MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Lance Dewease and Williams Grove Speedway go together like sprint car racing on a crisp, fall day.
That’s exactly what the The Grove fans was treated to on Saturday night, as the Fayettville, Pa., native powered his way to a fifth National Open victory, in the 60th annual Champion Racing Oil National Open.
What makes the fifth one more special?
It breaks a tie with sprint car legend Steve Kinser for the second most National Open victories in the 60-year history of the event.
“They all mean something special to me. The first one I won in this car was right after Greg Hodnett’s passing (2018), so that meant a lot to me,” Dewease said. “This one means a lot, because this is the first one I’ve won two for the same owner.
“We broke a tie with Steve Kinser, not too many times you can say you’ve done that, so that’s special to me. (Donny) Schatz’s got one more than me right now. Who knows, I might get another shot at him again, but you never know.”
Despite starting on the pole for the 40-lap feature, it was anything but smooth sailing for the 57-year-old.
What started out as a clinic in the opening five laps for Dewease, turned into a chaotic event that would test the PA Posse patriarch.
As It Happened
On lap five, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink points leader Brad Sweet found himself in big trouble with a broken rear axle.
Sweet and his No. 49 Kasey Kahne Racing team would scramble in the pits in an attempt to salvage points, however it wouldn’t be enough as the three-time defending champion had to unbuckle and head to the trailer.
Sweet finished 27th, allowing eventual fifth-place finisher and championship rival David Gravel to claw within 16 points of Sweet’s lead with three races to go.
The driver of the No. 49 wasn’t the only contender to face adversity during the feature.
Race leader Dewease discovered a problem that proved to be a challenge — his radio wasn’t working.
“I was having radio issues, so we switched the radio under the red,” Dewease said. “Then I had radio issues again. I kind of was out of sync a little bit there. I couldn’t hear them when they told me to pick a lane.”
After a stoppage to refuel with 15 laps to go, the action meter reached new heights and opportunities.
With Dewease out of sync as he paced the half-mile oval, Brent Marks signaled his shot for the top spot.
It looked to be the demise of Dewease at the point, as Marks swiped from the low line shortly after the restart to take the lead.
However, a red flag involving Giovanni Scelzi, Brock Zearfoss and T.J. Stutts negated Marks’ pass, slotting the Meyerstown, Pa., native back to second on the restart.
“We caught a lucky break there, I didn’t choose a good lane there on that restart, and he slid me there,” Dewease said.
“I honestly didn’t think I’d be back in front of him. I thought we got a lap in, I wasn’t sure. We took advantage of it and had single-file restarts so that made life a little easier. I didn’t have to worry about picking a lane with him next to me.”
Before getting back to green-flag action, Sheldon Haudenschild would run into tail tank trouble from a previous incident, forcing the No. 17 machine to the pits.
With Dewease smooth sailing on the restart, Marks fell into the clutches of Spencer Bayston for second. However, Marks prevailed before a Logan Schuchart and Corey Eliason caution would present another opportunity for the driver of the No. 19m.
The final restart with 10 laps to go, sealed the deal for Dewease, who glided to win No. 111 at Williams Grove.
“I made sure he (Marks) wasn’t going to get a chance to slide me again,” Dewease said. “We just started shortening the corners up. Normally I like to get a couple laps in and then start breathing a little bit, but those last 10 laps, I was spinning the wheels all over, we were going to make sure he didn’t get close to us. We were fortunate enough, and got to the finish.”
In what would be a repeat of the July Summer Nationals opener, it was a PA Posse sweep of the podium, with Marks and Anthony Macri locking down second and third.
“We just needed the yellows and when I passed him (Dewease) there for the lead, didn’t need that red flag to come out,” Marks said. “So things just didn’t fall our way. We had a really good car tonight, it’s just so top-dominant and really hard to get a run on him.
“Really needed some lapped traffic, but we just didn’t get there at the end. We’re happy, we’re happy to be standing on the fronstretch, get another podium finish, but would’ve really loved to win this race this year. I was trying like hell, but we just couldn’t get it done tonight.”
As the smoke and confetti cleared, there was also a champion crowned on Saturday night.
The Williams Grove track championship went to Danny Dietrich, who vaulted from 19th on the grid to eighth.
Dietrich earned the title by a mere 10 markers after entering the event 185 points out of the lead.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. Lance Dewease, 2. Brent Marks, 3. Anthony Macri, 4. Spencer Bayston, 5. David Gravel, 6. Justin Peck, 7. Jacob Allen, 8. Danny Dietrich, 9. Carson Macedo, 10. James McFadden, 11. Donny Schatz, 12. Lucas Wolfe, 13. Kasey Kahne, 14. Sheldon Haudenschild, 15. Brock Zearfoss, 16. TJ Stutts, 17. Daryn Pittman, 18. Troy Wagaman Jr., 19. Dylan Norris, 20. Logan Schuchart, 21. Cory Eliason, 22. Gio Scelzi, 23. Matt Campbell, 24. Kraig Kinser, 25. Landon Myers, 26. Robbie Kendall, 27. Brad Sweet, 28. Robbie Price
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