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PORT ROYAL -- It didn't take Spencer Bayston long to find victory lane in his new ride.
Bayston, in only his fourth sprint car feature in the CJB Motorsports No. 5, dominated the Nittany Showdown finale Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway. He earned $15,000 for his second career World of Outlaws win.
Bayston was fast all night long. After winning his heat race, he drew the pole for the dash, won that, and then won the feature by nearly five seconds.
"It was a dream night," Bayston said. "Drawing well, being fast in qualifying, winning the heat race, pole of the dash, everything just went our way. We stayed on top of the car. Did a really good job with that and keeping me comfortable and up to speed."
He was fastest in his flight of qualifying, but David Gravel nipped him for overall quick time (15.324 vs. 15.370 seconds). That was the only event the 23-year-old from Lebanon, Indiana, didn't win.
"I felt like all night, we were on kill, 100 percent," Bayston said. "There wasn't one point where I felt like we were lacking at all. It makes everyone's job a lot easier and it sure makes mine a whole lot easier."
"I'm happy to get this first win out of way with this team, let alone beating the Outlaws here at Port Royal, one of my favorite race tracks," Bayston said.
Jacob Allen actually got the jump on the start, but Bayston grabbed the lead in turn four on the opening lap and never look back.
Bayston had a comfortable lead over Allen as Brent Marks and Friday night winner Kerry Madsen traded third spot.
The first yellow flew with nine laps completed when Kraig Kinser slowed. He had been having a good night running in the top 10.
Bayston blasted the top of one and two on the restart as Allen ducked inside. Bayston got a huge run off the corner and pulled away.
"I saw someone peeking their nose and I could hear them and I figured they were close, but I felt like I was setting a really, really good pace in open air. I didn't think anyone was going to get to me in open air, but I knew once we got to traffic things would shake up."
His closest call came entering turn three as he was trying to lap two cars.
"I had to be really aggressive," he said. "A little too aggressive on the inside of turn three with a couple cars, but got out of it unscathed and made it to the end. Just a stellar job by everyone involved with this program in a short about of time getting me this comfortable. Really proud and happy to be part of it."
He streaked away from there, winning by 4.7-seconds.
"That's a testament to how good the car was," Bayston said. "I had to move up a little bit in three and four. It was pretty thin up there. One and two, I felt really, really good all night long, but three and four got a little treacherous there at the end. If I ran it the way its supposed to be ran, the car really handled well. I just had to do my job at the end and bring it home."
Eighth starter David Gravel got faster as the race went on and ended up coming through the field finishing second.
"To end Port Royal weekend on a strong note feels really, really good," Gravel said. "I haven't been that good here in a while in the A-main. I felt like we've always been okay, we could qualify good, but just didn't have it right A-main time."
Gravel had another solid weekend despite the pill draw not being in his favor.
"To charge forward and pass guys feels really, really good, and I'm really happy with it," Gravel said. "I wish we could go back to Williams Grove and revert a weekend, but that's part of it. We'll continue to learn and grow as a team."
Donny Schatz raced from 12th to third. Madsen and Allen completed the top five. Lance Dewease raced from 13th to sixth. Logan Schuchart, Brent Marks, Logan Wagner, and Sheldon Haudenschild rounded out the top 10.
Gravel (15.324) and Bayston (15.370) were quick times in their respective qualifying flights. Bayston, Madsen, Gravel and Marks won the heat races. Bayston won the dash. Lynton Jeffrey won the Last Chance Showdown.
Ken Duke Jr. and Garrett Bard were the last two National IMCA Racesaver Champions and Port Royal champions in the 305 sprint cars.
They battled for the lead early in the invitation race for the 305s. Duke led with Bard in his tire tracks. Bard eventually took top spot.
Kenny Heffner was charging forward from his sixth starting spot. As Bard was trying to lap cars, Heffner ducked under him and the other car taking the lead. He'd score his first career win over Bard, Justin Mills, Duke and Dave Grube. Doug Dodson, Devin Adams, Erin Statler, Mike Melair and Roger Irvine rounded out the top 10.