Ricky Thornton Jr

Florence Speedway (Wheatland, MO) – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series – North-South 100 – August 10th-12th, 2023. (Michael Boggs photo)
414
8/12/2023

8/12/2023

Ricky Thornton Jr


RTJ pockets $5,000 North-South 100 prelim, salvages second in Saturday's finale

Ricky Thornton Jr. and SSI Motorsports returned with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) on Thursday evening at Florence Speedway (Union, Ky.) for a pair of preliminary features to kick off the 41st annual Sunoco North-South 100 weekend.

Lined up second for his $5,000-to-win prelim via a heat race victory, Thornton overtook early pacesetter Hudson O’Neal after the leader slowed with a flat only to suffer his own flat tire a few laps later. He salvaged a 17th-place finish from the tail.

Taking part in another round of prelims on Friday, Thornton topped the charts in time trials to claim the overall fast time honors before placing first in his heat. Wrestling away the lead from fellow front-row starter Daulton Wilson on the 12th circuit of the feature, Ricky steered to his 14th LOLMDS victory of the season and 24th overall on the 2023 campaign. He earned $5,000 ahead of Wilson, Ryan Gustin, Mike Marlar, and Chris Ferguson.

Buried by the invert in his heat race on Saturday, Ricky followed up a fourth-place finish with a third-place run in his consolation race. Starting the $75,000-to-win Sunoco North-South 100 in 23rd via a provisional, Thornton wheeled through the field 21 positions in the 100-lap affair to cap off the weekend with an impressive runner-up showing. He finished 2.019 seconds behind Bobby Pierce with Hudson O’Neal rounding out the podium.

Ricky leads by a 330-point margin atop the latest LOLMDS point standings.

Full results from the events are available at www.LucasDirt.com.


Article Credit: Michael Boggs Photography

Article Media

Back to News

Latest Photos

2024 Season
2024 Season
2024 Season
2024 Season
2024 Season
2024 Season
Dyno One
Excel Floor Covering 
Hoker Trucking
Certified Inspection Service (CSI)
High Performance Lubricants
BRS Big River Steel
Coltman Farms
Van Meter Insurance Group
VarsiTee Screenprinting
Deines-Nitz Solutions  Powdercoating
West Side Tractor Sales Co
Sub-Surface of Indiana
Midwest Sheet Metal
DE Outside Services
Lethal Chassis
Dylan Earven Foundation
EMD Wraps
Brembo
Keyser Manufacturing
Wiles Racing
Barnes Systems Inc.
Strange Oval
Schoenfeld Headers
The Joie of Seating
Earnhardt Technologies Group
FK Rod Ends
Brown  Miller Racing Solutions
Wilwood
Bilstein Shocks
Hoosier Racing Tires
Performance Bodies and Parts
Jones Racing Products
Simpson Race Products
NAPA - Morgantown Bargersville
Swift Springs USA
Winning Edge Carburation
Longhorn Chassis
Clements Racing Engines