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Macedo wins at Williams Grove

It was the 59th annual National Open at Williams Grove Speedway, and none of the usual suspects cashed in on the $75,000 payday. It was California’s Carson Macedo gladly collected the biggest win of his life at the Mechanicsburg half-mile track. The 25-year-old claimed victory aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 car.

It was as hotly contested as any National Open in recent memory, offering three different leaders and a race that came down to the very final corner on the 40th and final lap.

Myerstown’s Brent Marks controlled the first 12 laps before spinning in traffic, and then Schuchart took the point. He led the next 23 circuits aboard the Shark Racing No. 1S, but then came charging sixth-starting Macedo. The No. 41 slid by coming to the 35th lap and survived a sprint to the checkered flag as Schuchart nearly got him back at the end. The win is Macedo’s 10th of the season, and arguably the most rewarding of his 16 career World of Outlaws sprint car series wins.

“Wow, this is the highest-paying win of my career,” Macedo said in awe. “You know, I left so frustrated the first few times I came to Williams Grove because I couldn’t figure it out. I was wondering how the heck other guys are so much better. Then I got in this No. 41 car and Philip Dietz is just amazing at giving me what I need. That’s 10 wins with the Outlaws this year. I can’t believe it. This team is incredible and I’m lucky to drive this thing.”

Dillsburg’s Anthony Macri led the way as the highest-finishing PA Posse driver, collecting an extra $1,000 for his career-best fourth-place finish at the National Open. Two-time National Open champion David Gravel was behind him in fifth aboard the Big Game Motorsports #2. Rounding out the top-10 at Williams Grove was six-time National Open champion Donny Schatz in sixth, four-time event winner Lance Dewease in seventh, Kyle Larson in eighth as his triple crown bid fell short, and Kasey Kahne Racing teammates James McFadden and Brad Sweet in ninth and tenth.

Veteran Lance Dewease of Fayetteville finalized his 2021 track championship run at Williams Grove Speedway with his seventh place finish.

On the Friday preliminary, Kyle Larson overcame a lackluster time trial effort in his heat race and then fought through a mid-feature error on the cushion to speed to the win in the opening night of the World of Outlaws Champion Racing Oil National Open for sprint cars at Williams Grove Speedway. The feature win was worth $10,000 for Larson as the fourth of his career at the track however it was his first over the World of Outlaws at Wlliams Grove Speedway.

Coming up this weekend after a nearly month-long hiatus, Port Royal Speedway will continue with their 2021 racing season with a two-day visit by the World of Outlaws sprint car series on Friday and Saturday for the Nittany Showdown. This will be the fourth consecutive season where the Outlaws will attempt to visit for a two-day event, and it’s expected that a large field of cars will trek to Juniata County for a chance to take home the victory and the bragging rights against the best the sport has to offer.

Last year’s event saw NASCAR start Kyle Larson sweep the weekend to close out what was a dominating season on dirt for the California kid. Larson’s winning ways also put a stop to what had been three consecutive event victories for World of Outlaws legend Donny Schatz at “The Speed Palace” entering the 2020 season.

See you at the races.

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