PA Posse’s T.J. Stutts Earns First Ever Outlaws Win at Williams Grove

T.J. Stutts in Victory Lane after winning at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars stayed in Pennsylvania after their race at BAPS, heading to Williams Grove Speedway for night one of the Summer Nationals.

David Gravel and T.J. Stutts led the 26-car field to the green flag to kick off the 25-lap main event. Upon the initial start, Gravel stayed in the lead ahead of Stutts, but as they entered the first corner, Stutts took to the top of the track and got by Gravel for first place coming out of Turn 2.

A couple of spots back, Troy Wagaman Jr. was gaining on Freddie Rahmer in fourth. Wagaman took the bottom side down the backstretch and charged to the inside of Rahmer heading into Turn 3. Rahmer was hooked up on the cushion though and held off the advance.

On Lap 7, Gravel started closing the gap between himself and Stutts and by Lap 10, Stutts had to navigate lapped traffic, giving Gravel the advantage he was looking for. But just as Gravel was moving to put his plan into action, the first caution of the evening came out.

The restart saw Stutts maintain the lead with no problems, while Gravel was faced with the wrath of Carson Macedo in third. Macedo dove to the inside of Gravel coming down the front chute after starting off of Turn 4, looking to take second away. Gravel was not going to let that happen though and soared past Macedo on the top going into Turn 2. Gravel had some good speed coming out of the corner and got on the back bumper of Stutts, but Stutts pulled away down the back straightaway and did not look back.

Anthony Macri competing at Wiliams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

Ten laps later, Gravel had made his way back to the front with Stutts and continued to stay on the high side. As they raced down the frontstretch, Gravel went high and soared through the corner, looking as though he was going to take over the lead from Stutts. However, the PA Posse driver was not going to let that happen in his home state and held off the charging Gravel.

Gravel made a move going into Turn 3 which put him in the lead for a little bit. Stutts returned the favor coming out of Turn 4 to reclaim the lead soon after.

A couple spots back, fourth-place holder Anthony Macri was battling with Macedo. Macri got by Macedo for third at about the time that Stutts got back by Gravel for first, and Macri held it until the last lap when Macedo got by him on the top on the back chute.  

“We beat the f-, well, I can’t say that, but we beat the goddamn Outlaws!” said Stutts about his first ever Outlaws win. “And not just any Outlaw, but David Gravel. There’s about five Outlaws that are in that league, and we were able to drive with them and beat them. You gotta understand, we go to work every day; this [racing] is our version of golf. I don’t even know what to say, this is beyond words.”