Ricky Thornton, Jr. scored the World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series victory on Saturday night at Fairbury Speedway. Photo: Jacy Norgaard
Ricky Thornton, Jr. overcame issues during Saturday night’s World of Outlaws CASE Late Model race at Illinois’ Faibury Speedway to score the win.
After a broken crank trigger almost ended his night on Lap 81, he stormed from sixth to first in six laps, passing Bobby Pierce with 13 laps to go en route to the $50,000 victory – plus $12,000 in lap money ($62,000 overall on Saturday).
Outside pole-sitter Ryan Gustin took the early lead in the 100-lap feature, sliding in front of Pierce as they reached turn 2. Gustin’s lead wouldn’t last long, though, as Pierce thundered past him in turn 4 to grab the lead on lap 5.
Thornton was behind the two drivers in third when the first caution came out on lap 8 for debris in turn 2. On the next restart, Thornton used the outside lane to get around Gustin and take over second.
Several cautions allowed Pierce to stay in clean air for the first 50 laps. But as the race hit its halfway point, Pierce found himself in lap traffic, allowing Thornton and Gustin to close in.
Thornton and Gustin traded second again in traffic until Thornton pulled away on lap 53 with his sights set on Pierce. That’s when Thornton, who was running the middle lane, switched to the top.
Thornton rode the cushion, quickly closing on Pierce as the leader tried to find a line to stay ahead. He made his first challenge for the lead on lap 62, but Pierce’s momentum was too strong as he stayed ahead.
Eventually, Thornton’s perseverance paid off, as he took the lead for the first time on lap 72. However, eight laps later, the race almost slipped away.
As he entered turn 3 on lap 81, Thornton said he broke a crank trigger. That led to him slowing on the front stretch with cars going by and bringing out the caution. However, power returned as the caution came out, allowing him to continue, but he found himself restarting sixth.
With 19 laps to go, his quest for the win appeared to be over. But Thornton had other ideas.
He quickly moved to the high line, needing one lap to return to the top five. Then on lap 87, he dove to the middle, splitting Gustin and Hudson O’Neal in turns 1 and 2. By the time they hit the backstretch, Thornton had cleared them both, sliding in front of O’Neal in turn 4 and readying himself for another shot at Pierce.
On lap 88, like his pass for the lead earlier in the race, Thornton nosed ahead of Pierce in turn 4 to retake the lead. But a bobble on the cushion by Thornton in turns 1 and 2 allowed Pierce to retake the lead on the backstretch.
With another move in turns 3 and 4, Thornton took the point for good, leading the final 13 laps to score the win, and earned his total of $62,000 by leading 24 laps.
Thornton said he used his adversity as motivation in the final 20 laps.
“We broke a crank trigger there in turn 3, and I’m freaking flipping switches and everything else, and finally, it came back to me,” Thornton said. “I didn’t think I was that far back, but I used it as motivation. After that, I said screw it. I was either going to win or tip it over.”
Pierce finished second, with Gustin in third, Sheppard in fourth, and O’Neal in fifth.
The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models next heads to Iowa’s Boone Speedway on Tuesday, August 1. For more information, visit WorldofOutlaws.com.
World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series
Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, IL
Race Results – July 29, 2023
1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton, Jr.
2. 32-Bobby Pierce
3. 19R-Ryan Gustin
4. B5-Brandon Sheppard
5. 1-Hudson O’Neal
6. 3S-Brian Shirley
7. 28-Dennis Erb, Jr.
8. 9-Nick Hoffman
9. 40B-Kyle Bronson
10. 96V-Tanner English
11. 11R-Josh Rice
12. 44-Chris Madden
13. 18D-Daulton Wilson
14. 97-Cade Dillard
15. 22-Chris Ferguson
16. 99JR-Frank Heckenast, Jr.
17. 25-Shane Clanton
18. 25F-Jason Feger
19. 89-Mike Spatola
20. 11-Gordy Gundaker
21. 18B-Shannon Babb
22. 1T-Tyler Erb
23. 1M-Mike Mataragas
24. 26H-Kyle Hammer
25. 32S-Chris Simpson
26. B12-Kevin Weaver
27. 19M-Wil Herrington
28. 33-Mike Harrison
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