Driver Spotlight: Matt Dufault

OXFORD- 33 year old Matt Dufault driver of the blue 61 street stock, has quickly become a fan favorite in the Street stock class. So far he has 5 wins under his belt this season, just recently he’s won 3 in a row. Since getting his 2nd win of the season, he’s been fast favoring the high groove to pass other cars 3-wide.

Dufault has been a racing fan since he was a kid, when he became a fan of Maine native Ricky Craven after finding out his father a pilot and an FAA Certified Mechanic worked with guys who knew the driver pretty well.

Photo Credit: Susan Johnson

The Turner native has been racing on and off since 2003 starting out racing in enduros before eventually racing on Wednesday nights in the Rebels and outlaws classes. He won a championship in Rebels in 2010 and an Outlaw championship in 2012.

Though Dufault loves racing there's been seasons he just hasn’t been super into racing every week, even when he’s not racing he can usually be found helping found helping fellow drivers.

Among some of the drivers he’s helped over the years are Ben Ashline when he raced on the ACT tour, Troy Jordan, Jamie Heath and Kyle Hewins. The last few seasons Dufault has been helping Kyle Treadwell and Bryce Mains.

Dufault’s current car was driven by Mains during last season. When Mains got a new ride this season Dufault decided to get behind the wheel of the Rodney Williams owned car.

Dufault has many great memories at the track but one of his favorites was being on Treadwell’s crew during his first attempt at the Oxford 250 in 2014

Matt in victory lane after getting his 5th win

“Making the Oxford 250 with Treadwell his rookie year, as his spotter was great. I'll never forget when he came in after tech with tears in eyes, I knew we had done it.” Dufault explained remembering the big day.

His favorite moment so far this season was June 25^th when he spun out during the race and was able to make it back through the field to win the race.

“I had the car decent but it became really good after we got spun and won. I think we just found a few things that night and that run gave us a ton of confidence.” He said about his second win of the season.

Oxford Plains Speedway is said to be a tough track to figure out by many drivers but most enjoy the challenge.

“It's a brain teaser” Dufault explained. “You can either be a mile away from the right answer or you could be literally standing right next to it but when you solve Oxford, it’s so much fun.”

One of his favorite competitors to race against has been Kyle Hewins a guy he’s actually helped when he’s not racing.

“You can just tell a lot about someone by how they race you and he's always races me really good and really hard”

He owes this season’s success to his crew Zach, Bryce and Richard Mains, Matt and Rodney Williams and most importantly his Mother, Deb Dufault a middle school teacher in Turner.

“She always notices things I never really gave much thought, she goes to all of my races she's been a big part of my racing career” Dufault admitted.

Cruising in first during the Northeast Street Stock tour
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He truly has a passion for the sport. Dufault has done it all from actually being a racecar driver to helping other drivers by being their spotter or setup guy.

“This is really what I love to do, I don’t really know how good I am at it but it’s what I like to do”

When he’s not wheeling a race car in the Oxford Championship series he can be found driving a truck for Central Distribution delivering alcohol to stores during the week, which he says is the most fun job he’s ever had.

Dufault has a pretty impressive run being on a 4 wins in a row streak, if he keeps it up there’s a good chance he will find himself a champion of the Street stock class.