PORT ROYAL, Pa. – After competing in stout fields across the Midwest since racing’s return in late April, Anthony Macri felt sharpened and seasoned when he returned to his native Pennsylvania Sunday night at Port Royal Speedway.

The 21-year-old, fresh off finishes of 18th and 15th on Friday and Saturday with the World of Outlaws at Knoxville Raceway, proved just that, leading all 25 laps to bag his second career Port Royal win on Sunday.

He earned a 3.340-second victory over the track’s reigning two-time champion, Logan Wagner, and $5,000 to go along with it.

“On the road, you learn to drive hard because, those guys, they take advantage of every inch you give them,” Macri said in victory lane. “Coming back to Pennsylvania I knew what I had to do, and that’s not give anyone an inch.”

“I want to thank my mom and dad,” Macri added. “They’ve spent a lot of money putting me on the road over the past month.”

Clearly, the traveling and willingness to go through the winged sprint car gauntlet is shaping Macri into a premier driver in Central Pennsylvania, as Sunday marked his second win over the past nine races at Port Royal, dating back to Sept. 2 of last year.

He also earned runner-up finishes with the World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions over that span, as well at Port Royal.

And ever since veteran crew chief Jimmy Shuttlesworth started working with Macri toward the tail end of last year, things seem to be clicking for the Dillsburg, Pa., native.

“It’s definitely a great combination,” said Macri, who made his presence felt early in the night.

After starting fourth in his heat, which also included Dewease, Freddie Rahmer, Robbie Kendall and Chad Trout, he quickly raced to second two laps in and trailed Dewease by 2.2 seconds.

Over the remaining six laps Macri chopped Dewease’s lead to just .383 seconds, proving he wouldn’t go down quietly when the 25-lap feature runs its course.

Macri drew the outside pole, starting alongside A.J. Flick, and used a well-timed jump on the initial start to race out to a 2.6-second lead five laps in. But on the following lap, Macri started working through heavy lapped traffic and his lead began to dwindle.

With 13 laps to go, Wagner pulled to Macri’s rear as he pounded the top side, but right as the battle for the lead heated up Tyler Walton slowed on the front stretch to bring out the caution.

“I was thrilled to see the caution because I could hear [Wagner and Dewease] back there,” Macri said. “I knew what I had to do on the restart.”

On the restart with 11 laps to go, Macri barreled into turn one and occupied the top, while Wagner cut to the bottom and tried to land a decisive slider that didn’t quite stick.

The two traded slide jobs for a circuit and a half with nine and eight laps to go, but Macri answered every time, making the whole racetrack work while Wagner seemed to make most of his gains solely on the top.

Then, with four laps to go, Wagner nearly stuffed it into the turn four fence, but managed to peddle home for a runner-up finish.

“Just got into the wall [and] used my stuff up,” Wagner said. “I was working the top pretty hard. I probably used my tires up moreso. When I got by [Macri] I thought clean air would help me. Ultimately, he got back to my bottom. That’s racing, you know.”

“Just glad for consistent finishes,” Wagner added. “That’s what wins points championships.”

Brent Marks, who also made the long tow from Knoxville Raceway with the World of Outlaws, finished third. Marks is currently 15th in the World of Outlaws standings and searched for some positive headway Sunday night.

“We had a good car, it’s just [drawing the seventh starting spot] hurt me there,” Marks said. “We just have to keep at it.”

Dewease finished fourth while Mike Wagner, Saturday night’s winner at Port Royal, placed fifth. Ryan Smith, Flick, Rahmer, T.J. Stutts and Dylan Cisney completed the top 10.