TITLE MATCH AT THE GROVE

The battle for the Morgan Cup at Williams Grove Speedway Saturday night turned into the title match of the century between the World of Outlaws and PA Posse.

On the front row of the 30-lap World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature, representing the World of Outlaws was 10-time Series champion Donny Schatz, and next to him, on the pole, representing the PA Posse was Lance Dewease – who’s won more races than anyone at Williams Grove.

Dewease added another win to that list Saturday night, defeating Schatz to claim the Morgan Cup and his 17th career World of Outlaws victory. The Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing driver didn’t make it an easy fight, though.

Schatz got the first punch, jumping to the lead at the start of the race. From there, Schatz set a pace the No. 69K couldn’t match.

Dewease contributed that to his setup, stating it takes five or six laps for his car to get going. Because of that, he said he anticipated Schatz would get the jump on him. He knew the race he needed to run.

“The pace we were trying to run, we were going to be hard on tires at that whole 30 laps,” Dewease said about Schatz’s early run. “But hell, I wasn’t too easy with them.”

Schatz’s early lead didn’t last long, though. On Lap two, Logan Schuchart stopped on the front stretch due to an ignition box issue. The caution allowed the two front runners a quick rest to gauge their early run.

When the green flag flew again, Schatz landed another jab, jumping back to the lead. Dewease kept pace with him, though.

“I was shocked how good I hung with him there on the bottom,” Dewease said. “I thought we’d be alright if I could get by him (Schatz). He knows how to get around here when it’s slick.”

Like Dewease predicted, once he got in six consecutive laps, his car took off. While Schatz rode the high side, Dewease found enough grip on the bottom to wear out Schatz’s lead. By that time the two leaders entered lap traffic, which proved to be an advantage for Dewease.

Schatz struggled to navigate around lap traffic, allowing Dewease to plant the attack he needed on Lap 17 to charge by the No. 15 car and take the lead.

“It just came down to getting through lap traffic,” Schatz said. “I got to the 70 car and I didn’t push the issue, to go across the race car and go in front of him and I didn’t do it. It got me in a funk for a few laps and Lance got by. I got myself back going, but it was too late.”

Dewease then cruised to his second win in four days, after winning Wednesday’s night race at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa. That night he heard the chant, “Posse! Posse! Posse!” in Victory Lane. Then heard it again Saturday night as the PA Posse fans were jubilant to retain the iconic Morgan Cup.

“This rivalry is pretty intense,” Dewease said. “It goes back a long way. We’re some of the few areas that can consistently win against these (Outlaws) guys. We were very fortunate to get it done tonight and keep the cup for another year. Beating Donny is always special because he gets around this place so good.”

While Schatz accepted his defeat, having to settle for second, he laid down a further challenge for the PA Posse fans.

“I hear all of that Posse chant, and I love that,” Schatz said. “Come August, I’m pretty sure he’s (Dewease) going to win the money to go to the Knoxville Nationals, so there’s going to be no damn reason every person in this place isn’t at the Knoxville Nationals watching it.”

While Schatz and Dewease put on a show at the front of the field, California-native Giovanni Scelzi was the show of the race behind them.

Scelzi won the C-Main, transferring to the rear of the 12-car Last Chance Showdown. He then made his way to fourth in the Showdown, transferring to the rear of the Feature. After starting 24th, he charged his way to a seventh-place finish in the Feature, earning the KSE Hard Charger award.

“Just qualified bad, and when you do that it puts you behind the eight-ball,” Scelzi said. “We just kept trucking in the Feature and kept going and going and going. I wish we had a yellow. I think we had something to get back in the top-five.”

Scelzi won his first Series victory at Williams Grove last year, becoming the youngest ever World of Outlaws winner at 16 years old. However, he’s not sure why he meshes with the Pennsylvania track so well.

“I just seem to have some natural speed,” Scelzi said, “I don’t know where it comes from. Seems to be a place I’m comfortable at.”

Both Schatz and Dewease – who credited each other as being exceptional drivers – said they’ve found the set up their comfortable with, leading to another potential title match when the Series returns to Williams Grove Speedway in July.

UP NEXT

The World of Outlaws will continue its Northeast swing Sunday, May 19, at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY.

As always, you can catch all World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series action on DIRTVision.com.

For tickets and more information, go to www.WorldofOutlaws.com.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 69K-Lance Dewease [1][$17,000]; 2. 15-Donny Schatz [2][$5,700]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich [6][$3,500]; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman [5][$3,000]; 5. 51-Freddie Rahmer [7][$2,600]; 6. 11K-Kraig Kinser [3][$2,400]; 7. 71-Giovanni Scelzi [24][$2,300]; 8. 19-Brent Marks [4][$2,200]; 9. 41-David Gravel [9][$2,150]; 10. 1A-Jacob Allen [10][$2,100]; 11. 5-Shane Stewart [13][$1,600]; 12. 2M-Kerry Madsen [14][$1,350]; 13. 24-Lucas Wolfe [8][$1,300]; 14. 49-Brad Sweet [17][$1,200]; 15. 72-Ryan Smith [11][$1,100]; 16. 39-Cory Haas [20][$1000]; 17. 18-Ian Madsen [23][$900]; 18. 39M-Anthony Macri [18][$850]; 19. 21-Brian Montieth [16][$800]; 20. 1S-Logan Schuchart [15][$800]; 21. 5C-Dylan Cisney [22][$800]; 22. 1X-Chad Trout [25][$]; 23. 2-Carson Macedo [21][$800]; 24. 26-Cory Eliason [19][$800]; 25. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [12][$800]; 26. 70-Brock Zearfoss [26][$]; Lap Leaders: Donny Schatz 1-12, Lance Dewease 13-30; KSE Hard Charger Award: 71-Giovanni Scelzi[+17]

Qualifying Flight-A – 1. 11K-Kraig Kinser, 19.334; 2. 72-Ryan Smith, 19.36; 3. 69K-Lance Dewease, 19.374; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich, 19.438; 5. 5-Shane Stewart, 19.441; 6. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 19.523; 7. 41-David Gravel, 19.537; 8. 19-Brent Marks, 19.611; 9. 49-Brad Sweet, 19.629; 10. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 19.667; 11. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild, 19.716; 12. 26-Cory Eliason, 19.742; 13. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 19.78; 14. 18-Ian Madsen, 19.929; 15. 27S-Adrian Shaffer, 19.944; 16. 19M-Landon Myers, 19.963; 17. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 20.023; 18. 11-T.J. Stutts, 20.071; 19. 71P-Parker Price-Miller, 20.163

Qualifying Flight-B – 1. 51-Freddie Rahmer, 19.378; 2. 15-Donny Schatz, 19.547; 3. 1A-Jacob Allen, 19.621; 4. 83-Daryn Pittman, 19.687; 5. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 19.69; 6. 2-Carson Macedo, 19.729; 7. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 19.792; 8. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 19.798; 9. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 19.806; 10. 1X-Chad Trout, 19.822; 11. 39M-Anthony Macri, 19.969; 12. 39-Cory Haas, 19.97; 13. 7S-Jason Sides, 20.017; 14. 47K-Kody Lehman, 20.082; 15. 71-Giovanni Scelzi, 20.116; 16. 21-Brian Montieth, 20.125; 17. 98H-Dave Blaney, 20.186; 18. 73B-Brett Michalski, 21.304; 19. 12W-Troy Fraker, 21.427

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Morgan Cup
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Williams Grove Speedway
1 Speedway Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055 

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

To Win Amount
$17,000.00

Event Schedule
$8,000-to-win on Friday; $17,000-to-win on Saturday
*All times Eastern

Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Grandstand Type
Bleachers

Handicapped Seating Location
Front Stretch - Buddy Seats

Pit Age Requirement
NO children under 14 allowed in the Pit area. 14-17 must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian. Parent/Guardian must fill out & sign waiver for children 14-17

Pit Gate Location
North side of the track. NOTE: Will Call is located next to the office on the front stretch off of Park Place and Speedway Dr.

Parking Cost
Free

Handicapped Parking Location
Front stretch and limited parking on Beer Hill (Turn 3)

Camping Availability
onsite

Camping Cost
Call the track for details

To Win Amount
$17,000.00

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers

Stadium Seating
Seat cushions are permitted.

Handicapped Seating
Front Stretch - Buddy Seats

Handicapped Parking
Front stretch and limited parking on Beer Hill (Turn 3)

Pit Age Limit
NO children under 14 allowed in the Pit area. 14-17 must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian. Parent/Guardian must fill out & sign waiver for children 14-17

Pit Gate Location
North side of the track. NOTE: Will Call is located next to the office on the front stretch off of Park Place and Speedway Dr.

Personal Coolers
Coolers no larger that 18" are allowed. No glass containers.

ATMs
1

Alcohol Sales
No alcohol sold on site.

Smoking Policy
No smoking in the Grandstands, or near food stands

Parking Cost
Free

Camping Availability
onsite

Camping Cost
Call the track for details

Williams Grove Speedway
1 Speedway Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055 

Track Phone
(717) 697-5000

Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Size
0.5

Track Type
Semi banked; paperclip oval

Sprint Car Track Record
16.089 seconds by TJ Stutts on 4-8-23

Late Model Track Record
19.500 seconds by Jason Covert

Closest Airport
Harrisburg Int

Other Airport
BWI

Pit Gate Location
North side of the track. NOTE: Will Call is located next to the office on the front stretch off of Park Place and Speedway Dr.

Track Map

Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php