus winner, took the early lead after two cautions slowed the field before they completed Lap 1. Like in his win on Thursday, the Edwards, NY driver started pulling away in the race\u2019s early stages with Perrego chasing him down.<\/p>\n Perrego kept pace with the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Famer throughout the first 10 laps by working the inside of the track. However, he couldn\u2019t get the momentum he needed to drive by the No. 19.<\/p>\n He had his best chance to pass Fuller on Lap 13 when they reached lap traffic. Perrego dove to the inside in Turns 1 and 2, getting up to the front tires of Fuller\u2019s car as they exited the corner. But even with Danny Johnson ahead of him, Fuller\u2019s momentum carried him ahead of Perrego down the backstretch.<\/p>\n Fuller drove around Johnson one lap later, gaining separation from Perrego as they battled down the front stretch. He wouldn\u2019t have that separation for long, though, as Daniel Johnson brought out the caution on Lap 18.<\/p>\n That set up the first of multiple restarts for Perrego to try and pass Fuller, but Fuller held back his challenges on Lap 20 and Lap 22. Fuller again opened his lead up to over a second, trying to become the all-time winningest Big Block driver in Charlotte\u2019s history.<\/p>\n But for that to happen, he\u2019d have to survive one more restart on Lap 29 after Jeff Taylor spun in Turn 3.<\/p>\n When the race resumed, Perrego timed the restart perfectly, sliding in front of Fuller in Turn 1, making contact with Fuller\u2019s left-front tire in the corner\u2019s apex, and pulling ahead as the two drivers exited Turn 2.<\/p>\n From there, Perrego cruised in the final 11 laps to score his fifth Super DIRTcar Series victory and first World Finals<\/em> triumph.<\/p>\n On the Lap 29 restart, Perrego said the time it took to clear Taylor\u2019s car from the racetrack worked to his advantage.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were a few restarts there when we were on even terms with him,\u201d Perrego said. \u201cWe would go down to (Turn 1), and he would drive away. On the last one, that yellow was just long enough where his tire cooled down, and he really spun the tires there. We were able to take off, and I slid up and made a little bit of contact. I don\u2019t like to race like that, but thought I was clear of him.\u201d<\/p>\n Fuller settled for second, narrowly missing out on his sixth Charlotte victory. Despite the contact between the two drivers, the Edwards, NY driver said, the cautions gave Perrego too many chances to pass him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe went for it, and he wasn\u2019t clear, and I made it so that he was clear,\u201d Fuller said. \u201cI could\u2019ve crashed us both. I didn\u2019t because I need the money, too. But he wasn\u2019t clear. He sent it in there on a Hail Mary.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I still think he\u2019s great. I still think he\u2019s an awesome racer. It is what it is. I\u2019m mad at myself for putting a harder tire on. I couldn\u2019t restart as well, and after that many restarts, it\u2019s easy to pick up where I\u2019m probably going to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Mat Williamson crossed the line third, officially clinching the 2024 Super DIRTcar Series championship by 33 points over Matt Sheppard, who finished fourth.<\/p>\n Williamson said his Buzz Chew Racing No. 88 was better than a third-place car but wanted to ensure he finished the race.<\/p>\n \u201cI was trying to stay on the wall and leave a lane on the wall for whoever was trying to pass me,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cI was trying to putt the bottom, save the motor, save fuel, and not break any parts. I was being really conservative to try and win a points championship tonight.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that if we were tighter in points, I would\u2019ve pushed the issue, got up on that cushion, and tried to win the race. But the fact that we had a 30-point lead, I didn\u2019t really want to push the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Yankowski rounded out the top five.<\/p>\n UP NEXT:<\/strong> With the 2024 season complete, the Super DIRTcar Series will open its 2025 season at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL Feb. 12-15. For Tickets, CLICK HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n