PORT ROYAL, Pa. — It was a night of firsts at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night.
With racing across the country drawing the interests of many central PA regulars, there were many competitors at the track shooting for their first win.
Key among them, Doug Hammaker, piloting the famed J&S Classics No. 22, Hammaker would drive from his sixth starting spot to the win, marking his first win behind a 410 sprint car.
Derek Hauck and Dominic Melair would comprise the front row of the 25-lap A-main event with Melair leading the opening circuit.
Hammaker would quickly jump his way to the front contenders, getting by 3rd running Kody Lehman on the opening lap to get into a podium position. He would do the same to 2nd place car Derek Hauck with just 5 laps completed to get into the runner up spot and set his sights on race leader Dominic Melair who had built up a two and a half second lead.
Over the next 11 laps, Hammaker would slowly cut into Melair’s lead through lapped traffic and pull alongside him for the top spot in turn 1 with 9 laps remaining.
Coming out of turn 4 was where Hammaker would make his winning move, squeezing by Melair with just inches between himself, the wall and Melair.
Over the final 8 laps, Derek Hauck and Melair would go to battle for the runner up spot, allowing Hammaker to stretch his lead and hold on for his first win.
“I think it’s pretty cool to put the 22 back in victory lane,” said Hammaker. “I never thought I’d get here but here we are.”
Hammaker not only joins the historic rank of drivers who have won a race at Port Royal Speedway, but a list of historic drivers like Greg Hodnett and Jason Johnson who were able to drive the Kline No. 22 to victory.
Sandy Kline is able to notch the victory off as the first for her as a sole owner of a 410 sprint car.
Kline said in victory lane, “Being a woman, I really felt I had something to prove. I knew if I put Doug in the car, we would get where we needed to.”
Hauck finished second and Logan Wagner was third.
In River Rock Campground Limited Late Model competition, Lane Snook claimed his third victory at Port Royal Speedway in 2026 marking the seventh of his career at his home track.
In Penns Valley Meat Market 305 sprint car compeition, Chris Dolan would lead all 20 laps to pick up his first career winged sprint car win.
The finish:
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 22-Doug Hammaker[6]; 2. 12J-Derek Hauck[1]; 3. 55-Logan Wagner[7]; 4. 55M-Domenic Melair[2]; 5. 47K-Kody Lehman[4]; 6. 11A-Austin Bishop[5]; 7. 35B-Buddy Schweibinz[18]; 8. 6-Ryan Smith[8]; 9. 8-Lance Dewease[19]; 10. 11T-Mike Thompson[3]; 11. 77-Michael Walter[9]; 12. 22E-Nash Ely[15]; 13. 17B-Steve Buckwalter[12]; 14. 11-TJ Stutts[22]; 15. 5-Dylan Cisney[11]; 16. 28-Tyler Brehm[21]; 17. 17-Mark Smith[17]; 18. 7-Chris Smith[10]; 19. 45S-Samuel Miller[24]; 20. 2C-Cory Thornton[20]; 21. 88J-Joey Amantea[13]; 22. 19-Tyler Esh[23]; 23. 10-Jake Waters[16]; 24. 99-Devin Adams[14]
