Dirt on Dirt - Mountain Moonshine opener goes to Thornton

June 14

Smoky Mountain Speedway,

Maryville, TN

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Mountain Moonshine Classic opener) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated June 15, 1:51 pm)

Mountain Moonshine opener goes to Thornton

Mountain Moonshine Classic opener

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Tim McCreadie
Dale McDowell
Devin Moran
Daulton Wilson
Mike Marlar
Brandon Overton
Nick Hoffman
Garrett Alberson
Jonathan Davenport
Ryan Gustin
Hudson O'Neal
Jimmy Owens
Ricky Weiss
Max Blair
Carson Ferguson
Mike Benedum
Chris Ferguson
Boom Briggs
Drake Troutman
Kaede Loudy
Ross Robinson
Rusty Ballenger
Brenden Smith
Cory Lawler
Clay Harris

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Ricky Thornton Jr. notched his ninth Lucas Oil victory of 2024.

What won the race: Leading all 40 laps from the pole position, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., grabbed a $10,000 victory in Friday's Mountain Moonshine Classic opener at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Thornton wasn't seriously challenged in establishing his No. 20rt as a favorite for Saturday's $50,000 finale, a race he captured last year. Tim McCreadie was 1.240 seconds behind in second with Dale McDowell in third.

Quotable: "I didn't mind seeing the yellow. I just I felt like I was running too hard there trying to get by lapped cars and just really abused my tires," Thornton said. "The yellow came out and then I saw T-Mac got back to second, and I knew he didn't pass Dale around the bottom. So I knew I had to move up and just try to keep some speed there."

Key notes: Thornton, who lowered the track record in time trials, notched his ninth Lucas Oil Series victory of the season and 32nd of his career. ... Thornton made contact with the slower Ross Robinson with two laps remaining but maintained control. ... Tim McCreadie regained second from Dale McDowell on the lap-25 restart and pressured Thornton briefly before the leader edged away. ... The race's lone caution flew on the 26th lap for a Drake Troutman flat tire. ... Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., broke a valve spring during the consolation and failed to finish. ... Haiden Cowan of Rincon, Ga., did not register a lap in time trials after leaving the track in turn three and losing his right-front nosepiece. ... The weekend concludes with Saturday’s 60-lap, $50,000-to-win finale.

On the move: Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., started 12th and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Dyno One, Hoker Trucking LLC, Coltman Farms Racing, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Big River Steel, Murty Farms, High Performance Lubricants, West Side Tractor Sales, Bilstein, Sunoco Race Fuels, FK Rod Ends, Allstar Performance, Dirt Car Lift, Midwest Sheet Metal and EMD Wraps.

Points chase: After Smoky Mountain Friday: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (3,240); 2. Jonathan Davenport (3,075); 3. Devin Moran (2,895); 4. Tim McCreadie (2,740); 5. Mike Marlar (2,720); 6. Hudson O’Neal (2,700); 7. Daulton Wilson (2,670); 8. Garrett Alberson (2,665); 9. Jimmy Owens (2,625); 10. Brandon Sheppard (2,345); 11. Max Blair (2,265); 12. Tyler Erb (2,165).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 82°F

Car count: 42

Fast qualifier: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Time: 13.661 seconds

Polesitter: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Heat race winners: Ricky Thornton Jr., Daulton Wilson, Tim McCreadie, Dale McDowell

Consolation race winners: Kaede Loudy, Boom Briggs

Provisional starters: Ross Robinson, Clay Harris, Brenden Smith, Cory Lawler

Next series race: June 15, Smoky Mountain Speedway (Maryville, TN) $50,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (June 14) — Updates and results from Friday's opener of the Mountain Moonshine Classic with a $10,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event preceding Saturday's $50,000-to-win weekend finale (all results unofficial):

Feature

Leading all 40 laps from the pole position, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., grabbed a $10,000 victory in Friday's Mountain Moonshine Classic opener at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Thornton wasn't seriously challenged in establishing his No. 20rt as a favorite for Saturday's $50,000 finale. Tim McCreadie was 1.240 seconds behind in second with Dale McDowell in third.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Ricky Thornton Jr., Tim McCreadie
Row 2: Daulton Wilson, Dale McDowell
Row 3: Brandon Overton, Devin Moran
Row 4: Nick Hoffman, Jonathan Davenport
Row 5: Hudson O'Neal, Jimmy Owens
Row 6: Garrett Alberson, Mike Marlar
Row 7: Max Blair, Mike Benedum
Row 8: Ryan Gustin, Ricky Weiss
Row 9: Kaede Loudy, Boom Briggs
Row 10: Drake Troutman, Chris Ferguson
Row 11: Rusty Ballenger, Carson Ferguson
Row 12: Ross Robinson, Clay Harris
Row 13: Brenden Smith, Cory Lawler

Consolation results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Kaede Loudy, Drake Troutman, Rusty Ballenger, Ross Robinson, Jimmy Johnson, Josh Henry, Brenden Smith, Jensen Ford, Cory Lawler, Jay Scott, Brandon Sheppard. Scratched: Forrest Trent, Kyle Bronson

Second consolation: Boom Briggs, Chris Ferguson, Carson Ferguson, Benji Hicks, Clay Harris, Haiden Cowan, Stacy Boles, Trevor Landrum, Larry Grube. Scratched: Noah Phillips, Josh Sneed, Billy Denby, Corey Roulette

Heat race results

(Eight laps, top four transfer)

First heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal, Max Blair, Rusty Ballenger, Jensen Ford, Brandon Sheppard, Ross Robinson, Jimmy Johnson, Cory Lawler, Kyle Bronson.

Second heat: Daulton Wilson, Nick Hoffman, Garrett Alberson, Ryan Gustin, Kaede Loudy, Drake Troutman, Forrest Trent, Brenden Smith, Jay Scott, Josh Henry.

Third heat: Tim McCreadie, Devin Moran, Jimmy Owens, Mike Benedum, Larry Grube, Chris Ferguson, Carson Ferguson, Stacy Boles. Scratched: Noah Phillips, Josh Sneed, Billy Denby

Fourth heat: Dale McDowell, Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, Ricky Weiss, Boom Briggs, Clay Harris, Benji Hicks, Trevor Landrum, Haiden Cowan. Scratched: Corey Roulette

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 13.661
2. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 13.891
3. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 13.912
4. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 13.947
5. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 14.016
6. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 14.043
7. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.046
8. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 14.062
9. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.185
10. Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 14.307
11. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 14.313
12. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 14.375
13. Rusty Ballenger (1G), Seymour, Tenn., 14.590
14. Jay Scott (J27), Taft, Tenn., 14.778
15. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 14.810
16. Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn., 14.859
17. Jensen Ford (83), Johnson City, Tenn., 14.892
18. Josh Henry (B00), Newport, Tenn., 14.971
19. Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 15.065
20. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 15.080
21. Jimmy Johnson (11), Monroe, Ga., 15.436
Group B
1. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 13.892
2. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 14.025
3. Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 14.087
4. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.118
5. Carson Ferguson (93F), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.176
6. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 14.210
7. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.273
8. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.314
9. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 14.424
10. Ricky Weiss (7w), Headingley, Manitoba, 14.434
11. Mike Benedum (25B), Salem, W.Va., 14.493
12. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 14.751
13. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 14.811
14. Trevor Landrum (18), Florence, Ky., 14.997
15. Noah Phillips (15), Sevierville, Tenn., 15.101
16. Benji Hicks (55H), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.132
17. Larry Grube (29), Mauldin, S.C., 15.292
18. Haiden Cowan (14), Rincon, Ga., no time
19. Josh Sneed (79), Knoxville, Tenn., no time
20. Corey Roulette (05), Dahlonega, Ga., no time
21. Billy Denby (45), Tullahoma, Tenn., no time

Friday's schedule

7 p.m. - Hot laps
- Crown Vic hot laps/time trials
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Front-wheel drive hot laps/time trials
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Crown Vic dash (6 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Front-wheel drive feature (20 laps)
- Super Late Model feature (40 laps)
- Crown Vic feature (20 laps)