MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — After failing to qualify for the feature on Thursday night, Brian Leppo bounced back to post his first World of Outlaws victory on the second night of the Cleveland Brothers Summer Nationals Friday at Williams Grove Speedway.
Leppo led all 25 laps of the historic half-mile oval where he races on a weekly basis en route to the $5,000 triumph.
Leppo shared the front row with 20-time WoO champion Steve Kinser and held off The King the full distance.
“I don’t know what to say really,” said Leppo, driver of the Swope Salvage & Recycling JEI. “To win a World of Outlaws race after lining up on the front row with the King of the Outlaws is a dream come true. I think we accomplished a great thing here tonight.”
Leppo had to endure a red flag and five cautions, including one with just three laps to go, en route to his second-career victory at Williams Grove Speedway.
“I told myself to not pay attention to the scoreboard,” said the winner, who was greeted by a throng of family and friends in the winner’s circle. “I didn’t want to get psyched out knowing that the guy behind me has far more experience than I’ll have in my lifetime. I had to keep hitting my lines, and until you mess up it is your race to lose.”
Kinser finished second after winning the first heat and the Crane Cams Dash to earn the pole.
Lucas Wolfe finished third, with Paul McMahan and Craig Dollansky rounding out the top five. Point-leader Donny Schatz finished sixth after starting 16th.