April 28
Port Royal Speedway,
Port Royal, PA
Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Battle in the Borough) - $10,000
Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated April 29, 2:49 pm)
Port Royal win gives RTJ Mid-Atlantic perfection
Battle in the Borough
- Ricky Thornton Jr.
- Mike Marlar
- Garrett Alberson
- Jonathan Davenport
- Devin Moran
- Max Blair
- Mason Zeigler
- Jimmy Owens
- Tyler Erb
- Carson Ferguson
- Rick Eckert
- Tim McCreadie
- Drake Troutman
- Nick Hoffman
- Ross Robinson
- Daulton Wilson
- Brandon Sheppard
- Boom Briggs
- Hudson O'Neal
- Gregg Satterlee
- Justin Weaver
- Bryan Bernheisel
- Brenden Smith
- Clay Harris
- Max McLaughlin
- Cory Lawler
Ricky Thornton Jr. celebrates his fifth Lucas Oil Series victory of the season.
What won the race: Repelling a mid-race challenge from Mike Marlar and surviving a late-race restart, polesitter Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., led 40 laps Sunday to capture the $10,000 Battle in the Borough at Port Royal Speedway. Thornton notched his fifth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season and the 28th of his career.
Quotable: “I felt like our stuff was really good there. I was trying to play it a little safe there in (turns) one and two and I think that let Mikey (Marlar) get that much closer to me,” Thornton said. “He drove by me and luckily the yellow came out, otherwise I think he probably would’ve won. I gotta thank whoever caused that yellow and put me back out front."
Key notes: Thornton was perfect over the Mid-Atlantic weekend — shortened from three events after Saturday's middle stop at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway was rained out — winning his heat race and leading the entire distance from the pole in both races. In total, Thornton led 89 consecutive main event laps and collected nearly $30,000. ... The second-starting Marlar pressured Thornton throughout the 40-lapper and appeared to nose ahead just before Cory Lawler slowed to draw the race's second caution on lap 17. Marlar ultimately settled for runner-up, 1.538 seconds back. ... Garrett Alberson grabbed third on a lap-18 restart and rounded-out the podium for the second straight consecutive race. ... Jonathan Davenport and Devin Moran each improved eight positions, finishing fourth and fifth. ... Sixth-place finisher Max Blair ran as high as fourth before slipping on a lap-35 restart. ... Carson Ferguson gained eight spots to finish 10th. ... Brandon Sheppard slowed to bring out the first yellow on lap 16; he ended up 17th. ... Gregg Satterlee drew the race's third and final caution when he slowed from 17th with a flat left-rear on lap 34. ... Sunday's feature lasted 24 minutes, with 21 competitors completing 40 laps and 24 running at the checkers.
On the move: Rick Eckert of York, Pa., started 26th and finished 11th.
Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Dyno One, Hoker Trucking LLC, Coltman Farms Racing, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Big River Steel, Murty Farms, High Performance Lubricants, West Side Tractor Sales, Bilstein, Sunoco Race Fuels, FK Rod Ends, Allstar Performance, Dirt Car Lift, Midwest Sheet Metal and EMD Wraps.
Points chase: After Port Royal: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (2,295); 2. Jonathan Davenport (2,200); 3. Devin Moran (2,165); 4. Mike Marlar (2,035); 5. Hudson O’Neal (2,015); 6. Daulton Wilson (1,955); 7. Jimmy Owens (1,945); 8. Garrett Alberson (1,915); 9. Tim McCreadie (1,910); 10. Brandon Sheppard (1,900); 11. Tyler Erb (1,830); 12. Max Blair (1,635).
Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 75°F
Car count: 47
Fast qualifier: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Time: 18.054 seconds
Polesitter: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Heat race winners: Ricky Thornton Jr., Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar, Garrett Alberson
Consolation race winners: Bryan Bernheisel, Carson Ferguson
Provisional starters: Boom Briggs, Brenden Smith, Cory Lawler, Rick Eckert
Next series race: May 3, Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY) $12,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.