SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. — Ricky Thornton Jr. traded places with Chaz Baca from opening night of the six-race Arizona Dirt Track Tour series after 25 furious laps in the IMCA modified main at Arizona Speedway Saturday night.
Thornton led the last nine laps for the $2,000 victory as 107 cars were in action in three IMCA divisions.
Drew Armstrong led the first 16 laps with Thornton and Baca in pursuit. The top three pulled away from the pack, weaved their way through traffic, and put on a dazzling display of modified racing.
Just as in opening night when Thornton finished second to Baca, the Adel, Iowa, driver again looked at every possibility of passing Armstrong until accomplishing the task in turn four of lap 17.
Thornton used a huge slider with both Armstrong and himself sliding dangerously close to the turn-four wall. Thornton came out of the turn with the lead and eventual win and Baca took second in the same turn on the final lap, edging Armstrong in a close finish.
The Northern sport mods had opening night winner, Brian Osantowski on the pole for their 20-lap main. Osantowski led from the start after a three wide turn four top shelf drive on lap one worked.
A restart with six laps complete changed things when Tyler Soppe and Cody Thompson both passed Osantowski. Thompson chased Soppe until using the top line to speed past Soppe on lap 13 along the backstretch.
Thompson built a lead and took the $750 win over Soppe and Osantowski. Thompson started eighth to lead a 1-2 Iowa finish ahead of Nebraska driver Osantowski.
The stock car main had Friday’s winner, Ricky Thornton Jr. starting sixth after a dominant heat race win and Chanse Hollatz was outside front row.
Hollatz used the upper line. on the backstretch to lead from lap one while Thornton was in second by lap five. While Thornton drew close to the leader, Hollatz eventually stretched his lead to collect the win over Thornton and Brendon LaBatte.