5/20/2023
Ricky Thornton Jr
Two-win weekend elevates RTJ atop LOLMDS point standings
Ricky Thornton Jr. ended a busy week of racing in Iowa with a pair of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) victories aboard his SSI Motorsports / Hoker Trucking No. 20RT Dyno One Inc. / Excel Floor Covering / Sub-Surface of Indiana/ Longhorn Chassis/ Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model.
With the wins he also retook LOLMDS point lead.
“Things went really good for us on the track last week in Iowa, which was a welcome reprieve after a lot of challenges on-track the week before in Illinois. However, we did have some bad luck leaving 300 Raceway on Friday night, when the souvenir trailer ended upside down in the ditch. Thankfully no one was hurt, but the trailer was destroyed,” Thornton Jr. said. “We’ve got a great team with a lot of great supporters here at SSI Motorsports. I’m back in Indiana working on getting a souvenir trailer going early this week, and then we are headed to the Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway, which I’m really excited for.”
SSI Motorsports and Ricky Thornton Jr. kicked off the Iowa Speedweek on Tuesday afternoon with a visit to Marshalltown (Iowa) Speedway for the fifth round of the Castrol FloRacing Night in America miniseries.
With a third-place finish in his heat race placing him on the fifth row for the opener, Thornton advanced forward five spots in the action-packed 50-lapper to finish fourth. He chased Hudson O’Neal, Bobby Pierce, and Brandon Overton to the checkers with Tim McCreadie fifth.
For Wednesday's $23,023-to-win Castrol FloRacing Night in America event at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway, Ricky followed up the sixth-fastest qualifying lap in his group with a third-place finish in his heat. Wheeling his way into the top-five again in the feature, Thornton passed six cars to place fifth.
With his pair of Top-5 finishes Ricky climbed to sixth in the latest miniseries standings.
In a field of 26 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) entries on Friday at 300 Raceway (Farley, Iowa) for the You Call We Haul 50, Ricky got off to a hot start with the fast time honors prior to picking up a flag-to-flag victory in his heat. Overtaking early leader Mason Zeigler on the 11th circuit of the feature, Thornton charged to his ninth win of the season and eighth-career LOLMDS triumph.
He bagged a $12,000 payday ahead of Tim McCreadie, Hudson O’Neal, Mason Zeigler, and Tyler Erb.
The weekend drew to a close on Saturday with another stop at another Iowa oval but with the same result; Thornton parking his SSI Motorsports backed entry in Victory Lane. For the CRST Transportation Solution 50 at 34 Raceway (West Burlington, Iowa), Ricky secured his spot into the finale with a heat race triumph. Banking his second win in as many nights and 10th of the 2023 campaign, Thornton enjoyed a $15,000 payday as he soared back into the LOLMDS points lead.
Full results from the events are available at www.FloSeries.com and www.LucasDirt.com.
This Thursday – Saturday, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) and Lucas Oil Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA) will sanction the 31st annual Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, Mo.). Thursday and Friday’s programs are highlighted by $6,000-to-win events, while Saturday’s crown jewel finale boasts a $50,000 top prize.
For more information on the events, please visit www.LucasOilSpeedway.com.
Article Credit: Heath Lawson image
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