MECHANICSBURG, PA – Anthony Macri was able to grab his second United Racing Club victory of the year at William’s Grove Speedway. This win also marked the young gun’s first ever sprint car win at the historic racetrack.
Twenty-eight cars, spanning from NY, PA, NJ, WV, OH, and NC registered to compete for the only race at William’s Grove Speedway in 2020 for the United Racing Club. The night kicked off with 10-time champion Curt Michael going quick time in hot laps with a time of 18.302. Michael would top his time in his heat race with a time of 18.145 to record the fast time of the night. Three heat races took to the track leading to Justin Barger, Michael, and Jonathan Preston to capture the qualifying wins.
When the green flag flew on the 25-lap main event, Josh Weller out of Mertztown, PA made it three wide out of turn 2 to take the race lead down the backstretch. Weller looked very strong running the top side of the speedway but early cautions plagued his momentum to bunch the field back up. Lap 6 was the first caution as Ryan Stillwaggon snagged the inside guardrail of corners 1 and 2 causing him to spin. The no. 11 machine would retire to the pits for the night and the race would resume back to green. On this restart however, the 20 car of Anthony Macri took control and got around Weller. The caution would once again come out one lap later for a slowing Chuck Hebling. The green would once again fly with Macri at the point.
Weller would not go easy as the pair traded slide jobs back and forth until Macri was able to capitalize going into 3 and 4 holding off another slider from Weller. Macri began to pull away when another caution flag flew on lap 12 for Jonathan Preston slowing on the track after changing a tire the caution before. Once the green flag came back out Macri checked out on the field. The battle was now between the top 5 as Steve Buckwalter, Weller, and Tyler Ross battled it out for position. Jason Shultz won the B-main and started in the back of the field and was quickly making his way up to the front. Macri hit lapped traffic but it didn’t seem to phase him as he went on to win his second URC feature of the year – entering his name into the history books as a William’s Grove Speedway feature winner.
“The first win at the Grove feels badass” said Macri after his win, “it’s a special win for me because of the history of the track and who all has won there.” “Weller was really good on the restarts, I was a little worried because my car would get tight in dirty air so I was worried about the lead we had. They told me before the feature to do whatever it takes to win, I hope they are happy.” Anthony would like to thank Sean Michael, Sam, and Chris Dyson for allowing him to pilot the no. 20 machine as well as the cars sponsors: Thetford, Norcold, and Racer Magazine.
The KSE hard charger for Saturday night went to Jason Shultz piloting the no. 25 for Ritter Racing. Shultz started from the 19th position after winning the B-main and worked his way to a fifth place finish. Justin Barger, Curt Michael, and Jonathan Preston were credited with the three heat race wins.
The United Racing Club returns to action Saturday, July 11 for the 20th annual 360 National Open presented by Mach-1 Chassis at Selinsgrove Speedway. This event will pay $5,000 to the winner with an additional $1,000 bonus if the winning driver has never won a 360 or 358 show at Selinsgrove. The Cushion will stream the event live for anyone that cannot make it to the track.
Photo Credit: Jesse Carberry
Contingency awards:
KSE Hard Charger – Jason Shultz +14
Ultra Shield last redraw spot – Paulie Colagiovanni
ISC Racers Tape – Tyler Ross (4th)
Seals-It – Derek Locke (6th)
Six B Apparel – Derek Locke (6th)
Rod End Supply – Paulie Colagiovanni (8th)
Ultra Shield – Robbie Stillwaggon (11th)
King Racing Products – Matt Farnham (15th)
DMI – Ryan Stillwaggon (last in feature)
Feature Laps Led by:
1-6 – Josh Weller
7-25 – Anthony Macri
RESULTS – JULY 5, 2020
HEAT 1 (8 LAPS): 1. 5B-Justin Barger[4]; 2. 10C-Paulie Colagiovanni[1]; 3. 63-Josh Weller[5]; 4. 77-Derek Locke[9]; 5. 28F-Davie Franek[10]; 6. 47-Adam Carberry[6]; 7. 35-Jason Shultz[8]; 8. 55-Dallas Schott[7]; 9. (DNF) 121-Steven Glover[3]; 10. (DNF) 32-Kyle Smith[2]
HEAT 2 (8 LAPS): 1. 5G-Curt Michael[7]; 2. 5-Tyler Ross[6]; 3. 45-Chuck Hebing[9]; 4. 7-Ed Aikin[4]; 5. 84M-Chad Criswell[1]; 6. 22-Troy Betts[8]; 7. 11A-Austin Bishop[5]; 8. 46-Ryan Coniam[3]; 9. 42-Jesse Pruchnik[2]
HEAT 3 (8 LAPS): 1. 1. 22P-Jonathan Preston[1]; 2. 7X-Steve Buckwalter[4]; 3. 20-Anthony Macri[3]; 4. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[6]; 5. 5K-Jake Karklin[2]; 6. 7NY-Matt Farnham[8]; 7. 10-Joe Kata[7]; 8. 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[9]; 9. 15-Tyler Templin[5]
B-MAIN (8 LAPS): 1. 35-Jason Shultz[1]; 2. 11A-Austin Bishop[2]; 3. 10-Joe Kata[3]; 4. 32-Kyle Smith[10]; 5. 121-Steven Glover[7]; 6. 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[6]; 7. 42-Jesse Pruchnik[8]; 8. (DNF) 15-Tyler Templin[9]; 9. (DNF) 55-Dallas Schott[4]; 10. (DNF) 46-Ryan Coniam[5]
FEATURE (25 LAPS): 1. 20-Anthony Macri[2]; 2. 7X-Steve Buckwalter[4]; 3. 63-Josh Weller[3]; 4. 5-Tyler Ross[6]; 5. 35-Jason Shultz[19]; 6. 77-Derek Locke[10]; 7. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[12]; 8. 10C-Paulie Colagiovanni[9]; 9. 47-Adam Carberry[16]; 10. 5B-Justin Barger[1]; 11. 5G-Curt Michael[7]; 12. 11A-Austin Bishop[20]; 13. 10-Joe Kata[21]; 14. 28F-Davie Franek[13]; 15. 7NY-Matt Farnham[18]; 16. 84M-Chad Criswell[14]; 17. 22-Troy Betts[17]; 18. 32-Kyle Smith[22]; 19. 7-Ed Aikin[11]; 20. (DNF) 5K-Jake Karklin[15]; 21. (DNF) 22P-Jonathan Preston[5]; 22. (DNF) 45-Chuck Hebing[8]; 23. (DNF) 121-Steven Glover[23]; 24. (DNF) 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[24]
TOP 10 2020 URC POINTS (as of 7/5/2020)
- Josh Weller – 630
- Adam Carberry – 594 (-36)
- Dallas Schott (Rookie) – 549 (-81)
- Austin Bishop – 483 (-147)
- Tyler Ross – 481 (-149)
- Ryan Stillwaggon – 473 (-157)
- Curt Michael – 454 (-176)
- Anthony Macri – 435 (-195)
- Derek Locke – 394 (-236)
- Steve Buckwalter – 389 (-241)
- Casey Robicheau on Jul 11, 2020
- Article Date: 7/10/2020 by Casey Robicheau