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| PORT ROYAL, PA (August 28, 2026) – Ricky Thornton Jr. made it four straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victories at Port Royal Speedway, leading all but two laps of Night One of the Rumble by the River presented by FK Rod Ends. The win earned him $10,000 and marked his 62nd career series victory. Thornton, who won three times at Port Royal a year ago, went to Wieland Victory Lane for the sixth time this season after taking a 1.392-second victory over Devin Moran. Jonathan Davenport rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. Chris Madden, who led the first two laps, finished fourth, with Max Blair completing the top five.Making his fifth career visit to Wieland Victory Lane at Port Royal, the defending winner of the $50,000-to-win Rumble by the River set his sights on a repeat victory Saturday night. “I felt good all night. It’s just hard whenever you are never behind anyone to gain on them. That first lap behind Madden, he was just far enough out where I could keep my nose in clean air so I could roll around the bottom, and luckily we got by him. It’s good to be out front. Obviously, it felt like once I got to within about half a straightaway of the lapped cars, I just, like, stalled hard, so I think that’s going to be good for tomorrow,” said the Chandler, Arizona, native. “Once a couple of guys did move and I started moving around, I got, like, a little bit of clean air. I felt like my pace picked back up, so at the end, I figured I would live or die by the wall here in one and two. In four, I didn’t really know. I kept touching the wall, and I’m like, ‘Man, that opening is going to bite me.’ So, I started cheating a little bit, and I was waiting for Devin to get next to me. I knew he was getting close. I could hear him every now and then. My car is so wheeled up on the right rear, you can’t really see if a guy gets under you.” Moran, who ran in second place from lap four until the finish, closed on Thornton late in the race as the leader battled heavy traffic. “Congrats to those guys. They have had the unluckiest year of anybody. I wish we could have beaten them, but I’m glad they got it done. Ricky was railing that top, and, man, I thought his tires were eventually going to have to slow down. As he was doing that, I was driving a little bit harder. The car wasn’t quite where we needed it to be, but obviously, it was really good to finish second. There are just a couple of things we need to tweak, and my guys are going to work hard to be sure we do that.” Davenport, who started 13th, charged to third to round out the Big River Steel Podium. “I don’t know what we needed to do. We were really good in the feature. The heat race didn’t go our way. Chris (Madden) beat me into turn one, and then he pushed on the first lap. I wasn’t smart enough to follow him into three, so I tried to slide him, and he wasn’t quite clear. I gave him a lane, and that let (Dan) Ebert get a run on us. That put us starting 13th, but we had a really good hot rod. I thought we were going to get there when they caught lapped traffic. I could see Ricky and Devin right in front of me, but they scooted through those lapped cars pretty quickly, and I just couldn’t quite get through there. I had melted my stuff by the time I got there.” Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Knight’s Companies, Hoker Trucking, Coltman Farms Racing, Capital Waste, Certified Inspection Services, Elite Ready Mix, Strange Oval, SI Towing and Recovery, Sunoco Race Fuels, and D&E Outside Services. Completing the top 10 were Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Mason Zeigler, Michael Norris, and Dan Ebert. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Rumble by the River presented by FK Rod Ends | Night 1Friday, August 28, 2026Port Royal Speedway | Port Royal, PA Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Jonathan Davenport | 18.793 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Devin Moran | 19.230 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 44M-Chris Madden[2]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[4]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 4. 8-Dillon McCowan[3]; 5. 15K-Lane Snook[7]; 6. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[8]; 7. 24-Rick Eckert[5]; 8. 4-Gary Stuhler[9]; 9. 0-Andrew Yoder[6] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 1C-Alex Ferree[2]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[3]; 4. 9M-Hayes Mattern[5]; 5. 11-Josh Rice[7]; 6. 27E-Dylan Yoder[4]; 7. 2J-Justin Weaver[6]; 8. 5J-Chad Julius[8]; 9. (DNS) 2-Jason Schmidt Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 5T-Drake Troutman[2]; 3. 3S-Brian Shirley[4]; 4. D19-Dillan Stake[6]; 5. 8K-Kyle Strickler[3]; 6. 66C-Matt Cosner[5]; 7. 24M-Kenny Moreland[8]; 8. 03-Brenden Queen[7]; 9. (DNS) 11M-Greg Moore Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[2]; 3. 7-Ross Robinson[4]; 4. 1K-Gene Knaub[5]; 5. 48F-Colton Flinner[6]; 6. 32J-Shaun Jones[9]; 7. 15-Scott Flickinger[7]; 8. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 9. 80D-Greg Diehl[8] Lucas Oil Products Heat Race #5 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[1]; 2. 22F-Chris Ferguson[5]; 3. 93F-Carson Ferguson[2]; 4. 17SR-Brody Smith[8]; 5. 6-Clay Harris[4]; 6. 27-Trever Feathers[6]; 7. 11AC-Trevor Collins[7]; 8. 6M-Matt Martin[9]; 9. 22G-Gregg Satterlee[3] FloRacing Heat Race #6 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 72-Michael Norris[2]; 3. 17SS-Brenden Smith[3]; 4. 40B-Kyle Bronson[5]; 5. 4S-Danny Snyder[4]; 6. 121-Tristin Neiderer[9]; 7. 21-Chad Myers[8]; 8. 55-Jamie Lathroum[7]; 9. 86-Austin Berry[6] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 9M-Hayes Mattern[2]; 2. 8-Dillon McCowan[1]; 3. 24-Rick Eckert[10]; 4. D19-Dillan Stake[3]; 5. 11-Josh Rice[5]; 6. 15K-Lane Snook[4]; 7. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[7]; 8. 8K-Kyle Strickler[6]; 9. 27E-Dylan Yoder[8]; 10. 2J-Justin Weaver[11]; 11. 66C-Matt Cosner[9]; 12. 4-Gary Stuhler[13]; 13. 03-Brenden Queen[15]; 14. 0-Andrew Yoder[16]; 15. 5J-Chad Julius[14]; 16. 2-Jason Schmidt[17]; 17. 24M-Kenny Moreland[12]; 18. (DNS) 11M-Greg Moore UNOH B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[5]; 2. 48F-Colton Flinner[4]; 3. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 4. 27-Trever Feathers[8]; 5. 17SR-Brody Smith[2]; 6. 11AC-Trevor Collins[11]; 7. 32J-Shaun Jones[7]; 8. 121-Tristin Neiderer[9]; 9. 21-Chad Myers[12]; 10. 86-Austin Berry[18]; 11. 93L-Cory Lawler[13]; 12. 15-Scott Flickinger[10]; 13. 80D-Greg Diehl[16]; 14. 4S-Danny Snyder[6]; 15. 1K-Gene Knaub[1]; 16. (DNS) 6M-Matt Martin; 17. (DNS) 55-Jamie Lathroum; 18. (DNS) 22G-Gregg Satterlee Rumble by the River presented by FK Rod Ends – Night 1 | Feature Finish (40 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 3 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $10,0002 – 2 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $5,5003 – 13 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $3,5004 – 1 – 44M – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – $2,7005 – 8 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $2,5006 – 15 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $2,3007 – 5 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $2,3008 – 4 – 25Z – Mason Zeigler – Chalk Hill, PA – $2,1009 – 12 – 72 – Michael Norris – Sarver, PA – $2,05010 – 23 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,00011 – 7 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $1,60012 – 6 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $1,40013 – 17 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $1,20014 – 26 – 24 – Rick Eckert – York, PA – $1,00015 – 11 – 5T – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $95016 – 21 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $92517 – 16 – 93F – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $90018 – 20 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $87519 – 14 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – $85020 – 25 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $12521 – 18 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $80022 – 24 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $80023 – 10 – 22F – Chris Ferguson – Mt. Holly, NC – $80024 – 9 – 1C – Alex Ferree – Saxonburg, PA – $80025 – 19 – 9M – Hayes Mattern – Beavertown, PA – $80026 – 22 – 48F – Colton Flinner – Allison Park, PA – $800 Race Statistics Entrants: 54Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Chris MaddenMD3 Lap Leaders: Chris Madden (Laps 1-2); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 3-38)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Wieland Feature Winner: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Margin of Victory: 1.392 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Colton Flinner (Lap 3); Chris Ferguson (Lap 10); Alex Ferree (Lap 15)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Josh Rice; Kyle BronsonFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: Daniel HilsabeckTrack Provisional: Rick EckertBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Devin Moran, Jonathan DavenportPenske Shocks Top 5: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, Chris Madden, Max BlairBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Devin Moran, Jonathan DavenportPEM 4th Place Feature: Chris MaddenDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Max BlairWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Brandon SheppardWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Dan EbertVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Drake TroutmanHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Josh Rice (Advanced 13 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (38 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon SheppardO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh RicePro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | Lap 12 | 19.697 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Colton FlinnerVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Hudson O’NealOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Anthony BurroughsARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 18.0489 secondsTime of Race: 23 minutes 37 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 6135 – $263,7002 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 6045 – $236,4003 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 6000 – $303,5744 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 5635 – $145,2005 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 5560 – $218,3256 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 5545 – $146,7757 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 5285 – $187,2758 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 5245 – $119,0759 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 5245 – $105,50010 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 4930 – $85,17511 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 4905 – $97,07512 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 4850 – $89,25013 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 4780 – $137,80014 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 4660 – $107,82515 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 4270 – $65,50016 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 3930 – $48,27517 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 3670 – $34,475 |
Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, and Shane van Gisbergen, driver of the No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale weekend at Daytona International Speedway. | MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom |
Media Availability Quotes: Shane, with the points positioning you’re in, what’s the game plan for this weekend?Van Gisbergen: “Yeah, there’s a lot going on. Not really sure how it’s going to play out. I think, you know, 30 points is a lot until it’s not, until he (Ryan Preece) has two good stages, then we’re probably under a lot of pressure. So, yeah, as everyone knows, there’s a lot of anticipation, I guess, around the new rules and how the cars are going to be. I think we plan to be pretty conservative, and then see how his race is going and react to that. If he’s scored well in Stage One, we probably need to get amongst it in Stage Two and start pushing the issue a bit. It’s going to be fun. It’s a pretty cool feeling to have the pressure on us and see how we go.” Can you compare the pressure that you’re under, the feeling of the championship kind of, because it’s got to be a different feeling, right? You’re not just coming for a race and going for the win, you’ve got the Chase to focus on. Can you compare that to when you were in Supercars? Is there a comparison, or is it just totally different? Do you maybe have some lessons that you could bring over from there?Van Gisbergen: “I mean, it’s definitely different. I’ve had it come down to the last round for the win of a championship and this definitely does not compare to that. But there’s still definitely a lot of pressure. You know, it’s a whole year’s work that’s gone into this. Every week, we’ve sat in our Monday morning meetings analyzing the cutline, how many points we need per race average and what the gap is. That’s been a massive focus all year. So, yeah, still a lot of pressure. It makes our year if we get in, and then once we’re in the Chase, you know, it’s only up from there. It’ll be a fun 10 weeks or so if we get in.” Ross, to start, to come in here and not have a shot to be in the Chase this year, what is that like as you just look at what this season has been like and where you guys are?Chastain: “We definitely scheduled this media availability pre-being eliminated out of contention, but I wanted to stay true to our word though and come in here (laughs).” Shane, on the flip side of that, if somebody had said to you at the start of the year you’d be the only Trackhouse car represented in the Chase, what would your reaction have been? Would you have taken that bet?Van Gisbergen: “Yeah, of course I would have taken that. But obviously, you want the whole team to be in because that means the team is doing well. The reality is that we have struggled a bit, but I’m happy on the No. 97 side, personally, to have matched Ross (Chastain). We know how good he is on the ovals, and I think I’ve made a big jump this year to be able to match him most weeks. And obviously Connor (Zilisch), as well, is a huge talent, so to be comparable to those guys has been really cool for me this year. But yeah, I want all three Trackhouse cars to be in. That would mean, as a team, we’re doing the right things, and we don’t quite seem to be there at the moment. There’s a lot of hard work and frustration going on, but we definitely need to improve.” I know in the past, you’ve kind of wanted less chatter on the radio during races, but with you guys kind of keeping track of where Ryan Preece is, how do you balance that? Do you kind of want occasional updates on where he’s running compared to you or what the point situation is?Van Gisbergen: “Yeah, I’d probably ask for that after the first stage. I think there’s going to be a lot going on at the start of the race, trying to figure out how the cars are handling, what people are doing and what techniques they’re using to be good. But yeah, certainly if it comes down to it in Stage Three; yeah, I’d want to know where he is and what’s happening. Especially, as I said, if he’s had two good stages and that points gap’s evaporated, we’ll be really mindful of where he is.” Shane, there must be some comfort in knowing what a great speedway racer Ross is, and Connor has certainly had success on the big tracks too. Does that kind of give you a little bit extra something of goodwill as you’re racing?Van Gisbergen: “Yeah, I’ve certainly learned a lot from Ross on these type of tracks, and especially here at the start of the year, it was pretty awesome. We were sort of controlling both lanes for a period of the race in the DAYTONA 500, which was cool. And then if it does race like Atlanta, we’ve led at Atlanta a few times and managed that. The way Ross controls the lanes, moves his car around and gives air to the following car; I think I’ve learned a lot, and hopefully, we can work together well, especially at the end if we’re under pressure. So yeah, it’d be pretty fun trying to make that. It’s cool to have the attention on us and us being the focus point, but it’s easy saying the words, too. It’s going to be hard to execute it when everyone’s trying to do it as well.” |