MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Anthony Macri came from eighth starting spot to claim the 25-lap 410 sprint car feature at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night.
The win was Macri’s 15th overall of the season and his third of the year at the speedway.
In the 25-lap USAC East sprint car main, Alex Bright held off a late race charge by Briggs Danner by the narrowest of margins to score his second win of the year at the track.
Driving the Westbrook 1W, Robbie Kendall blasted from the pole position into the lead at the start of the 410 sprint feature, holding sway over Brent Shearer during the first half of the race.
Kendall entered the backmarkers on the seventh tour as Macri battled with T.J. Stutts for third.
Macri took second from Shearer with a low move in the first corner on the 12th lap just before a caution flag slowed the pace, wiping out a 2.014-second lead built by Kendall.
On the restart, Macri blasted under Kendall deep in the first turn and then slid up into the lead as Kendall tried to fight back working the inside lane off of the turn-two cushion.
But Macri pulled away once in front only to have his pace slowed with nine laps to go when Justin Whittall slowed to a stop.
Dylan Norris wrestled with Kendall for second on the restart and briefly took the spot before Kendall returned the favor to hold the position to the finish.
Macri’s margin of victory was 4.704 seconds.
With Indiana mechanic Bernie Steubgen turning the wrenches on Macri’s No. 39m, the winner was happy to take the checkers.
“I had a fire under my ass and I felt like I had a point to prove,” he said.
Danny Dietrich started 16th and motored to third at the finish, claiming the PA Dyno Hard Charger Award.
Norris rode home fourth, followed by Freddie Rahmer.
Carmen Perigo Jr. led the first 10 laps before seventh starter Alex Bright secured the top spot in the USAC East feature event.
Christian Bruno came to second with 10 laps to go but during the final 10 laps point leader Briggs Danner made his way into contention after starting eighth.
He took second from Bruno with four laps to go and began his pursuit of the leader, whom he caught up with during the final lap and a half.
Bright went into defense on the final lap, changing lanes to thwart Danner’s attack.
However, Danner was able to get to his inside Bright coming out of turn four on the final lap before drag racing him to the finish line.
In what may have been considered a tie before the institution of electronic timing, Bright held on for the win by a scant .030 seconds.
Bruno was third, followed by Steve Drevicki and Mark Smith.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. Anthony Macri, 2. Robbie Kendall, 3. Danny Dietrich, 4. Dylan Norris, 5. Freddie Rahmer, 6. Chase Dietz, 7. TJ Stutts, 8. Brent Shearer, 9. Mark Smith, 10. Lucas Wolfe, 11. Tyler Ross, 12. Kyle Moody, 13. Brandon Rahmer, 14. Billy Dietrich, 15. Cody Fletcher, 16. Dwight Leppo, 17. Bryn Gohn, 18. Steve Buckwalter, 19. Justin Whittall, 20. Brad Howard, 21. Jordan Givler, 22. Todd Allen, 23. Alan Krimes. 24. Gordon Senft III.
Keyword: Macri Is Williams Grove Master