PORT ROYAL — Jonathan Preston upset the sprint car field Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway for his first career win.

Preston, of Geneva, N.Y., started on the pole, led all 25 laps and earned $5,000. He overcame a poor initial start, then a false start, to grab the feature lead from Mike Thompson.

Thompson grabbed the lead on the initial start as Preston struggled.

However, the red flag came out when Garrett Bard flipped in turn four. He was okay and a complete restart was needed. Preston was called for a false start on the second attempt.

After the third attempt, Preston raced away on an unusually narrow racing surface with a heavy cushion about half-way down in the turns.

“I really had a rough time a couple of weeks ago, and was about ready to hang it up,” Preston said. “I really have to thank my parents, my family, my brothers for putting a power plant under the hood, without that, nothing would be possible.”

Passing was difficult, even in heavy lapped traffic, as Preston kept all challengers behind him.

“I was just biding my time,” he said. “I thought it was going to be really difficult to pass on the bottom. I was just trying to be smart. It was hammer-down, which fits my style. The car wouldn’t go on the initial start and the second one, I knew I only had one shot, if he got out front, I was probably not getting back by him. I tried something different and it worked.”

Sixth starter Steve Buckwalter took second from Thompson with 10 laps completed and Devin Adams followed him into third as they raced in heavy traffic.

Buckwalter’s nose wing was knocked out of place creating handling

issues as Preston got away again and Adams challenged him for second. Jeff Halligan found speed late in the race passing Adams and Buckwalter.

Preston controlled a restart with two laps to go, winning by 2.2

seconds over Halligan and 10th starter Brock Zearfoss. Buckwalter and Adams completed the top five. Point leader Justin Whittall, Logan Wagner, Thompson, Derek Hauck and Doug Hammaker rounded out the top 10.

Preston’s result was much better than March when he flipped in turn

three during warm-ups.

“My goal at the beginning of the year was to get good here,” he said. “I’ve only been here a handful of times, so I guess we’ll be back for the Tusky (Tuscarora 50).”

Heat races for the 31 cars went to Whittall, Adams, Michael Walter,

and Gerard McIntyre Jr. with Jake Karklin winning the consolation.

Mifflintown’s Lane Snook continued his torrid pace in limited late

model racing with his third straight Port Royal win, and 14th overall

on the season.

Devin Hart, Matt Murphy, Irvin and DJ Myers completed the top five.

Andrew Yoder, Shawn Shoemaker, Jimmy Jesmer, Jaxton Garman, and Jared Fulkroad rounded out the top 10. Snook grabbed the lead from Eric Irvin with a few laps left in the 20-lap feature.

Heat races for the 22 limited lates went to Joe Lusk, Hart and Irvin.

Timmy Bitner of Beech Creek took the lead from Erin Statler and went

on to win the 20-lap feature for the 305 sprint cars holding off Doug

Dodson and Josh Spicer in a close race for the win. Kenny Heffner and 16th starter Fred Arnold completed the top five. Jarrett Cavalet, Paul Moyer, Nick Sweigart, Logan Spahr, and Kruz Kepner rounded out the top 10.

Heat races for the 33 cars went to Cavalet, Spicer, Reece Raudabaugh and John Braim. Spahr won the consolation.

AROUND THE TRACKS

Selinsgrove’s Ken Duke Jr. swept his 305 sprint car features with wins

at Clinton County Speedway Friday night, and Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway Saturday night. Duke, a three-time PA Sprint Series Champion, two-time Port Royal Champion, and 2019 national champion, currently leads the Laurel Highlands Sprint Car Series points.

Danny Dietrich won the Lou Blaney Memorial Saturday night at Sharon Speedway and immediately headed west for Knoxville Raceway. After his sixth place finish, Port Royal point leader Justin Whittall did the same thing. Dietrich, Whittall, King’s Royal Champion Anthony Macri and other top sprint car teams from the area will be in action this week at the Knoxville Nationals.

Rico Abreu beat Kyle Larson to win the Knoxville Nationals for the 360

sprint cars Saturday night. Both drivers are favorites for this week’s

Nationals.

Derek Locke held off Ayden Hare to win the 358 sprint car feature

Friday night at Williams Grove.

Dylan Norris, who won the 410 feature earlier, finished third. Chase

Gutshall and Nash Ely completed the top five.

“Winning with my dad at a place like the Grove is something I will

cherish forever,” Norris said.

Freddie Rahmer was the sprint car winner Saturday night at Lincoln

Speedway. It was his fourth win of the season there.