MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Brent Marks wrestled the lead from Freddie Rahmer and drove to the win in the National Open Tune Up for Lawrence Chevrolet 410 sprint cars at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night.
The $6,000 victory was the 21st of Marks’ career at the historic oval and his first there since winning the National Open itself in 2023.
Rahmer and Marks shared the front row for the start of the 25-lap National Open Tune Up and Marks one-upped Rahmer on the initial start and ducked low into the lead in the second turn.
However, a caution for stopped fourth-starter Daison Pursley negated the move and the restart saw Rahmer get the upper hand.
The early pace was soon slowed again on lap three, giving Marks a clear shot at the leader.
Marks kept the leader in his sights when action resumed and by lap nine Rahmer’s advantage was still less than a second.
By lap 10, traffic entered the picture and that’s when Marks closed the gap as Rahmer got bottled up behind a batch of battling cars.
Marks worked to Rahmer’s inside for the next two laps before pulling a huge haymaker for control deep in the third turn on the 13th tour.
But after taking command Rahmer refused to let Marks get away as the pair darted through traffic.
A relentless chase by Rahmer nearly netted him the lead on more than one occasion including when Marks tripped up over the fourth turn cushion as he worked to put cars a lap down at a torrid pace.
Eventually as the race reached the five-to-go point Marks was able to sneak away to a bit of comfort before crossing the line 1.668 seconds ahead of Rahmer.
Brock Zearfoss rode home third followed by Cameron Smith and Troy Wagaman Jr.
In the 358 sprint main event it was newly crowned track champion Dylan Norris claiming his fifth oval win of the year in the division.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. Brent Marks, 2. Freddie Rahmer, 3. Brock Zearfoss, 4. Cameron Smith, 5. Troy Wagaman Jr., 6. Justin Whittall, 7. Danny Dietrich, 8. Chad Trout, 9. Giovannie Scelzi, 10. Chase Dietz, 11. Logan Rumsey, 12. Kody Hartlaub, 13. TJ Stutts, 14. Austin Bishop, 15. Brady Bacon, 16. Ryan Timms, 17. JJ Loss, 18. Ryan Newton, 19. Preston Lattomus, 20. Doug Hammaker, 21. Ashton Torgerson, 22. Dylan Norris, 23. Ryan Smith, 24. Daison Pursley
