Dirt on Dirt - Moran tops Davenport for playoff win at PPMS

October 4

Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway,

Imperial, PA

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Pittsburgher prelim) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated October 5, 9:41 am)

Moran tops Davenport for playoff win at PPMS

Pittsburgher prelim

Devin Moran
Jonathan Davenport
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Carson Ferguson
Max Blair
Mason Zeigler
Drake Troutman
Tim McCreadie
Gregg Satterlee
Mike Marlar
Ross Robinson
Jimmy Owens
Alex Ferree
Boom Briggs
Logan Zarin
Hudson O'Neal
Daulton Wilson
Cody Overton
Garrett Alberson
Brenden Smith
Colton Flinner
Clay Harris
Michael Norris
Jon Hodgkiss
Cory Lawler

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Devin Moran celebrates his victory in the tour's playoff opener.

What won the race: Holding off Jonathan Davenport's late charge, Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, led all 30 laps Saturday at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway to get the early edge in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Hanging on late, Moran earned $10,000 in taking the checkers 0.186 of a second ahead of Davenport to put himself among the favorites for Saturday's $50,000 Pittsburgher prize.

Quotable: "We just were really struggling," Moran said. "Like, on the short three- to five-lap burst, I was fine, but after that, I just wasn't very balanced. But yeah, I knew he was right there at the end and that's why I was trying to just make my momentum, keep on going, getting by them lapped cars and just keep digging. Luckily it worked out tonight ... a great way to start the (playoff) points. My guys are working hard and this is what we've been working all year for."

Key notes: Winning his 14th career full-field Lucas Oil feature, Moran captured the opening event in the Big River Steel playoff, which opened at PPMS after a weather-forced schedule shuffle.. ... He notched his seventh series victory of the season and first since July 20. ... Moran nearly made contact with the slower Cody Overton in the final laps but survived amid lapped traffic. ... Runner-up Jonathan Davenport slid under Ricky Thornton Jr. to grab second on the 16th lap. ... Carson Ferguson was fourth in his PPMS debut. ... In the 30-lap feature, a single caution slowed the action on the 15th lap when sixth-running Garrett Alberson shredded a right-rear tire. ... In prelims, Michael Norris and Max Blair had a first-heat tangle with Norris getting the worst of it, his car smashed against the turn-four wall. ... Jared Miley scratched after hot laps with engine problems (he's expected to start a backup car in Saturday's $50,000-to-win weekend finale).

On the move: Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., started 17th and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: Moran’s Double Down Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Lazydays RV, Big River Steel, McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Ram Fiat, CarSourceAuto.com, Red Oak Pub, C&W Trucking & Sons, Inc., Bomag, Southeastern Equipment, VP Race Fuels, Eibach Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Accu-Force Dynos, Lucas Oil Products, Smoky Mountain Speedway, Haulin’ Haskel’s, Lincoln Smith Racing, GE Auto Sales and WME Detailing.

Points chase: After PPMS Friday: 1. Devin Moran (6,030); T2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (6,000); T2. Jonathan Davenport (6,000); 4. Tim McCreadie (5,960); 5. Hudson O'Neal (5,210); 6. Garrett Alberson (5,060); 7. Mike Marlar (4,915); 8. Daulton Wilson (4,875); 9. Jimmy Owens (4,690); 10. Max Blair (4,655).

Current weather: Few Clouds, 68°F

Car count: 38

Fast qualifier: Devin Moran

Time: 17.621 seconds

Polesitter: Devin Moran

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Garrett Alberson, Ricky Thornton Jr., Jonathan Davenport

Consolation race winners: Max Blair, Logan Zarin

Provisional starters: Clay Harris, Brenden Smith, Cory Lawler

Next series race: October 5, Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway (Imperial, PA) $50,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

IMPERIAL, Pa. — Live updates from Friday’s 36th annual Pittsburgher preliminary night featuring a 30-lap, $10,000-to-win main event for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Holding off Jonathan Davenport's late charge, Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, led all 30 laps Saturday at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway to get the early edge in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Hanging on late, Moran earned $10,000 in taking the checkers 0.186 of a second ahead of Davenport to put himself among the favorites for Saturday's $50,000 Pittsburgher prize.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Jonathan Davenport
Row 3: Drake Troutman, Tim McCreadie
Row 4: Alex Ferree, Carson Ferguson
Row 5: Mason Zeigler, Boom Briggs
Row 6: Ross Robinson, Gregg Satterlee
Row 7: Hudson O'Neal, Mike Marlar
Row 8: Daulton Wilson, Jimmy Owens
Row 9: Max Blair, Logan Zarin
Row 10: Michael Norris, Jon Hodgkiss
Row 11: Cody Overton, Colton Flinner
Row 12: Clay Harris, Brenden Smith
Row 13: Cory Lawler

Consolation results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Max Blair, Michael Norris, Cody Overton, Logan Roberson, Rick Eckert, Clay Harris, Tyler Wyant, Tony Musolino, Brenden Smith, Levi Yetter, Cory Lawler.

Second consolation: Logan Zarin, Jon Hodkiss, Colton Flinner, Chris Schneider, Kyle Lukon, Ryan Markham, Ron Fink, Tony White, Ron Hall, Ryan Christoff. Scratched: Jared Miley

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Drake Troutman, Mason Zeigler, Hudson O'Neal, Cody Overton, Max Blair, Logan Roberson, Cory Lawler, Tony Musolino, Michael Norris.

Second heat: Garrett Alberson, Alex Ferree, Ross Robinson, Daulton Wilson, Clay Harris, Rick Eckert, Tyler Wyant, Brenden Smith, Levi Yetter.

Third heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Tim McCreadie, Boom Briggs, Mike Marlar, Logan Zarin, Kyle Lukon, Chris Schneider, Ron Hall, Ryan Christoff. Scratched: Jared Miley.

Fourth heat: Jonathan Davenport, Carson Ferguson, Gregg Satterlee, Jimmy Owens, Jon Hodgkiss, Colton Flinner, Tony White, Ron Fink, Ryan Markham.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown
Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 17.621
Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 17.726
Michael Norris (72), Sarver, Pa., 17.996
Rick Eckert (0), York, Pa., 18.078
Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 18.096
Alex Ferree (4), Saxonburg, Pa., 18.275
Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 18.339
Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 18.416
Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 18.483
Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 18.489
Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 18.593
Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 18.614
Cody Overton (97), Evans, Ga., 18.642
Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 18.754
Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 18.791
Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 18.968
Logan Roberson (17), Waynesboro, Va., 19.009
Levi Yetter (9), Cabot, Pa., 19.224
Tony Musolino (36), Pittsburgh, Pa., 19.246
Group B
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 17.912
Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 17.941
Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 18.058
Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 18.159
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 18.359
Jon Hodgkiss (69), Kennedy Township, Pa., 18.373
Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 18.501
Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa., 18.552
Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 18.622
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 18.668
Kyle Lukon (184), Burgettstown, Pa., 18.814
Colton Flinner (48), Allison Park, Pa., 19.256
Ryan Christoff (10), Canonsburg, Pa., 19.576
Tony White (27T), Aliquippa, Pa., 19.676
Chris Schneider (55), Lower Burrell, Pa., 19.787
Ron Fink (EZ1), Cumberland, Md., 20.187
Ron Hall (01), Hookstown, Pa., 21.449
Jared Miley (10m), Pittsburgh, Pa., no time
Ryan Markham (5m), Ashland, Ohio, no time

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
1:30 p.m. - Pits cleared
2 p.m. - Pits reopen
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- RUSH Crate hot laps
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- RUSH Crate time trials (2 laps)
- Pro stock group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- RUSH Crate heats (8 laps)
- Pro stock heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- RUSH Crate dash (6 laps)
- RUSH Crate consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Super Late Model feature (30 laps)
- RUSH Crate feature (40 laps)
- Pro stock feature (15 laps)