MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — If there was a Richter scale tracking progress of drivers in Central Pennsylvania this year, particularly the Posse’s proven winners, the numbers would be all over the place.
Danny Dietrich, second nationally in victories last year, has only three wins to date. Anthony Macri, tied for eighth in open-wheel wins across the nation last year, has failed to either finish or qualify in eight of his last 13 main events.
After winning four of nine races two weeks ago, Brent Marks was quiet at the 37th and 38th Kings Royals this past weekend at Eldora Speedway, finishing outside the top 10 in two races and wrecking out of another.
Freddie Rahmer, meanwhile, hasn’t won more than once in a single month but he’s also won a race in each month since March, something only Lance Dewease can say.
So, with that said, where do the Posse’s heavy hitters really stand going into another tussle with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series this weekend at Williams Grove Speedway?
For starters, Dietrich and Dewease are pushing the needle as high as ever.
Dietrich is fresh off a runner-up effort during the 38th Kings Royal on Saturday at Eldora and a big victory Tuesday night at Selinsgrove Speedway, which snapped a four-month winless stretch for Dietrich in Central Pennsylvania.
Despite the victory drought, Dietrich remained one of the most consistent drivers in the country.
The only thing he’s rediscovered is race-winning pace.
Dewease, on the other hand, has returned to his Hall of Fame status at Williams Grove, having won four of the previous six events at the track. He finished sixth and third in the two races he didn’t win.
Rahmer is feeling good, too, coming off a victory last Friday at Williams Grove, his first triumph at the famed track since opening day on March 14.
Macri and Marks, a tad spent after a strenuous Kings Royal week, are looking to regain their strength this weekend.
The only other multi-time winner in Central Pennsylvania this year is Tyler Ross.
He’s expected to race his family-owned No. 5 entry at Williams Grove this weekend, taking a break from Rick Lefever’s No. 75, which is a weekly contender on Saturdays at Lincoln Speedway.
• Lucas Wolfe continues to establish himself in the ride that launched his career — Jim and Laura Allebach’s No. 5w.
Wolfe placed second at Williams Grove last Friday for his second runner-up finish in a row and his fourth top-five finish during a five-race span.
• While the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is in town, Selinsgrove Speedway is hosting a 410 race of its own on Saturday as it figures to benefit some of the lower-budgeted teams skipping the showdown with the outlaws.
The feature will be in 25 laps in length and pay $4,000-to-win. Last year, Jason Shultz took advantage of the opportunity race to break through for his first 410 win at Selinsgrove.
• Lincoln and Port Royal Speedways were both rained out last Saturday night.
Sprint car racing returns to both venues on Saturday, July 31, when Port Royal hosts its yearly Living Legends Dream race ($10,000-to-win) while Lincoln hosts a time-trial show.