The Morgan Cup is on deck this week at Williams Grove Speedway. (Dan Demarco Photo)
The Morgan Cup is on deck this week at Williams Grove Speedway. (Dan Demarco Photo)

Outlaw Regulars Targeting The Morgan Cup

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars Series will invade Williams Grove Speedway this weekend, May 14-15, for the annual running of the Morgan Cup.

Both of the weekend‘s racing programs will pay $10,000 or more to win, with Friday‘s main event going 25 laps while the Saturday feature runs for 30 laps.

Saturday‘s winner will also be declared the Morgan Cup champion, earning bragging rights for a year for either the World of Outlaws or the vaunted Pennsylvania Posse. Last year’s Morgan Cup went to the Outlaws, as the Posse was shut out in WoO action for the first time since 2008.

Two-time defending Outlaw champion Brad Sweet continues to control the point standings as he vies for his third series title in a row at the wheel of Kasey Kahne Racing with Mike Curb, NAPA Auto Parts-backed No. 49.

The Grass Valley, Calif., native has pushed his season win total to eight so far, including a recent three-race streak in the Midwest. 

With the point lead and an early-season win percentage of 40 percent so far this season, Sweet is a seemingly-easy favorite coming into this week’s Williams Grove Morgan Cup action. 

However, Sweet has yet to master the Williams Grove dirt oval in his accomplished career. While this trip into Posse country may prove to be the one where he finally breaks through, Sweet’s Outlaw nemesis David Gravel will enter the weekend as a contender as well.

Connecticut‘s Gravel has taken a liking to Williams Grove during the last few seasons and scored two of four events held at the track last season, while also taking a pair of victories in 2019. 

The two-time Williams Grove National Open champion has three wins on the Outlaw tour this season and currently sits second to Sweet in the point standings aboard Tod Quiring‘s Big Game Motorsports No. 2.

Additional drivers to score on the Outlaw tour to date this season include Sheldon Haudenschild, Logan Schuchart, James McFadden, Carson Macedo, Aaron Reutzel and Brent Marks.

Reutzel, aboard the Roth Motorsports No. 83, may also be one to watch with the Outlaws when he gets back to Williams Grove, as the Texas native has learned his way around the big half-mile in recent seasons as well.

With one win on the Williams Grove season, Freddie Rahmer is the current track points leader in the 410 sprint car division.

Pennsylvania Posse pilot Lance Dewease, a perennial Outlaw slayer at Williams Grove, seems poised to score his elusive 100th career Williams Grove win, while other members of the Posse poised to make a run at the Outlaws this weekend include Anthony Macri, Marks and Danny Dietrich.

Marks, who recently moved back into the seat of his family-owned No. 19m, has proven to be on a hot streak of late, winning three of his last six races since returning to the car.

He won against the Outlaws on the road at Eldora Speedway on Saturday and against the Posse recently at Selinsgrove Speedway as well, and may be the best bet for a local driver to get a win at Williams Grove during the Morgan Cup weekend.

Racing at Williams Grove May 14-15 begins at 7:30 p.m. each night, H&N Landscaping of Mechanicsburg will present the two-day Outlaws stand. 

Adult general admission for each night of the Williams Grove weekend is set at $30, with youth ages 13-20 admitted for $15. Kids ages 12 and under are, as always, admitted for free at Williams Grove.