PORT ROYAL, PA – Rain was in the forecast, but it was all sunshine for the Ritter Racing No. 35 team as Jason Shultz found his way to victory lane at Port Royal Speedway on April 24th. This marked the team’s first trip to victory lane since winning the championship in 2019, and the first win with Shultz behind the wheel.
There were almost 100 sprint cars in attendance for the first Open Wheel Madness at Port Royal Speedway, 32 of them representing the United Racing Club 360 sprint cars. With the threat of rain, the staff at The Speed Palace moved the show up two hours and it proved to be the right move as the water began to fall from the sky shortly after the final victory lane. The field was full of stout competitors including drivers pulling double duty, a few 358 teams, and some newer competitors to the series as well. During hotlaps, South Carolina’s Connor Leoffler went quick time with a lap of 19.510 which would stand as the fastest lap of the day. Next up would be the heat races where Anthony Macri, Robbie Kendall, Ryan Smith, and Paulie Colagiovanni would take the checkers. Connor Leoffler would later win the B-main locking himself as well as Tyler Templin, Derek Locke, and Tyler Brehm into the feature event.
It is not secret that when the United Racing Club visits central PA the 410 drivers that do double duty have a distinct advantage, and the redraw would further that advantage by putting two heavy hitter 410 drivers – Anthony Macri and Ryan Smith on the front row. On a surface that is very uncharacteristic for Port Royal Speedway, Anthony Macri jumped out to the early lead. Macri drove the no. 20 machine to a win at Port Royal Speedway in 2020 and is no stranger to victory lane at The Speed Palace in his 410. Macri lead with Smith on his coattails for the first 10 laps of the race until Smith finally made his move as the leaders approached lapped traffic. Once in the lead, the current URC points leader, Smith, followed by Macri, and 2020 series champion, Adam Carberry began to maneuver through the slower cars. Jason Shultz, who methodically was making his way to the front from the sixth starting spot found himself in fourth when Smith took the lead.
On lap 14 the caution would wave and that was the last thing Smith wanted to see. When the field restarted, Shultz in the 2019 championship team no. 35 rocketed his way into second and began setting his sights on the leader. Shultz caught Smith and passed him for the lead on lap 21 only to see the caution flag wave again. Due to URC rules, the lap counted and this set up a 4 lap dash to the end of the race with Shultz leading, followed by Smith, Macri, Carberry, and Mike Walter. When the checkered flag waved Jason Shultz would sit atop the scoring pylon and drive the no. 35 up onto the stage as the winner of the first Open Wheel Madness of 2021. Ryan Smith, Anthony Macri, Adam Carberry, and Mike Walter round out the top 5.
“Like any rubbered down track, it is difficult to pass,” said Shultz, “passing is premium so you have to take advantage of anyone that slips up and hopefully you don’t slip up in the process.” Shultz was patient during his charge to the front, knowing his car was fast and that he had a chance to win however track conditions were not playing in his favor. “On a restart I was on the outside which is never where you want to be on a rubbered down track, but luckily I got a good run and into third and Anthony tried to pass Smith on the outside, which I give him credit you have to try to win but that allowed us to get into second. From there I followed Ryan around until I saw the opportunity to pass him,” said Shultz. The no. 35 has run some 410 shows this year and last with Jason, but “winning at Port is always fun” exclaimed Jason, and for the United Racing Club, it is always great to see a URC regular get the win against the regular 410 drivers at these larger tracks.
Jason would like to thank Ritter Racing, Selinsgrove Ford, Horstcraft Millworks, Weis Markets, Weather Proof Roofing, Doak and Co. Racing, Allen A. Shaffer Insurance, Bud Godek Auto Body, Bodmer Family Footcare, Pine Hollow Forest Products, Lauver & Son Trucking, Emilys Country Farm Market, Hoovers Produce, Dealz on Wheels, Engler Machine, his friends, and family for supporting him and being a part of getting the no. 35 to victory lane.
The next points race for the United Racing Club will be a double header weekend, May 7 and 8th where we travel to the Bedford Fairground Speedway and then make our way over to the Greater Cumberland Raceway – a track URC has not visited since the mid to late 90’s. It is sure to be an action packed weekend!
Photo Credit: Jesse Carberry
Contingency awards:
KSE Hard Charger – Derek Locke +10
Ultra Shield last redraw spot – Robbie Kendall
ISC Racers Tape – Adam Carberry (4th)
Seals-It – Robbie Kendall (6th)
Rod End Supply – Kyle Smith (8th)
Ultra Shield – Joe Kata (11th)
King Racing Products – Tyler Denochick (15th)
DMI – Chuck Hebing (last in feature)
Feature Laps Led by:
1-10: Anthony Macri
11-20: Ryan Smith
21-25: Jason Shultz
RESULTS – APRIL 24, 2021
HEAT 1 (8 LAPS): 1. 20-Anthony Macri[8]; 2. 33W-Michael Walter[4]; 3. 45-Chuck Hebing[1]; 4. 6-Tyler Denochick[3]; 5. 7-Ed Aikin[6]; 6. 15-Tyler Templin[7]; 7. 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[2]; 8. (DNF) 23-Justin Foster[5]
HEAT 2 (8 LAPS): 1. 7X-Robbie Kendall[1]; 2. 32-Kyle Smith[2]; 3. 22K-Mike Koehler[3]; 4. 10-Joe Kata[8]; 5. 3-Denny Peebles[4]; 6. 22L-Connor Leoffler[6]; 7. 21R-Tyler Brehm[7]; 8. (DNF) 77-Derek Locke[5]
HEAT 3 (8 LAPS): 1. 10X-Ryan Smith[1]; 2. 47-Adam Carberry[5]; 3. 34-Andy Best[2]; 4. 79-Jordan Thomas[8]; 5. 66A-Cody Fletcher[3]; 6. 11T-Mike Thompson[4]; 7. 55-Dallas Schott[6]; 8. (DNS) 66-Ryan Kissinger
HEAT 4 (8 LAPS): 1. 10C-Paulie Colagiovanni[3]; 2. 35-Jason Shultz[7]; 3. 669-Brandon McGough[1]; 4. 8C-Brian Carber[4]; 5. 53-Shawn Donath[6]; 6. 42-Jesse Pruchnik[8]; 7. 28F-Davie Franek[5]; 8. 5Z-Zack Burd[2]
B-MAIN (8 LAPS): 1. 22L-Connor Leoffler[2]; 2. 15-Tyler Templin[1]; 3. 77-Derek Locke[10]; 4. 21R-Tyler Brehm[6]; 5. 55-Dallas Schott[7]; 6. 42-Jesse Pruchnik[4]; 7. 11T-Mike Thompson[3]; 8. 28F-Davie Franek[8]; 9. 23-Justin Foster[9]; 10. 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[5]; 11. 5Z-Zack Burd[12]; 12. (DNS) 66-Ryan Kissinger
A-FEATURE (25 LAPS): 1. 35-Jason Shultz[6]; 2. 10X-Ryan Smith[1]; 3. 20-Anthony Macri[2]; 4. 47-Adam Carberry[4]; 5. 33W-Michael Walter[10]; 6. 7X-Robbie Kendall[12]; 7. 34-Andy Best[3]; 8. 32-Kyle Smith[5]; 9. 10C-Paulie Colagiovanni[9]; 10. 79-Jordan Thomas[15]; 11. 10-Joe Kata[14]; 12. 53-Shawn Donath[20]; 13. 77-Derek Locke[23]; 14. 22L-Connor Leoffler[21]; 15. 6-Tyler Denochick[13]; 16. 8C-Brian Carber[16]; 17. 66A-Cody Fletcher[19]; 18. 3-Denny Peebles[18]; 19. 21R-Tyler Brehm[24]; 20. 55-Dallas Schott[25]; 21. 11-Ryan Stillwaggon[26]; 22. 22K-Mike Koehler[8]; 23. (DNF) 669-Brandon McGough[7]; 24. (DNF) 15-Tyler Templin[22]; 25. (DNF) 7-Ed Aikin[17]; 26. (DNF) 45-Chuck Hebing[11]
TOP 10 2021 URC DRIVER POINTS (as of 4/24/2021)
- Ryan Smith - 292
- Jason Shultz – 280 (-12)
- Andy Best – 261 (-31)
- Paulie Colagiovanni – 232 (-60)
- Derek Locke – 229 (-63)
- Dallas Schott – 225 (-67)
- Brian Carber – 220 (-72)
- Adam Carberry – 216 (-76)
- Jordan Thomas – 210 (-82)
- Denny Peebles – 204 (-88)
TOP 10 2021 URC OWNER POINTS (as of 4/24/2021)
- Brad Nowotarski - 292
- Ritter Racing – 280 (-12)
- Mark VanVorst – 261 (-31)
- Paul Colagiovanni – 232 (-60)
- Derek Locke – 229 (-63)
- Dallas Schott – 225 (-67)
- Brian Carber – 220 (-72)
- Adam Carberry – 216 (-76)
- Jeff Thomas – 210 (-82)
- Denny Peebles – 204 (-88)
- Casey Robicheau on May 03, 2021
- Article Date: 4/24/2021 by Casey Robicheau