MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Anthony Macri scored his first ever Williams Grove Speedway opening day sprint car event on Sunday afternoon, worth $5,500.
After nearly winning the event last season only to lose control on the final circuit, Macri took the lead from Ryan Taylor on lap three to get the checkered flag which was the seventh of his career at the oval and his first since July of 2022.
After a failed initial start by front row drivers Cameron Smith and Danny Dietrich in the 410 sprint car main, the first and second rows swapped to put Macri and Taylor up front for the second attempt.
The ensuing try saw Billy Dietrich and Lucas Wolfe stop after a spin by Freddie Rahmer in the third turn before Steve Buckwalter slowed on the third attempt to again slow the pace.
Eventually, Taylor would lead the first circuit of the 25-lap feature with Macri first trying to muscle into the lead on the second tour.
Macri was able to make the move stick on the backstretch the next time around.
The leader entered the rear of the field with 10 laps recorded before a yellow flag regrouped the field with 10 laps to go for a stopped Taylor, who was holding down third.
After racing into second on the fourth lap, Danny Dietrich restarted second but failed to challenge for the lead and despite another restart with just two laps to go, Macri cruised to the victory on the hard daytime surface.
Dietrich finished .788 seconds behind at the finish followed by Rahmer, Lance Dewease and Chris Frank.
In the 20-lap wingless super sportsman main, Steve Wilbur took the win.
Feature Finish (25 Laps)
1. Anthony Macri, 2. Danny Dietrich, 3. Freddie Rahmer, 4. Lance Dewease, 5. Chris Frank, 6. Cameron Smith, 7. Austin Bishop, 8. Chase Dietz, 9. Justin Peck, 10. Troy Wagaman Jr., 11. Chad Trout, 12. Dylan Cisney, 13. Danny Sams, 14. TJ Stutts, 15. Devon Borden, 16. Kyle Moody, 17. Domenic Melair, 18. Dylan Norris, 19. Hunter Mackison, 20. Ryan Taylor, 21. Steve Buckwalter, 22. Ryan Wilson, 23. Billy Dietrich, 24. Lucas Wolfe