MECHANICSBURG – Brent Marks hopes to add his name to the prestigious

list of three-time Williams Grove National Open Champions.

Marks, of Myerstown, tuned-up for Saturday’s 63rd Annual National Open

with a win at his old home track last Friday night. Marks has been on

the road with the High Limit Racing Series, so he hasn’t had many laps

at the Grove this season.

It didn’t matter Friday as he drove to his 21st career win at the

Grove. This total includes National Open wins in 2019 and 2023. At the

time, his $65,000 win in 2019 was the richest race in Grove history.

Marks was leading the 2021 Open when a miscue with a lapped car sent

him spinning out of contention. He finished second in 2022.

Friday night was a solid night for Marks in his No. 19.

“This car was good all night long. This is great going into the

National Open to get some laps here and get a win. I’m really thankful

to get another win at Williams Grove.”

Marks and crew chief Heath Moyle, of Beavertown, have been trying some

different things on the road with High Limit, but went back to an old

set-up for the Grove. Although Marks knows the track will be drier and

slicker for the Open, he’s opening the old set-up gets them back to

victory lane.

World of Outlaws point leader David Gravel will also be looking for

his third Open win. The others came in 2014 and 2017.

Carson Macedo is the defending race winner and also won it in 2021.

Should Marks, G

avel or Macedo pick up that third Open win, they would join a very

short, very prestigious list of Hall of Fame drivers to do so

including: Kenny Weld (3), Doug Wolfgang (3), Steve Smith (3), Steve

Kinser (4), Lance Dewease (5) and Donny Schatz (6).

Daryn Pittman will be driving Donnie Kreitz’s 69K. Pittman has been

National Open runner-up six times in his career, including two years

ago in the 69K.

Over 50 sprint cars will be in the pits in a very competitive field.

The Outlaws, plus the best of Pennsylvania, plus drivers from the High

Limit Series and others like Tuscarora 50 Champion Ryan Timms.

Unfortunately, Anthony Macri will miss the race as he recovers from a

back injury.

Friday night’s 25-lap feature pays $12,000 to win. Saturday night’s

winner share of the 40-lap feature is $75,000 out of a $192,000

purse.Over a quarter million is on the line between the two races.

Hanover’s Troy Wagaman Jr. looks to secure the 2025 track championship

and $18,000. He leads four-time champion Freddie Rahmer by 165 points.

Donny Schatz has the most National Open wins with six. The first came

in 2000 and most-recent in 2020. Macedo won in 2021, Dewease’s fifth

Open win came in 2022, Marks got number two in 2023 and Macedo got his

second last year. Fred Rahmer’s one and only National Open win came

in 2013 just before he retired.

Eventual Indianapolis 500 champion Gordon Johncock of Hastings, Mich.,

won the very first 100-lap National Open in 1963. He had one of the

first ‘sprint’ cars as his racecar had a wing on top of the roll cage.

This trend caught on and eventually all the sprint cars were racing

with wings on top.

National Open winners

2024 Carson Macedo

2023 Brent Marks

2022 Lance Dewease

2021 Carson Macedo

2020 Donny Schatz

2019 Brent Marks

2018 Lance Dewease

2017 David Gravel

2016 Danny Dietrich

2015 Stevie Smith

2014 David Gravel

2013 Fred Rahmer

2012 Donny Schatz

2011 Jason Meyers

2010 Sammy Swindell

2009 Greg Hodnett

2008 Cody Darrah

2007 Donny Schatz

2006 Doug Esh

2005 Donny Schatz

2004 Donny Schatz

2003 Steve Kinser

2002 Lance Dewease

2001 Lance Dewease

2000 Donny Schatz

1999 Mark Kinser

1998 Billy Pauch

1997 Sammy Swindell

1996 Lance Dewease

1995 Mark Kinser

1994 Steve Kinser

1993 Don Kreitz Jr.

1992 Steve Kinser

1991 Stevie Smith

1990 Steve Kinser

1989 Stevie Smith

1988 Kenny Jacobs

1987 Joey Allen

1986 Doug Wolfgang

1985 Doug Wolfgang

1984 Doug Wolfgang

1983 Lynn Paxton

1982 Lynn Paxton

1981 Steve Smith

1980 Allen Klinger

1979 Smokey Snellbaker

1978 Kramer Williamson

1977 Van May

1976 Steve Smith

1975 Bobby Allen

1974 Steve Smith

1973 Kenny Weld

1972 Kenny Weld

1971 Kenny Weld

1970 Johnny Grum

1969 Gene Varner

1968 Bobbie Adamson

1967 Bobbie Adamson

1966 Lou Blaney

1965 Henry Jacoby

1964 Larry Dickson

1963 Gordon Johncock