Sweigart finds lightning on top side in Port Royal PASS win

Results

The top line took Nick Sweigart to victory lane in Saturday’s Pennsylvania Sprint Series feature at Port Royal Speedway. (Photo by Frank Buhrman)

By Frank Buhrman 

PORT ROYAL, Pa. (April 3) – ‘Nitro’ Nick Sweigart found lightning in the extreme top groove at Port Royal Speedway Saturday night. 

Sweigart outdueled Dave Grube II, Garrett Bard and the rest of a 54-car Pennsylvania Sprint Series field to win the 20-lap IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature at the Juniata County Speed Palace.

The early battle between defending national and series champion Bard and Grube set the initial standard. On lap seven, the inside-running Grube made the lead pass, but Josh Bricker tipped over on the front stretch, bringing out the red and negating Grube’s run. 

Sweigart joined the fray on the ensuring restart and the leaders pulled away in a furious battle, with Grube running low, Bard high, and Sweigart higher. 

After a few laps, Bard began to fade and Grube and Sweigart engaged of several laps of exchanging the lead before the latter finally won the duel.

By this time, Ken Duke Jr. had moved into the top five from 14th starting position, but the final five laps saw a little easing of the battle and Ohio invader Justin Clark got by Duke for fourth in the closing laps. 

At the end, Sweigart had a 3.579-second advantage over Grube, with Bard barely holding off Clark for third.

The race drew entrants from five states and half a dozen other IMCA/RaceSaver series.

Feature results – 1. Nick Sweigart; 2. Dave Grube II; 3. Garrett Bard; 4. Justin Clark; 5. Ken Duke Jr.; 6. Devin Adams; 7. Austin Reed; 8. Nick Tucker; 9. Drew Young; 10. Doug Dodson; 11. Branstin Shue; 12. Mikell McGee; 13. Christian Rumsey; 14. Kassidy Kreitz; 15. Kenny Heffner; 16. Dakota Schweikart; 17. Mike Melair; 18. Steve Glover; 19. Jake Waters; 20. Will Brunson; 21. Austin Graby; 22. Jimmy White; 23. Dave Wickham; 24. Jaremi Hanson; 25. Andrew Boyer; 26. Josh Bricker.

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