PORT ROYAL, PA -- For the first time in over six seasons, Owasso, Oklahoma’s Daryn Pittman earned himself a trip to FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory lane, securing $10,000 in the process during Port Royal Speedway’s Night Before the Tuscarora 50 on Friday night, September 10. Pittman, aboard the Swindell Speedlab/Shipley Energy No. 39 sprint car, led all 30 circuits in the Night Before program, forced to fend off early and mid-race charges by Rudeen Racing’s Cory Eliason, as well as a brief, late surge by Mechanicsburg’s Lucas Wolfe.

Daryn Pittman is now the proud owner of ten All Star Circuit of Champions victories over the course of his career, with the Night Before the Tuscarora 50 triumph being a first-ever Series victory at the Juniata County “Speed Palace.” In addition, the victory locked Pittman into Saturday’s $54,000-to-win Tuscarora 50 finale.

Wolfe held on to finish second Friday night, followed by KCP Racing’s Gio Scelzi, Port Royal Speedway track champion, Logan Wagner, and former Knoxville Raceway track champion, Brian Brown.

“I just have to thank Kevin (Swindell). This car has been so fun to drive,” Pittman said in Port Royal Speedway victory lane. “I’m happy with what we’ve been able to do. I don’t think we met our expectations early in the season, but to get a win tonight...a big win at Port Royal Speedway during Tuscarora 50 weekend...says a lot. Our goal is to come back here tomorrow night and do this again.”

Although a wire-to-wire effort for the former World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion, Pittman did face some challenges. For example, as the frontrunners were approaching traffic for the first time on lap eight, dirty air came into play creating a noticeable momentum change in Pittman. The momentum shift allowed Cory Eliason, Anthony Macri, and Rico Abreu to build a brief four-car battle for the top-three positions. Unfortunately for Macri and Abreu, contact between the two in turn one on lap 10 ultimately led to a caution; they both would restart at the tail.

In his quest to get around Pittman, Eliason would also find some back luck, actually ending his night on the hook after getting upside-down in turn four on lap 22; he walked away unharmed. From that point forward, it was all Daryn Pittman at the top of the leaderboard. Wolfe showed his nose during the lap 22 restart, but Pittman’s momentum proved too strong in clean air.

“I think cautions played into our favor tonight, for sure,” Pittman continued. “After watching the B-Main, I really thought that the top was going to give out and the middle would come in, because it normally does here. Not getting into traffic helped me stay in clean air...honestly, I felt that my car wasn’t that great when I did have some time in dirty air.”

Tuscarora weekend will cap with the 54th running of the 50-lap Tuscarora 50 on Saturday, September 11. Commemorating its 54th edition, the 2021 Tuscarora 50 will award a $54,000 payday, with a minimum of $1,500 being awarded to each A-Main starter. In addition, a $2,000-to-win Non Qualifiers Race will be conducted with the winner earning an automatic starting position in the 2022 Tuscarora 50 main event.

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