PORT ROYAL, Pa. - In only his second career start in a dirt late model, Kyle Larson led all 50 laps to win Saturday night’s Rumble by the River Round 3 at Pennsylvania’s Port Royal Speedway.
Larson crossed the finish line .499 seconds ahead of Brandon Sheppard to become the 17th different winner this year in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Gregg Satterlee crossed the finish line in third followed by Chris Ferguson in fourth and Thursday night’s Round 1 winner, Tim McCreadie in fifth.
Larson had already claimed three wins in a winged sprint car at Port Royal in his career, entering the event. He had to contend with tough challenges from Sheppard and Hudson O’Neal for the first 27 laps of the race until O’Neal slowed with a flat right rear tire.
That left Larson and Sheppard to battle it out for the win, but Satterlee and Ferguson joined in on the fray to try to make it a four-man battle. With less than five laps to go there were three other drivers chasing down Larson in traffic in the closing laps.
The 28-year-old California native has recorded 34 wins in open wheel racing this year and has now added a Dirt Late Model victory to his impressive resume.
“No doubt this is probably one of, if not the biggest wins ever of my career,” Larson said. “I thought we would be okay, but I didn’t think I was going to win a race. To climb into something that’s way different than I have ever been in and to have success with a great team just means a lot.”
Larson’s first career start in a late model came on Thursday at Port Royal, where he finished fifth.
Earl Pearson Jr., Jimmy Owens, Kyle Strickler, Mason Zeigler, and Rick Eckert rounded out the top 10.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Port Royal Speedway – Port Royal, PA
Rumble by the River – Round 3 – August 29, 2020
| Pos | Start | Car # | Competitor | Hometown | Pay |
| 1 | 2 | 6 | Kyle Larson | Elk Grove, CA | $15,000 |
| 2 | 1 | 1S | Brandon Sheppard | New Berlin, IL | $6,500 |
| 3 | 6 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Indiana, PA | $3,500 |
| 4 | 16 | 22F | Chris Ferguson | Mt. Holly, NC | $3,000 |
| 5 | 7 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $3,200 |
| 6 | 10 | 1 | Earl Pearson Jr | Jacksonville, FL | $2,700 |
| 7 | 12 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $2,700 |
| 8 | 5 | 8 | Kyle Strickler | Mooresville, NC | $1,600 |
| 9 | 14 | 25Z | Mason Zeigler | Chalk Hill, PA | $1,550 |
| 10 | 19 | 0E | Rick Eckert | York, PA | $1,500 |
| 11 | 17 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $2,250 |
| 12 | 13 | 81E | Tanner English | Benton, KY | $2,100 |
| 13 | 15 | 2S | Stormy Scott | Las Cruces, NM | $1,350 |
| 14 | 3 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $1,300 |
| 15 | 8 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | $1,900 |
| 16 | 4 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $1,800 |
| 17 | 23 | 1T | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | $1,700 |
| 18 | 21 | 16 | Tyler Bruening | Decorah, IA | $1,700 |
| 19 | 20 | 88 | Trent Ivey | Union, SC | $1,000 |
| 20 | 9 | 9 | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH | $1,700 |
| 21 | 24 | 21 | Billy Moyer Jr | Batesville, AR | $1,700 |
| 22 | 22 | 43 | Jason Covert | York Haven, PA | $1,000 |
| 23 | 18 | 93 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL | $1,000 |
| 24 | 11 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $2,000 |
| 25 | 25 | 48 | Colton Flinner | Allison Park, PA | $1,000 |
