Ricky Thornton, Jr. topped off his first full-year running with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series as he snuck by race leader Brandon Overton on a lap 83 restart on Saturday night at Ohio’s Portsmouth Raceway Park.
The 2021 Rookie-of-the-Year winner went on to score the biggest win of his racing career by capturing the 41st Annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship.
Thornton pulled away from Evans, Georgia’s Overton and Blairsville, Georgia’s Jonathan Davenport in the final laps to record a 2.145 second advantage over Overton for the $100,000 victory. Thornton’s previous career high late model wins were both $20,000.
Devin Moran was in charge the first 35 circuits, while Overton led laps 36-82. Overton and Davenport rounded out the podium. Mike Marlar and 2021 series champion Tim McCreadie completed the top five.
“I was kind of worried,” said Thornton. “I didn’t want those yellows, but then I could get a run off of four on the restart and go half a lane better into one. I finally stayed with him (Overton) on the front straightaway, and I thought it’s now or never. It’s 100 grand, I would have wrecked my mom to win.”
Thornton became the 26th different driver to win the crown jewel event that started in 1981.
“It’s wild. I can’t really explain it,” Thornton said. “We were lucky enough to run second last year. To win it this year is amazing. We gambled on tires. This is awesome, I have always wanted to be a late model driver and I think this kind of solidifies it. We have been so excited to run the Lucas Oil series and we look forward to doing it again next year.”
Tyler Erb, Earl Pearson, Jr., Spencer Hughes, Hudson O’Neal, and Jimmy Owens rounded out the top 10.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Portsmouth Raceway Park – Portsmouth, OH
General Tire Dirt Track World Championship – October 16, 2021
| Pos | Start | Car # | Competitor | Hometown | Pay |
| 1 | 1 | 20RT | Ricky Thornton, Jr. | Adel, IA | $100,700 |
| 2 | 8 | 76 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | $20,000 |
| 3 | 17 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $10,800 |
| 4 | 12 | 157 | Mike Marlar | Winfield, TN | $7,000 |
| 5 | 13 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $5,800 |
| 6 | 19 | 1T | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | $4,200 |
| 7 | 24 | 46 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $4,000 |
| 8 | 3 | 11H | Spencer Hughes | Meridian, MS | $3,700 |
| 9 | 18 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $3,500 |
| 10 | 4 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $3,500 |
| 11 | 21 | 28E | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | $2,450 |
| 12 | 23 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $3,200 |
| 13 | 11 | 81E | Tanner English | Benton, KY | $2,350 |
| 14 | 6 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | $2,300 |
| 15 | 14 | 12J | Jason Jameson | Lawrenceburg, IN | $2,250 |
| 16 | 2 | 9 | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH | $2,200 |
| 17 | 7 | 9Z | Mason Zeigler | Chalk Hill, PA | $2,150 |
| 18 | 16 | 99B | Boom Briggs | Bear Lake, PA | $2,100 |
| 19 | 5 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $2,775 |
| 20 | 9 | 25 | Shane Clanton | Zebulon, GA | $2,760 |
| 21 | 22 | 2S | Stormy Scott | Las Cruces, NM | $2,750 |
| 22 | 15 | 19R | Ryan Gustin | Marshalltown, IA | $2,040 |
| 23 | 26 | 11R | Josh Rice | Verona, KY | $2,030 |
| 24 | 20 | D8 | Dustin Linville | Lancaster, KY | $2,020 |
| 25 | 10 | 1G | Devin Gilpin | Columbus, IN | $2,010 |
| 26 | 25 | 81F | Brandon Fouts | Kite, KY | $2,000 |
