PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Last week, Brent Marks dismantled Donny Schatz in the decisive laps to win the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway.
On Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway, Marks once again left no doubt, overpowering the field to win the Living Legends Dream Race that honored Greg Hodnett by 4.967 seconds.
The Myerstown, Pa., driver pocketed his ninth win of the year and another hefty payout of $10,000.
Anthony Macri placed second as pole-sitter Lance Dewease faded to third. Dewease led the initial four laps before Marks blasted around the top groove to seize the final 26 circuits.
“The car was really good; it was just on a rail around the top,” Marks said through a wide smile in victory lane. “I could run [turns] one and two so hard. It was a lot of fun behind the wheel. It was fun maneuvering through lapped traffic.”
Since returning to his family-owned No. 19 operation in late April, Marks has enjoyed his best season yet.
As it appeared Schatz would seal the deal at Williams Grove last week, the similar notion took shape Saturday at Port Royal when Dewease settled into clean air at the Juniata Valley clay oval, expanding his advantage to lead the opening four laps.
But Marks’ charge brewed behind, and after he shot into second from fourth on the initial start, he found superiority around the top, especially in turns one and two. On lap five, Marks generated a huge run in turns one and two to dislodge Dewease, who was left out to dry in the middle part of the track.
Dewease hung around as the feature developed, making up most of his lost ground in turns three and four to pull to within three tenths of Marks with 13 laps to go. But like his signature win at Williams Grove a week ago, Marks dropped the hammer when more prestige hung in the balance.
“I saw Lance sneak under me there at one point and knew I needed to step up a notch,” Marks said. “It was a fantastic night.”
It’s Marks’ second career Living Legends Dream Race win, tying Dewese and Hodnett for most all-time. The win also moved Marks into sole possession of second in wins nationally.
- Logan Wagner ended a run of near misses to win the second 410 feature of the night.
The three-time reigning Port Royal track champion topped Lance Dewease by 1.973 seconds to end a run of four runner-ups since his first and previously lone victory of the year on April 17.
It didn’t materialize the way Wagner wanted, though. On lap two, Wagner got sideways racing under Mike Walter II for second into turn one, causing Walter II to flip up the banking. Since Walter II brought out the red flag, Wagner inherited second behind Dylan Cisney.
Wagner then raced to the lead for good on lap three.
“First thing I want to say is it was my fault there getting into [turn] one there; hate to see [Walter] getting crossed up,” Wagner said. “I know he wasn’t too happy.”
“I have to thank the Zemco Racing crew,” Wagner added. “That car felt really good.”
Wagner staved off Danny Dietrich and Dewease on a pair of restarts down the stretch, most notably after a 14-minute red flag for Jeff Halligan, who flipped viciously out of the fifth position on lap 10.
Dietrich challenged Wagner for the lead both times on the restarts, but settled for second, while Cisney settled for fourth.
Gregg Satterlee won the accompanying super late model feature from the fifth-starting position.