Anthony Burroughs at work on the No. 20RT
This past weekend produced another big win for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. as he collected $50,000 for being the first to the checkered flag on Saturday night in the Firecracker 100 presented by Big River Steel. It was the first career win in that event held at the Lernerville Speedway for the driver and his SSI Motorsports team. It was the tenth series win of 2023 for the Martinsville, Indiana resident.
Saturday’s victory was also the second consecutive weekend in which Thornton had earned $50,000 after taking the win in the Mountain Moonshine Classic at Smoky Mountain Speedway last week.
A major piece of the puzzle that has led to the success enjoyed so far this season by the No. 20RT team has been the leadership of Anthony Burroughs. The veteran crew chief and former racer recently talked with InsideDirtRacing.com about the need to continue looking for new ways to make speed, even when things are going well.
Is it tempting to fall into the trap of doing things the same way week after week when a team is having a great run of success?
“It is,” Burroughs said in the Smoky Mountain pit area. “We tested Thursday and we tested some new things and people were asking why we were testing because we had won the last week. If you don’t continue to progress, you’ll be left behind. It’s ever changing and that’s why it’s important for us to get with Longhorn(Chassis) and with Bilstein(Shocks) and Kevin(Rumley) and lean on those guys to help us stay up. I feel like that’s what is setting us apart because they want all their cars to run good. They’re working and doing things and they’re passing it along to us. They give it to us and we take it and try to fit it into our program.”
Burroughs has worked alongside a number of top drivers Throughout his career. As a result, he has had to adjust his own style and ways of doing things to suit those who occupy the driver’s seats of his race cars. He says that he and Thornton formed an immediate bond.
“I’ve had a great relationship with everybody I’ve ever worked for but Ricky and I hit it off from day one when I first got here two-and-a-half years ago,” he recalled. “He trusts me and I trust him. I’m never going to do anything to this car without him knowing about it and I know he’s going to believe in us. He gives excellent feedback and if there’s something that I want to do but he doesn’t want to do it, I’m good with that.”
Not only does a crew chief have to have a good relationship with the driver but he is also charged with getting the crew members lined out. Burroughs said that task has been an easy one for his team. Chris Jayko and D.J. Williams are performing at a high level for Thornton and SSI.
“We have two guys who have bought into the process,” Burroughs explained. “Tomorrow we’re going to unload and we’re going to wash and get the rig cleaned up and get everything in the shop. On Monday we’ll come in and go to work. That’s not always easy but they don’t gripe about it and they show up with a good attitude and do a good job. I feel like I’ve got two of the best guys in Chris and D.J. in the pit area. And Ricky is, I’ve said it since I’ve been here and I didn’t know it until I got here, I feel like he’s one of the best guys in the sport. He’s really talented. We just believe in each other and we’ve got good owners.”
Travelling together for long periods of time inside the relatively small space of a racing hauler can be difficult. Burroughs says his team handles those circumstances well.
“It can be hard but it’s not hard for us because we all get along,” he pointed out. “Tomorrow night when we get done washing we’re going to Buffalo Wild Wings and have dinner. We do everything together. That relationship is extremely important. Everybody asks what’s the key to our success- everybody is pulling this way and nobody is trying to pull in another direction. It’s all about people no matter what job you have if you’re going to be successful – it’s about the people you surround yourself with. We are very fortunate to have the people we have.”
Burroughs played on the University of Alabama football team that won a national championship in 1992. The work ethic learned in his early years helped him reach that high level and continues to serve him well today in his role as a Dirt Late Model crew chief.
“I think it’s extremely important. We work extremely hard, there was one morning when I was at the shop at 5:30 and I had left the shop the night before at 10:00. My dad raised me to work hard he taught me that when you work hard good things happen, at least that’s the way I was trained as an athlete through college. I feel like the harder you work the better. I know there’s times when you work and you don’t see the results, but right now, we’re seeing the results. Everybody thinks we have some kind of secret gadget. The secret gadget is that everybody is working hard and our guys have bought into that.”
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