BECHTELSVILLE, PA -- Leading a FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 charge that concluded with five full-time Series competitors finishing within the top six spots, “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney accomplished another “first” on Thursday night and earned a first-ever All Star victory in Pennsylvania Posse Country, doing so during Thunder Cup action at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania. The victory, a $6,000 payday, was accomplished from third on the grid, taking control just beyond the midpoint of the 35-lap contest before driving on to score his eighth All Star victory of the 2021 season; the eighth of his career.

Anthony Macri, who started from the pole position by way of dash victory, held on to finish second on Thursday night, followed by Justin Peck, Zeb Wise, and Cory Eliason.

“This NOS Energy Turbo car has been really good this year. I just can’t say enough about my guys,” Tyler Courtney said in Grandview Speedway victory lane. “Everyone at Clauson Marshall Racing...they believe in us to come out here and do this winged thing and it’s paying off. A big thanks to all of the fans here in Central Pennsylvania. We finally got that win out here...we’re going to celebrate this one tonight and hopefully come out and get three more this weekend.”

Angola, Indiana’s Zeb Wise led the first 18 circuits of the Thunder Cup main event and maintained a healthy advantage until slower traffic came into play with just six laps knocked off the counter. Periods of two-wide traffic created a near-impenetrable road block for Wise allowing Anthony Macri and Tyler Courtney to close in on the Sundollar Restoration No. 10. Using the topside of turns one and two, Courtney drove by Macri for second on lap 11, then setting his aim on Wise.

By lap 15, Courtney was all over Wise for the race lead, attempting a slider on lap 18 before driving by the reigning Rayce Rudeen Foundation Race champion the following circuit. Playing to Courtney’s advantage, a slip by Wise and a bobble on the turn four cushion allowed Sunshine to make his winning move.

After a caution on lap 24, it was all but smooth sailing for the Clauson Marshall Racing No. 7BC, that until Macri, who followed Courtney by Wise on lap 24, appeared and began to apply pressure. With momentum shifting to the bottom of the speedway, and slower traffic re-flooding the landscape by lap 33, Macri was forced to conduct a last-ditch effort in the final corner, making slight contact with Courtney’s left rear in hopes of sneaking beneath the current All Star championship leader. Without saying, Courtney perfected his block and prevailed.

“I knew I was probably going to get tight behind a lapped car,” Courtney continued. “If I could just block him a little bit with the lapped car, he wasn’t going to get by me. The lapped car had grip, so I knew I just had to get down as low as I could. I didn’t know who was behind me. Anthony (Macri) is aggressive, but he’s fun to race with.

“Getting by the lapped cars was key tonight. They kept getting faster and faster. I didn’t expect it to clean off like it did there at the end.”

Dubbed the Jack Gunn Memorial, Williams Grove Speedway will welcome the All Star Circuit of Champions on Friday, August 27, and as mentioned, will host a pair of 20-lap contests awarding $4,000 each. The 2020 edition was initially postponed due to weather then contested on September 18, ultimately switched from a twin feature format to a single main event. Three-time All Star champion and Texas native Aaron Reutzel scored the $5,000 share.

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