Brent Marks wins at Williams Grove
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It's been 798 days -- an 0-16 stretch -- but on Saturday the PA Posse returned to greatness thanks to Brent Marks. He is now $20,000 richer after claiming the summer nationals title for World of Outlaws sprint cars at Williams Grove Speedway.
Marks trounced the competition after starting fourth in the field, but his win was far from easy. First he had to overtake Donny Schatz for the lead before beating back Sheldon Haudenschild repeatedly after watching him get control. Schatz blasted from the second spot out to a large lead when the green flag fell in the 30-lap main, leaving the field in his dust as he drove away. And by lap six when he hit lapped traffic, he had a full straightaway over Marks who had throttled into second on the opening lap. By lap eight, traffic was holding up Schatz, allowing pursuers Marks, Haudenschild and Carson Macedo to close right in.
As Schatz struggled to put cars a lap down, Marks was dogged in his pursuit for control before finally getting by on lap 21 as the backmarker of Freddie Rahmer came into play just ahead.
With Marks the new leader, the storm of Haudenschild and Macedo bore down on a faltering Schatz and Marks when Haudenschild took a shot for the lead in the first corner. Haudenschild's blast underneath Marks saw him slide up the track into Rahmer, who was just in front of Marks on the cushion and Haudenschild ended up putting a right rear into Rahmer's car as it bucked sideways and spit fire from the engine compartment. The contact forced Haudenschild to turn partially sideways as well and Marks was able to bolt back around, again as the leader only to see the pace slowed for a stopped Rahmer.
The restart saw Haudenschild pull a masterful flyer for the lead as the pair shot into the first turn but Marks equally skillfully turned the car down off of the cushion and drove back by and into command, using the inside lane off of the second corner.
It was the 11th career oval win for Marks, known as the Myerstown Missile, after claiming the Williams Grove National Open fall classic in 2019.
"It was pretty intense," Marks said of his battles with Schatz and Haudenschild. "There were a lot of close calls there. It was a lot of fun. It was fun racing Sheldon and Donny, a lot of fun for sure."
Haudenschild ended up .903 seconds behind at the finish.
"He did a great job tonight," Haudenschild said of Marks."We have nothing to hang our heads about."
Schatz rode home third, saying, "Every lap I kept struggling and struggling to get straight."
Macedo and Lance Dewease completed the top five.
Selinsgrove pulled double duty last week starting on Tuesday in a celebration of the anniversary of the speedway's opening in 1946. A huge crowd and stellar field of 410 sprint car and super late model drivers made a showing Tuesday night for the Snyder County oval's historic 75th anniversary race. Danny Dietrich dominated the evening in the 410 sprint cars by winning his heat race and leading flag-to-flag in the 25-lap main event for the $5,075 victory. The win was the fifth of Dietrich's career at the track.
Thirteen-time track champion Jeff Rine of Danville made the winning pass on lap 23 of the 25-lap super late model feature for his 113th career victory also worth $5,075. It was Rine's first win of the season at Selinsgrove, and he became the division's fifth different winner in as many races. On Saturday, Chase Dietz turned in a dominating performance for his first career 410 sprint car win at Selinsgrove Speedway in the 25-lap main event. Dietz became the third different winner in four 410 sprint cars races at the track this season.
Jim Yoder of Selinsgrove edged out his son Dylan Yoder of Middleburg by just .14 of a second for his 14th career super late model win at the track in the 25-lap main event. The win was Yoder's first super late model win at Selinsgrove since 2016.
Brad Mitch powered to his first win of the season in the roadrunners. It was the third time Mitch won the division's championship race.
Picking up feature wins at Hummingbird Speedway were Adam Presnar on the Young Gun Jr. Sprint Stock division and Garrett Davenport in the Young Gun Jr. Sprint Open class. Other feature winners included Mike Anderson (economods), Nick Erskine (semi lates), Andrew Gordon (pro stocks), Doug Eck (late models), Bryce Swauger (pure stocks) and Blake Joiner (four cylinders).
Jimmy Ogden came out on top of the four cylinder main event at Hidden Valley Speedway. Matt Ondek won his first career super sportsman win at BAPS Motor Speedway. Ondek was masterful over the second half of the 25-lap affair.
While Ondek celebrated his first win, Troy Miller bagged a sizable $1,500 payday for capturing the Smokey Frye Classic. He passed his son Shaun Miller to take the lead and the win.
WILLIAMS GROVE
SATURDAY
410 sprint cars, 25 laps: 1. Brent Marks; 2. Sheldon Haudenschild; 3. Donny Schatz; 4. Carson Macedo; 5. Lance Dwease.
FRIDAY
410 sprint cars, 25 laps: 1. Sheldon Haudenschild; 2. Lance Dewease; 3. James McFadden; 4. Donny Schatz; 5. Brent Marks.
HUMMINGBIRD
Young Gun Jr. Sprints (stock): 1. Adam Presnar; 2. Grady Rinehart; 3; Mason McAndrew; 4. Keaton Himes; 5. Jazlyn Boyles. Young Gun Jr. Sprints (open): 1. Garrett Davenport; 2. Carter Himes; 3. Kalen Jackson. Economods: 1. Mike Anderson; 2. Gary Miller Jr.; 3. Nate Fleck; 4. Brad Curran Jrn. 5; Bob McMillen. Semi lates: 1. Nick Erksine; 2. Eddie Conner; 3. Doug Surra; 4. Nick Loffredo; 5. Rich Runyan Jr. Pro stocks: 1. Andrew Gordon; 2. Dylan Ceece; 3. Brandon Connor; 4. Jim Bloom; 5. Jamie Colwell. Late models: 1. Doug Eck; 2. Paul Kot; 3. Ken Schaffer; 4. Scott Alvertro; 5. Joseph Campbell. Pure stocks: 1. Bryce Swauger; 2. Tim Steis; 3. Andrew Frey; 4. Dustin Challingswort; 5. Cory Wolfe. Four cylinders: 1. Blake Joiner; 2. Shawn Hadden; 3. Joe Anthony; 4. Kevin Killinger; 5. Travis Timko.
HUDSON VALLEY
Super late models: 1. Billy Eash; 2. Derek Ridley; 3. Josh Jacoby; 4. Luke Hoffner; 5. Curtis Teats. Semi lates: 1. Paul Ivory; 2. Ryan Jacoby; 3. Levi Ardery; 4. Justin Owens; 5. Jeremy Lippert. Small block modifields: 1. Todd English; 2. Milton Owens; 3. Shannon Casher; 4. Josh Henry; 5. Jordan Luzier. Street stocks (Penn Ohio Series): 1. Chad Rougeux; 2. Ron Boardman; 3. Cregen Brady; 4. Rich Howell; 5. BJ Hudson. Four cylinders: 1. Jimmy Ogden; 2. AJ Hoffner; 3. Brandon Hoffner; 4. Rob Williams; 5. Greg Kiehl. Non-qualifier four cylinder feature: 1. Dylan Yastro; 2. Ernie Irvin; 3. Michael Shobert; 4. Dustin Miller; 5. Gavin Webber.
SELINSGROVE
TUESDAY
410 sprint cars, 22 entries (25-lap A-Main): 1. Danny Dietrich; 2. Blane Heimbach; 3. Freddie Rahmer; 4. TJ Stutts; 5. Steve Buckwalter. Super late models, 26 entries (25-lap A-Main): 1. Jeff Rine; 2. Jim Bernheisel; 2. Gene Knaub; 4. Rick Eckert; 5. Dylan Yoder.
SATURDAY
410 sprint cars, 23 entries (25-lap A-Main): 1. Chase Dietz; 2. Mark Smith; 3. Blane Heimbach; 4. Pat Cannon; 5. Ryan Taylor. Late models, 23 entires (25-lap A-Main): 1. Jim Yoder; 2. Dylan Yoder; 3. Dan Stone; 4. Rick Eckert; 5. Andrew Yoder. Roadrunners, 18 entires (20-lap A-Main): 1. Brad Mitch; 2. Nate Romig; 3. Adam Campbell; 4. Smith Cope; 5. Terry Kramer.
BAPS
Super sportsman: 1. Matt Ondek; 2. Tony Jackson; 3. Frankie Herr; 4. Russ Mitten; 5. Kenny Edkin. Late models, 28 entires feature (30 laps): 1. Troy Miller; 2. Randy Stoudt; 3. Shaun Miller; 4. Chase Billet; 5. Jedadiah Latshaw. Extreme stocks, 22 entries feature (20 laps): 1. Patrick McClane; 2. Donnie Broderick; 3. Sam Rial; 4. Travis Horan; 5. Hunter Fulton.