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Thornton Goes Back-to-Back with Port Royal Victory

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PORT ROYAL, PA (April 27, 2025) - For the second consecutive year, Ricky Thornton Jr. went to Victory Lane in the "Battle in the Borough" at Port Royal Speedway on Sunday night. The reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion claimed the annual spring race at "The Speed Palace," earning $10,000 for his sixth series win of 2025.

Jonathan Davenport, who led the first 14 laps of the 40-lap race, finished second with Devin Moran rounding out the Big River Steel Podium in third. Garrett Alberson was fourth and Gregg Satterlee completed the top five drivers.

Davenport took the lead at the start of the race, with Alberson holding down the second spot early on. Alberson stayed in second until Thornton, who started third, wrestled the second spot away from him on lap 11.

A caution on lap 14 would change the race's complexion. On the lap 15 restart, Thornton would dive to the inside of Davenport heading into turn three. Once in front, Thornton would start to pull away from Davenport and Alberson.

A caution with 32 laps complete would set up an 8-lap dash to finish. Thornton would again pull away to win by 3.6 seconds over Davenport as he took the checkers first for the second night in a row after winning the Conococheague 50 at Hagerstown on Saturday night.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 48th time in his career, Thornton will carry the Midwest Sheet Metal orange spoiler to Circle City and Florence next weekend.

"What a race car that was. I told the guys when we got here earlier that I felt like the race would be won around the middle. We just kept working to get a little better there in the heat race, those last couple of laps. I was fortunate enough to be able to move around a little bit and figure out what we needed to run. Obviously, those yellows helped me big time. I don't think JD knew how good the bottom was getting into three," said the Chandler, Arizona driver.

"Once the middle kind of cleaned up, you could start rolling again. I am probably thankful I wasn't the leader at that point because I could move around and see what worked best. I feel like we are slowly getting better. A little fine tune could be your make or break, and luckily tonight it was good for us."

Davenport completed his best finish of the weekend with his runner-up performance at Port Royal after leading the field for the first 14 laps of the race.

"We need to do a lot to contend with Ricky," said the 3-time series champion who is seeking a record tying fourth championship. "We was lucky enough to hang on for second. His car is really good right now, and we are just chasing him for sure. I was tight and loose at the same time, just depends on how the run went. The longer we went, the tighter I got. We started off a little free. I guess it's just a balance issue. We have to go back and work on it some more. "

Moran maintains second place in the points coming into next weekend's series races in Indiana and Kentucky.

"Without a doubt, it was a good weekend, we wish we were standing up there like we did on Friday night at Georgetown. I wasn't very good at the start of the race. I was in a little bit of dirty air, and the track was a little dirty where they watered it, so it just took a little while to get going. On that long green flag run, I thought the car was really good. I actually could see Ricky and JD up there, so I knew I was making good time. But all-in-all, a great night for us for sure, every win matters this year, so Ricky is clicking them off the last couple of nights, but at least we got one on Friday night."

The winner's Koehler Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Ultimate Towing and Recovery, Hoker Trucking, Knight's Companies, Elite Ready Mix, Capital Waste, Coltman Farms Racing, EMD Wraps, Certified Inspection Services, Bilstein Shocks, and Sunoco Race Fuels.

Carson Ferguson, Tyler Erb, Michael Norris, Hudson O'Neal, and Rick Eckert completed the top ten.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary

Battle in the Borough

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Port Royal Speedway - Port Royal, PA

Allstar Performance Time Trials

Fast Time Group A: Jonathan Davenport | 19.268 seconds (overall)

Fast Time Group B: Carson Ferguson | 19.505 seconds

Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 22G-Gregg Satterlee[2]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[3]; 4. 24-Rick Eckert[6]; 5. 18D-Daulton Wilson[7]; 6. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[4]; 7. 48-Colton Flinner[8]; 8. 19M-Spencer Hughes[5]; 9. 06-Mike Lupfer[9]

Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 79-Donald McIntosh[2]; 3. 22*-Drake Troutman[4]; 4. 1C-Alex Ferree[5]; 5. 71-Hudson O'Neal[3]; 6. 1Z-Logan Zarin[6]; 7. 66C-Matt Cosner[7]; 8. 6-Clay Harris[8]; 9. 11-Jason Schmidt[9]

Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 2. 72-Michael Norris[4]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[1]; 4. D19-Dillan Stake[6]; 5. 21-Chad Myers[9]; 6. 24Y-Dylan Yoder[8]; 7. 93L-Cory Lawler[7]; 8. 7-Ross Robinson[3]; 9. 66-Justin Kann[5]

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 1T-Tyler Erb[3]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[2]; 4. 2J-Justin Weaver[6]; 5. 76-Brandon Overton[4]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 7. 4-Gary Stuhler[8]; 8. 32J-Shaun Jones[7]

Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 18D-Daulton Wilson[1]; 2. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[3]; 3. 48-Colton Flinner[5]; 4. 71-Hudson O'Neal[2]; 5. 19M-Spencer Hughes[7]; 6. 1Z-Logan Zarin[4]; 7. 66C-Matt Cosner[6]; 8. 6-Clay Harris[8]; 9. 06-Mike Lupfer[9]; 10. 11-Jason Schmidt[10]

UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 2. 21-Chad Myers[1]; 3. 4-Gary Stuhler[6]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[4]; 5. 24Y-Dylan Yoder[3]; 6. 7-Ross Robinson[7]; 7. 93L-Cory Lawler[5]; 8. 32J-Shaun Jones[8]; 9. (DNS) 66-Justin Kann

Battle in the Borough Feature Finish (40 Laps):

Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Pay

1 - 3 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - $11,300

2 - 1 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - $6,600

3 - 4 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $4,500

4 - 2 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $3,400

5 - 5 - 22G - Gregg Satterlee - Indiana, PA - $2,500

6 - 10 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $3,000

7 - 8 - 1T - Tyler Erb - New Waverly, TX - $2,200

8 - 6 - 72 - Michael Norris - Sarver, PA - $2,100

9 - 23 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $2,850

10 - 13 - 24 - Rick Eckert - York, PA - $2,000

11 - 18 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $2,300

12 - 22 - 4 - Gary Stuhler - Greencastle, PA - $1,400

13 - 16 - 2J - Justin Weaver - Clearspring, MD - $1,200

14 - 19 - 25Z - Mason Zeigler - Chalk Hill, PA - $1,000

15 - 9 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $1,750

16 - 15 - 1C - Alex Ferree - Saxonburg, PA - $925

17 - 7 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - $1,600

18 - 17 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - $1,575

19 - 24 - 19M - Spencer Hughes - Meridian, MS - $1,550

20 - 27 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $825

21 - 21 - 48 - Colton Flinner - Allison Park, PA - $800

22 - 26 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $800

23 - 20 - 21 - Chad Myers - Hampstead, MD - $800

24 - 28 - 66C - Matt Cosner - Ridgeley, WV - $800

25 - 11 - 22* - Drake Troutman - Hyndman, PA - $800

26 - 25 - 7 - Ross Robinson - Georgetown, DE - $800

27 - 14 - D19 - Dillan Stake - Mapleton Depot, PA - $800

28 - 12 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $1,500

Race Statistics

Entrants: 35

Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Jonathan Davenport

MD3 Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1-14); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 15-40)

Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.

Wieland Feature Winner: Ricky Thornton, Jr.

Margin of Victory: 3.655 seconds

Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: Daulton Wilson (Lap 9); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 12); Drake Troutman (Lap 14); Donald McIntosh (Lap 32)

Series Provisionals: Hudson O'Neal; Spencer Hughes

Fast Time Provisional: n/a

Emergency Provisional: Ross Robinson; Dan Ebert; Clay Harris

Track Provisional: Matt Cosner

Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran

Penske Shocks Top 5: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Garrett Alberson, Gregg Satterlee

PEM 4th Place Feature: Garrett Alberson

DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Gregg Satterlee

Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Tyler Erb

Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Brandon Overton

Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Justin Weaver

MD3 24th Place Feature: Matt Cosner

Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Hudson O'Neal (Advanced 14 Positions)

MD3 Most Laps Led: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (26 Laps)

Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.

Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.

O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Daniel Hilsabeck

Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Lap 2 | 19.935 seconds)

Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr.

Hard Luck Award: Brandon Sheppard

Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Zach Frields

ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines

Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis

Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (18.9886 seconds)

Time of Race: 30 minutes 44 seconds

Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:

Pos - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Points - Pay

1 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - 2380 - $121,600

2 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - 2285 - $125,349

3 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - 2180 - $74,800

4 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - 2010 - $43,950

5 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - 1945 - $38,050

6 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - 1935 - $39,550

7 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - 1885 - $37,075

8 - 1T - Tyler Erb - New Waverly, TX - 1835 - $27,400

9 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - 1820 - $32,000

10 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - 1655 - $25,075

11 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - 1605 - $17,850

12 - 19M - Spencer Hughes - Meridian, MS - 1570 - $19,250

13 - 7 - Ross Robinson - Georgetown, DE - 1555 - $20,300

14 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - 1550 - $16,100

15 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - 1440 - $12,650

16 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - 1380 - $15,150

17 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - 1250 - $6,875

About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing

Founded in 2005, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing showcases the talents of the top dirt late model drivers from across the country. In 2025, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will sanction 58 events across 16 states, including some of the biggest marquee events in the industry, providing dirt slinging, sideways, door-to-door racing action lap after lap.

The series receives national exposure through a television package streamed live via FloRacing, with select broadcasts on RACER Network.

The in your face excitement of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing is second to none in motorsports. For more information, including the latest news, tour schedule, driver information, and more, visit the official website at: www.LucasDirt.com.

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Advanced Powder Coating, Behrent's Performance Warehouse, Black Diamond Chassis, Boyd Bilt Fabrication, Brodix, Capital Race Cars, Clements Racing Engines, Coltman Farms Racing, Dave Warren Powersports, Deatherage Opticians, DMI Rearends, Fast Shafts, Fire Suppression Engineering, FOX Shocks, Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Heath Lawson Photography, Hellraizer Jacks, Hoker Trucking, Keyser Manufacturing, Longhorn Chassis, MD3, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Midwest Sheet Metal, MSD, Outerwears, PEM - Performance Engineering Mfg, Penske Racing Shocks, ProFabrication Headers, Pro Power Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Slicker Graphics, Strange Oval, Swift Springs, Thermo-Tec Automotive Products, Vic Hill Race Engines, Victory Fuel, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood, Xceldyne, and 5150 Race Trailers