Wise Surprises To Win Grove Sprint Opener

Zeb Wise, shown at Volusia Speedway Park, won Friday’s sprint car opener at Williams Grove Speedway. (Paul Arch photo)

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — The one-month delay to get the season opener in the books at Williams Grove Speedway was well worth the wait as both sprint car divisions turned in exciting main events on Friday night with invader Zeb Wise scoring the upset victory in the 410 division. 

In the 358 sprint main, longtime campaigner Cody Fletcher returned the Fletcher name to oval victory lane for his first ever track checkers. 

The start of the 25-lap, 410 sprint feature was slowed when polesitter Danny Dietrich bit the inside turn four rail when green appeared, causing a flat front tire. 

Dietrich would tag the rear for a new start while Freddie Rahmer took control off of the front row.  

Anthony Macri and Wise trailed on the first lap. 

The leaders were just about to enter traffic when Lance Dewease forced a caution period on the seventh tour after spinning in the second corner while running sixth. 

The restart saw Rahmer race safely outside of Macri’s grasp still with Wise in tow before the front trio again raced up on and into the rear of the field with 10 laps to go.  

Macri then began making time on the leader while blasting the top side in the first and second turns and by lap 17 the leaders were under a blanket racing through traffic.  

Macri took a stab at snaring the top spot with an attempted flyer in the third and fourth turns with six laps to go only to bounce back away from Rahmer when he couldn’t complete the pass.  

The next time around, Macri was able to muscle in front of Rahmer as the pair set their cars into the third turn but when Macri tried to hold Rahmer down to the inside groove, both drivers ended up sliding up across the racetrack and Zeb Wise was able to sneak by and lead lap 20. 

However, Macri went deep in turn for the next time around to take control from Wise and secure what he might of thought was the win. 

But Wise simply would not let up and he hung with the leader the next three laps before seizing his opportunity on the final tour. 

When Macri went high through the first and second corner, Wise blasted low into the turns and as a lapped car held up Macri the door was open for Wise. 

And with that, the 20-year-old bit fast and drove through the opening to get control and the upset win although Macri did his best coming off of turn four to the checkers to reclaim the point. 

“Well holy shit, I can’t believe we just won at the Grove,” Wise proclaimed. “I felt like I had the best car for the entire race.  The whole race I stuck to the bottom in one and two.

“This is really rewarding to our whole entire team.”  

Wise took the $5,000 victory by .182 seconds over Macri with Rahmer riding home in third and he picked up a $500 bonus thanks…