MECHANICSBURG, PA (May 3, 2024): Lance Dewease scored career win 115 in the 410 Sprints at the Williams Grove Speedway, but it was his first in several important categories. The $6,000 victory was his first with car owner Barry Shearer, his first of the season, and his first with a new car.

Also scoring a first victory of the season with a new car and a new car owner was Doug Hammaker in the 358 Sprint division.

“We only raced here one day,” Dewease observed. “We wrecked a car last week. This was a new car,” he added. Dewease thought that he got some breaks on his way to victory lane. “Putting the 2D (of Chase Dietz) back for jumping helped.” But, the biggest break came when leader Chad Trout got hit with a double dose of bad luck. After being told that Trout got a flat left rear after dominating the race, Dewease commented, “I thought that he ran out of fuel when he came down (in turn one with two to go).” Dewease then noted “you don’t always win when you have the best car.”

Dewease explained that “there was never any doubt” about continuing his Hall of Fame career after parting ways with Don Kreitz and Davey Brown and ride hopping through the end of the 2023 season. “Things like last week put a hurt on me and it takes a while to come back from it.” He said that it is important for him to have fun racing and “when it stops being fun, I’ll be done.”

Despite a collapsed top wing, Chad Trout won the dash to earn the pole for the twenty-five lapper. Next to him was the driver with the most wins in the country, Anthony Macri. Chase Dietz and Danny Dietrich slotted into row two, with Troy Wagaman, Jr. and T.J. Stutts behind them. Dylan Cisney and Dewease made up row four, and Freddie Rahmer, Jr. and Cameron Smith had row five. Kyle Moody and Cullam Williamson were paired in row six.

The initial start was called back because Stutts spun in turn two. After a quick trip to the pit area for adjustments, Stutts returned for the second attempt to get the race going.

On the second try, Trout again got the jump on Macri and he swept into the lead. Trout ran the high side, and Macri tried the low groove, but he could not make any headway. Dietz, Wagaman, Dewease, Dietrich, Cisney, Rahmer, Smith and Devon Borden followed.

Dylan Norris brought out a caution five laps into the contest. At that time, the top five remained intact, but Cisney had worked by Dietrich, and Moody knocked Borden from the top ten. After the restart, Dietrich lost a couple of positions, but the running order was otherwise unchanged.

Williamson spun in turn four on lap eight and flattened his right rear in the process.

On the ensuing restart, Dewease picked up a position. He would move up two notches shortly thereafter. Macri dropped out just before the next caution, on lap ten, for Ryan Taylor. As the field was being realigned, Dietz was penalized two positions for jumping the previous restart. That moved Dewease into second place for the next green flag.

Trout set a blistering pace on the restart, but Dewease picked up speed late in the eleven lap run. He closed the gap on Trout and he was close enough to execute a successful slider in turn three to take the lead away. However, Cisney brought out the final caution when he slowed to a stop after his top wing collapsed. That nullified Dewease’s pass.

Trout led Dewease into turn one when the action resumed. Dewease dove low, but Trout had the momentum and he retained the lead. On the next trip around, Trout entered turn one on the low side, trying to take the line away from Dewease. Dewease moved up into the middle and the leaders came off turn two side by side. Dewease pulled away racing down the back stretch.

Trout was off the pace now, and Wagaman went by him coming off turn two on the final lap.

At the checkers, it was Dewease by 2.472 seconds over Wagaman. Dietz, Borden, and Rahmer completed the top five. Trout held on for sixth despite his flat. His social media also reported that he ran out of fuel as well. Dietrich, Logan Wagner (in a rare Williams Grove start), Aaron Bollinger, and Justin Whittal were sixth through tenth.

Stutts, Wagaman, and Dietz scored the heat wins. Norris captured the B Main. Macri was the evening’s fastest qualifier with a lap of 16.766 seconds.

Kyle Reinhart took a spill in qualifications, but repairs were made and he transferred into the A from the B Main.

In the 358 Sprints, Doug Hammaker drew the pole, with Nat Tuckey to his right. Cole Young and Justin Foster were in the second row, with Kyle Spence and Chase Gutshall in the third. Cody Fletcher and Adam Carberry occupied row four. Then came Wyatt Hinkle and Matt Findley, followed by Frankie Herr and Derek Locke.

Hammaker blasted into turn one on the opening lap and he was never headed. Tuckey, Gutshall, Foster, Young, and Carberry followed. After a couple of early cautions, Hammaker continued to lead Tuckey, Young, Gutshall, and Carberry.

In the second half of the race, Hammaker stretched his lead. At the checkers, he was 6.846 seconds over Tuckey. Young closed in on second in the final laps, but he could not make the pass. Gutshall was fourth and Carberry was fifth. Fletcher, Spence, Locke, Seth Schnoke, and Foster completed the top ten.

“They got me rolling pretty good,” Hammaker said. “The wing cylinder broke and the wing slid forward when I slowed down. I didn’t know how far out front I was.”

Logan Rumsey, Carberry, and Spence prevailed in the heat races. Rumsey lost his engine as he crossed the finish line and he was unable to start the A Main. Preston Lattomus won the B Main.

Kruz Kepner flipped in his heat race but was not hurt.

Williams Grove Speedway will host the World of Outlaws on May 10 and 11. The Morgan Cup will be decided on Saturday.

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 3, 2024) Rain is forcing local tracks to cancel their events this weekend.

Lernerville Speedway was the first to pull the plug on Friday’s program after late afternoon showers and an ominous forecast forced the tracks hand. Racing returns to ‘The Action Track’ on Friday, May 10 as the Jay’s Automotive ULMS Late Models take center stage, complemented with the remaining Fab4 racing divisions.

Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway was next to throw in the towel.  PPMS and BRP Modified Tour officials made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the BRP Big Block Modifieds + Cinco De Mayo Fiesta event.  The event will not be rescheduled. All tickets purchased online will be fully refunded.  PPMS and BRP look forward to scheduling a 2025 date!  PPMS hopes to be able to get in Nostalgia Night and Action Event next Saturday.

Rain late Friday evening and through the early morning hours on Saturday brought over a half-inch (0.51) of rain to Latrobe Speedway, forcing the cancellation of Saturday’s (May 4) FAST-Five racing program.  The rain gauge at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, just 2 miles away, continues to record the rain. The airport forecast calls for an 80 % chance of showers, mainly before 1 pm, and a 100% chance of showers continuing again tonight.

Next Saturday, May 11, Latrobe plans to hold the Dave Kittey Memorial ULMS Super Late Models. The 30-lap $4,000-to-win feature also offers bonuses for ULMS racers.  The FASTrak Pro Late Models, the Joe’s Body Shop & Towing Pure Stocks, the Special T Metals LLC Modified 4 Cylinders, and the Marilungo Disposal LLC Strictly Stock 4 Cylinders will also be on the card.

PORT ROYAL, PA (April 27, 2024): Anthony Macri won the Keith Kauffman Classic for the third straight time, but it was not an easy victory. Macri inherited the lead when Chase Dietz blew his left rear tire. But T.J. Stutts surprised Macri on the restart, and it took several laps for the nation’s win leader to regain the top spot. Macri collected $15,000 for the effort. Also scoring wins were Joey Amantea (USAC East Coast 360 Sprints) and Craig Perigo (Wingless Sportsmen).

“It took us a couple of laps to get up to speed,” Macri noted. “He (Stutts) had a really good restart. But I knew it is not good to follow cars on a big track like this, so I pulled my wing back and I was able to get by.”

The original start of the race was marred by a massive crash in turn one that eliminated six competitors. The incident began when Jeff Halligan got turned and backed across the track toward the outside wall. Five other racers, all from the outside line, were collected in the wreck. Heavy damage was inflicted on the cars of Halligan, A.J. Flick, Lance Dewease, and Cullam Williamson. Steve Buckwalter and Austin Bishop had less damage. Fortunately, none of the drivers sustained any reported injuries.

So, the revised starting line-up went like this. On the front row were Dietz and Logan Wagner. Danny Dietrich and Macri were in row two. Stutts and Justin Whittal were in row three. Mike Wagner and Freddie Rahmer, Jr. were the new partners in the fourth row. Devon Borden and Kody Hartlaub were in row five, with Mike Walter, Jr. and Dylan Cisney in row six.

Dietz got the jump on Logan Wagner. Macri and Dietrich led Stutts, Rahmer, Mike Wagner, Cisney, Walter, and Whittal. The running order did not change through the first five laps. On lap six, though, Macri slid past Wagner for second, but he was still far behind Dietz at the time.
Macri began to close in on Dietz as the race neared the midpoint.

On lap thirteen, Macri closed quickly on the lapped car of Aaron Bollinger. There was contact. Macri was able to keep moving, but Bollinger spun toward the wall in turn two. He hit the wall and turned over. Logan Wagner, who was racing in third, struck Bollinger’s car and spun toward the inside of the track. Dietrich tried to get low enough to avoid contact with Wagner, but the two cars collided. Dietrich bent the left rear wheel and flattened the tire. Borden also sustained a flat in the melee. Both Dietrich and Borden were able to restart the race.

Dietz took off again on the restart. He had a commanding lead when his left rear tire exploded midway down the back stretch.

That put Macri on the point for the restart. Stutts lined up in second, with Rahmer, Mike Wagner, Cisney, Lucas Wolfe, Whittal, Walter, Jacob Allen, and Dietrich trailing.

Macri entered turn one on the cushion, but Stutts charged on the inside. He slid up across Macri’s nose to take the lead, much to the delight of the crowd. Stutts held control for the next seven laps before Macri used his own slider in turn one to retake the lead.

Macri reeled off the remaining seven laps without further ado. Stutts remained in second, followed by Rahmer, Mike Wagner, and Wolfe. Whittal, Cisney, Allen, Dietrich, and Borden completed the top ten.

The four heat winners were Whittal, Logan Wagner, Dietrich, and Stutts. Allen turned in an inspired performance in his heat race, coming from the last row to transfer into the A Main. Gerard McIntyre, Jr. was best in the B Main. Macri set the fastest lap in qualifications. His time of 15.089 was best in Group B. Dietz was fastest in Group A with a time of 15.123.

When the leaders of the USAC East Coast 360 Sprint Car race collided on lap fifteen, a good race became a great one. The misfortunes of Alex Bright and Briggs Danner put Christian Bruno on the point for the restart, with Joey Amantea right behind him. What happened after that left the race fans speechless. Bruno and Amantea traded slide jobs lap after lap, swapping the lead at opposite ends of the track, until Amantea got just enough of an advantage on lap twenty-two that Bruno could not slide him back to regain the lead. But, Bruno then came under attack from Carmen Perigo and Steve Drevicki in the final laps of the race. At the checkers, Amantea claimed his first win of the season and the second in his career with the series, with Perigo just a second behind him.

“I don’t think we had a winning car tonight, but with Alex and Briggs taking each other out, that gave us an opportunity,” Amantea said.

Bruno was on the pole for the twenty-five lap affair, with Bright as his running mate. Amantea and Bruce Buckwalter lined up in row two, with Perigo and Drevicki right behind them. Bobby Butler and Danner made up row four.

Bright blasted into the lead in turn one, with Bruno, Amantea, Danner, and Buckwalter dicing for positions in the top five. Bright set a brisk pace in the early laps, but Danner worked his way into second by lap five. Bruno held third, ahead of Perigo, Amantea, Buckwalter, Drevicki, Bruno, Tommy Kunsman, and Ed Aiken.

Danner was closing in on Bright when the caution waived on lap ten for Buckwalter’s spin in turn four.

On the ensuing restart, Danner provided a glimpse of things to come. With Bright up on the cushion, Danner entered turn one on the low side, looking for an opening to slide up the track and take the lead away. But, Danner did not carry enough speed into the corner and he could not complete the pass. Bright’s momentum propelled him into the lead coming through turn two.

But Danner wasn’t about to give up just yet. He came storming back after Bright. The duo played cat and mouse for several more laps, but there was no change in the running order.

The race took a dramatic change on lap fifteen. Once again, Bright was up on the cushion, and Danner threw his car into turn one on the inside. He began to slide up through the middle and drew up beside Bright. Bright’s car bumped the cushion and became unstable. He started to come down toward the middle as the rivals entered turn two. There was contact, and the first two cars spun much to the surprise of all. Both cars headed to the infield pit area, and only Bright was able to resume the race.

Bruno inherited the lead, with Amantea in second. Perigo restarted in third, ahead of Drevicki, Butler, Kunsman, Aiken, Dalton Herrick, Matthew Swift, and Michael Smith.

When the race went green again, Bruno and Amantea began an intense battle for the lead. Amantea’s first slide job in turn one came up short, but he had a full head of steam entering turn three, and he easily passed Bruno. Bruno returned the favor in turn one, and Amantea rallied again in turn three. Bruno regained the lead with a slider of his own on lap nineteen.

A caution on that lap for Rich Carnathan interrupted the flow, but soon thereafter Bruno and Amantea were locked in a battle for the lead again. Amantea was able to claim the lead for the final time with three laps remaining.

Amantea led Bruno by a couple of car lengths and the final laps played out. But now Bruno was being challenged for the second spot. Perigo and Drevicki came on to make it a three car contest for the second position. Any one of the three contenders could have taken it, but the outcome remained in doubt until the final corner.

Perigo slid past Bruno in turn four on the last lap to earn the second position. Bruno held off Drevicki, who darted to the inside. Bright marched back through the pack to salvage a fifth place finish.

Butler, Kunsman, Aiken, Buckwalter, and Herrick completed the top ten.

“We were going at it pretty good, and then I took his line away,” Amantea explained. “It was pretty good racing with Chris. He’s a really good racer, and he raced me clean,” he added. Amantea said that the victory would give him added confidence when he next faces the USAC National Sprint Car Series at Eldora Speedway.

There were a pair of heats, with wins going to Danner and Bright. There was no B Main.

The Wingless Sportsmen wore the nightcap, and that race did not disappoint either. Craig Perigo was the leader on each of the twenty laps, although he did briefly surrender the point to Jay Fannasy. When Fannasy spun from second place, Cliff Brian took up the chase, with Steve Wilbur in tow. The three racers put on an entertaining contest for the last eleven laps. Perigo came out on top, with Brian a close second. Wilbur bobbled on the last lap and surrendered third to Trent Yoder. Brett Perigo took the fifth spot.

The sixth through tenth place finishers were Chad Thomas, Chad Baker, Curt Stroup, Brandon Shearer, and Joe Gabner.

“That was a lot of fun on my end,” the winner said enthusiastically. “I didn’t have enough gear. I knew I couldn’t go low to block Brian because there was not enough gear. I had to keep my momentum up.”

Craig Perigo, Fannasy, and Yoder were the winners of the three heat races. There was no B Main.

Port Royal Speedway will present a three division program on May 4, featuring the 410 Sprint Cars, Super Late Models, and 305 Sprints. The track will be dark on May 11, in deference to the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event at Williams Grove Speedway. Racing will resume at the Speed Palace on May 18 with the 410 Sprints, a Super Late Model Championship, and the Limited Late Models.