2/4/2023
Ricky Thornton Jr
All-Tech victory propels Ricky Thornton Jr. atop LOLMDS standings
Ricky Thornton Jr. continued his early season hot streak on Saturday night with a $15,000 triumph 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.
His hard-fought victory marked his second of the season in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) competition and came at All-Tech Raceway. With the win he also took over the Midwest Sheet Metal point lead with the series for the first time in his career.
“Man, I love this place (All-Tech Raceway). It’s such a challenging track to figure out. I’m not totally sure that there’s even a good line down in (turns) one and two, but I found a good line late down in (turns) three and four, especially on those restarts. Max (Blair) had a really good car but I was able to get back around him on the topside on a restart,” shared Thornton Jr. who retook the lead for good on a lap 30 restart. “This SSI team is off to a great start this year, and now I’m fired up to head to East Bay (Raceway Park).”
SSI Motorsports and Ricky Thornton Jr. returned with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) on Saturday afternoon at All-Tech Raceway (Lake City, Fla.) after wet weather wiped out Friday’s $12,000-to-win opener.
After claiming the Allstar Performance fast time honors in time trials, Thornton secured his spot into the A-Main with a heat race victory. He paced the first seven laps before surrendering the top spot to Shane Clanton on the eighth circuit. Nine laps later found Ricky catapulting back to the top spot before once again losing the top spot briefly to Max Blair on lap 28.
Regaining the lead from Max Blair following a lap-29 restart, Ricky turned back Tim McCreadie’s late charge to secure his second win of the season and a $15,000 prize. He edged McCreadie by 0.428 seconds at the line with Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, and Tyler Erb rounding the out the top-five.
On the heels of his victory, Ricky has taken over the lead atop the LOLMDS point standings.
Full results from the event are available at www.LucasDirt.com.
SSI Motorsports thunders into East Bay Raceway Park (Gibsonton, Fla.) this Monday – Saturday for the Wieland Industries 47th annual Winter Nationals presented by Lucas Oil. The six nights of racing includes the following docket:
Wed., Feb. 6: East Bay Raceway Park: $5,000-To-Win
Tues., Feb. 7: East Bay Raceway Park: $5,000-To-Win
Wed., Feb. 8: East Bay Raceway Park: $7,000-To-Win
Thurs., Feb. 9: East Bay Raceway Park: $10,000-To-Win
Fri., Feb. 10: East Bay Raceway Park: $12,000-To-Win
Sat., Feb. 11: East Bay Raceway Park: $15,000-To-Win
Article Credit: Heath Lawson image