Ricky Thornton Jr. led flag-to-flag on night 1 at Volusia
After hosting the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series last week, the DIRTcar Nationals continued on Monday evening at Volusia Speedway Park with the first of what is scheduled to be six shows for Super Late Model competitors split among DIRTcar Supers and the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series. At the end of a fast paced and caution free night, it was Ricky Thornton Jr. who stood tall in victory lane. The Longhorn Chassis driver from Chandler, Arizona earned $7,000 for his efforts in a race shown live by DirtVision.com.
Thornton, who was an accomplished Modified racer before entering the Super Late Model ranks a few years ago, added another of the famed Gator Trophies to his collection.
A total of 47 cars were signed in for competition.
Frank Heckenast Jr. led Group A qualifying with a lap of 15.998 seconds around the half-mile clay oval besting Garrett Smith, Brandon Overton, Kyle Bronson, Kyle Hammer, Tyler Bruening, Daulton Wilson and Brandon Sheppard.
Devin Moran topped Group B time-trials after recording a time of 16.004 seconds to outdo Mike Marlar, Tanner English, Chris Madden, Ricky Thornton Jr., Kyle Strickler, Stacy Boles and Dale McDowell.
Brandon Overton earned the pole position for the feature by winning the first heat race ahead of Darrell Lanigan, Frank Heckenast Jr. and Dennis Erb Jr. then Brandon Sheppard outran Tyler Bruening, Shane Clanton and Kyle Bronson in the second preliminary.
Ricky Thornton Jr. would start from the outside of the front row in the main event by virtue of his win in the third heat race beating out Devin Moran, Chris Simpson and Ryan Gustin just before Dale McDowell won out ahead of Kyle Strickler, Chris Madden and Mike Marlar in the fourth and final heat.
Daulton Wilson, Tyler Millwood, Logan Martin and Cody Overton transferred to the feature out of the first Last Chance Showdown while Mark Whitener, Stacy Boles, Morgan Bagley and Ashton Winger moved to the main event out of the second LCS.
When the 30-lap feature took the green flag it was Thornton who used his outside front row starting spot to his advantage to grab the lead ahead of Overton, Sheppard, McDowell and Moran. McDowell challenged Sheppard for third on the second lap but the No. 1 car fought off the advances of the No. 17.
By lap 5, Thornton was pulling away from Overton, Sheppard, McDowell and Moran who ran in single-file formation.
McDowell, who won a World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series race at Volusia back in February, moved by Sheppard for third on lap 9. Just ahead, Thornton found himself working slower traffic but still maintaining his advantage.
Madden began to moved forward as the race approached the halfway point. In succession, the No. 44 passed by Sheppard, McDowell and Overton until he found himself in the runner-up spot. However, Thornton was far ahead by that time in a feature that would ultimately run caution free.
Thornton eventually cruised under the checkered flag with a lead of more than three seconds to claim the win.
Feature Finish: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr., 2. Chris Madden, 3. Devin Moran, 4. Brandon Overton, 5. Dale McDowell, 6. Tyler Bruening, 7. Brandon Sheppard, 8. Mike Marlar, 9. Shane Clanton, 10. Dennis Erb Jr., 11. Chris Simpson, 12. Darrell Lanigan, 13. Ryan Gustin, 14. Daulton Wilson, 15. Kyle Bronson, 16. Frank Heckenast, 17. Ashton Winger, 18. Mark Whitener, 19. Logan Martin, 20. Spencer Hughes, 21. Morgan Bagley, 22. Tyler Millwood, 23. Cody Overton, 24. Stacy Boles
Josh Richards placing emphasis on the task at hand in return to WoO Late Models
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