SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Brian Brown made his annual trek to central Pennsylvania for the big fall races and quickly cracked the winner’s circle in Sunday night’s Selinsgrove Ford 25-lap main event for the 410 sprint cars at Selinsgrove Speedway.
The $5,500 win was Brown’s second career at the track and makes him an automatic qualifier for the Sept. 24 $26,000-to-win Jim Nace Memorial National Open, a race he won in his first- start at the speedway in 2017.
Polesitter Lucas Wolfe powered into the early lead at the start of the sprint car feature. Wolfe was chased by second-place starter Brian Brown. Third-place starter Freddie Rahmer performed a great save in turn three when his car got sideways momentarily, which allowed fourth-place starter Danny Dietrich to advance to third.
Sixth-place starter Anthony Macri used the highline of the track to drive into the third position on lap six. Approaching the halfway point, Brown closed in on Wolfe in a race for the lead. The caution flag unfurled on lap 12 for Jeff Miller.
On the lap 13 restart, Brown made a dive to the inside of Wolfe entering turn one and came out of turn two with the lead. With 10 laps remaining, Brown began to stretch his lead over Wolfe, Macri, Dietrich and fifth-place starter Justin Whittall.
The race’s final caution flag unfurled on lap 18 when Mark Smith’s car fell off the pace. On the final restart, Macri powered his way into second and set his sights on Brown but ran out of laps.
Brown took the checkered flag 2.15 seconds ahead of Macri, Dietrich, Wolfe and Rahmer.
Rick Eckert won his second race of the season at the track in the 25-lap Ron Keister Memorial for super late models. He earned $11,052 for his second win in the tribute race and 10th overall career win at Selinsgrove.
Jake Jones edged out Keith Bissinger by inches for his seventh win of the season in the thrilling 12-lap roadrunner race.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1) 21 Brian Brown 2) 39M Anthony Macri 3) 48 Danny Dietrich 4) 5W Lucas Wolfe 5) 51 Freddie Rahmer 6) 33W Michael Walter 7) 67 Justin Whittall 8) 11 TJ Stutts 9) 6 Ryan Smith 10) 44 Dylan Norris 11) 23 Devon Borden 12) 12 Blane Heimbach 13) 75D Tyler Ross 14) 77 Derek Locke 15) 35 Jason Shultz 16) 25 Tyler Bear 17) 2C Cory Thorton 18) 39 Chase Dietz 19) M1 Mark Smith 20) 33 Derek Hauck 21) D57 Jeff Miller 22) 17B Steve Buckwalter