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Dietrich tops Stars, wins Jack Gunn race

MECHANCISBURG — Danny Dietrich won the Jack Gunn Memorial Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway, beating the All Star Circuit of Champions touring drivers for his second Grove win of the season.

His win in the Gary Kauffman sprinter was worth $5,000.

“It’s great,” Dietrich said. “I’m proud of my guys. It’s great to be standing here again. We’ve had a rough season here and this might turn it around. This isn’t my kind of race track, but we had a fast car all night long. We were pretty good on the bottom.”

Lucas Wolfe and Rico Abreu shared the front row to start the 30-lap main event. They raced side-by-side down the front stretch and into turn one. Abreu secured the lead as they raced off turn two.

Anthony Macri got high in turn four and Dietrich drove into third and Sammy Swindell into fourth.

Abreu reached slower traffic with six laps completed.

The heavy lapped traffic allowed Wolfe and Dietrich to close on the leader. They were all over him, but couldn’t make the pass.

Abreu squeezed in between a lapped car and the fence off turn two to maintain some space between himself and second.

Dietrich used an inside move off turn four to take second from Wolfe with nine laps completed.

Abreu continued to work by traffic eventually finding clear air again. Dietrich was slowly closing on the leader.

Abreu blew a left rear tire in turn two and spun bringing out the caution with 18 laps completed.

“I was lucky enough to see it and get ready for it,” Dietrich said. “I wasn’t sure which way he was going to go. I’m glad I saw him when I did and I didn’t get into him and we were able to escape that.”

Dietrich assumed the lead and controlled the restart. Wolfe was running third, but had a left front flat tire as Greg Hodnett drove by into third.

Macri spun in turn one bringing out another caution with 11 to go. The red flag flew, allowing crews to refuel.

Dietrich drove away on the restart. He reached slower traffic and Swindell closed. He jumped the cushion in turn four trying to lap Caleb Helms. He was able to make the pass and gain some distance again.

Swindell took a lap or so to pass Helms and finished 1.726 seconds back of Dietrich. Hodnett, 11th starter Lance Dewease and Wolfe completed the top five. All Star point leader Chad Kemenah, 22nd starter Brian Montieth, 13th starter Tim Shaffer, Mark Smith and Trey Starks rounded out the top 10.

Trey Starks set overall fast time with a lap of 16.515. Heat races for the 37-car field were won by Rico Abreu, Sammy Swindell, Anthony Macri and Mark Smith. Tyler Esh won the B-main. Wolfe won the first dash and Abreu the second.

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