PORT ROYAL — Brock Zearfoss won a thrilling battle with Justin Whittall for the sprint car feature win Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway.

Zearfoss, of Jonestown, earned $5,000 for his ninth career Port Royal win. The 2017 track champion became the new point leader as well.

“I didn’t even know I won the race because we were racing so hard,” Zearfoss said. “When I was racing with Justin, I didn’t know if he was leading, or if someone else was out there. That was an intense race.”

Good racing luck hasn’t been on his side so far this season.

“It’s a matter of a little bit of luck and we had a really great race car,” Zearfoss said. “My guys gave me a good piece here. It’s our first night on one of Glenn Styres’ race cars – GSR Chassis. This thing’s a rocket ship. That race with Justin was so intense. He races hard, but we weren’t giving an inch.

“We’ve had speed all year, but luck hasn’t been on our side, and we haven’t been able to finish races,” Zearfoss added. “I’m glad tonight went our way.”

Mark Smith started second, but spun in front of the field in the first turn. Several drivers missed him, but Jake Karklin clipped Smith’s car. This sent Karklin into a nasty crash. Karklin was complaining of some pain, so he was transported to the hospital and later released.

More issues in the first turn on the ensuing restart as several cars got together. Danny Dietrich’s car was leaking fuel after damage to the tail tank. He was done for the race.

The 25-lap feature finally got going with Garett Bard leading. Lance Dewease took the lead from Bard with a second turn pass with three laps completed. Whittall passed Bard for second. Dewease raced through the middle groove, while Whittall was on the cushion.

Whittall made the pass. Dewease tried to take it back, but it was seventh starting Zearfoss getting by into second. As Zearfoss challenged Whittall for the lead, Ryan Smith raced into third.

They raced through traffic, but with seven to go, they both cleared the slower cars. Zearfoss finally got by Whittall down the backstretch and into turn three. Whittall tried to take it back as Smith lurked right behind in third.

Zearfoss won it by 1.366 seconds. Whittall held on for second ahead of Smith, Logan Wagner and Dewease. Bard, Austin Bishop, Dale Blaney, Doug Hammaker and AJ Flick rounded out the top 10.

Steve Buckwalter, Rick Lafferty, Ryan Smith and Justin Whittall won heat races for the 34 sprint cars. Jake Waters won the consolation race.

Gary Stuhler led Trever Feathers and Rick Eckert in the 25-lap late model feature. Stuhler had a close call in turn four with 10 laps completed as several cars got together and spun.

Stuhler controlled the restart over Feathers and Eckert.

He caught slower traffic with five to go. Feathers was on his bumper now and stole the win from Stuhler coming off turn four to the checkers. Stuhler was on the bottom and Feathers raced one lane higher to get by on the final lap. It was his second win of the season and he took the point lead.

Eckert, Colton Flinner, and Dylan Yoder completed the top five. Justin Weaver, Chris Casner, Hayes Mattern, Chad Julius and Lane Snook rounded out the top 10.

Colton Flinner, Roy Deese Jr. and Trevor Feathers won heat races for the 28 late models. Dillan Stake won the consolation.

Jeff Weaver led the early stages of the 20-lap feature for the 305 sprints over Tyler Brehm. Timmy Bitner was quickly into third from 11th starting spot.

A caution slowed the field with 12 laps to go. Bitner passed Brehm for second and Josh Spicer raced into third. Weaver’s big lead was erased by a caution with five to go.

He controlled the restart and the final laps scoring his first career

Port Royal win. Bitner, Josh Spicer, point leader Kenny Heffner and

Cole Dewease completed the top five. Brehm, Ken Duke Jr., Landon

Price, Chris Dolan and Mike Melair rounded out the top 10.

Heat races for the 47 cars in the 305 sprints went to Timmy Bitner,

Cole Dewease, Josh Spicer and Landon Price. Chris Meleason and Jarrett Cavalet won the consolations.