MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — As Brent Marks took photos in victory lane at Williams Grove Speedway after winning the $75,000-to-win 61st annual Champion Racing Oil National Open, Daryn Pittman appeared behind the Myerstown, Pennsylvania racer, giving the winner a pat on the back, a handshake, and a quick “great work” before returning to the pits.
Standing alongside his Kreitz Racing No. 69k as his crew worked to get his car ready for the makeup preliminary feature, he let out a breath, a quick frown and a dip of the head before climbing aboard his chariot again.
Pittman finished runner-up in the National Open for the sixth time, a record that admittedly “stings.”
The 2013 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion snagged the lead early after starting sixth, but lost the top spot to Marks with 18 laps to go in the 40-lap feature.
After Marks passed the No. 69k, Pittman still felt he had a shot at the No. 19 with lapped traffic becoming a factor late in the race.
“I was still trying to stay patient, save my stuff. I thought we could get to more heavy lapped traffic and then let it race out there,” Pittman told SPEED SPORT. “It just never did. We got to two cars, and they really held him up and brought him back to me.
“But then I kind of got held up just about as much and we ended up being negligent on the distance we had.”
Pittman admitted it’s easy to critique himself on how the outcome of the race could’ve changed, but the 45-year-old kept it simple.
“I can replay the race 100 times in my head, and coulda, woulda, shouldas, but at the end of the day, he won, I ran second and I got six of these now,” Pittman said.
“I would’ve really liked to have gotten that one. That probably would’ve been my last race at Williams Grove in my career. Good chance of that for sure.”
Pairing with the always potent No. 69k wrenched by National Sprint Car Hall of Famers Don Kreitz Jr. and Davey Brown, Pittman knew the entry would be strong. Though contending for a victory was a different story.
“I was surprised how good it was,” Pittman admitted. “I’ve been jealous watching Lance (Dewease) driving that thing, going, ‘Man, that thing looks fun to drive.’ And I can tell you, every bit is fun as it’s looked for the last several years.
“So, Donnie (Kreitz) and Davey (Brown) and the whole team, they’ve got a heck of a program. That car rolls around the race track. What’s fun about it is you just don’t have to be super aggressive as a driver.
“I’m not a really aggressive driver, I’m more I feel calculated,” Pittman continued. “I feel like it fits my driving style, and I think we proved that.
“On one hand, I think 58, 52 cars, we ran second, ran respectable, but we came here to win and just came up a little bit short.”