PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Ryan Timms was lucky and good on his way to winning Thursday’s opening night of the Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal Speedway.
The good part was when the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native wheeled the Liebig Motorsports No.10 from sixth-to-second in 20 laps. The lucky part was when dominant race leader Chase Dietz blew a right-rear tire on Lap 23 and gifted command of the field to Timms with three laps left.
Prior to that race-deciding moment, there was no shortage of drama already brewing at “The Speed Palace.” At the start of the 25-lapper, it was a showdown between the High Rollers and the PA Posse with Rico Abreu and Chase Dietz sharing the front row of the feature.
Abreu, back in the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 24, controlled the opening five laps before Dietz somehow narrowly squeezed between the High Limit championship leader and the outside wall to steal the lead on Lap 6.
It was only two laps later when chaos ensued as Dietz’s Stehman Motorsports No. 23 made contact with Kasey Jedrzejek in lapped traffic and completed a 360 spin. From potentially disastrous to race-saving, he was able to retain his lead due to his ability to remain fired and drive away from the scene while Zach Hampton flipped and caused the stoppage.
Regaining his composure, the York, Pennsylvania native dominated the next stretch of the race as he built a 5.056-second advantage before the next stoppage on Lap 20 when fourth-running James McFadden went flipping off the fence.
That restart would change the whole picture of the race when Dietz’ right rear exploded coming off turn two and he coasted to a stop with three laps left.
Assuming control of the race lead, Timms coasted home on the final restart to claim his second-career win with Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing – the first being his $58,000 score in last year’s Tuscarora 50 finale at Port Royal Speedway.
Timms’ first trip to Whiskey Myers Victory Lane this season marked his 16th overall win with Liebig Motorsports in 2026.
The score officially locks them in to defend their Tusky title on Saturday – as Thursday’s winner has a set aside provisional (to start 19th) in the 50-lap finale should they not already earn a better starting position through heat races.
Justin Peck followed Timms to the stripe – earning his third runner-up result in the last four High Limit events at Port Royal. It’s the fifth second-place finish of the season for Rudeen Racing as the No. 26 still hunts for their first High Limit win of 2026.
Aaron Reutzel took the final step on the podium with a crucial eight-to-third drive putting him one spot ahead of championship counterpart Rico Abreu.
The Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87 now trails the Tony Stewart Racing No. 24 by only 43 points with 12 nights left to decide the Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing title.
Abreu finished fourth from the pole, while Doug Hammaker earned a High Limit career-best fifth (from 17th) aboard the Jim & Sandy Kline No. 22.
The finish:
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 10-Ryan Timms[6]; 2. 26-Justin Peck[3]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel[8]; 4. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 5. 22-Doug Hammaker[17]; 6. 77-Giovanni Scelzi[9]; 7. 67-Justin Whittall[22]; 8. 55-Kerry Madsen[15]; 9. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[18]; 10. 13-Tanner Holmes[19]; 11. 55W-Logan Wagner[16]; 12. 88-Tanner Thorson[4]; 13. 21-Brian Brown[12]; 14. 71R-Logan Rumsey[11]; 15. 69K-Ryan Smith[21]; 16. 9-Daison Pursley[5]; 17. 19-Brent Marks[7]; 18. 1A-Cameron Smith[20]; 19. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[25]; 20. 42-Sye Lynch[13]; 21. 11-TJ Stutts[26]; 22. 5-Kasey Jedrzejek[27]; 23. 23-Chase Dietz[2]; 24. 8-Lance Dewease[14]; 25. 39M-James McFadden[10]; 26. 47K-Kody Lehman[28]; 27. 6-Zach Hampton[24]; 28. 11A-Austin Bishop[23]
