10 Things we Learned About Sprint Cars from This Past Week: 6-24 thru 7-3

A new series I’m going to try and keep up with and how original of an idea. It’s a Top 10 list. Just some general news and notes to take away from the past week in Sprint car racing and beyond. 

1. Brent Marks is the best driver in the Country Right Now

It was just a few short years ago that Brent Marks trials and tribulations were evident while out on tour with The World of Outlaws. But since coming off the tour in 2020 and back in his own 19 car he has been a driver who has been a constant threat to win everywhere he shows up. Speedweek was no different. In fact it proved how consistent the Murray-Marks 19 team is now. Marks was the only driver to finish not only in the top 10 in all 9 races. But top 5 in every Speedweek race. Which netted him a $5000 bonus from Selinsgrove Ford. With an average finish of 1.7 over the nine nights. 4 spots better than 2nd best average Justin Peck at a 5.7 if drivers who ran all 9 races. Marks 1.7  is the best average finish since 2015 when Stevie Smith had a 2.0.  Thanks to Sprint Car Ratings on Twitter for these stats and stats throughout the list. 

While those numbers may be impressive. The only number that matters is wins. Marks once again lead all drivers in wins for the 2nd year in a row. This time with 5 wins and 0 DNFs. Which was his downfall last year to Danny Dietrich with 0 DNFs when Marks had 1. Which ironically came at Port Royal on Wednesday night of 2021. One year later it was Anthony Macri hand grenading an engine on Wednesday night while Macri led Speedweek points coming in to Port on Wednesday. This time Marks went on to the victory while Macri was DNF. The start of his 4 wins in a row to clinch the PA Speedweek Title. 

2. Money Money Money  

Not only did marks lead the way in wins. But he led the way in earnings as well for the week. Marks walked away with $62,500 in winnings over the 9 nights. Which included $15,000, $10,000 and 3 $7,000 paydays. $6,000 for the Speedweek Title and an extra $5,000 for finishing in the top 5 every night. 

This week would also become the most money ever given out during Speedweek with $337,660 in prize money with an average purse of $37,500 per race. There’s still money to be made in racing folks. 

3. Tire Shortage will cost Speedweek races: Myth busted

People were up in arms coming into PA Speedweek about the ongoing shortages plaguing racing and really life in general. As well as the pinch at the pumps. But as much as we are on Hoosier for giving racers a below standard product at a ridiculous price right now. They came through this week and made sure tires were secured for PA Speedweek. While yes we did see tires fail this week. Most notably, at least what was posted on social media, Just Peck tire delaminating on Thursday night at Hagerstown costing him a solid top 5 run on Thursday. A quality product? Absolutely not. But tires were nowhere near the top of concerns this past week. Even with better than expected car counts. 

4. Gas and diesel prices weren’t stopping anyone this week.

I’ll admit. Gas prices being at or over $5 a gallon during speed week had me quite skeptical that we would see full parking lots and make finding a place to park due to all the campers impossible. But those went out the window on Saturday night when I came over the hill on Kinnmen road to see a beautiful sight. Full pits and full parking lots at Lincoln. It was clear people weren’t going to let it ruin their speed week. Full grandstands and infields all week long. With massive lines to get in if you got there late. Shows how well racing is doing right now. Even with the price of everything. Sure it may tail off over the next few weeks till the Outlaws come to town. But for those who say Flo, DIRTVision and other PPV services are killing racing. I stick my tounge out at you. 

5. Macri is just as consistent as Marks. 

Most people predicted that this was going to be Macri Week in Pennsylvania. The way it started off. It looked that way when Anthony Macri went back to back at Williams Grove and Lincoln to start Speedweek. I made the joke that the only thing to cool down Macri would be the rain. Welp… I was right. The monsoon that hit Baps extinguished Macri’s win streak. But still finished in the top 3 in the next 4 of 6. But those other 2. 19th place finishes at both Port Royal races. Races where a lot of people picked Macri to win. 

But don’t sweat it kids. Macri will be just fine and is still one of the best hopes for the Posse come Outlaw time in about 3 weeks for the Summer Swing.

6. Who had a 35 cars a night average on their Speedweek Bingo Card ? 

I think a lot of people had no idea what to expect from car counts this week. Tho the week before Speedweek started tracks went to show up points only and still pulled 23,25,32 at Williams Grove, Port and Lincoln respectively. With those numbers I think it help ease people’s fears that we weren’t going to see cars due to whatever shortages are going on. An average of 34.7 cars were at all 9 Speedweek shows. With only 2 nights below 30 ( 29 at Williams Grove 1 and 23 at Selinsgrove). Both Lincoln shows saw over 40 cars in the pits with high car count for the week at 47 for The Gobrecht race and 42 at the Monday show. 

Surprise of the week had to be Grandview. 31 cars signed in for the Thunder On the Hill Hodnett Cup which ties for the most since 2017 with 31 both in 2018 and 2020. 

7. The best race of the week didn’t even happen in Pennsylvania. Yes it deserves to be on Speedweek.  

The Popular thing to do on social media around Pennsylvania Speedweek is to point out the obvious fact that Hagerstown is not in Pennsylvania. We get it. But have you seen the racing there ? It makes its case every single year on why it needs to not only be on the Speedweek schedule. But have more sprint car races there. A jam-packed house with fans going nuts with an epic battle between Kyle Larson and Brent Marks in the closing stages where Marks would win over Larson for the 3rd time in the week. 36 cars in the pits as well. There is so much support for this show and it shows off every chance it gets. Get off this argument. Hagerstown is Speedweek. Also since I couldn’t make it after being at the 24 hrs of Royal de Port till 12 and work at 5 am. I gotta give a shout out to Jermey Elliott and the Sprint Car Unlimited TV crew. It was the first time I used their service and it was a fantastic PPV with their partnership with Dirt Track Digest and Mike Mallet behind the board. A very well done show guys. 

8. Kyle Larson had a terrible week for once. Sorta. 

Well I guess he is human after all. Twice in one week Kyle Larson got hit with a you can’t park there at both Grandview when the left rear broke off the axle going into 3 and Port Royal when the right rear decided it didn’t want to exist anymore and exploded in the closing laps. Two tracks he’s been so good at over the last couple of seasons. But in the other 2 races. 2 runner up finishes at Lincoln and Hagerstown. It’s the first time since 2019 Larson was kept out of victory lane during Speedweek. But then we all know what happened in 2020. 

9. It was a good week to be from Northern Lebanon County.  

While a lot of focus was on PA for Speedweek. The World of Outlaws race two at Cedar Lake in Wisconsin. It was a good week to be from Lebanon County as not only was it Marks week in PA. But Brock Zearfoss from Jonestown, PA picked up his first win as a full time Outlaw on Saturday night holding off current Outlaws point leader Brad Sweet at a track where he had a 5 race win streak coming in to last weekend. Zearfoss 2nd career Outlaws win and first win since 2020 was a much needed one for the 3z team and hopefully give them a much needed confidence boost coming into the Month of Money. 

10. Jacob Allen has arrived finally. 

Who would’ve thought that in the Shark Racing Team that it would be Jacob Allen having the upper hand in 2022. In wins atleast. It is a pleasant surprise nonetheless. Allen is showing his talents with a 3rd win in 2022 on Friday night while bottom feeding (pun intended) at Cedar Lake to hold off Brad Sweet. Allen may be sitting 9th in the standings right now. But as the summer grows on. Don’t be surprised if the 1A is in a dog fight for the top 5 come November if they can stay constant and find wins. 

Honorable Mentions. 

11. The tightest Outlaws have been in a long time. 

72 points separate the top 5 in Outlaws Points in July. It’s been a minute since that’s happened at this point of the season. Saturday night played right into Brad Sweets quest for a 4th straight title. With Sheldon Haudenschild cutting a tire while running in the top 5. He’d come back to finish 9th. Carson Macedo would destroy a car and dnf. David Gravel and Logan Schuchart went to the work area early with Gravel coming all the way back to 2nd and Schuchart coming back to 4th. It’s nice to not see one driver dominate. The outlaws are as competitive as ever and should give the month of October and November some meaning if it keeps up.