Ricky Thornton, Jr. drove the the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory on Saturday night at Golden Isles Speedway. Photo: LOLMDS/Twitter
Ricky Thornton, Jr. picked up his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season on Saturday night at Golden Isles Speedway in Waynesville, Georgia.
Thornton earned $25,000 for his 29th career series win. He scored the victory by 0.425 seconds over Chris Madden. Blairsville, Georgia’s Jonathan Davenport finished in third, with Evans, Georgia’s Brandon Overton in fourth, and Devin Moran in fifth.
Thornton grabbed the early lead in the 60-lap feature, with Mike Marlar tucking in behind him. Those two ran first and second and as they raced through heavy traffic. Marlar made a move for the lead as he drove to the outside of Thornton in turn four on lap 37. The two made contact as they exited turn four side-by-side and Davenport would sneak by both of them to take the lead on lap 37.
Davenport, who started fifth, then held the lead until lap 48 when Thornton regained the top spot. It appeared Thornton’s time back in front again would be short-lived however as both Madden and Davenport challenged for the position. One lap later, a slowing Tim McCreadie brought out the first caution of the race before the lap was officially scored, putting Thornton out front again.
The race would go green for three more laps when Tyler Erb slowed with a flat tire bringing out the second and final caution of the race.
The final restart with eight laps remaining saw Thornton maintain his grip on the bottom to hold off Madden for the win.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane, Thornton voiced his displeasure with a couple of his fellow competitors.
“When I got passed, I didn’t think I was going to get back to the front,” Thornton said. “I am not quite sure why the 49 (Davenport) and the 157 (Marlar) kept racing there. Mikey (Marlar) drove across my right front in three and is mad at me, and with JD (Davenport) I tried to cross him, and I probably shouldn’t have tried to stuff it in there. Everyone is already counting us out after one night, maybe the rest of the week will be elbows up.”
Marlar, Ryan Gustin, Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Sheppard, and Ross Robinson rounded out the top 10.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series returns to action on Tuesday, January 30 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida. For more information, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Golden Isles Speedway – Waynesville, GA
Super Bowl of Racing – January 27, 2024
1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton, Jr.
2. 44-Chris Madden
3. 49-Jonathan Davenport
4. 76-Brandon Overton
5. 99-Devin Moran
6. 157-Mike Marlar
7. 19R-Ryan Gustin
8. 1-Hudson O’Neal
9. B5-Brandon Sheppard
10. 7-Ross Robinson
11. 79-Donald McIntosh
12. 18D-Daulton Wilson
13. 58-Garrett Alberson
14. 111-Max Blair
15. 97-Cody Overton
16. 1T-Tyler Erb
17. 40B-Kyle Bronson
18. 19M-Spencer Hughes
19. 76N-Blair Nothdurft
20. 3S-Brian Shirley
21. 10-Garrett Smith
22. 6-Clay Harris
23. 46-Earl Pearson, Jr.
24. 75-Daniel Adam
25. 99B-Boom Briggs
26. 39-Tim McCreadie
27. 20-Jimmy Owens
28. 7T-Drake Troutman
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