Mat Williamson captured his third Big Gator Championship at the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia, tying Larry Wight’s all-time record and giving Williamson his third Big Gator title in four years.

Driving for Buzz Chew Racing, Williamson opened the four-race Nationals with a fourth-place finish, won the next two features and closed the miniseries with two wins and four top-five results. He entered the final night with a 20-point cushion over challenger Alex Payne and needed only a 12th-place finish to clinch the title.

The team credited week-long reliability — including no DNFs — and an effective restart strategy amid volatile cautions, noting the emphasis on avoiding DNFs and major mechanical problems after losing a championship by three points in 2025 because of a flat tire. The Big Gator victory came three months after Williamson secured his third Super DIRTcar Series championship and gives Buzz Chew Racing momentum heading into the championship season opener, the Delaware Diamond at Georgetown Speedway on March 28. The team said it will undertake heavy preparation for the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at Oswego on Oct. 5–10 and plans to prioritize that event as a season objective.

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