GET TO KNOW RTJ
Driver: Ricky Thornton Jr
Hometown: Chandler, Arizona
Birthdate: 09/28/1990
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 180
Marital Status: Married
Division: Modified/ Late Model
Years Racing: 16
Career Wins: 313
Chassis: Modified- Lethal; Late Model- Dark Horse
Engine: Clements Racing Engine
Team Owner: Modified- Self; Late Model- Todd & Vickie Burns
Favorite Movie: Toy Story
Favorite Food: Chicken Wings
Favorite Race Track: Southwest Speedway, Dickinson ND
Racing Hero: Tony Stewart and Jimmy Owens
Most Memorable Moment: Winning the World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Jackson, MN for $20,000
Race Most Like To Win: Dirt Track World Championship
Crew Chief: Taylon Center
Crew: Asher & Blayne Thornton
Brief History: Got started in racing because both parents raced. Started racing a car in 2005 at the age of 14 in the Factory Stock division. Raced those through 2006 and then moved into the Modified division. Won Rookie of the Year & first Modified Track Championship in 2007 at Manzanita Speedway. Won first Late Model Championship in 2009 with the SWDRA Late Models while still running the modified also. Started racing with USMTS in 2016. Moved to Wichita, Kansas in 2017 to do more racing in the Midwest, met wife Shae and then moved to Iowa in 2018, still residing there. Had sons Asher in 2018 and Blayne in 2019. Ran for SSI Motorsports on the Lucas Oil tour as Hudson O’Neal’s substitute August & September of 2018. Full time Modified in 2019, splitting duties between Modified and Late Model in 2020.