Dirt on Dirt - Moran captures PPMS opener after RTJ's flat

October 3

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 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 4, 11:41 am)

Moran captures PPMS opener after RTJ's flat

Pittsburgher prelim

Devin Moran
Brandon Sheppard
Max Blair
Garrett Alberson
Jonathan Davenport
Carson Ferguson
Donald McIntosh
Hudson O'Neal
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Gregg Satterlee
Brandon Overton
Daulton Wilson
Gary Stuhler
Alex Ferree
Ross Robinson
Mason Zeigler
Josh Richards
Dan Ebert
Logan Zarin
Dan Angelicchio
Joseph Joiner
Daniel Hilsabeck
Clay Harris
Cory Lawler

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Devin Moran captured Friday's 30-lapper at PPMS.

What won the race: Regaining the lead when points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. blew a tire exiting turn two at halfway, polesitter Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, led the rest of Friday's Pittsburgher prelim 30-lapper at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway for a $10,000 payday. Moran took the checkers 1.844 seconds ahead of runner-up Brandon Sheppard while Thornton finished ninth with a fresh right-rear tire, costing him 65 points of the 70-point lead he carried into the feature while two playoff races remain, including Saturday's Pittsburgher finale. Thornton holds a five-point lead heading into the 70-lapper.

Quotable: "My guys are just working their butts off day in and day out," Moran said. "(Team owner) Roger Sellers is spending the money that he needs to spend to get us a championship, so now it's all on us."

Key notes: Winner Devin Moran, who also won last year's PPMS opener, led the first five laps, then laps 15-30. ... Ricky Thornton Jr. blew past on the sixth lap and led until his lap-15 flat. ... Garrett Alberson held the second spot form laps 15-27 but slipped back to fourth at the finish behind Moran, Brandon Sheppard and seventh-starting Max Blair. ... Two cautions slowed the 30-lapper, the first for Thornton's lap-15 blown tire that carried him into wall at the top of the backstretch. ... Fourth-running Clay Harris slowed for the second yellow on the 21st lap after getting into the fence. ... The 19-minute feature concluded at 10:46 p.m. ... Rick Eckert missed time trials after he was unable to properly secure himself in his seat. He is piloting a brand-new Rocket XR Chassis owned by Allen Murray. ... The weekend concludes with Saturday’s 70-lap, $50,000-to-win Pittsburgher finale. ... Carson Ferguson won the night's $4,000 RUSH Crate Late Model feature on the undercard.

On the move: Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga., started 21st and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Moran’s Double Down Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Race 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, 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. Ricky Thornton Jr. (8,740); 2. Devin Moran (8,735); 3. Jonathan Davenport (8,600); 4. Hudson O’Neal (8,475); 5. Brandon Sheppard (7,830); 6. Garrett Alberson (7,700); 7. Brandon Overton (7,285); 8. Daulton Wilson (6,690); 9. Carson Ferguson (6,500); 10. Donald McIntosh (6,380); 11. Daniel Hilsabeck (6,055); 12. Dan Ebert (5,895).

Current weather: Clear, 63°F

Car count: 44

Fast qualifier: Devin Moran

Time: 17.170 seconds

Polesitter: Devin Moran

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Garrett Alberson, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton Jr.

Consolation race winners: Mason Zeigler, Dan Ebert

Provisional starters: Daniel Hilsabeck, Cory Lawler

Next series race: October 4, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 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 37th annual Pittsburgher preliminary night, highlighted by a 30-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Regaining the lead when points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. blew a tire exiting turn two at halfway, polesitter Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, led the rest of Friday's Pittsburgher prelim 30-lapper at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway for a $10,000 payday. Moran took the checkers 1.844 seconds ahead of runner-up Brandon Sheppard while Thornton finished ninth with a fresh right-rear tire, costing him 65 points of the 70-point lead he carried into the feature while two playoff races remain, including Saturday's Pittsburgher finale. Thornton unofficially holds a five-point lead heading into the 70-lapper.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Jonathan Davenport, Carson Ferguson
Row 4: Max Blair, Josh Richards
Row 5: Gregg Satterlee, Clay Harris
Row 6: Joseph Joiner, Daulton Wilson
Row 7: Dan Angelicchio, Hudson O'Neal
Row 8: Logan Zarin, Ross Robinson
Row 9: Mason Zeigler, Dan Ebert
Row 10: Brandon Overton, Gary Stuhler
Row 11: Donald McIntosh, Alex Ferree
Row 12: Daniel Hilsabeck, Cory Lawler

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Mason Zeigler, Brandon Overton, Donald McIntosh, Daniel Hilsabeck, Tyler Wyant, Forrest Trent, Levi Yetter, Tommy Schirnhofer Jr., John Garvin Jr., Brock Pinkerous, Cory Lawler, Chris Schneider, Ron Fink. Scratched: Jared Miley.

Second consolation: Dan Ebert, Gary Stuhler, Alex Ferree, Matt Cosner, Ryan Montgomery, Rick Eckert, Michael Leach, Colton Flinner, Ryan Markham, John Wayne Weaver, Tyler Dietz, Doug Drown. Scratched: Jon Hodgkiss, Ron Hall.

Heat race recap

Devin Moran led all eight laps from the pole to win the first heat race by 1.643 seconds over Jonathan Davenport, who trailed him the final seven laps after grabbing second from Dan Angelicchio on the second lap. Angelicchio settled for fourth while seventh-starting Gregg Satterlee finished third. … Garrett Alberson earned a flag-to-flag victory in the second heat, beating fourth-starting Max Blair to the line by 1.699 seconds. Joseph Joiner started and finished third while fifth-starting Logan Zarin grabbed the fourth and final transfer spot in Friday’s 30-lap main event. … Second-starting Brandon Sheppard fired off from the outside front row and led the entire way in the third heat winning by 1.741 seconds over polesitter Carson Ferguson. Clay Harris powered by Hudson O’Neal on the third lap, relegating O’Neal to complete the top-four finishers. … Ricky Thornton Jr. led all eight laps to win the fourth and final heat race by 2.482 seconds over second-starting Josh Richards, who pursued him the entire way. Daulton Wilson started and finished third with fifth-starting Ross Robinson claiming the fourth and final transfer position into the $10,000-to-win Pittsburgher opener. … The four heat races combined to last slightly more than 10 minutes.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, Gregg Satterlee, Dan Angelicchio, Mason Zeigler, Daniel Hilsabeck, Donald McIntosh, John Garvin Jr., Levi Yetter, Tommy Schirnhofer Jr., Ron Fink.

Second heat: Garrett Alberson, Max Blair, Joseph Joiner, Logan Zarin, Forrest Trent, Brandon Overton, Tyler Wyant, Cory Lawler, Brock Pinkerous, Jared Miley, Chris Schneider.

Third heat: Brandon Sheppard, Carson Ferguson, Clay Harris, Hudson O'Neal, Dan Ebert, Ryan Montgomery, Matt Cosner, Alex Ferree, Gary Stuhler, John Wayne Weaver. Scratched: Ron Hall.

Fourth heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Josh Richards, Daulton Wilson, Ross Robinson, Michael Leach, Rick Eckert, Colton Flinner, Ryan Markham, Jon Hodgkiss, Doug Drown, Tyler Dietz.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 17.170
2. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 17.240
3. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 17.282
4. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 17.405
5. Dan Angelicchio (14), Mount Pleasant, Pa., 17.408
6. Joseph Joiner (19m), Milton, Fla., 17.591
7. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 17.761
8. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 17.824
9. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 17.827
10. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 17.850
11. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 17.851
12. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 17.973
13. Gregg Satterlee (22G), Indiana, Pa., 17.977
14. Jared Miley (10), Pittsburgh, Pa., 18.104
15. Tommy Schirnhofer Jr. (8), Pittsburgh, Pa., 18.137
16. Brock Pinkerous (555), Ellenville, N.Y., 18.139
17. John Garvin Jr. (J4), Sarver, Pa., 18.146
18. Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn., 18.215
19. Levi Yetter (9), Cabot, Pa., 18.824
20. Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 18.885
21. Ron Fink (EZ1), Cumberland., Md., 19.043
22. Chris Schneider (55), Lower Burrell, Pa., 19.074
Group B
1. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 17.448
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 17.470
3. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 17.535
4. Josh Richards (1J), Shinnston, W.Va., 17.724
5. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 17.737
6. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 17.798
7. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 17.915
8. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 17.944
9. Ryan Montgomery (12m), Fairmont, W.Va., 18.043
10. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 18.151
11. Alex Ferree (1c), Saxonburg, Pa., 18.152
12. Jon Hodgkiss (69), Pittsburgh, Pa., 18.208
13. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 18.312
14. Doug Drown (79D), Wooster, Ohio, 18.525
15. Matt Cosner (66c), Ridgeley, W.Va., 18.528
16. Colton Flinner (48), Allison Park, Pa., 18.563
17. Gary Stuhler (4), Greencastle, Pa., 18.699
18. Ryan Markham (5m), Ashland, Ohio, 18.725
19. John Wayne Weaver (w3), Commodore, Pa., 19.385
20. Tyler Dietz (0), Saxonburg, Pa., 19.509
21. Ron Hall (01H), Hookstown, Pa., 20.629
22. Rick Eckert (2), York, Pa., no time

Friday’s schedule

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