We’re just over a week away from the Super DirtCar Ohio swing, a rare chance to see the Big Block Modifieds of the Northeast here in the Buckeye State. Mansfield Speedway will host the Super DirtCar Series on Tuesday, August 11th before the tour heads to the Northeast corner of the state and Sharon Speedway on Wednesday, August 12th. Race fans wanting even more “Big Block Modified” racing can hop across the state line to Michael’s Mercer Raceway Park on Thursday, August 13th as the BRP Modified Tour, featuring similar style cars will be in action.
While they are called “Big Block Modifieds”, they resemble nothing of what Northern Ohio racefans would call a “Modified” other than the open wheels of the front end. These are totally different animals. If you’ve ever seen the NASCAR Whelen Modifieds or Race of Champions Modifieds on asphalt, you know just how different they are from the “Modifieds” at Midvale Speedway or Lorain Raceway Park. Super DirtCar Modifieds are the “Whelen Modifieds of dirt”
These machines are the undisputed heavyweights of dirt oval racing. They are purpose-built, open-wheel titans that demand absolute respect and a heavy right foot. Let’s break down what makes these beasts tick and look back at the legends who tamed them.
Anatomy of a Big Block
You can’t mistake a Big Block Modified for anything else on the track. With their central seating position, open front wheels, and massive, distinctive body panels, they look like they are moving 100 mph while sitting still.
But the real magic is under the hood. These cars are powered by massive, naturally aspirated V8 powerplants. Historically, builders would pull these engine blocks from junkyard trucks and meticulously machine them into highly-tuned racing engines. Today, they are marvels of dirt engineering.
With their high center of gravity and massive torque output, they are notoriously top-heavy and a real handful to drive. There is no coasting here; it requires immense throttle control and tire management to survive a long feature race.
Legends of the Dirt
It takes a specific breed of driver to wrestle a Big Block Modified to Victory Lane. Over the decades, a few names have etched themselves into the bedrock of Northeast dirt racing history:
- Brett “The Jet” Hearn: Perhaps the ultimate master of the Big Block, Hearn is a legend who collected over 900 career victories and 141 Super DIRTcar Series feature wins. Hearn often joked that the best way to make a Big Block handle well was to put a Small Block in it, highlighting just how much skill it took to manage the car’s raw torque.
- “Barefoot” Bob McCreadie: A true titan of the Northeast, McCreadie picked up his first win in 1975 and went on to secure over 500 career victories and 29 different points championships over a 30-year career.
- Alan “AJ Slideways” Johnson: A fan favorite and a member of the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame. Johnson began racing in 1974 at age 16 and achieved an incredible streak of winning at least one feature event every single year for decades, including three prestigious Super DIRT Week titles.
- Stewart Friesen: While many modern fans know him from his NASCAR Truck Series campaigns, Friesen is a powerhouse on the dirt. As a multi-time winner of the Billy Whittaker Cars 200, he continues the tradition of Big Block legends proving their mettle across different motorsport disciplines.
The Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified isn’t just a race car; it’s a living link to the roots of stock car racing, demanding pure mechanical grip and raw driver talent over engineered perfection.
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