PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Aaron Reutzel earned his first national touring series victory since July 30, 2021, claiming Friday night’s Night Before the 50 at Port Royal Speedway against Kubota High Limit Racing.
Brian Brown and Anthony Macri made up the front row for the 25-lap A-main event.
Brown took the early lead over the first two laps, but Reutzel passed him off of turn two and began to run away with the lead.
With 11 laps remaining, Logan Wagner was charging through the field and was third from his original sixth-starting spot.
While running the topside of turns one and two, Wagner jumped the cushion and rode on two wheels against the outside wheel. When the No. 69k returned all four tires to the track, the front end was broken on the five-time track champion’s ride and would end his night.
The restart saw Macri battle with Justin Whittall for the runner-up spot, while Reutzel began to open up his lead.
Two laps after the restart, Macri faced the same fate as Logan Wagner, except he dlipped down the back straightaway ending his night.
Reutzel restarted with the lead and nine laps remaining. He held on for his first Kubota High Limit Racing win.
“It’s been a while since I’ve won on a big stage,” said Reutzel in victory lane. “This place is so much fun. There’s no other place like it in the country. I love this place.”
Reutzel has locked himself in to Saturday’s A-main event that pays $2,000 to start and $57,000 to win.
Justin Whittall and Chase Dietz completed the top five.
With Logan Wagner not being able to finish the A-main, his dad, Mike Wagner, earned the 2024 track championship — the third in his career.
In Selinsgrove Ford super late model competition, the Butch Renninger Memorial would take the stage with the winner’s share increasing to $8,333 to win courtesy of Fleet Reps.
Kyle Lee started on the pole and led all 33 laps on the way to victory lane.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel[4]; 2. 67-Justin Whittall[3]; 3. 1Z-Chase Dietz[11]; 4. 49-Brad Sweet[10]; 5. 21-Brian Brown[1]; 6. 5-Spencer Bayston[9]; 7. 8-Cory Eliason[7]; 8. 83-James McFadden[13]; 9. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[8]; 10. 14-Corey Day[21]; 11. 13-Justin Peck[16]; 12. 1A-Jacob Allen[12]; 13. 12-Lance Dewease[22]; 14. 24-Rico Abreu[17]; 15. 26-Zeb Wise[15]; 16. 9P-Parker Price Miller[18]; 17. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[25]; 18. 88-Sye Lynch[5]; 19. 19-Brent Marks[20]; 20. 2KS-Hunter Schuerenberg[23]; 21. 55-Chris Windom[29]; 22. 55W-Mike Wagner[26]; 23. 99-Skylar Gee[19]; 24. 35-Austin Bishop[28]; 25. 9-Kasey Kahne[27]; 26. 39M-Anthony Macri[2]; 27. 48-Danny Dietrich[24]; 28. 51-Freddie Rahmer[14]; 29. 69K-Logan Wagner[6]