---

davenport still winless at ppms as ricky thorton jr wins his second pittsburgher in three years

Imperial, PA | 10.1.23 | For Immediate Release

 

To call the 2023 Pittsburgher Weekend a success would be a vast understatement. 80-degree weather, plus amazing racing and family entertainment were the name of the game for the 35th running of the annual event.

The Prelude To The Pittsburgher on Friday was a barn-burner with PPMS seeing qualifying for the RUSH Late Model Touring Series and the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks, ten heat races, two b-mains, a six-lap dash, and five feature events. Then on Saturday, qualifying for both the RUSH Late Models and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, eight heat races, four b-mains, a six-lap dash, and three feature events.

On Friday, The Steel City Outlaw, Tim Shaffer (45), from Aliquippa, out-distanced a stellar field of Rohrich RUSH Late Models to pick up the biggest win of his RUSH Late Model Career during night number one of the Bill Hendren Memorial. Joe Martin (10S), won the RUSH Late Model Non-Quailifyer feature. Chris Schneider (55), from Lower Burrell, won the 2nd Annual Bob Walters Memorial for the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks, making him undefeated in the young event. Logan Koteles (64K), from Stockdale, made a late-race pass to steal the Hobby Stock feature win from his brother Jonathan who led the first 14 and a half laps. Noah Bubeck (187), from Colliers, West Virginia, got the win in the Crawford Auto Repair Four-Cylinder Feature after being forced to start in last place for failing to go to the scales after his heat race, and Sadie Snatchko (56), from Oakdale, picked up another win the All Ways Safe Flagging And Traffic Control Young Guns Feature.

On Saturday, Ricky Thorton Jr (20RT), from Martinsville, Indiana, became $30,000 richer, as he would win the 2023 Pittsburgher after he made a late race pass to steal the lead from Jonathan Davenport (49), from Blairsville, Georgia, who led the 37 laps in the 75-lap event. Joe Martin (10S), from Punxatawney, won night number two of the Bill Hendren Memorial for the RUSH Late Model Touring Series, and took $10,000 to the bank, while Dan Lepro (2L), from Midway, won the RUSH Late Model Non-Quaifiers feature. 

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series had 37 entries for the 2023 Pittsburgher and they were broken into two groups for qualifying. Ricky Thorton Jr (20RT) set the overall fast-time with a time of 19.259 while Michael Norris (10), set the fast-time for his group with a time of 19.388, and Norris (10) would start on the pole in the 75-lap main event with Thorton Jr (20RT) flanked to his outside. The second row had Brandon Overton (76) starting third, and Davenport (49) starting in fourth.

At the start of the 75-lap main event, the 24-car field didn’t complete a lap before the first caution was out for a few cars that got tangled up between turns one and two forcing a complete restart. On the second attempt, Norris (10) would jump out to an early lead with Thorton Jr (20RT) in second, Davenport (49) in third, Earl Pearson Jr (46) in fourth, and Overton (76) in fifth. Another caution would reset the field on lap 13 for a car that had trouble on the front stretch. Norris (10) and Thorton Jr (20RT) would lead the restart and when green replaced yellow, Thornton Jr (20RT) would take over the lead. Laps 14 through 36 were green and had Thorton Jr (20RT) as their leader until Davenport (49) took over the lead just before a lap 37 caution slowed the pace and reracked the field. On the restart, Davenport (49) kept the lead and had Thorton Jr (20RT) in tow. Another yellow would come on lap 41 for the 111B of Max Blair who had a flat tire. Davenport (49) would again keep his lead on the restart but Overton (76) would take over second which knocked Thorton Jr (20RT) back to third. However, another caution would come only one lap later on lap 42, and then two more on lap 46 for debris on the track and lap 47. Davenport (49) would again keep his lead over the field when they returned to green-flag conditions, and they would run green until lap 54 when the caution flag was out again and this time it was for Overton (76) which allowed Thorton Jr. (20RT) to settle into second behind the race leader. Davenport (49) and Thorton Jr (20RT) would battle for the lead in a thrilling spectacle for the next several laps until Davenport (49) made contact with the outside wall which caused him to fade late in the race allowing Thorton Jr (20RT) to take sole possession of the lead. Despite a lap 72 caution, Thornton Jr. (20RT) would go on to win his second Pittsburgher in his last three attempts. Devin Moran (99) got the runner-up spot, and Tim McCreadie (39) completed the podium, while Hudson O’Neal (1) finished fourth after starting P16 and won the hard charger, and Pearson Jr (46) rounded out the top five.

“He [Davenport] was way better than I was. On the restarts, I had to get back by Brandon [Overton] and I pretty much held it on the floor after that. I have got to thank Clements for building an awesome motor here it held up for the final 60 laps flat on the floor. I guess I wanted it a little bit more. He [Davenport] was starting to get tight on entry and I just started to move my line around a little bit. That was the first time I think I have ever gotten a 10 to go signal so I thought it was a five to go. I drove a lot harder after that, but this team never gives up. It was definitely some hard racing,” said the winner who collected his seventh series win in nine starts in September.

Moran (99) battled with McCreadie (39) to the very end to lock up the fourth spot heading to Eldora. Brandon Overton would slow with mechanical issues on lap 54 yielding the fourth spot after running as high as second in the race.

“This is always such a long race, because it’s a big track,” said the runner-up whose father Donnie won the race twice during his career. “The top got really, really good on both ends. It was definitely not the way we wanted to make it there at the end with Brandon breaking, he was really good too. We put ourselves in position and my crew just worked their tails off all year, and especially in the last two months, kudos to them for preparing me such a great racecar and coming up with these podium finishes.”

McCreadie, the two-time and defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. “I got the car a little too tight in the center where I couldn’t rotate good enough which I haven’t been able to do most of the season. It was probably the wrong time to do it. We should have kept it in the same vicinity as we were in the heat. We feel a lot better than we did a few months ago. Now we can concentrate on winning at Eldora in a few weeks.”

The winner’s Todd and Vickie Burns-owned, SSI Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Coltman Farms, Hoker Trucking, Dyno One, Inc., Sub-Surface of Indiana, West Side Tractor Sales Company, D&E Outside Services, Certified Inspection Service Company, Inc., Midwest Sheet Metal, Excel Floor Covering, Murty Farms, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Bilstein Shocks.

Completing the top ten were Max Blair, Alex Ferree, Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Overton, and Mason Zeigler.

44 RUSH Late Models were signed in for night number two of The Bill Hendren Memorial and they were also broken into two groups for qualifying. Michael Norris (N1) was doing double duty and set the fast time for group A and the overall fast time at 19.710. Martin (10S) had the fastest time in group B with a time of 19.891. After their four heat races, two b mains, and six-lap dash, the 26-car field was set for the 40-lap main event. After winning the dash, Brandon Burgoon (60) would start on the pole and had Max Blair (00K) starting to his outside. Martin (10S) and Norris (N1) made up the second starting row. At the drop of the green flag for their 40-lap main event, Burgoon (60) jumped out to an early lead, but a lap three caution would slow the pace and force a reset of the field. On the restart, Martin (10S) would take over the lead with Burgoon (60) now in second, and Garret Paugh (03) in third. Another caution came on lap 14 and when green replaced yellow, Martin (10S) was able to keep his lead over the field with Burgoon (60) still in second, and Colton Flinner (75F) now in third. Martin (10S) would enter lapped traffic around lap 22 and with 10 laps remaining in the event, he had a huge lead over the field. However, a lap 35 caution would make the last five laps interesting, to say the least. On the restart, Flinner (75F) would take over the lead and battle back and forth with Martin (10S) for the last five laps. On the last lap of the event, the duo would battle side by side and as they came out of turn four, Martin (10S) was able to get position on Flinner (75F) on the low side of the track, and he would win the drag race to the finish line to take home the $10,000 grand prize and probably the biggest win of his career. Flinner (75F) would finish a close second, Blair (00K) finished third, Burgoon (60) fourth, and Norris (N1) completed the top five. The heat race winners were Norris (N1), Paugh (03), Martin (10S), and Jake Gunn (14G). The b main winners were Colby Beighey (36) and Jeremy Steele (22S).

In the RUSH Late Model Non-Quailifyers 10-lap feature, Clinton Hersh (16) started on the pole with Lepro (2L) to his outside. At the start of the event, the field wouldn’t complete a lap before the first caution was out forcing a complete restart. On the second attempt at green flag conditions, Lepro (2L) would jump out to an early lead with Kassidy Kamicker (72B) following him into second. After the initial caution, the race ran caution-free and ended in record fashion as Lepro (2L) was able to pick up the win. Kamicker (72B) got the runner-up spot with Brian Huchko (60H) in third, Zachary Kane (4K) in fourth, and Craig Graham (98) completing the top five.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

On Friday, 44 RUSH Late Models were signed in from seven different states, and two different countries on Friday, and they were ready to battle it out for night one of the Bill Hendren Memorial. They were split into two groups for qualifying and Shaffer (45) led the charge in Group A with a time of 18.458. Michael Norris (N1), from Sarver, led the charge in Group B and had the overall fast-time at 18.332. From there, they were broken into four heat races with the top five making the show, and the top two competing in the six-lap dash to determine the top eight starting spots for their 30-lap feature. The rest would have another chance to make the show in one of two b mains.

Jeremy Steele (22S), from York, South Carolina, would go on to win the dash and lock in the pole position in the 30-lap main event. Shaffer (45) would start to his outside in second. The second row had Norris (N1) starting third, and Justin Chance (184C) starting in fourth, while row three had Brandon Burgoon (60), and Michael Duritsky (90J) starting fifth and sixth respectively.  

When the green flag waved at the start of their main event, Steele (22S) jumped out to an early lead with Norris (N1) in second and Shaffer (45) in third. Shaffer (45) would then take second away from Norris (N1) on lap three and begin to put pressure on the leader, on lap four. However, Steele (22) was able to shut the door on Shaffer (45) and keep his lead over the field. A lap five caution would slow the pace and rerack the field as Steele (22) and Shaffer (45) led the restart. Shaffer (45) would become the new race leader once the field returned to green flag conditions, but only one lap was completed before the caution was out again as quite a few cars got tangled up at the exit of turn four and onto the front stretch. Shaffer (45) would take the outside on the restart putting Norris (N1) to his inside. When green replaced yellow, Shaffer (45) would keep and start to extend his lead over the field with Norris (N1) in tow in second and Daryl Charlier (184D) now in third through lap seven. By the tenth frame of the event, Shaffer (45) had close to a full straightaway lead on Norris (N1) who was feeling the pressure from a third-place Jake Gunn (14G) who started P10. J. Gunn (14G) would take second away from Norris (N1) around lap 15 and he would begin to make up some ground on the race leader, Shaffer (45). Shaffer (45) would enter lapped traffic on lap 17 with  J. Gunn (14G) and Norris (N1) soon to follow suit. J. Gunn (14G) was able to cut Shaffer’s (45) lead down to a half of a straight away as the duo got the five-to-go sign from the flagman. However, Shaffer (45) was on a rail and he would hold on for his biggest win in a RUSH Late Model. J. Gunn (14G) settled for the runner-up spot with Norris (N1) completing the podium, Charlier (184D) finished fourth, and Michael Duritsky (90J) rounded out the top five. The heat race winners were Shaffer (45), Burgoon (60), Norris (N1), and Steele (22). The b main winners were Brock Pinkerous (555) and Frank Magill (05). *** Notables: Shaffer (45) set a new track record on lap eight of his heat race at 18.089.

In the RUSH Late Model 10-lap Non Quailifyers feature, Joe Martin (10S) would start on the pole with Zachary Kane (4K) starting to his outside. Kassidy Kamicker (72B) would start in third, and Brandt Graham (14) would start in fourth. When the green flag waved, Martin (10S) pulled away with the early lead. Martin (10S) led lap after lap as it appeared the event would end in record fashion but a lap nine caution would slow the pace and force a reset of the field with one lap to go. When green replaced yellow, Martin (10S) would keep his lead and go on to win the event. He was followed by Tony Musolino (42) in second, Kane (4K) in third, Kamicker (72B) in forth, and Craig Graham (98) rounded out the top five.

20 Penn Ohio Pro Stocks were signed in for the 2nd Annual Bob Walters Memorial and Tyler Dietz would set the overall fast-time during their hot lap qualifying with a time of 19.346. Christian Schneider (56) was a close second with a time of 19.454. From that, their two heat races would ensue with Chris Schneider (55) winning heat one, and Bobby Whitling (7W) winning heat two. However, the bigger news was Christian Schneider (56) suffered a blown motor in heat number two and was done for the evening. In their 20-lap feature, Whittling (7W) would start on the pole with Chris Schneider (55) starting to his outside. Row two had Dietz (00D) starting in third and Brandon Connor (55C) starting in fourth. Whitling (7W) appeared to have the early lead at the start of the event but Schneider (55) had the lead at the line on lap one. Schneider (55), Dietz (00D), and Whitling (7W) were running one, two, and three respectively laps three through seven. Schneider (55) was about to enter lapped traffic on lap eight when debris on the track brought out the event’s first caution. Schneider (55) led the restart on the outside and kept his lead with Dietz (00D) in tow, and Whitling (7W) in third. Despite two more cautions that would come back to back with six laps remaining in the event, Schneider (55) was able to hold on to win his second Bob Walters Memorial in a row. He was followed by Dietz (00D) in second, Whitling (7W) in third, Brett Hutria (4H) in fourth, and Cody Koteles (1K) rounded out the top five.

In the Hobby Stock 15-lap feature, it was Jonathan Koteles (2K), from Stockdale who would start on the pole. Starting to his outside in second was Dalton Ritchey (39), from Woodbury. The second row consisted of Garrett O’Patchen (25), from Scott Township, starting third, and Gary Koteles (2), from Stockdale, starting fourth. When the green flag waved, J. Koteles (2K) claimed the early lead. J. Koteles (2K) was still leading on lap six but his younger brother, Logan Koteles (64K) was now in second, and Matt Benard (15) now in third. J. Koteles (2K) led lap after lap through lap 14, and as he and L. Koteles (64K) took the white flag they were side-by-side. As they exited turn four toward the checkered flag, L. Koteles (64K) was able to make the pass on the low side to steal the win. J. Koteles (2K) finished a close second, Benard (15) third, Ritchey (39) fourth, and O’Patchen (25) rounded out the top five. The heat race winners were L. Koteles (64K) and J. Koteles (2K). 

In the Crawford Auto Repair 12-lap feature, Kyle Janas (88) would start on the pole flanked by Tyler Hollister (69) starting second. The second row had John Gill (19G) starting third, and Jakob Chipps (38C) starting fourth. When the green flag waved, Janas (88) would pull away with the early lead with Bubeck (187) already in second. On lap three, Bubeck (187) took over the lead knocking Janas (88) back to second. Bubeck (187) led the remaining laps of the event picking up another Four Cylinder win. Janas (88) finished second, Chipps (38C) third, Matt Knight (78) ffourth, and Brian Noel (38) rounded out the top five. The heat race winners were Jerry Batcher (59) and Janas (88)

In the All Ways Safe Flagging And Traffic Control Young Guns 10 lap feature, Cheyenne Hollister (29M) started on the pole with Zoey Knight (78Z) to her outside. Sadie Snatchko (56) started in third, AJ Manganello (50) started in fourth, and Gavin Kokolis (91) completed the five-car field. When the green flag dropped, Snatchko (56) took the early lead with Manganello (50) in second, and Kokolis (91) in third. Snatchko (56) led all laps of the event which ended in record fashion. She was followed by Manganello (50) in second, Kokolis (91) in third, Knight (78Z) in fourth, and Hollister (29M) completed the top five. The Young Guns Did Not Run A Heat Race!

Pittburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway thanks the fans, race teams, and drivers for an amazing season and we look forward to the future.

Our next event is Trunk Or Treat on October 22, 2023, and we hope to see you there and you have a wonderful off-season!

 

RESULTS

 

PITTSBURGHER A-MAIN 75 - Laps

Finish Start # Competitor Hometown

1 2 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr Martinsville, IN

2 7 99 Devin Moran Dresden, OH

3 6 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY

4 16 1H Hudson ONeal Martinsville, IN

5 5 46 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL

6 18 111B Max Blair Centerville, PA

7 14 1C Alex Ferree Saxonburg, PA

8 4 49 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA

9 3 76 Brandon Overton Evans, GA

10 17 25Z Mason Zeigler Chalk Hill, PA

11 10 11 Spencer Hughes Meridian, MS  

12 8 18D Daulton Wilson Fayetteville, NC

13 9 11H Keith Jackson Martinsburg, WV

14 19 58 Garrett Alberson Las Cruces, NM

15 12 1T Tyler Erb New Waverly, TX

16 11 10        Garrett Smith Eatonton, GA

17 1 10M Michael Norris Sarver, PA

18 20 7T Drake Troutman Hyndman, PA

19 13 2T Kyle Lee Mercersburg, PA

20 23 7 Ross Robinson Georgetown, DE

21 21 48 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA

22 15 66C Matt Cosner Ridgeley, WV

23 22 4 Gary Stuhler Greencastle, PA

24 24 99B Boom Briggs - Bear Lake, PA

 

UNOH B-MAIN 1

Finish Start # Competitor Hometown +/-

1 1 25Z Mason Zeigler Chalk Hill, PA

2 7 58 Garrett Alberson Las Cruces, NM

3 3 48 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA

Top 3 transfer

4 6 66 Justin Kann Huntingdon, PA

5 8 8S Tommy Schirnhofer Jr Pittsburgh, PA

6 5 1Z Logan Zarin Hookstown, PA

7 4 89 Logan Roberson Waynesboro, VA

8 10 27T Tony White Aliquippa, PA

9 9 01 Ron Hall Hookstown, PA

10 2 7 Ross Robinson Georgetown, DE

11 11 94 AJ Campbell Pittsburgh, PA

10 Laps

 

UNOH B-MAIN 2

Finish Start # Competitor Hometown +/-

1 2 111B Max Blair Centerville, PA

2 5 7T Drake Troutman Hyndman, PA

3 3 4 Gary Stuhler Greencastle, PA

Top 3 transfer

4 6 J4 John Garvin Jr Sarver, PA

5 4 99B Boom Briggs Bear Lake, PA -1

6 7 32J Shaun Jones Shermansdale, PA

7 1 69 Jon Hodgkiss Pittsburgh, PA

8 8 21 Chad Myers Hampstead, MD

9 10 EZ1 Ron Fink Cumberland, MD

10 9 55C Chris Schneider Lower Burrell, PA

 

PENSKE SHOCKS HEAT 1

Finish Start # Competitor Hometown +/-

1 1 10M Michael Norris Sarver, PA

2 5 46 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL

3 2 11H Keith Jackson Martinsburg, WV

4 3 2T Kyle Lee Mercersburg, PA

Top 4 transfer

5 8 25Z Mason Zeigler Chalk Hill, PA

6 4 48 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA

7 6 1Z Logan Zarin Hookstown, PA

8 7 58 Garrett Alberson Las Cruces, NM

9 9 01 Ron Hall Hookstown, PA

10 10 94 AJ Campbell Pittsburgh, PA

8 Laps

 

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT HEAT 2

Finish Start # Competitor Hometown +/-

1 1 76 Brandon Overton Evans, GA

2 2 99 Devin Moran Dresden, OH

3 <span style="font-weight:

Back to News