By TODD HEINTZELMAN
Sports correspondent
MECHANICSBURG — It took Anthony Macri a few years to get that first World of Outlaws Sprint Car win.
The 23-year-old from Dillsburg swept the Outlaws at Port Royal Speedway last season for his first two career Outlaws wins.
His third win against the series came Wednesday night at Lincoln Speedway in the Gettysburg Clash earning him $10,000.
Macri is hoping to add Williams Grove Speedway to his Outlaws win list this weekend.
Morgan Cup weekend began at the historic speedway Friday night featuring the Outlaws and the Pennsylvania Posse. The rivalry is considered the best in sprint car racing because of the quality of cars and drivers in the central Pennsylvania region.
The 25-lap feature on Friday night paid the winner $10,000, while the Morgan Cup Champion tonight earns $17,000 and bragging rights until next May. The Morgan up trophy goes to the office of the winning side.
A total of 38 cars were in the pits Friday night. The field was split into two flights for qualifying time trials. In Flight A, World of Outlaws regular David Gravel set the fastest time at 16.760. Carson Macedo, Justin Peck, Sam Hafertepe Jr., and TJ Stutts followed him.
In Flight B, Rico Abreu set a quick time of 17.156. Macri was second quick in the flight earning the pole of the final heat race. Logan Schuchart, Donny Schatz and Outlaws point leader Brad Sweet followed them in Flight B.
Freddie Rahmer and Danny Dietrich went into the night tied for the Williams Grove points lead and had their work cut out for them as they both qualified poorly and were scheduled to start near the back of their respective heat races.
Peck beat Gravel in the opening eight-lap heat race. Kyle Reinhardt, Lance Dewease and Sheldon Haudenschild completed the top five. The second heat went to Carson Macedo over Brent Marks. Sam Hafertepe Jr., Brock Zearfoss and Billy Dietrich completed the top five.
Abreu, who is seeking his third series win of the season, beat Sweet in the third heat. Schuchart, Cory Eliason and Kyle Moody completed the top five. Macri’s good night continued, winning the final heat race over Schatz. Dylan Norris, Giovanni Scelzi and Spencer Bayston completed the top five.
The top two finishers from each heat race redrew for the top eight starting spots in the six-lap dash. The finish from the dash set the line-up for the front four rows of the 25-lap feature.
Sweet started on the pole of the dash with Abreu to his outside. Marks started third and Macri back in sixth. Sweet won the dash earning the pole. Abreu finished second. Marks, Macedo, Gravel, Schatz, Peck and Macri completed the dash finish.
Rahmer won the 12-lap Last Chance Showdown over TJ Stutts, Robbie Price, and Dietrich. Port Royal Mayor Dylan Cisney finished one spot out of transferring to the feature although he did take a provisional starting spot as did Devon Borden.
The Morgan Cup is named after former speedway owner Morgan Hughes.
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