Local Racing
Dewease Wins Night before the 50 at Port Royal Speedway
PORT ROYAL, PA (September 11, 2020): Lance Dewease got to do something that very few Sprint Car drivers have been able to do this season: he chased down and passed Kyle Larson for the win on the Night before the 50 at Port Royal Speedway. After struggling on a tacky and fast track Thursday night, Dewease and the Dream Team decided to race on Friday night to get a better idea of what the conditions may be like for the big event. They were planning to take the night off to get ready for the big show on Saturday but a tenth place run the night before may have changed their minds. They collected $6,000 and the second guaranteed starting spot for the big race.
Dewease is a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, and so are his car owner, Don Kreitz, Jr., and his crew chief, Davey Brown. They have made a habit of winning major events since teaming up several seasons ago. Last night, he remarked that his team has been flying under the radar for most of the season, and he thought that may have been a good thing. But, there is no hiding now. Dewease branded himself as a favorite to gain his seventh triumph in this marquee event.
Dewease showed the patience and confidence of a veteran racer. While his younger adversaries, Larson and Anthony Macri were pounding the cushion, Dewease stayed in the middle of the track. But, he found a good line low in turns three and four, which he used to drive by Larson and Macri, much to the delight of the large crowd on hand.
“That’s the only way we can beat those guys,” Dewease said modestly. “Anthony is getting really good here and Kyle is the best in the business now.” Dewease added that he defeated Larson on the links Friday and it was fun to beat his friend on the track. “He (Larson) waived at me when he passed me a couple of weeks ago, but I didn’t waive at him when I passed him. He’s too good right now to do that. I didn’t hear him after I got by him.”
Kerry Madsen and Larson had the front row starting spots from their respective dash wins. Macri and Dewease lined up in row tow. Brent Marks and Cory Eliason, last night’s winner, were in row three. Aaron Reutzel and Tyler Courtney were in row four and Cale Thomas and Dylan Cisney were in row five. Ian Madsen and Rico Abreu were in row six.
While Madsen led the charge into turn one, he was unable to keep Larson at bay. Larson rode the inside line in the first two turns to emerge with the early lead. Macri soon followed suit to gain second. Dewease drove by Madsen on lap three.
Larson and Macri started to separate themselves from the rest of the field, but the first and only caution, on lap four for Paul McMahan, closed up the field.
Larson zoomed out front when the green light flashed on and Macri was goving chase. Meanwhile, Dewease stayed within range. As the leaders got into traffic, things tightend up. Macri began pressing Larson, and Dewease was closing the gap. Macri slid under Larson at one point, but Larson maintained his momentum and drove back around the six-time winner to regain the lead. Soon, however, it was a three-car battle royale for the lead.
Dewease challenged Macri for second, but fell back a few car lengths when they ran up on some slower traffic. He fought back and set up an inside move to pass both Macri and Larson as the trio swept through turns three and four with about five to go. He negotiated the last five circuits without difficulty.
“I was pretty comfortable with the car,” Dewease said. “I could keep pace with them. I felt like we’d be OK as long as they didn’t get back into clean air.” Luck was on his side as there wer no other cautions in the contest, so Dewease did not have to worry about chasing down Larson or Macri on a clear track.”
Macri thought that he may have used his tires too much in chasing down Larson. “I was maintaining, but I kinda used my tire when I got up to him.”
Larson’s comments were similar to those of Dewease. “I felt good early when I had a clean track.” He started to have problems, though, when he was approaching the slower cars ahead of him. “When I was within a straight, things got pretty dirty and I couldn’t get grip. I was searching and I couldn’t get off the corners like they could.”
Dewease was the winner, with Macri second. Larson crossed in third. Dylan Cisney put in a great performance getting fourth. Kerry Madsen was fifth. Marks, Abreu, Danny Dietrich, Eliason, and Ian Madsen rounded out the top ten.
Heat victories went to Cisney, Abreu, Dewease, Larson, and Reutzel. The C Main winner was Alan Krimes. Freddie Rahmer, Jr. won the B Main. Macri was the evening’s fastest qualifier.
In the 25 lap Super Late Model finale, Jeff Rine took advantage of a restart with fifteen laps in the books to pass Trent Brenneman, who lead from the drop of the green. The restart was set up by an incident in turn one that eliminated three cars in the top ten at the time: Kyle Lee, Marvin Winters and Trevor Feathers.
Rine was followed across the line by Brenneman, ageless Gary Stuhler, Ross Robinson, and Dylan Yoder. Colton Flinner, who raced as high as third, fell back to sixth at the finish. He was trailed by Dan Stone, Andy Haus, Brett Schadel, and Jim Yoder. Haus’s seventh was good enough to clinch the track championship in this division.
Heat wins were scored by Brenneman, Robinson, and Feathers. There was no B Main.
Saturday night, Port Royal Speedway will host the fifty-third annual Tuscarora 50. Gates will open at 2 p.m. and the racing will begin at 6 p.m. It will be a Sprint Car only show. $53,000 will be paid to the winner.
A-Main (30 Laps)
1. 69K-Lance Dewease [4]; 2. 39M-Anthony Macri [3]; 3. 57-Kyle Larson [2]; 4. 5C-Dylan Cisney [10]; 5. 24-Rico Abreu [12]; 6. 2M-Kerry Madsen [1]; 7. 26-Cory Eliason [6]; 8. 5-Brent Marks [5]; 9. 48-Danny Dietrich [13]; 10. 17-Ian Madsen [11]; 11. 70-Cale Thomas [9]; 12. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [27]; 13. 51-Freddie Rahmer [21]; 14. 7BC-Tyler Courtney [8]; 15. 87-Aaron Reutzel [7]; 16. 1-Logan Wagner [18]; 17. 98-Jared Esh [24]; 18. 99-Skylar Gee [16]; 19. 11T-TJ Stutts [14]; 20. 11-Zeb Wise [17]; 21. 55-Mike Wagner [22]; 22. 39T-Justin Peck [19]; 23. 21-Brian Brown [23]; 24. 42-Sye Lynch [20]; 25. 13-Paul McMahan [25]; 26. 18-Gio Scelzi [15]; 27. 25-Tyler Bear [26] Lap Leaders: Kyle Larson (1-24), Lance Dewease (25-30).
2020 All Star Circuit of Champions Driver Standings: (As of September 11, 2020)
1. Aaron Reutzel – 5236
2. Cory Eliason – 5154
3. Zeb Wise – 4814
4. Paul McMahan – 4664
5. Skylar Gee – 4556
6. Greg Wilson – 4396
7. Josh Baughman – 3858
8. Danny Dietrich – 2992
9. Brock Zearfoss – 2896
10. Kyle Larson – 2888
SARVER, PA (September 3, 2021; Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Alex Ferree took the lead from the start and survived a late restart to pick up the win in Friday night’s Precise Racing Products Late Model Feature at Lernerville Speedway.
Ferree built up a lead of over 5-seconds when the caution flag flew on lap 23 due to a spin by Clayton Kennedy. On the restart Colton Flinner tried to get the jump on Ferree but jumped the start three times and was moved back a row. Logan Zarin moved up to the front row but did not have enough for Ferree, who picked up his second feature win at ‘The Action Track’. Zarin finished second followed by Flinner.
“It’s tough racing here and the restarts can always throw a little wrench at you,” said Ferree. “Colton (Flinner) tried a couple different times and went a little early there, it just worked out in my favor at the end.”
Sye Lynch made it back-to-back wins at Lernerville after taking the Peoples Natural Gas Sprint feature. Lynch started on the pole position led the first eleven laps. On lap 12 A.J. Flick passed Lynch for the lead off turn two but two laps later Lynch’s slide job in turn 4 put him back out front. Lap traffic thwarted Flick’s chance to get back around Lynch before the checkered flag.
“(A.J.) Flick drove a great race and got around me,” explained Lynch. “I knew I had to run harder, it was one of those deals where you’re battling for the lead and working through lapped traffic, you just never know when is too hard or not hard enough. It was a very tricky race, but the car was great all night long, we’ve been trying a bunch of things and it’s just clicking.”
Rex King Jr. came out victorious in the Diehl Automotive Big Block Modified feature. Steve Feder led early while a furious battle was taking place behind him between King, Brian Swartzlander and Jeremiah Shingledecker. The trio eventually caught Feder to make it a 4-car battle for the lead. King was able to pass Feder for the lead on lap 18 and Shingledecker was able to grab 2nd on lap 22.
“That was the most fun racing I’ve had here in a long time,” said King, Jr. “The only other time was when me and my dad (Rex King, Sr.) were battling here earlier in the year, and it was slick like that. The track was good, I think it was pretty racy, I seen Shingledecker passed a bunch of cars, I think dad passed a couple, it was a good race.”
Andrew Gordon started up front and held on following a late restart to win the Penn/Ohio Pro Stocks Feature. Gordon was comfortably out front when the caution flag flew on lap 23 for Bobby Whitling, whose car slowed on front stretch. Gordon got a great restart as Chase Lambert and Daryl Charlier battled for second place with Lambert prevailing when the checkered flag flew.
“This win is for my grandma up in the stands, she makes it to all the races, she’s been sick but on the (road to) recovery so, this one is for her,” said Gordon.
Precise Racing Products Feature: (1C) Alex Ferree, (1Z) Logan Zarin, (48) Colton Flinner, (29) Ken Schaltenbrand, (10) Gary Lyle, (91) Tommy Beck, (66) Todd Bachman, (9) Levi Yetter, (9K) Clayton Kennedy, (B1) Brandon Wearing, (26) Shawn Schaltenbrand, (11) Joshua Powell, (81) Mike Miller, (77) Tyler Dietz, (41) Tony Burke, (15*) Kelvin Kohan- Did Not Start
Peoples Natural Gas Feature: (42) Sye Lynch, (2) AJ Flick, (11) Carl Bowser, (23J) Jack Sodeman Jr., (46) Michael Bauer, (08) Dan Kuriger, (11J) David Kalb Jr., (12) Darin Gallagher, (40) George Hobaugh, (13) Brandon Matus, (33) Brent Matus, (55*) Matt Sherlock, (4K) Bill Kiley, (13B) Steve Bright, (29M) Logan McCandless- Did Not Start, (250) Jared McFarland- Did Not Start
Lernerville TV 35 – Diehl Automotive Feature: (165) Rex King Jr., (37MD) Jeremiah Shingledecker, (45) Steve Feder, (83) Brian Swartzlander, (61) Dave Murdick, (29) Garrett Krummert, (18) Colton Walters, (65) Rex King Sr., (4J) John Mollick, (32R) Chris Rudolph, (10) Chelsie Kriegisch, (35) Steve Slater, (22) Kevin Long, (56M) Jacob McElravy, (88) Shawn Fleeger, (64) Rodney Beltz- Did Not Start
Millerstown Pic-A-Part Feature ($3,500 to-win): (25G) Andrew Gordon, (22) Chase Lambert, (114) Daryl Charlier, (C33) Corey McPherson, (55) Chris Schneider, (63) Chris McGuire, (948) Joey Zambotti, (11B) Tim Bish, (45) Todd Weldon, (J19) Jason Fosnaught, (00X) Curt Bish Jr., (27) Jake Dietz, (10) Nick Kocuba, (81) Mike Miller, (0) Larry Kugel, (25) Brett McDonald, (84S) Josh Seippel, (26) Mike Bordt, (983) Zack Gustafson, (44) Jim Challingsworth, (4) Brett Hutira, (7W) Bobby Whitling, (29) Curtis J. Bish, (13J) Jordan Peters
SARVER, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Sye Lynch survived contact with Tim Shaffer and held on to win Friday night’s $4,000 to-win Peoples Natural Gas Sprints Main Feature as part of Lernerville Speedway’s Sprint Spectacular.
Shaffer, who started 12th, passed Lynch for the lead on lap 28 but Lynch followed Shaffer down the backstretch and made a move to the inside to the lead back when contact sent Shaffer spinning and the caution flag flying. Shaffer was sent to the rear as the caution car.
Lynch grabbed the lead on the restart and crossed the finish line followed by Carl Bowser in second and Jack Sodeman Jr. in third.
“I look up to him as a driver,” said Lynch. “We raced hard, misjudgment there in (turn) three and I own up to it. All race I drove hard, in a perfect world I would’ve loved to have won the race with no contact.”
Ruhlman Rules RUSH Sprints:
Chad Ruhlman grabbed the lead from the outside of the front row and never looked back taking the checkered flag in the 20-lap RUSH Sprint Car Series feature. The win was Ruhlman’s 31st RUSH Sprint win. Pole sitter John Mollick finished second followed by Rod George in third.
“I love everything about these cars (RUSH Sprints), they’re so much fun,” said Ruhlman. “This track tonight was right in my wheelhouse, I love the cushion right on the edge, it slicks up everywhere else. I just love this place.”
Dobrosky Takes Allegheny Sprint Tour 305’s:
Greg Dobrosky picked up his second Allegheny Sprint Tour win of 2021, holding off Steve Kenawell Jr. in the 305 feature. Kenawall Jr., came home second followed by Justin Clark in third.
“I think we could have run wherever we wanted to, I just tried to keep my momentum up around the top, that’s what you need to do when it’s this slick here,” explained Dobrosky.
Peoples Natural Gas Feature ($4,000 to-win): (42) Sye Lynch, (11) Carl Bowser, (23J) Jack Sodeman Jr., (6) Bob Felmlee, (22) Brandon Spithaler, (35) Jared Zimbardi, (40) George Hobaugh, (12) Darin Gallagher, (46) Michael Bauer, (08) Dan Kuriger, (C1) Clay Riney, (29M) Logan McCandless, (13) Brandon Matus, (33) Brent Matus, (28) Tim Shaffer, (7K) Dan Shetler, (55*) Matt Sherlock, (11J) David Kalb Jr., (2) AJ Flick, (4K) Bill Kiley, (21) Bryan Salisbury, (23) Darren Pifer- Did Not Start
RUSH Sprint Car Feature: (68) Chad Ruhlman, (14) John Mollick, (41) Rod George, (24) Gale Ruth Jr., (18) Arnie Kent, (43JR) Blaze Myers, (12) Ryan Frayley, (57) Tyler Newhart, (9J) Zach Morrow, (25) Nolan Groves, (40) Brad Church, (29) Brandon Shughart, (1T) Ricky Tucker, (62) Brian Cressley, (20) Jeff Metsger
Allegheny Sprint Tour 305 Sprint Car Feature: (88) Greg Dobrosky, (17K) Steve Kenawell Jr., (78) Justin Clark, (4J) Jake Gomola, (5) John Walp, (X7) Andy Cavanaugh, (16) Jim Morris, (21) Rob Felix, (56) Steve Cousins, (26) Ryan Lynn, (21C) Jarrett Cavalet, (20M) Vivian Jones, (25) Jarrett Rosencrance, (4G) Mike Hite, (34) D.J. Cassler, (80JR) Kyle Colwell, (12G) Tommy Jasen, (72) Mike Mathieson, (4B) Walt Tutak Jr., (82M) Roman Jones (DQ)
IMPERIAL, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – A full slate of action is on tap Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway as the 410 Sprint Cars take center stage on dirt’s ‘Monster Half Mile’.
In addition to the Sprint Cars, Saturday night’s racing card will also feature the RUSH Sportsman Modified Series, the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series, the Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series as well as the Hobby Stocks, 4-Cylinders and Young Guns.
Gates open at 5 p.m., with hot laps starting at 6 p.m., and the racing action beginning will at 7 p.m.
For more information fans can visit the tracks website, www.ppms.com.
Last weekend, Monongahela’s Todd Weldon took home the checkered flag in the Wee Willie White Memorial in an intense battle with Nick Kocuba.
Cole Petrelle picked up his first career win in the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series. Petrelle passed Colton Flinner on lap six and survived a couple of late restarts to take home the checkered flag.
Kayla McManus also was a first time winner, grabbing the victory in the Hobby Stocks feature.
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Martin Truex Jr. leads Joe Gibbs Racing 1-2-3 at Richmond
Logan Wagner Wins Tuscarora 50
Alex Ferree, Sye Lynch, Rex King Jr and Andrew Gordon claim wins at Lernerville
Championship battles heating up at Lernerville
Krummert, Miley, Brandon Matus, and Daughtery Win at Lernerville
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