OUTLAWS SWEEP: Aaron Reutzel Conquers Morgan Cup for $15,000 Williams Grove Win
Reutzel Holds off Scelzi and Dewease in Closing Stages of 30-Lap Feature
MECHANICSBURG, PA – May 15, 2021 – With the aid of Aaron Reutzel, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series completed a clean sweep of the PA Posse on Saturday night.
Making his 100th career start, the Clute, TX native won his Team Drydene Heat Race, scored the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, and wired the 30-lap Feature to score the $15,000 Morgan Cup title at Williams Grove Speedway.
It was his fourth-career triumph at the iconic Mechanicsburg, PA 1/2-mile, but his first on the grand stage that is the Outlaws vs. Posse rivalry. Saturday’s score was also his second of the 2021 season aboard the Roth Motorsports #83.
Reutzel’s fourth-career World of Outlaws win didn’t come without challenge; Gio Scelzi and Lance Dewease made it interesting down the stretch of the 30-lapper, but failed to make a move for the lead.
“To win at The Grove is one thing, but winning an Outlaw show at The Grove is pretty incredible,” Reutzel remarked in victory lane. “There are a lot of guys that haven’t done that. It’s an honor to put my name on that win list. We’ve been struggling this last month, but we went back to work and found our qualifying speed again, and now here are back in victory lane.”
Jetting to the lead once the green flag dropped, Reutzel set sail on the field while all eyes turned to Lance Dewease’s #69K after a wild 10th-to-5th charge on the opening lap.
Scelzi settled into second aboard the KCP Racing #18 and Kerry Madsen dropped into third in his Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing #14. The leaders ran through traffic in the opening stages, but it got good when Dewease started to charge in the second half with a slider on Madsen for the third spot.
Dewease began approaching Scelzi for second as both started to cut into Reutzel’s advantage with less than ten to go. Lap traffic helped assist their run to the #83’s back bumper, and it actually got real close in the final laps.
As Reutzel elected to go low, Scelzi stayed committed to the top and continually made ground on him. He was hounding him at times, but Reutzel was never bothered. He aced the bottom lap-after-lap and eventually extended his lead as Scelzi bobbled on the top side.
Ultimately, Reutzel crossed the finish line ahead of Scelzi by 2.190-seconds.
“I was going by lap cars up there real easily in the beginning, so I knew it was time to go to the bottom when the lappers were pulling away from me,” Reutzel mentioned on his decision to swap lanes. “Sometimes it’s good to be in lap traffic just so you can judge your speed off them. I was real glad it went green-to-checkered there.”
Coming home with a season-best finish of second-place was Giovanni Scelzi of Fresno, CA in his KCP #18.
“I ran as hard I could for 30 laps, man,” Scelzi said. “It’s hard to be disappointed with second, though. I caught him and knew it was taking rubber, but I was committed to the top at that point. It sealed the deal when I missed it coming to three-to-go. Still a great run for us.”
Rounding out the podium and earning KSE Hard Charger honors was Lance Dewease with a tenth-to-third bid. His run towards the front was halted by lap traffic and track conditions alike.
“I thought we were really good, but it started rubbering up and that hurt our setup,” Dewease noted. “That lapper wasn’t doing nothing wrong, but he was just in the way for my entry. Starting 10th and running third against these guys, though, that makes me happy.”
Closing out the top ten at Williams Grove Speedway was Anthony Macri of Dillsburg, PA in fourth, Kerry Madsen of St. Mary’s, NSW, AUS in fifth, Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, CA in sixth, James McFadden of Alice Springs, NT, AUS in seventh, Donny Schatz of Fargo, ND in eighth, Logan Schuchart of Hanover, PA in ninth, and TJ Stutts of
UP NEXT – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will take two days off before resuming its eastern swing on Tuesday, May 18 at the newly-reconfigured Bridgeport Motorsports Park in Swedesboro, NJ.
NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps) – 1. 83-Aaron Reutzel [1][$15,000]; 2. 18-Giovanni Scelzi [2][$6,000]; 3. 69K-Lance Dewease [10][$3,500]; 4. 39M-Anthony Macri [4][$2,800]; 5. 14-Kerry Madsen [3][$2,500]; 6. 57-Kyle Larson [8][$2,300]; 7. 9-James McFadden [6][$2,200]; 8. 15-Donny Schatz [12][$2,100]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart [13][$2,050]; 10. 11-TJ Stutts [7][$2,000]; 11. 19M-Brent Marks [11][$1,600]; 12. 49-Brad Sweet [5][$1,400]; 13. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild [15][$1,200]; 14. 2-David Gravel [14][$1,100]; 15. 48-Danny Dietrich [16][$1,050]; 16. 41-Carson Macedo [9][$1,000]; 17. 51-Freddie Rahmer [17][$1,000]; 18. 6-Ryan Smith [21][$1,000]; 19. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss [19][$1,000]; 20. 15H-Sam Hafertepe [18][$1,000]; 21. 99M-Kyle Moody [27][$]; 22. 24-Jeff Halligan [26][$]; 23. 11K-Kraig Kinser [25][$]; 24. 39-Chase Dietz [20][$1,000]; 25. 27S-Alan Krimes [22][$1,000]; 26. 1W-Brandon Rahmer [23][$1,000]; 27. 75-Tyler Ross [24][$1,000]. Lap Leaders: Aaron Reutzel 1-30. KSE Hard Charger Award: 69K-Lance Dewease[+7]
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink® Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Drydene (Official Motor Oil), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Morton Buildings (Official Building), NOS Energy (Official Energy Product), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider) and VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel); contingency sponsors include ARP (Automotive Racing Products), Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, KSE Racing Products (Hard Charger Award), MSD and Slick Woody’s (Quick Time Award); manufacturer sponsors include FireAde, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, and Racing Electronics.
Founded in 1978, the World of Outlaws®, based in Concord, NC, is the premier national touring series for dirt track racing in North America, featuring the most powerful cars on dirt, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. Annually, the two series race nearly 140 times at tracks across the United States and Canada. CBS Sports Network is the official broadcast partner of the World of Outlaws. DIRTVision® also broadcasts all World of Outlaws events over the Internet to fans around the world. Learn more about the World of Outlaws.
Sources: Brian Walker, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series PR
Photo – Trent Gower