WHEATLAND, Mo. — Once Ricky Thornton Jr. got to the lead, there was no stopping him on night one of the 10th annual Lucas Oil MLRA Spring Nationals Presented by Arizona Sport Shirt at Lucas Oil Speedway.
Thornton earned $5,000 for his second career MLRA victory, dominating a field of 48 late models that checked into the pits for the opener of the weekend. The Spring Nationals conclude on Saturday night with $10,000 going to the winner.
“We were really good there,” Thornton said after the victory, which attracted a large and deep field as national-touring series events scheduled for this weekend were rained out. “We practiced really good yesterday and I was super comfortable. It was a good night.”
Support divisions running on Friday night saw Tom Charles capture the Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified feature and Nic Bidinger win the Show-Me Vintage Racers main event.
Thornton started third and remained there through the early going before charging around Earl Pearson Jr. on lap nine and then taking over the lead, for good, on lap 14.
Thornton, a one-time modified ace who was racing his late model for the first time in 27 days due to numerous weather cancellations, finished 4.9 seconds in front of runner-up Bobby Pierce in the caution-free 40-lapper. Jonathan Davenport made a late charge to third with Tanner English finishing fourth.
Local favorite Dillon McCowan, a two-time Lucas Oil Speedway USRA Modified track champion, led the first 13 laps. The 19-year-old from nearby Urbana, who plans to run for MLRA Rookie of the Year honors, faded late to wind up fifth.
Thornton, 32, said he was waiting for the track to slow down a bit in the early going as he stayed patient behind McCowan and Pearson.
“Then we really kind of took off,” Thornton said. “It shows how hard our guys work. It’s pretty cool to be able to run today. I think we all thought it was gonna rain out. I’m just glad we got to make some laps and we’ll see how we do tomorrow.”
The finish:
Feature (40 laps): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[3]; 2. 32P-Bobby Pierce[6]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[10]; 4. 96V-Tanner English[8]; 5. 8-Dillon McCowan[2]; 6. 46-Earl Pearson Jr[1]; 7. 2-Tyler Stevens[7]; 8. B5-Brandon Sheppard[12]; 9. 25-Chad Simpson[21]; 10. 21M-Billy Moyer Sr[4]; 11. 58-Garrett Alberson[17]; 12. 3S-Brian Shirley[16]; 13. 36-Logan Martin[19]; 14. 11-Spencer Hughes[15]; 15. 11G-Gordy Gundaker[13]; 16. 2S-Stormy Scott[11]; 17. 56JR-Tony Jackson Jr[25]; 18. 28-Dustin Sorensen[14]; 19. 93-Mason Oberkramer[22]; 20. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[18]; 21. 15V-Kolby Vandenbergh[23]; 22. 45-Cole Wells[20]; 23. 78S-Steve Stultz[24]; 24. 1X-Aaron Marrant[26]; 25. 32S-Chris Simpson[5]; 26. 11H-Jeff Herzog[9]
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