David Gravel Clinches 100th Career Win at Williams Grove

David Gravel in Victory Lane at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Coming off of Night One of the Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway, David Gravel was eager to get another win not only for himself, but for Team Outlaw. On Saturday night, he had another shot to take home a win in the Keystone State and was going to try his very best to do so.

Gravel had a bit of work cut out for him because Donny Schatz and Daryn Pittman were the two drivers on the front row and he was stuck behind Pittman, but that was not going to stop him. 

The initial start saw Schatz jump out in front with Pittman diving to the bottom coming out of Turn 2 in an attempt to slide-job him. Gravel was directly behind Pittman, just looking for a mistake to be made so he could swoop in and take over.

Four laps later, Carson Macedo, who was running in fourth and tried to take over third from Gravel on Lap 2, was faced with the contention of Brent Marks. Marks took to the high side coming into Turn 3, stayed up on the top throughout the corner, and came out of Turn 4 like a rocket, stealing fourth place away from Macedo.

At the end of Lap 9, Pittman pulled a slide job on Schatz going into Turn 3 to take over the lead. It was short-lived though, because Schatz returned the favor as they swapped lanes heading into Turn 4. At the line, Schatz still had the lead, but Pittman was right there.

Pittman made the mistake that Gravel was looking for two laps later as he entered the first turn. Instead of staying on the high side, Pittman went down low. Gravel saw this and immediately jumped up to the high side to swing by him for second coming out of Turn 4.

Daryn Pittman competing at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

Lap 13 proved to be unlucky for Schatz when he lost the lead to Gravel down the backstretch. Schatz went up high and Gravel sent himself to the bottom to zoom by him upon entry into Turn 3. Schatz swapped lanes with Gravel as they hit Turn 3, but Gravel had his groove back on top.

As soon as Gravel took over the lead, he was faced with the challenge of navigating lapped traffic. Jacob Allen was in his way, so he could not pass coming down the back chute. Schatz saw this and went way down low and passed him going into Turn 4. Schatz slid up in front of Allen and Gravel to re-take the lead.

On Lap 18, Gravel had caught back up to Schatz and was looking to get the lead back. Schatz was on the high side but Gravel is a man who can run anywhere. Gravel went to the bottom coming down the front straightaway and was side-by-side with the veteran. As they entered Turn 1, Gravel was just a bit ahead of Schatz and was able to keep himself there, reclaiming first place.

Pittman was comfortable in third place for the duration of the race. He thought that he was set for a podium finish…until Lap 25. Marks came up on the top and raced by him like he was in the slow lane on a thruway to steal third away from the former World of Outlaws competitor.

For the remainder of the race, Schatz tried to catch up to Gravel to pass him and although he got close, he could not cut the cake. Gravel held the lead for the remaining five laps to win his 100th World of Outlaws event.

“Yeah, it’s pretty crazy,” said Gravel about winning for the 100th time. “I raced with Joey Saldana for years and at the end of his career, he wanted that 100th so bad. So, beating that milestone and Donny Schatz here at Williams Grove is [such] a place to do it. This feels really good.”