PORT ROYAL, Pa. – Freshness abounded as a new year began Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway, but in the end, it was the familiarity of Lance Dewease and Don Kreitz’s No. 69k that seized the day.
Dewease started from the pole and led the final 17 laps en route to a 4.858-second opening day victory at Port Royal over Kerry Madsen.
It’s the 116th career win at the track for the National Sprint Car Hall of Famer. It’s also Dewease’s second Port Royal opening day victory in four years.
“I was really happy with how our car ran all night,” Dewease said. “It’s always big to get the first win.”
Dewease got a good initial jump on the first attempt at the start, but it went for naught after 12th-starting Logan Wagner jumped out of line to draw a complete redo.
On the second attempt, Dewease didn’t get the start he wanted, while Madsen shot around Hunter Schuerenberg from fourth and then to the lead rounding turn two.
“I don’t know what happened on that original start,” Dewease said. “I just didn’t get a good start. Kerry just got a really good run. I was shocked it was him. Then I was worried … he can run the wall really well.”
Madsen looked strong at the onset, leading the first seven laps and controlling the top side.
Then, a caution came out on lap eight for Kody Lehman and Jared Esh, allowing Dewease a chance at a reset.
To that point, Madsen still hadn’t found a comfortable line around turns three and four. Dewease, meanwhile, rolled around that end of the track smoothly and knew his time would come if he maintained a fluid pace.
“You have to bide your time, the way the place is,” Dewease said.
Sure enough, two laps after the race’s first restart, Dewease motored off turn four with a head of steam and overtook Madsen as the two raced past the flagstand to complete lap nine.
“You needed a really nice line in [turns] three and four, and I couldn’t quite get it figured out,” Madsen said. “Especially as long as the run went, I couldn’t get the line. I tried everything I could think of. But in turns one and two, I was strong. Real strong.”
From there, Dewease took off. He survived another restart with 12 laps to go for fifth-running Mike Wagner, but then ballooned his lead shortly after.
It’s a timely win for Dewease, who packs up and heads to Williams Grove Speedway on Sunday, riding high and with his eyes set on picking up career win No. 100 at the track just down the road.
“We’re going to try for that,” Dewease said. “It’s just nice to win anytime, because you never know. This could be the last one ever. I really enjoy the wins now and really enjoy this team. We’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
Madsen held on to finish second, a strong showing in his debut in the Michael Barshinger No. 24 at Port Royal. Dylan Cisney, Jeff Halligan, and Logan Wagner completed the top five.
Anthony Macri charged to sixth from 14th, while Blane Heimbach, Hunter Schuerenberg, Lynton Jeffrey, and Justin Peck rounded out the top 10.
Lucas Wolfe, in his debut in the Mark Coldren No. 07, finished one lap down in 19th.
The finish:
1. 69k-Lance Dewease, 2. 24-Kerry Madsen, 3. 5-Dylan Cisney, 4. 45-Jeff Halligan, 5. 1-Logan Wagner, 6. 39m-Anthony Macri, 7. 12-Blane Heimbach, 8. 55h-Hunter Schuerenberg, 9. 15-Lynton Jeffrey, 10. 13-Justin Peck, 11. 35s-Jason Shultz, 12. 11-T.J. Stutts, 13. 33-Gerard McIntyre Jr., 14. 55-Mike Wagner, 15. 35-Tyler Reeser, 16. 40-George Hobaugh Jr., 17. 2-A.J. Flick, 18. 20-Ryan Taylor, 19. 07-Lucas Wolfe, 20. 67-Justin Whittal, 21. 29-Michael Bauer, 22. 23-Pat Cannon, 23. 47k-Kody Lehman, 24. 98-Jared Esh.