Dirt on Dirt - RTJ fends off Davenport, wins Port Royal opener

August 21

Port Royal Speedway,

Port Royal, PA

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Rumble by the River prelim) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated August 23, 2:32 pm)

RTJ fends off Davenport, wins Port Royal opener

Rumble by the River prelim

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Jonathan Davenport
Brandon Sheppard
Devin Moran
Mike Marlar
Hudson O'Neal
Garrett Alberson
Max Blair
Daulton Wilson
Chris Madden
Brandon Overton
Michael Norris
Ross Robinson
Mason Zeigler
Dan Ebert
Wil Herrington
Daniel Hilsabeck
Michael Leach
Carson Ferguson
Justin Weaver
Donald McIntosh
Clay Harris
Cory Lawler
Chris Ferguson
Matt Cochran

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Ricky Thornton Jr. earned his 11th Lucas Oil victory of the season.

What won the race: Fighting off a late-race challenge from Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., emerged victorious in Friday night’s caution-free 40-lap opener of the Rumble by the River weekend at Port Royal Speedway. The defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion led the race’s first 29 laps before Davenport slid ahead, but Thornton regained command on lap 31 and went on to beat Davenport by 1.648 seconds for his 11th win of 2025 on the tour and a $10,000 top prize.

Quotable: “I really didn’t know where I needed to be,” Thornton said. “All the lapped cars in front of me were running around the bottom, I was just trying to inch out through the middle and I felt really good, and then I felt like I was starting to get free off. I knew J.D. was going to be coming, and I heard him, and then he got next to me and drove by me and slid me into three and I’m like, ‘Man, if I want a shot to win this, I’m gonna pass him right back.’ So I got a good run and I was able to cross him. I don’t know how bad he had to slow down for me getting into three, but luckily we didn’t make contact.”

Key notes: Thornton’s 46th career full-field triumph on the Lucas Oil Series — tied with Don O’Neal for fourth on the all-time win list — was his first with the series since July 11 at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. He has three career series victories at Port Royal, including April scores in 2024 and ’25. … Thornton’s car sported crunched right-rear bodywork from a slap of the outside wall with four laps remaining. … Davenport overtook Brandon Sheppard for second on lap 11 and ran down Thornton to take the lead on lap 30, but Thornton rocketed off turn two and slid Davenport through turns three and four to reassert control. Davenport wasn’t able to offer another serious challenge. … Sheppard settled for third after turning back late threats from Devin Moran and Mike Marlar, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively. … The non-stop feature was completed in 14 minutes with 23 of the 25 starters running at the finish. ... All four heat races were run without incident and combined to last just over 11 minutes. ... Gregg Satterlee (fluid leak) and Trever Feathers (nose folded under in hot laps) each scratched from time trials. … The Rumble by the River weekend concludes Saturday with a full program topped by a 50-lap, $50,000-to-win feature.

On the move: Ross Robinson of Georgetown, Del., started 19th and finished 13th.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Coltman Farms Racing, Hoker Trucking, Capital Waste, Excel Floor Covering, Five Star Metal Buildings, Ultimate Towing, FK Rod Ends, Dynamic Drivelines, Ultrashield Race Products, Sharp Advantage Safety Products, Winning Edge Carburetion, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Midwest Sheet Metal and EMD Wraps.

Points chase: After Port Royal Friday: 1. Jonathan Davenport (7,055); 2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (7,020); 3. Hudson O’Neal (6,635); 4. Devin Moran (6,610); 5. Brandon Sheppard (6,380); 6. Garrett Alberson (6,315); 7. Brandon Overton (6,075); 8. Daulton Wilson (5,585); 9. Carson Ferguson (5,280); 10. Donald McIntosh (5,215); 11. Daniel Hilsabeck (5,060); 12. Dan Ebert (4,800).

Current weather: Clear, 70°F

Car count: 45

Fast qualifier: Brandon Overton

Time: 18.414 seconds

Polesitter: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Heat race winners: Ricky Thornton Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar

Consolation race winners: Chris Ferguson, Wil Herrington

Provisional starters: Donald McIntosh, Cory Lawler

Next series race: August 23, Port Royal Speedway (Port Royal, PA) $50,000

Editor's note: Corrected Feathers note (nose damage sted wall contact).

From staff reports

PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Live updates from Friday’s Rumble by the River preliminary night at Port Royal Speedway, highlighted by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Fighting off a late-race challenge from Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., emerged victorious in Friday night’s caution-free 40-lap opener of the Rumble by the River weekend at Port Royal Speedway. The defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion led the race’s first 29 laps before Davenport slid ahead, but Thornton regained command on lap 31 and went on to beat Davenport by 1.648 seconds for his 11th win of 2025 on the tour and a $10,000 top prize.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Sheppard
Row 2: Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar
Row 3: Garrett Alberson, Devin Moran
Row 4: Daulton Wilson, Chris Madden
Row 5: Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal
Row 6: Michael Norris, Max Blair
Row 7: Dan Ebert, Mason Zeigler
Row 8: Clay Harris, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 9: Chris Ferguson, Wil Herrington
Row 10: Ross Robinson, Michael Leach
Row 11: Matt Cochran, Carson Ferguson
Row 12: Donald McIntosh, Cory Lawler

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Chris Ferguson, Ross Robinson, Matt Cochran, Gary Stuhler, Justin Weaver, Matt Cosner, Dylan Yoder, Logan Zarin, Scott Flickinger, Danny Snyder, Greg Diehl, Gregg Satterlee, Justin Kann. Scratched: Trever Feathers.

Second consolation: Wil Herrington, Michael Leach, Carson Ferguson, Hayes Mattern, Rick Eckert, Donald McIntosh, Andrew Yoder, Colton Flinner, Dillan Stake, Chad Myers, Dan Stone, Cory Lawler, Dale Murphy, Mike Lupfer, Dave Stamm.

Heat race recap

Second-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. cleared polesitter Brandon Overton by the exit of turn two and led the rest of the first heat race, winning by 1.898 seconds over fourth-starting Garrett Alberson. Overton settled for third, with Dan Ebert grabbing the fourth and final transfer position into Friday’s 40-lap main event. … Jonathan Davenport fired off from the outside front row and led all eight laps to win the second heat by 1.779 seconds over polesitter Daulton Wilson. Michael Norris and Clay Harris each improved a position to complete the top-four finishers. … Second-starting Brandon Sheppard used a turn-two slider by race-long leader Devin Moran and paced the final four circuits to win the third heat by 0.756 of a second over Moran, who led the opening four laps. Fifth-starting Hudson O’Neal used a last-lap pass by Mason Zeigler and nipped him by 0.078 of a second for third, relegating Zeigler to fourth. … Mike Marlar led all eight laps from the pole to win the fourth and final heat race by 2.958 seconds over Chris Madden, who trailed him the entire way. Max Blair started and finished third, while fifth-starting Daniel Hilsabeck claimed the fourth and final transfer spot into the $10,000-to-win Rumble by the River opener. … All four heat races were completed without incident and combined to last just over 11 minutes.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Garrett Alberson, Brandon Overton, Dan Ebert, Ross Robinson, Matt Cochran, Matt Cosner, Gregg Satterlee, Justin Weaver, Dylan Yoder, Danny Snyder.

Second heat: Jonathan Davenport, Daulton Wilson, Michael Norris, Clay Harris, Chris Ferguson, Justin Kann, Gary Stuhler, Logan Zarin, Scott Flickinger, Greg Diehl, Trever Feathers.

Third heat: Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, Hudson O'Neal, Mason Zeigler, Michael Leach, Hayes Mattern, Colton Flinner, Donald McIntosh, Dillan Stake, Chad Myers, Cory Lawler, Dale Murphy.

Fourth heat: Mike Marlar, Chris Madden, Max Blair, Daniel Hilsabeck, Wil Herrington, Carson Ferguson, Rick Eckert, Dan Stone, Andrew Yoder, Mike Lupfer, Dave Stamm.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 18.414
2. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 18.453
3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 18.487
4. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 18.565
5. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 18.662
6. Justin Kann (66), Huntingdon, Pa., 18.775
7. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 18.794
8. Michael Norris (n1), Sarver, Pa., 18.915
9. Matt Cosner (66c), Ridgeley, W.Va., 19.027
10. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 19.078
11. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 19.150
12. Gary Stuhler (4), Greencastle, Pa., 19.155
13. Dylan Yoder (24y), Middleburg, Pa., 19.198
14. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 19.220
15. Matt Cochran (118*), Williamsport, Pa., 19.435
16. Chris Ferguson (22F), Mount Holly, N.C., 19.484
17. Danny Snyder (4s), Green Lane, Pa., 19.560
18. Greg Diehl (80D), New Cumberland, Pa., 19.624
19. Justin Weaver (2J), Clearspring, Md., 19.649
20. Scott Flickinger (15F), Elliottsburg, Pa., 19.826
21. Gregg Satterlee (22g), Indiana, Pa., no time
22. Trever Feathers (72), Winchester, Va., no time
Group B
1. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 18.887
2. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 18.891
3. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 18.896
4. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 18.919
5. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 19.041
6. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 19.108
7. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 19.186
8. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 19.206
9. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 19.319
10. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 19.354
11. Colton Flinner (48), Allison Park, Pa., 19.673
12. Dan Stone (2), Thompson, Pa., 19.719
13. Hayes Mattern (9), Beavertown, Pa., 19.728
14. Wil Herrington (15k), Hawkinsville, Ga., 19.756
15. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 19.813
16. Rick Eckert (24), York, Pa., 19.865
17. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 19.932
18. Mike Lupfer (06), Shermans Dale, Pa., 19.952
19. Dillan Stake (D19), Mapleton Depot, Pa., 20.029
20. Dave Stamm (10s), Millmont, Pa., 20.434
21. Chad Myers (21), Hampstead, Md., 20.439
22. Andrew Yoder (0y), Middleburg, Pa., 20.620
23. Dale Murphy (000), Stevensville, Md., 20.746

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)

2:15 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
3:30 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
4 p.m. - Gates open
5:15 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Limited Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modified group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Limited Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Limited Late Model consolation (10 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep 
- Limited Late Model feature (20 laps)
- Super Late Model feature (40 laps)
- Modified feature (20 laps)