From Jeremy Shields | Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
BRANDON, SD (July 20, 2023) – Ricky Thornton Jr. came from his sixth starting spot to grab the lead from Jonathan Davenport on lap 19 to win the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Go 50 on Thursday night at Huset’s Speedway.
Thornton, the current Big River Steel Chase for the Championship – presented by ARP points leader picked up his 13th series win of the season as he crossed the finish line ahead of Bobby Pierce, Davenport, Chad Simpson, and Tim McCreadie.
Thornton who now has collected over $300,000 in winnings and bonuses so far this season in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series held steady on the bottom over the last half of the race to score his 18th career series win. “Man, that was wild there. I don’t know I was really good right through the middle of one and two. It wasn’t clean, but there was just enough traction where you could really get through it. I feel like this is a really big sprint car place and it’s really cool to win here. Bobby’s [Pierce] been really good probably the last two or three months. I know JD [Davenport] has been really good lately too. I think I started 12th here last year and got to the lead. I knew I had to get a really good start and not get mired back in the pack.”
Pierce, making his first appearance with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series since winning the NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 at Deer Creek came in second to Thornton. “Yeah, I know I got a pretty slow run there through one and two on the bottom and at that time our car wasn’t as good as his [Thornton]. He got that middle going there and after that I knew it would be hard to pass him back. It was a fun race though you know being the first time here and these guys have a race up on me here so we’ve got kind of a notebook now heading into the big race on Saturday we’ll see what we can do.”
Davenport rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third as his two-race Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win streak was snapped. “I don’t think it was a disadvantage to lead early on tonight. I was just too tight there and I was just having to get too bent there. I gave my guys a little bit of body work to do. I think they need a little practice. I guess Ricky [Thornton] was just a little better and he could move around. I heard Bobby [Pierce] on the inside of me and so I didn’t want to chop him and wreck us both getting into turn number one.”
The winner’s Todd and Vickie Burns-owned, SSI Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Hoker Trucking, Coltman Farms, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Dyno One Inc., West Side Tractor Sales, D&E Outside Services, Excel Floor Covering, Certified Inspection Services, Sunoco, Bilstein Shocks, Midwest Sheet Metal, and Murty Farms.
The rest of the top ten were Brandon Sheppard, Garrett Alberson, Daulton Wilson, Brandon Overton, Kyle Bronson.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Go 50
Thursday, July 20, 2023
Huset’s Speedway – Brandon, SD
Go 50 Feature Finish (50 Laps):
The Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:
See the latest from the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series:
Photo's: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series | Huset's Speedway | Ricky Thornton Jr.