Lance Dewease (69k) and Lucas Wolfe will be among the top contenders during Pennsylvania's month of Money. (Dan Demarco Photo)
Lance Dewease (69k) and Lucas Wolfe will be among the top contenders during Pennsylvania's month of Money. (Dan Demarco Photo)
Other Sprint Cars

In PA, The Month Of Money Is Here

September 4, 2021

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — The air crisped and the tall stalks of corn reflected with a golden glow in the farmland distance Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway. 

Technically, it’s summer through Sept. 21, but the number of denim jeans worn and the byproduct of the sun’s lower position in the atmosphere suggested a change of seasons. 

On a cool evening in the heartland of winged sprint car racing, Central Pennsylvania had shifted to its most drastic timeframe of them all.

It is the month of money in the territory of the Pennsylvania Posse, where hoodie sales spike, funfairs commence, and big races rake in national attention nearly every weekend through October.

It’s the time of year everyone craves but finds bittersweet at the same time.

“It means the season is winding down more than anything,” Dewease said.

“I like fall time, but it’s kind of depressing,” Brent Marks said. “It’s an indication that racing is coming to an end.”

The end is near but seasons are defined during the next five weeks.

Saturday at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway hosts one more tuneup under the lights before the Tuscarora 50 starts next Thursday, Sept. 9. Sept. 11 is the $54,000-to-win finale, capping an event that’s tradition to the 167 years of the Juniata County Fair at Port Royal.

On Sunday, Selinsgrove (Pa.) Speedway also hosts a tuneup for its $20,000-to-win National Open on Sept. 25.

On Sept. 18, it’s the $20,000-to-win Dirt Classic at Lincoln Speedway. The following Saturday, Sept. 25, Selinsgrove Speedway will hold its $20,000-to-win National Open.

Then, it’s the world’s third-largest sprint car race, the $65,000-to-win Williams Grove National Open on Oct. 1-2.

“You work hard all year to try and be ready for it … for next week [in the Tuscarora 50], and the races that follow that,” said Dewease, whose National Sprint Car Hall of Fame status is cemented based on his performances during this time of the year.

The 56-year-old is a four-time winner of the Williams Grove National Open, a record seven-time winner of the Tuscarora 50, a three-time champion of Selinsgrove’s National Open, and the 2017 victor of the Dirt Classic.

Younger Pennsylvanian drivers in their prime such as Danny Dietrich, Anthony Macri, Freddie Rahmer and Marks are tacitly pursuing numbers like Dewease.

Marks, who will turn 31 in December, is in the midst of his best season yet. His 10 wins are tied for third nationally with Kyle Larson, behind only Brad Sweet and David Gravel.

He’s gone nonstop since bringing back his family car in April to prepare for the stretch where legacies can be formed.

“It kind of feels normal,” Marks said. “It doesn’t feel stressful and it doesn’t feel overdone. We stay busy so when this part of the year comes, we’re ready.”

Tempimage87vjhz
Tyler Courtney attends to his merchandise trailer gleaming with many new shirts prior to an All Star Circuit of Champions race at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., on Aug. 27. (Kyle McFadden Photo).

Like a postseason in stick and ball sports, the complexion of the money of money is different. Experienced drivers such as Dewease have an advantage because of that.

There is opportunity to leverage cooler temperatures. Motors tend to run more efficiently and racing surfaces change.

“The sun sets sooner and it really changes how most race tracks are,” Dewease said. “But most races are bigger [in car counts], so they still tend to get slick because there are a lot of laps on them. It’s a different thing.”

Invaders also throw a wrinkle into play. Last year, Larson single-handedly changed the approach of some teams.

This time around Tyler Courtney, who already won a Crown Jewel earlier this year in the Kings Royal, brings the hype into town. Aaron Reutzel and the chatter around his new team changes things too.

Dewease pays attention to it all, accounting the many factors it takes to continue to prevail at this time of year. 

“Tyler Courtney has been getting a lot better in these winged cars,” Dewease said. “I think he’s going to be pretty fast at Port Royal. He’s liked Port Royal from day one. He’s going to be better.

“With Aaron [Reutzel], you just don’t know if he’s going to be up to speed or not with that new deal,” he continued.

“[Cory Eliason], he’s been running good …” he added. “We have Anthony [Macri], we have Brent [Marks], who is always good at Port Royal. And you have guys who haven’t been good all of sudden be good when they show up.

“It still comes down to the same thing: you have to time well, put yourself in position, and have to be there,” he said. 

“Every weekend after this weekend, there are big races,” Dewease said. “No other area in the country can say that.”