PHOTO PROVIDED Justin Whittall placed third in a race at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday.

Opening day for Port Royal Speedway was also the opener for the new PA Posse 410 Sprint Car Series. Danny Dietrich and Matt Campbell started in the front row, with Dietrich getting the early advantage and Chase Dietz jumping up to the runner-up spot from third to set the pace for the field. Five laps later, the red flag waved due to a two-car accident involving Dylan Cisney and Nash Ely, who got collected in Turns One and Two.

Once the field saw the green flag again, it was Dietrich leading with Dietz following not too far behind. The A-main would stay green over the remaining 20 laps, and Dietz was able to cut Dietrich’s lead down to as little as 0.5 seconds but could never fully close the gap. Dietrich would go on to win and claim the $6,000 prize with Dietz in second and Matt Campbell rounding out the podium.

Last year’s track champion, Justin Whittall, would claim the Hard Charger honors with a +10 effort, going from his 22nd starting spot to 12th. Kody Hartlaub would get the extra $1,000 Warrior award for having the seven-pill drawn in victory lane as he was the seventh place finisher.

The super late model competition saw Trever Feathers park his No. 27 machine in Kish Bank victory lane after fending off a few different competitors through the 25-lap feature event. It was his third opening-day win at the speedway.

Port Royal Speedway will be back in action on Saturday, with 410 sprint cars as a part of the PA Posse 410 Sprint Car Series and will be supported by the super late models.

Lance Dewease of Fayetteville picked up his first win for his new car owner, Rich Eichelberger, winning the 25-lap Opening Day feature for 410 sprint cars at Williams Grove Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

It was the third Grove opener triumph of Dewease’s career at the oval and was worth $6,000. The victory was also the 117th career Williams Grove win for the driver.

On Sunday afternoon, it felt like a summer day , not the season opener at Williams Grove Speedway. 28 cars entered action with heats going to Dewease, Justin Whittall and Cameron Smith while the consolation race was taken by Tyler Ross.

Freddie Rahmer was in hot pursuit of leader Dylan Norris on just the second lap of the main event when he got too high in the first corner and looped his No. 51, surrendering what could have been a top finish or even a second career opener win. The yellow for Rahmer’s spin bunched the field and placed third starter Dewease on Norris’ tail off the restart.

Dewease motored by on the inside of Turn Four to net control as Norris had to regroup. The new leader had just entered the rear of the field and begun lapping cars on the 12th tour when a pair of spins in front of him slowed the pace and brought out the final yellow flag of the race.

Dewease pulled away, but then worked to stay behind traffic in the closing laps, allowing Norris to make it a nose-to-tail battle. Dewease pulled a check-up move on Norris, and then drove to a .890 second advantage at the finish to pick up the victory. Norris in second,

Justin Whittall was third followed by Danny Dietrich and Kody Hartlaub.

Williams Grove Speedway returns to action on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., with a program of 410 and 358 sprint car racing.