November 5, 2024

Justin Peck with chassis builder Russ Mitten in victory lane celebrating Williams Grove Opening Victory (Photo Credit: CWP/Chad Warner)

Top of the Pecking Order: Justin Peck Wins Williams Grove Opener

Mechanicsburg, PA-It took 5 days later but the fans were treated to a beautiful early spring Friday night at The Grove. Not only did mother nature reward the fans patience with 70 degree temperatures. But Williams Grove gave them a fantastic race with Monrovia, Indiana’s Justin Peck Scoring his second career Williams Grove Speedway Feature victory.

“When we left the Williams Grove Opener last year, the crew and I were talking about the history of this race and the names who won and how big of a race this is to the Central PA sprint car culture .” Said Peck ” When we had that conversation it put this race pretty high up on the list of ones we wanted to win. To add my name of list of names that have won this race. It’s a pretty special feather in my cap.”

The 25 lap feature began with Bradley Howard flipping wildly down the back stretch in a single car incident. He was uninjured in the flip. The race then got back underway with Pat Cannon challenging Mark Smith for the lead. Smith pulled way until the lap 6 when the red flew for Anthony Macri’s ‘Tommy Tipover’ in turn 3.

On the ensuing restart Peck powered by Cannon on the cushion. ” It all depends on how big of balls you got.” Peck Said ” It was pretty racey. The way the dirt built up and the way it slicked off. 1 and 2 had a lot of character. Someone said we had a pretty big lead at one point.” Which he did once he got around Mark Smith for the lead on lap 9 to almost a 6 second lead until the final yellow of the race on lap 21 when Macri broke in turn 1.

Justin Peck pacing the field under the famous Williams Grove Bridge on his way to the Opening Night win at The Williams Grove Speedway (Photo Credit: WRT Speedwerk-Chris Hockley)

Peck would go on to lead the next four laps and win his first Williams Grove Opener by 1.608 seconds over Cannon, Lucas Wolfe, Dylan Norris and Kyle Reinhardt.

“Our package when racing around here is pretty good but we need to work on it in qualifying especially when the track is good early.” Peck Said ” We were able to come here last year at the National Open and set quick time in our flight. So we have to realize we have to go back to our racing set up when we come back here with the All Stars in April.”

Williams Grove Speedway is back in action next Friday night with the Lawrence Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars and The ULMS Super Late Models

410 Sprint Feature Results-1. Justin Peck. 2. Pat Cannon, 3. Lucas Wolfe, 4. Dylan Norris, 5. Kyle Reinhardt, 6. Freddie Rahmer, 7. Brent Marks, 8. Danny Dietrich, 9. Aaron Bollinger, 10. Steve Buckwalter, 11. Matt Campbell, 12. Devon Borden, 13. Chase Dietz, 14. Buddy Kofoid, 15. Chad Trout, 16. Skylar Gee, 17. Justin Whittall, 18. Anthony Macri, 19. TJ Stutts, 20. Mark Smith, 21. Tyler Ross, 22. Lance Dewease, 23. Scotty Thiel, 24. Bradley Howard