PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Michael Walter had come very close to winning his first career 410 sprint car race over the last handful of seasons, especially at Port Royal Speedway.
On Saturday night, he parked in victory lane for the first time and took home a $5,000 payday.
Justin Whittall and Logan Wagner would make up the front row of the 25-lap A-main event which saw Whittall take the lead from the green flag.
The driver from New Jersey would lead the field through lapped traffic through the opening 15 laps while drivers like Brock Zearfoss, Lance Dewease, Billy Dietrich and Michael Walter would all battle inside the top 5.
With just 10 laps remaining, Lance Dewease would slow to a stop on the front stretch after reportedly losing his brakes which would bring his race to an end after running in fifth.
On the restart with nine laps remaining, Logan Wagner would slide past Whittall to take the lead coming out of turn four. Whittall would return the favor in turn one to regain the lead back as they would come to the line with eight to go.
The two cars would trade positions over the next lap and while coming down the front stretch with seven laps remaining, both cars would come together at the entrance of turn 1, sending both cars spinning into the outside wall and ending both drivers’ race.
Following the accident, Michael Walter would inherit the lead. Walter, who had never won a 410 sprint car race entering the night, would hold on for the final seven laps and visit victory lane for the firstst time in his career.
“I’ve always wanted to do this since I was a little kid,” said Walter. “I got super lucky Logan and Justin going for the win there, and sometimes you come out on top of those and sometimes you don’t. This time I did.”
Billy Dietrich finished second and Mike Wagner was third.
In super late model competition, Gregg Saterlee would lead from start to finish to claim his 21st career Port Royal Speedway victory.
Saterlee would face challenges midway through the A-main event when faced with lapped traffic in front of him which allowed Max Blair to close the gap between himself and the leader, but a timely caution allowed the field to reset giving Saterlee the clean air he needed to hold on for the win.
Saterlee, with the win, is now a guaranteed starter for next Sunday’s Battle in the Borough versus the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. If Saterlee were to qualify for the main event next Sunday, the next highest finisher in April 19th event who does not qualify will be awarded the starting position.
In PennsValley Meat Market 305 sprint car competition, Nick Sweigart won from the pole.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. 77-Michael Walter[4]; 2. 8-Billy Dietrich[3]; 3. 55W-Mike Wagner[6]; 4. 8E-Brock Zearfoss[5]; 5. 12-Blane Heimbach[18]; 6. 99-Devin Adams[14]; 7. 2-Gerard McIntyre Jr[11]; 8. 5-Brenham Crouch[16]; 9. 95-Garrett Bard[9]; 10. 27S-Robbie Kendall[13]; 11. 35-Austin Bishop[10]; 12. 27H-Steven Snyder Jr[19]; 13. 11T-Mike Thompson[12]; 14. 28F-Davie Franek[22]; 15. 22-Doug Hammaker[21]; 16. 88J-Joey Amantea[17]; 17. 45-Jeff Halligan[7]; 18. 55-Logan Wagner[2]; 19. 67-Justin Whittall[1]; 20. 47K-Kody Lehman[24]; 21. 12D-Lance Dewease[8]; 22. 24B-Dustin Baney[20]; 23. 10-Jake Waters[23]; 24. M1-Mark Smith[15]
