MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Brent Marks gave the PA Posse contingent a memorable moment on Saturday night at Williams Grove Speedway, as the Pennsylvania native surged to victory in the 61st annual Champion Racing Oil National Open.
The “Myerstown Missile” threw a slider on semi-retired driver Daryn Pittman just past the halfway mark to secure his second National Open victory, banking the $75,000 winner’s check.
“It’s hard to beat the first, but anytime you can win one of these major events, it just means the world to you,” Marks told SPEED SPORT. “It’s like winning it for your first time all over again.
“I had an opportunity to win it in 2021 and I ran into a lapped car leading and spun out. So that was devastating. I think last year we ran second,” Marks continued. “So, to be able to back it up and win tonight, just felt like redemption for me.
“It was a personal goal for me this year and I was able to accomplish that.”
Starting from the pole for the 40-lap main event at the half-mile dirt oval, Marks slid down the running order before slotting into third early on.
With a few early caution and red flags, the opportunity to let his car get into a groove was limited.
Though understanding his car was built for the long run around The Grove is what ultimately lifted Marks in the closing stages of the race as green flag runs commenced.
“We just really needed the race track to come to us,” Marks said after the race. “Our car was good, but it just wasn’t quite there in the beginning. We really like long green flag runs, and we seem to show up better when we have those. With our fuel load, we were just off just a tick and just lost a couple of spots there.
“I was really hoping to stay out front and maintain for as long as I could, but just wasn’t able to hold those two guys off,” Marks continued. “But once we got rolling there and laps started winding down, the car came to me and we were just able to churn back up through there and get the win. So, it was really cool.”
Six Agonizing Runner-Ups
The agony of defeat cut deeper for Pittman, as he was forced to watch the No. 19 of Marks slide past and scamper away to victory.
Pittman’s runner-up result was his sixth in the National Open. Aboard the famed powdered blue Kreitz Racing No. 69k, it was Pittman’s fifth team he’s finished second with in the prestigious event.
“It still stings. Stings as bad as my last second,” Pittman admitted. “This one might sting worse, to be honest with you. I was pretty confident of what we got when we took the green. Honestly, I was confident we were gonna contend for the win.
“I thought we had a car to beat. I was honestly a little surprised how quick we got to the lead.”
Pittman was on the charge at the green flag as he jumped from his sixth starting position to the lead on lap 11.
“That probably took me by surprise more as much as anybody,” Pittman said. “Then really, once I got the lead, I just felt like it was my race to lose. It was all about setting the right pace and get going.”
Once out front, Pittman paced the field for the ensuing 11 laps, seemingly unstoppable. Though Marks chased down the No. 69k before pouncing on the top side with 18 laps to go.
Pittman believe’s the reason he fell short was because he “didn’t manage the race well enough.”
“I mean, I can blame it on not racing that much or whatever,” Pittman said. “But at the end of the day, I’ve raced for 25 years, you know how to do this stuff.
“I just didn’t do a good enough job. I feel like if I would have pushed harder, leading, at least until we got to lapped traffic.
“I thought my car was probably superior in lapped traffic. I needed to manage the race until we got there. Then I could probably start maneuvering through that traffic to get a little bit of separation. Then he (Marks) just let it all hang out.
“I was surprised that somebody was able to make that much speed on the top and get by us, because I thought I was setting a decent pace with what we were doing, but it just wasn’t good enough.”
The Rundown
Rico Abreu wheeled his No. 24 machine to the final podium position in third after setting the quickest time in qualifying earlier in the race program.
It was a valiant top-five effort for Sheldon Haudenschild, who jumped from seventh to fourth. He was followed by World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series points leader Brad Sweet in fifth.
Sweet would later win the National Open preliminary feature, which was postponed due to weather on Friday.
Last Year’s National Open winner Lance Dewease spun on lap 15, sending the No. 39m down the running order.
Shortly after, a vicious crash in turn one saw both James McFadden and Logan Schuchart flip before coming to a halt.
Both drivers would walk away from the accident.
The race ran caution-free for the final 23 laps as Marks prevailed at the checkered flag.
Feature Finish (40 Laps)
1. Brent Marks, 2. Daryn Pittman, 3. Rico Abreu, 4. Sheldon Haudenschild, 5. Brad Sweet, 6. Justin Peck, 7. David Gravel, 8. Donny Schatz, 9. Danny Dietrich, 10. Tyler Courtney, 11. Spencer Bayston, 12. Gio Scelzi, 13. Cory Eliason, 14. Brock Zearfoss, 15. Kasey Kahne, 16. Freddie Rahmer, 17. Buddy Kofoid, 18. Skylar Gee, 19. Carson Macedo, 20. Brian Brown, 21. James McFadden, 22. Logan Schuchart, 23. Anthony Macri, 24. Zeb Wise, 25. Lance Dewease, 26. Kyle Reinhardt, 27. Aaron Reutzel