MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — After a near 19-year absence, T.J. Stutts of Liverpool returned to victory lane at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night in the 25-lap Lawrence Chevrolet 410 sprint car feature.
Stutts claimed $5,500 for his first 410 sprint win at the track since Aug. 26, 2005.
Tony Jackson started second in the 410 sprint car feature and took the lead at the start over Jarrett Cavalet.
Sixth starter Stutts came to second on the fifth lap.
Stutts worked on Cavalett until the 11th circuit when he was finally able to overtake him for the second spot and begin running down Jackson.
In his rookie season, Jackson was running a clean race on the cushion with the lead while Stutts made all of his time using the low side in the corners.
Jackson saw a half-second lead evaporate on the 17th tour when the first caution flag of the race appeared.
Stutts applied regular pressure to Jackson when action resumed and stalked him around the bottom, at times getting his nose alongside Jackson only to see the rookie surge back ahead.
But as the pair raced to the stripe on the 20th tour, Stutts was finally able to muscle by coming out of turn four to net control just before the red flag unfurled for a four-car tangle in the third turn.
Aaron Bollinger backed into the outside fence before collecting Bryn Gohn, Kody Hartlaub and Jeff Halligan.
Jackson gave it the old college try on the restart but Stutts was not to be denied his second career oval 410 checkers, taking the win by 2.967 seconds.
Jackson settled for a career-best second followed by Steve Buckwalter, Austin Bishop and a career-best for Cavalet.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. T.J. Stutts, 2. Tony Jackson, 3. Steve Buckwalter, 4. Austin Bishop, 5. Jarrett Cavalet, 6. Freddie Rahmer, 7. Troy Wagaman Jr., 8. Justin Whittall, 9. Devon Borden, 10. Chad Trout, 11. Lucas Wolfe, 12. Cameron Smith, 13. Kyle Moody, 14. Aaron Bollinger, 15. Bryn Gohn, 16. Kody Hartlaub, 17. Jeff Halligan, 18. Brent Shearer