Lance Dewease

Lance Dewease made win No. 300 count, beating the World of Outlaws to claim the Williams Grove Summer Nationals and a $20,000 payday. (Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com)

Big win for Dewease.

Those fans who counted Lance Dewease and the Dietz Motorsports team out as contenders in central Pennsylvania might want to hold up. Dewease and Co. showed progress Saturday night/Sunday morning at Williams Grove Speedway. After a three-hour rain delay, Dewease earned his 300th career victory, beating Donny Schatz and the World of Outlaws to land a $20,000 Summer Nationals payday. It was also Dietz Motorsports' first career win at the Grove. Don't read into the team's decision to not go to the Knoxville Nationals. This group is getting faster.

Struggles overblown.

I'm starting to think all the talk of Greg Hodnett struggling in his first season with the Mike Heffner-owned team is a bit overblown. Hodnett outran Brent Marks and Joey Saldana to capture Friday's World of Outlaws event at Williams Grove Speedway. It was Hodnett's fourth win in the last three weeks — he scored a 360 win at Bridgeport last Wednesday — giving him seven on the season. It should be noted that Sean Michael, who has been with Sammy Swindell and Brian Brown this season, was helping on the car this past weekend.

Dietrich going west...again.

The Danny Dietrich Road Show continues July 31, when the Gary Kauffman team heads to Pevely, Mo., to take part in the Ironman 55 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. This two-day show is a prelude to the activities at Knoxville Raceway, which includes the Knoxville Nationals that run from Aug. 6-9. Dietrich will be flying the famed Weikert's Livestock No. 29 colors at these two prestigious events. The team is taking its lumps now, but I have no doubt it will pay off down the road in the form of experience and better performances at racetracks across the country.

Taylor gets a big O.

The biggest moment of Ryan Taylor's short Sprint Car career came in last year's Dream Race, when he defeated a star-studded field at Port Royal Speedway. He made another memory Friday night, when he outran Steve Kinser in his heat race. It was significant in that Kinser passed Taylor, only to have this young gun reel in The King and score the victory. Taylor took a slow lap after getting the checker and received an ovation from fans in the frontstretch and backstretch grandstands. It was something Taylor won't soon forget.

Next big race on tap.

Central Pennsylvania has hosted its share of big events in 2014, and that list will grow in a short two weeks. Port Royal Speedway will hold the Living Legends Dream Race on Aug. 2. This year's purse will be in excess of $55,000 with purse and contingencies. The race will honor Lance Dewease and legendary car-owner Maynard Boop. Time trials will break the field into two 16-lap semi features. The top 10 finishers from each semi will advance to the main event, with the top three from each participating in a revenge draw. The B-Main will determine positions 21 through 24. A 25th starter will be determined by fan vote.