Dirt on Dirt - Rain spoils second round of Rumble by River

August 28

Port Royal Speedway,

Port Royal, PA

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Rumble by the River) - $12,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac (last updated August 29, 10:47 am)

Rain spoils second round of Rumble by River

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Key notes: Friday's second of three scheduled Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events during the Rumble by the River weekend was rained out. ... Saturday completes the weekend with a $15,000-to-win event. … Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., dominated Thursday’s $10,000 opener, winning by more than seven seconds. … All eyes have been on former NASCAR driver and sprint car standout Kyle Larson, who made his Dirt Late Model debut Thursday in the K&L Rumley Enterprises Longhorn Chassis and finished fifth after running as high as third. … Port Royal was originally scheduled to host Lucas Oil's $50,000-to-win Dirt Track Throwback on Aug. 27-29, but event promoter Cody Sommer scrapped that plan last month because of uncertainty amid the coronavirus pandemic. The track then joined with the tour to schedule three nights of competition that represent Port Royal's biggest Dirt Late Model event ever.

Who to watch: Open-wheel star Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, Calif., who finished fifth Thursday at Port Royal in his Dirt Late Model debut.

Points chase: Before Port Royal Friday: 1. Jimmy Owens (6,430); 2. Tim McCreadie (5,875); 3. Jonathan Davenport (5,775); 4. Josh Richards (5,720); 5. Tyler Erb (5,655); 6. Shane Clanton (5,415); 7. Devin Moran (5,345); 8. Kyle Bronson (5,300); 9. Billy Moyer Jr. (4,080); 10. Tanner English (4,960). 11. Earl Pearson Jr. (4,870). 12. Shanon Buckingham (4,640); 13. Tyler Bruening (4,450); 14. Stormy Scott (4,070).

Current weather: Overcast Light Rain, 70°F

Car count: 53

Fast qualifier: Billy Moyer Jr.

Time: 18.072 seconds

Polesitter: Hudson O'Neal

Heat race winners: Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Josh Richards

Next series race: August 29, Port Royal Speedway (Port Royal, PA) $15,000

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

By Kevin Kovac

DirtonDirt.com senior writer

PORT ROYAL, Pa. (Aug. 28) — Live updates from Friday night’s Lucas Oil Late Model Series-sanctioned Rumble by the River, a 40-lap, $12,000-to-win event at Port Royal Speedway (results unofficial):

Rained out

Rained forced the cancellation of Friday's event midway through heat races. With the fourth of six heat races on the track, the light drizzle that had been falling through much of hot laps, qualifying and the first half of the prelims picked up in intensity, forcing officials to send the field to the pit area at approximately 8:55 p.m. More than an hour later, officials announced the cancellation. Tickets and armbands can be used for Saturday's event.

Heat race results

(8 laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Hudson O’Neal, Kyle Strickler, Earl Pearson Jr., Bobby Pierce, Jimmy Owens, Jon Hodgkiss, Tyler Bare, Dan Stone. Scratched: Drake Troutman.

Second heat: Brandon Sheppard, Tanner English, Donald Lingo Jr., Shane Clanton, Tyler Erb, Mike Lupfer, Will Thomas, Gary Stuhler, Austin Berry.

Third heat: Josh Richards, Tyler Bruening, Tim McCreadie, Ross Robinson, Tim Smith Jr., Roy Deese Jr., Dillan Stake, Shaun Jones. Scratched: Boom Briggs.

Rain delay

Hot laps were scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., but heavy thunderstorms that rolled through the area during the afternoon left the track crew with extra preparation time to get the surface ready. Cars were called onto the speedway to help with the packing process at approximately 6:45 p.m.

With the showers still dancing around the mountains surrounding Port Royal, officials will be in a battle to complete the program.