MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Lance Dewease pocketed his 96th career sprint car win at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night with a flag to flag performance in the Pennsylvania Speedweek opener.
Dewease’s victory was worth $5,000 aboard the Don Kreitz Jr.-owned No. 69k.
The Fayetteville driver took the victory by a 7.571-second margin over Brian Montieth in what was a nonstop event. The win was the 27th Dewease’s career in Speedweek action.
Dewease took the lead from the pole of the 25-lap 410 sprint car main with TJ Stutts giving chase.
Fifth starter Brian Montieth was up to third by lap seven, and the leaders entered the rear of the field on the eighth tour, with Dewease holding a half straightaway lead.
Dewease had a 2.5-second advantage at the halfway point as Montieth began to battle with Stutts for second. The pair swapped the spot twice with 10 laps to go, before Montieth finally took the spot for keeps.
Seventh starter Freddie Rahmer continued his advancement forward on lap 17 by taking third from Stutts, but only after the two made contact on the frontstretch.
By lap 20, Dewease had a commanding straightaway lead that was growing with every lap, and he would continue to stretch his advantage all the way to the finish.
Dewease lapped up to the 12th spot before the checkers unfurled, impressive considering he and his crew replaced the rear end in the car between his heat race and the main event.
Montieth was second in the race, followed by Rahmer, Lucas Wolfe and Stutts.
Sixth through 10th went to Danny Dietrich, Anthony Macri, Robbie Kendall, Cory Haas and Kyle Reinhardt.
Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart made the main event and finished 15th aboard his familiar No. 14.
In the 358 sprint car main, Doug Hammaker drove by Kevin Nouse to get his second win of the year at the track in as many weeks.
The finish:
1. Lance Dewease, 2. Brian Montieth, 3. Freddie Rahmer, 4. Lucas Wolfe, 5. TJ Stutts, 6. Danny Dietrich, 7. Anthony Macri, 8. Robbie Kendall, 9. Cory Haas, 10. Kyle Reinhardt, 11. Chad Trout, 12. Ryan Smith, 13. Brandon Rahmer, 14. Dylan Cisney, 15. Tony Stewart, 16. Jared Esh, 17. Adrian Shaffer, 18. Darren Mollenoyux, 19. Jessie Attard, 20. Mark Smith, 21. Chase Dietz, 22. Tim Wagaman, 23. Steve Buckwalter, 24. Logan Wagner