It had been a full decade since Brady Bacon last raced into victory lane at Pennsylvania’s Port Royal Speedway.

That 2014 race helped propel the Broken Arrow, Okla. racer to both his first and only USAC Eastern Storm title to date as well as his initial USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship.

Bacon certainly hopes that Saturday night’s victory on the 1/2-mile dirt oval will play into the same outcome by weekend’s end.  While that remains to be determined, in the short term, the victory did thrust Bacon into the USAC Eastern Storm point lead with one race remaining.

Assuming the lead with eight laps to go following racelong leader Briggs Danner’s encounter with the turn two outside guardrail, Bacon pushed forward to capture his second victory of USAC Eastern Storm 2024 while also notching USAC National Sprint Car career win number 56 in his Dynamics, Inc./J. Davidson Scrap Metal – Next Level Metal – Davis Bros. Trucking/Triple X/Rider Chevy.  He now stands just six behind Darland’s all-time record of 62.

However, it was Danner who led early and often in the 30-lap main event, which served as round six of ten for the Bubby Jones Master of Going Faster Presented By Spire Sports + Entertainment series as fourth starting Bacon slotted into the second spot on the opening lap after briefly engaging in a three-wide meet and greet with Danner and outside front row starter Ricky Lewis.

From that point forward, Bacon relentlessly chased Danner who held steady with a five to six car length throughout much of the event.  Danner was able to maintain his advantage as he toured the high side at the midway point, initially cruising around the high line to put Carson Garrett, J.T. Ferry and Korbyn Hayslett a lap down.  Despite Danner’s mesmerizing movement through traffic, all the while, Bacon remained within a stone’s throw of Danner.

“I had little different strategy than him,” Bacon revealed.  “He was kind of sliding up to the cushion and I was entering a little slower and trying to build my speed off.  We were about even, but I feel like my strategy might have been a little less treacherous.  He wasn’t making enough mistakes for me to be fast enough to just outright pass him, so I was just going to have to stay there and pressure him until he did make a mistake.”

Highlights USAC Eastern Storm Port Royal Sprint Car Feature June 15, 2024

USAC Eastern Storm Sprint Car Results Port Royal Saturday

1. Brady Bacon (4)

2. C.J. Leary (6)

3. Alex Bright (9)

4. Daison Pursley (13)

5. Mitchel Moles (3)

6. Logan Seavey (5)

7. Kevin Thomas Jr. (8)

8. Justin Grant (12)

9. Ricky Lewis (2)

10. Steven Drevicki (15)

11. Robert Ballou (17)

12. Chase Stockon (19)

13. Jake Swanson (11)

14. Kyle Cummins (14)

15. Tom Harris (23)

16. Matt Westfall (7)

17. Charles Davis Jr. (10)

18. Carmen Perigo (20)

19. Joey Amantea (18)

20. Korbyn Hayslett (22)

21. Carson Garrett (21)

22. J.T. Ferry (24)

23. Briggs Danner (1)

24. Anton Hernandez (16)