Ricky Thornton, Jr. holds up a broom after completing the weekend sweep of the Knoxville Nationals for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway. Photo: LOLMDS Media
Ricky Thornton, Jr. brought out the broom on Saturday night at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway, as the current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship leader completed the weekend sweep of the 19th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals.
It was Thornton’s first win in the crown jewel event as he collected more than $64,000 for the weekend after winning Thursday and Friday night’s preliminary races and the $50,000 finale. Thornton became only the second driver to win all three nights of the Late Model Nationals, joining Billy Moyer who did it in 2010.
Mike Marlar earned $25,000 for his second-place finish as he was attempting to win his fourth Late Model Knoxville Nationals. Marlar led seven laps of the 75-lap race as he and Thornton traded the lead four times in the first 23 laps of the race.
Hudson O’Neal came home in third, with Blairsville, Georgia’s Jonathan Davenport in fourth, and Evans, Georgia’s Brandon Overton in fifth.
Thornton and Iowa native Chad Simpson started on the front row, as Thornton sprinted to an early lead over Simpson, who settled into second. Marlar, who started fifth quickly made his way to the front taking over the second spot by lap six from Simpson.
Marlar then was able to run down Thornton, taking his first lead of the race on lap 11. But two laps later Thornton was back out in front recapturing the lead on lap 13. Thornton and Marlar then continued their battle for the lead as Marlar once again went to the top of the scoring pylon on lap 18.
Marlar would hold the lead until Thornton was able to wrestle it from him on lap 23. Kyle Bronson, who had started seventh was using the top line to quickly move into second around Marlar on lap 35. Bronson stayed glued to the top of the racetrack as he held the second position until contact with the wall in turn three on lap 59 resulted in a rollover for the Florida veteran ending his night. Bronson escaped uninjured from the accident.
On the restart Thornton had Marlar again behind him, but Thornton was pulling away to a huge advantage when the final caution flew on lap 67 for Ryan Gustin. On the single-file restart Thornton would pull away for the win.
The 32-year-old Martinsville, Indiana resident picked up his 20th series win of 2023 and became the 14th different driver to win the event, which began in 2004.
“It’s awesome honestly, you try to be the best you can I mean it’s been a dream season for me,” Thornton said. “I didn’t know if we were going to be good enough honestly. I saw (Kyle) Bronson coming and (Christopher) Jayco was telling me to move up. I saw him (Bronson) getting closer and closer and I thought man I’ve got to move up. I don’t know, but after that I drove my heart out and it worked out.”
Thornton had to patiently wait through several red and caution flag breaks during the race.
“I had big time concerns because you never know,” said Thornton. “When we got back racing, I tried to get the tires as hot as I could. I figured if mine was going to seal up everyone else’s was too. Hats off to this team they bust their butts.”
Chase Junghans, Brian Shirley, Devin Moran, Tim McCreadie, and Brandon Sheppard rounded out the top 10.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series returns to action on Friday and Saturday, September 22-23, at Indiana’s Brownstown Speedway. For more information, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, IA
Knoxville Nationals – September 16, 2023
1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton, Jr.
2. 157-Mike Marlar
3. 1H-Hudson O’Neal
4. 49-Jonathan Davenport
5. 4-Brandon Overton
6. 18-Chase Junghans
7. 8S-Brian Shirley
8. 99-Devin Moran
9. 39-Tim McCreadie
10. B5-Brandon Sheppard
11. 1T-Tyler Erb
12. 58-Garrett Alberson
13. 25-Chad Simpson
14. 18D-Daulton Wilson
15. 32-Chris Simpson
16. 11-Spencer Hughes
17. 46-Earl Pearson, Jr.
18. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck
19. 111B-Max Blair
20. 48-Tim Lance
21. 19R-Ryan Gustin
22. 40B-Kyle Bronson
23. 30-Todd Cooney
24. 22F-Chris Ferguson
25. 16-Tyler Bruening
26. 98-Cory Hedgecock
27. 62-Justin Zeitner
28. 7-Ross Robinson
29. 99JR-Frank Heckenast, Jr.
30. 51-Matt Furman
31. 99B-Boom Briggs
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