CONCORD, N.C. — Ricky Thornton Jr. entered the World Finals with only one prior start at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Considering it was a 20th-place finish in 2014, Thornton set out on a mission to improve his résumé at The Dirt Track this week. He immediately topped his record, logging an 11th-place result with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series on Thursday.
“Back then, I probably had about 30, 35 late model starts and now I’ve probably got 300,” Thornton said on Friday afternoon. “I feel like if I can keep that progression, that was nine spots last night, so if I can gain another nine tonight, I’ll only have a few more to go.”
A few hours later, Thornton was standing in victory lane with a $15,000 winner’s check in hand.
After starting third in Friday night’s feature, Thornton began hounding full-time World of Outlaws competitor Chris Madden for the lead following the restart on lap nine. Thornton continued to cut into the No. 44’s lead until he finally found his opening on lap 18, running the outside groove through turn four to surge ahead of Madden.
From there, Thornton set sail to the checkered flag to collect his third Outlaw victory of his career.
“Car’s been really good. This is the third weekend on it,” Thornton said in victory lane. “Haven’t been here in 10 years, so it’s pretty awesome to come out here and at least get one win.”
It was also Thornton’s 37th dirt late model victory of the year.
Behind Thornton, Dale McDowell capitalized on a slip-up from Madden late in 35-lapper to take second.
“We made some changes, good changes,” McDowell noted. “Hopefully we can do it again tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Madden filed in to take third after starting from the pole.
“We just got really loose right there. We got into lapped traffic and it just wasn’t that great around the bottom,” said Madden, who also finished second in Thursday night’s feature.
Tim McCreadie and Brian Shirley completed the top five.
Last night’s winner Mike Marlar, Hall of Famer Scott Bloomquist, Garrett Smith, Cade Dillard and Daulton Wilson rounded out the top 10. Series champion Bobby Pierce finished 11th.
The finish:
Ricky Thornton Jr., Dale McDowell, Chris Madden, Tim McCreadie, Brian Shirley, Mike Marlar, Scott Bloomquist, Garrett Smith, Cade Dillard, Dautlon Wilson, Bobby Pierce, Hudson O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Nick Hoffman, Carson Ferguson, Spencer Hughes, Chris Ferguson, Brandon Overton, Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Bronson, Dennis Erb Jr., Shane Clanton, Brent Larson, Jonathan Davenport, Tanner English, Ethan Dotson, Ryan Gustin, Drake Troutman.