Thornton Goes Back-to-Back at All-Tech

LAKE CITY, FL (January 31, 2025) – Ricky Thornton Jr. took the lead on the 29th lap of the 50-lap Wieland Winter Nationals event Friday night at All-Tech Raceway, then dominated the rest of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event, winning $12,000.

For Thornton, this marked his second consecutive win and his fourth at the Florida Speedplant, bringing his total to 44 career victories in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

Daulton Wilson continued his strong start to the season, finishing as the runner-up after a hard-fought battle with Spencer Hughes in the final laps. Hughes completed the Big River Steel Podium in third, having led a race-high 28 laps.

Completing the top five drivers were Hudson O’Neal and Devin Moran, who regained the points lead after three completed events.

Thornton, who won by over 8 seconds as the checkered flag fell, would lead the last 22 laps. 

“My crew was telling me to slow down, but the problem was I was so tight on entry that I really couldn’t slow down. I don’t know if we had 900 cautions, but I felt like we did, and with the rain coming, I was hoping to make it to halfway. I was terrible on the one restart. I felt like a ping-pong ball for a little bit there. I thought it was an awesome racetrack; you could run around the bottom, the middle, or even Hail Mary around the top. You could do whatever you wanted.”

Wilson, who ran third on Thursday night, came back to finish second after getting past Hughes with six laps to go, having been in the mix the entire race.

Hughes, who started outside the front row, led the first 28 circuits while seeking his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. 

Completing the top ten were Tyler Erb, Brandon Sheppard, Brandon Overton, Garrett Alberson, and Clay Harris.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 

Race Summary 

Winter Nationals | Night 2

Friday, January 31, 2025

All-Tech Raceway – Lake City, FL

Winter Nationals | Night 2 Feature Finish (50 Laps)

1. Ricky Thornton Jr.

2. Daulton Wilson 

3. Spencer Hughes 

4. Hudson O'Neal 

5. Devin Moran 

6. Tyler Erb 

7. Brandon Sheppard 

8. Brandon Overton 

9. Garrett Alberson 

10. Clay Harris 

11. Daniel Hilsabeck 

12. Max Blair 

13. Jackson Hise 

14. Blair Nothdurft 

15. Cory Lawler 

16. Tyler Bruening 

17. Ryan Gustin 

18. Mike Marlar 

19. Kyle Bronson 

20. Ethan Dotson 

21. Jonathan Davenport 

22. Joseph Joiner 

23. Tim McCreadie 

24. Drake Troutman 

25. Carson Ferguson 

26. Shane Clanton 

27. Jimmy Owens 

 Race Statistics  

Entrants: 46

Lap Leaders: Spencer Hughes (Laps 1-28); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 29-50)

Margin of Victory: 8.423 seconds

Cautions: Jimmy Owens (Lap 2); Carson Ferguson (Lap 11); Tim McCreadie (Lap 17); Max Blair, Jonathan Davenport (Lap 18); Kyle Bronson (Lap 19); Mike Marlar (Lap 21)