Story By: A2DPR / JEFF HALLIGAN RACING – PORT ROYAL, PA – Jeff Halligan has been to victory lane at Port Royal Speedway at least once each season since 2020 but so far this year it had eluded him.
His best finish at ‘The Speed Palace’ in 2023 was 3rd back on May 6th and last week was his worst finish (20th) when his night ended with a hard crash after being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Halligan and the Risser Motorsports team have been working hard to get back to victory lane and Saturday night they flexed their muscle a little.
Halligan and the Risser Motorsports, TheTreeCenter.com, Victory Auto of Lewistown, EMM Sales & Service, Jake’s Golf Carts, Pine Hill Trailers, Keystone Ag Spraying No.45 were among the field of 27 teams signed in at Port Royal Speedway Saturday night, June 10th. Three heats would each transfer the top six finishers to the main event but only the top three would be handicapped to the front of the starting lineup for the finale.
From his starting spot on the outside of row three in his heat race, Halligan went to the cushion in turns one and two to drive into 4th, then used the momentum to dive low in turn three to take 3rd. He would go on to finish there and make the cut for a handicap spot.
Just like earlier in the night, Halligan rolled to the green from the outside of row three. This time it would be 25 laps and $5,000 to the winner.
Once again Halligan got off to a quick start, this time using the middle to move into 4th on the opening lap, then 3rd on lap two.
On lap three Halligan dove under Michael Walter in turn three and slid up into the runner-up spot. He then began his pursuit of leader Lucas Wolfe.
Halligan entered turn one higher on lap five and cut low off turn two. The diamond move produced a big run, which the Ephrata, PA native used to drive under Wolfe entering turn three and take the top spot.
Halligan quickly put several car lengths between himself and Wolfe. He reached lapped traffic on lap nine but navigated it smoothly and continued to build his lead. At the halfway mark, he held a straightaway advantage.
The first caution of the event appeared with six laps remaining. On the ensuing restart, Halligan used the middle and low side of the speedway to put five car lengths between himself and Wolfe by the time the pair reached the middle of the backstretch. He continued his torrid pace and won the race going away.
“I told (crew chief) Kyle (Defibaugh) that was the easiest win I’ve ever had in any division I have raced. That car was a dream to drive.“, Halligan said in victory lane.
“The track was a lot like Weikert weekend. We were really close then, so went off that. We nailed it this time; we were good in dirty air; we were good everywhere“.
Halligan’s No.45 certainly was on point Saturday night. When the caution appeared with six laps remaining, he had a 5.3 second lead and when racing resumed, he amassed a 4 second advantage over the final six circuits.
“This is a brand new HP engine. First night out for it. We decided to break it out and get it ready for Speedweek. It’s a different car than last week too. That one was junk. We are running Panther Chassis and Shawn is here tonight, so it’s cool to have him here for a win.”, Halligan continued.
“We weren’t very good earlier tonight but Kyle and the team went to work on it and they had it perfect. I wasn’t worried at all on the restart. The car was so good I just thought, let’s finish this off.“, Halligan shared.
“I want to thank Brent and Debbie Risser, Jake’s Carts and Victory Auto for starters. We could not do this without them. Thanks to TheTreeCenter.com, EMM Sales and Service, Panther Frameworx, Pine Hill Trailers, Keystone Ag Spraying, RV 4-Wheel Drive, Newlin Bar Service, Jim Haller’s Maple Syrup, Alloy Wheel Repair and all our partners. Zach (Newlin) and Jim (Haller) are here tonight too, so it’s great to win with so many of these folks in attendance. Thanks to my crew. This is on them. This is their win.“
Halligan and the Risser Motorsports team be back at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday, June 17th for the speedway’s Open Wheel Madness show that includes the USAC Sprint Car and USAC Silver Crown divisions.