ROSSBURG, Ohio — Ricky Thornton Jr. wasn’t sure if he’d be victorious Thursday at Eldora Speedway’s opening night Dream prelim if not for Bobby Pierce’s demise from the lead with 13 laps remaining, but despite that, one thing is certain.

If there’s anybody to not question right now it’s the 33-year-old’s surge of momentum ahead of the most lucrative Dirt Late Model event of the season — Saturday’s $100,030-to-win Dream XXX — as Thornton is finding nearly every way imaginable to victory lane and at the right time.

Though Pierce appeared to have the car to beat on Thursday — the Oakwood, Ill., superstar passing Thornton on lap 16 and stretching the lead out to more than three seconds before his engine expired on lap 38 — it was Thornton’s SSI Motorsports group that notched their eighth win in a 10-race span.

“I was kind of riding there and he got by me,” Thornton started his post-race assessment, as told to pit reporter Ben Shelton. “I could see on the board (Pierce) got to second and then he took off. He was better in traffic than I think I was. I started running pretty hard, and then I got up to him some. … You definitely don’t like seeing that (with Pierce’s demise). I’ve definitely been on both sides of that. We have really good speed since we’ve unloaded this thing, so hopefully we can keep it going.”

For Thornton, it’s his second career Dream prelim win — both coming the last two years — and 13th overall win of 2024. Pierce, meanwhile, had been in prime position for his first-ever Dream prelim until his oil temps pushed the brink and foiled his 2.5-second lead on lap 38.

"I think it just ran hot," a dejected Pierce told pit reporter Ben Shelton. "The water temp was great the whole time, but the oil, I think, got too hot because of the oil cooler there."

It was later discovered that Pierce mistakenly left the cover on his oil cooler — used to warm the engine in the pits — and that's why Pierce's engine gave up.

Despite the tide of the race turning unexpectedly, Thornton capitalized nonetheless as a worthy Dream prelim winner. He set overall fast time on the night, couldn’t beat out eventual third-place-finishing Josh Rice in the opening heat, but used the outside starting lane from the front row to his advantage to set the early pace.

The fifth-starting Pierce quickly made his way into second by lap 10 and erased Thornton’s two-second lead in a matter of five laps as the two navigated traffic. Three laps after Pierce raced around Thornton by virtue of a slider through turns three and four — a move Pierce could make after Thornton got tight off the cushion of turn two on 16 — Tanner English’s flat right-rear reset the race for the lead.

From there, Pierce looked to be in control until his untimely demise on lap 39. All that Thornton had to do from there was hold off hard-charging Hudson O’Neal, who finished runner-up from the 15th-starting spot aboard the Kevin Rumley-owned No. 71 Longhorn Chassis, and Rice on a pair of lap-38 and lap-47 restarts.

Thornton had a 1.4-second lead with three laps left when the caution came out for a slowing Shannon Babb. Even then, his game plan didn’t have him worried.

“I knew Josh wasn’t going to slide me. Hud? I didn’t really know unless he got a really good start,” Thornton said. “I fired off up there and I got a way worse start than I did the time before. I kind of wheel spun and looked down the front straightaway and knew Hud was besides me. If I drove into one normal, at least I knew I could turn over.

“If I tried to block his slider, (Rice) would probably drive by both of us. I tried not to do a big mistake there and once we got that lap done, we could look at the board and kind of tell I had a little bit of a gap but not enough to slow down. It’s treacherous a couple times there in four. I didn’t know if I wasn’t driving hard enough or getting the right-front too hot. I kept tight off turn four and about hit the wall.

“Really good night for us,” Thornton added. “Hopefully we can be this good come Saturday. You never know how tomorrow shakes out. Hopefully we’ll end up pretty far up in points and hit that dreaded invert for Saturday really good and start up front, and not be buried in the heat race.”

A case could’ve been made that O’Neal perhaps had the best car on track Thursday as he charged from the eighth row to contend for the win. Still working out the kinks of his new Hudson O’Neal Racing team and furthering his relationship with Rumley, he knows that if he cleans qualifying up, he’d be satisfied.

On Thursday, O’Neal qualified 10th of 24 cars in Group B and could only go from fifth to fourth in his heat race.

“Had to dig ourselves out of a hole again,” O’Neal said. “Just have to get our qualifying down a little bit (more). Hot-lapped really good and I just don’t think I did a very good job qualifying. We just continue to work on the race car to get me a little more comfortable where I can run more consistent laps. Yeah, we gained a little bit in the heat race and were pretty good in the feature there early around the bottom, then good around the top.

“Maybe had a shot at Ricky on that last restart. I was beating myself up. Maybe I didn’t slide him. Man, was nothing leaving two over there. You would like stop if you slid too hard. I figured running second was better than running third or fourth. We’ll see if we can’t be in that same position and leave no stone unturned on Saturday.”

Rice, on the other hand, is thrilled with Thursday’s third-place run though he started the feature from the pole. He battled power steering hiccups for all 50 laps and for a team that’s raced “maybe six times this year,” the result is something to be happy about indeed.

“It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a fun year for us,” Rice said. “Just hanging around the house and having our race cars at our new shop. About 10 to go there, the steering wheel started chattering like crazy. We didn’t realize we had a power steering leak right as they blew the horn.

“So we went around and checked all the lines, topped them off. It kind of sucked because we might have wiped out a pump and power steering rack. But it’s one of those deals, you have to do what you have to do.”

Feature lineup

(50 laps)

Row 1: Josh Rice, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 2: Daulton Wilson, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Tim McCreadie, Cade Dillard
Row 4: Branton Overton, Kyle Bronson
Row 5: Chris Ferguson, Scott Bloomquist
Row 6: Max Blair, Carson Ferguson
Row 7: Tanner English, Chris Madden
Row 8: Hudson O'Neal, Kye Blight
Row 9: Joseph Joiner, Brenden Smith
Row 10: Shane Clanton, Donald McIntosh
Row 11: Dustin Linville, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 12: Shannon Babb, Jerry Bowersock

Consolation race results

(12 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Dustin Linville, Shannon Babb, Cory Hedgecock, Tyler Carpenter, Brad Dyer, Mark Whitener, Mike Benedum, Clay Harris, Oakley Johns, Ethan Hunter, Jamie Elam, Brad Eitniear, Kyle Bryant. Scratched: Pierce McCarter, Kody Evans.

Second consolation: Dennis Erb Jr., Jerry Bowersock, Kaede Loudy, Jackson Hise, G.R. Smith, Ethan Dotson, Tristin Chamberlain, Cole Perine, Steven Roberts, Sammy Mars, Mike Hildebrand, Rob Anderzack, Bryant Dickinson. Scratched: Dylan Thompson.

Consolation race lineups

(12 laps; top two transfer)
First consolation
Row 1: Dustin Linville, Cory Hedgecock
Row 2: Shannon Babb, Mike Benedum
Row 3: Brad Dyer, Mark Whitener
Row 4: Ethan Hunter, Clay Harris
Row 5: Kyle Bryant, Jamie Elam
Row 6: Pierce McCarter, Brad Eitniear
Row 7: Tyler Carpenter, Oakley Johns
Row 8: Kody Evans
Second consolation
Row 1: Kaede Loudy, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 2: Jackson Hise, Jerry Bowersock
Row 3: Sammy Mars, Dylan Thompson
Row 4: G.R. Smith, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 5: Rob Anderzack, Cole Perine
Row 6: Ethan Dotson, Mike Hildebrand
Row 7: Steven Roberts, Bryant Dickinson

Heat race notes

Josh Rice captured the first heat after shooting past Scott Bloomquist for the lead on a lap-four restart. He felt great improvement in his Rocket Chassis after his crew “changed everything” following time trials and noted that it was actually was “better than me.” … Bloomquist paced the first four laps before watching Rice and Ricky Thornton Jr. overtake him on the restart, leaving him third in the finishing order. … Tyler Carpenter timed fast enough to make the four-car inversion for an outside-pole start in a heat, but he was disqualified because his car weighed in 13 pounds light. He started at the rear of the first heat and was involved in a turn-four tangle with Kody Evans on lap four that sent him limping to the pits with two blown rear tires and and extensive rear body damage. … Evans’s car sustained significant right-side bodywork damage as well. … Carson Ferguson ran away with the second heat, steering his Paylor Motorsports machine across the finish line 2.687 seconds ahead of Daulton Wilson. “The car’s just really good,” he said. “I think it’s better than the driver.” … Brandon Overton finished third in Heat 2 despite running almost the entire distance with smoke wafting periodically from underneath the hood of his Infinity by Wells mount. His crew diagnosed terminal trouble and decided to attempt an engine change, which they began just as the first B-main was heading onto the track. … Turning back mid-race challenges from Tim McCreadie, Kyle Bronson won the third heat with a car that sported right-rear spoiler damage from a bout with the backstretch wall. … Brenden Smith slipped past Kaede Loudy off turn four on the final lap of Heat 3 to steal the fifth and final transfer spot. … The original start of Heat 3 was aborted by a turn-two tangle that saw Rob Anderzack bounce over the right-front corner of G.R. Smith’s vehicle. … Steven Roberts, the outside polesitter in the third heat, slapped the turn-two wall on the race’s second attempted start and spun around in turn four with his car’s spoiler ripped off. He retired to the pits. … Ethan Dotson pulled up lame in the third heat with race-ending engine trouble. … Max Blair held on to claim the fourth heat over a fast-closing Chris Ferguson. “That was pretty cool,” Blair said with a broad smile. “We’ve always really struggled here.” … The heats ended at 8:32 p.m. — earlier than the heats have even started on many crown jewel preliminary nights at Eldora in recent years. ... Ricky Thornton Jr. spun for a two-car inversion in the feature among the top eight starters.

Heat race results

(10 laps; top five transfer)

First heat: Josh Rice, Ricky Thornton Jr., Scott Bloomquist, Chris Madden, Tanner English, Dustin Linville, Shannon Babb, Brad Dyer, Ethan Hunter, Kyle Bryant, Pierce McCarter, Tyler Carpenter, Kody Evans.

Second heat: Carson Ferguson, Daulton Wilson, Brandon Overton, Kye Blight, Donald McIntosh, Cory Hedgecock, Mike Benedum, Mark Whitener, Clay Harris, Jamie Elam, Brad Eitniear, Oakley Johns.

Third heat: Kyle Bronson, Tim McCreadie, Bobby Pierce, Joseph Joiner, Brenden Smith, Kaede Loudy, Jackson Hise, Sammy Mars, G.R. Smith, Rob Anderzack, Ethan Dotson, Steven Roberts.

Fourth heat: Max Blair, Chris Ferguson, Cade Dillard, Hudson O'Neal, Shane Clanton, Dennis Erb Jr., Jerry Bowersock, Dylan Thompson, Tristan Chamberlain, Cole Perine, Mike Hildebrand, Bryant Dickinson.

Heat race lineups

(10 laps; top five transfer)
First heat
Row 1: Tanner English, Scott Bloomquist
Row 2: Josh Rice, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Chris Madden, Brad Dyer
Row 4: Dustin Linville, Pierce McCarter
Row 5: Shannon Babb, Kody Evans
Row 6: Ethan Hunter, Kyle Bryant
Row 7: Tyler Carpenter
Second heat
Row 1: Carson Ferguson, Mike Benedum
Row 2: Brandon Overton, Daulton Wilson
Row 3: Kye Blight, Oakley Johns
Row 4: Mark Whitener, Cory Hedgecock
Row 5: Jamie Elam, Clay Harris
Row 6: Donald McIntosh, Brad Eitniear
Third heat
Row 1: Kyle Bronson, Steven Roberts
Row 2: Tim McCreadie, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Ethan Dotson, Joseph Joiner
Row 4: Brenden Smith, Kaede Loudy
Row 5: G.R. Smith, Jackson Hise
Row 6: Sammy Mars, Rob Anderzack
Fourth heat
Row 1: Max Blair, Chris Ferguson
Row 2: Dylan Thompson, Cade Dillard
Row 3: Hudson O’Neal, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 4: Tristan Chamberlain, Shane Clanton
Row 5: Jerry Bowersock, Mike Hildebrand
Row 6: Cole Perine, Bryant Dickinson

Pre-qualifying notes

After Wednesday’s Castrol FloRacing Night in America event was washed out by an evening deluge of rain that swamped part of the pit area and even flooded the backstretch tunnel until the drains were cleared, Thursday has brought gorgeous sunny skies with a high temperature in the upper 70s. Rain is not in the evening’s forecast. … Forty-nine cars are slated to compete in Thursday’s $25,000-to-win preliminary program, which marks the first time since the Dream was expanded to include a pair of prelim nights that the field has been split. The new format has created the unusual sight of closed haulers dotting the pit area as half the teams have relaxing evenings as spectators. … Four heats and two consolations will be contested to set the 24-car starting field for the 50-lap feature. … The A-main’s lineup will determined using points drivers earn for their results in time trials and heat races. The entrant with the most points will spin the Wheel of Misfortune to determine an inversion number of 1-8 at the front of the field. … Eldora owner Tony Stewart took to the track’s stage with pit reporter Ben Shelton before the start of hot laps to shoot down Wednesday’s fast-moving social-media rumor that the track had been sold. He asserted the rumor was entirely untrue and the speedway, which he purchased in 2004 from the late Earl Baltes, is not for sale. … Thursday’s field includes three former Dream winners accounting for 12 career victories: Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. (eight), Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga. (three) and Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga. (one). … Clanton is making just his sixth start of the 2024 as he’s concentrated on operating his new endeavor as co-owner of Capital Race Cars. His best finish is ninth, registered on April 12 at All-Tech Raceway in Ellisville, Fla., and June 1 at Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway. … The son of a former Dream winner is also racing Thursday: Sammy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., who at the age of 20 is making his debut at the track where his retired father and team owner, Jimmy Mars, captured the Dream’s six-figure check in 1997 when he was 25. … Coming off a $100,001 modified victory last Saturday at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis., World of Outlaws regular Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., will begin his quest to make his first-ever start in a crown jewel finale at Eldora. He’s failed to qualify for the headliner in his three previous attempts: the World 100 in 2018 and the Eldora Million and Dream in 2022. … Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., is driving a Longhorn Chassis at Eldora for the first time since 2015 when he set a track record (since broken) during Dream qualifying. … Tyler Carpenter of Parkersburg, W.Va., was the last competitor to arrive at the track, pulling into the pit area around 3 p.m.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)

1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.239
2. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.264
3. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 15.299
4. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.385
5. Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.422
6. Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 15.497
7. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 15.569
8. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.617
9. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.712
10. Kye Blight (31aus), Bunbury, W. Australia, 15.724
11. Brad Dyer (18), Mowhawk, Tenn., 15.725
12. Oakley Johns (C6), Hohenwald, Tenn., 15.772
13. Dustin Linville (6), Bryantsville, Ky., 15.785
14. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 15.793
15. Pierce McCarter (71), Gatlinburg, Tenn., 15.797
16. Cory Hedgecock (36v), Loudon, Tenn., 15.813
17. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 15.827
18. Jamie Elam (12), Senatobia, Miss., 15.864
19. Kody Evans (4G), Camden, Ohio, 15.935
20. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 15.986
21. Ethan Hunter (15), Tiger, Ga., 16.078
22. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.078
23. Kyle Bryant (79), Navarre, Fla., 16.109
24. Brad Eitniear (B4U), Wauseon, Ohio, 16.607
25. Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va., 15.475 (weighed in light)

Group B

1. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.291
2. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.296
3. Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 15.570
4. Dylan Thompson (99), Paducah, Ky., 15.759
5. Steven Roberts (111), Sylvester, Ga., 15.796
6. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 15.811
7. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.813
8. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.901
9. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.937
10. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.937
11. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 15.979
12. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.008
13. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.030
14. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 16.092
15. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 16.177
16. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 16.178
17. G.R. Smith (22*GR), Cornelius, N.C., 16.207
18. Jerry Bowersock (95j), Wapakoneta, Ohio, 16.248
19. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 16.300
20. Mike Hildebrand (39), Goshen, Ohio, 16.302
21. Sammy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 16.354
22. Cole Perine (c8), Lowell, Ohio, 16.359
23. Rob Anderzack (8), Swanton, Ohio, 16.590
24. Bryant Dickinson (5*), Ionia, Mich., 17.570

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local; subject to change)

11 a.m.: Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
Noon: Pits open
12:30 p.m.: Technical inspection begins
1 p.m.: Grounds cleared and secured
2 p.m.: All gates, suites and concessions open
5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting (infield)
6:30 p.m.: Hot laps followed by time trials
8 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
Competition
- Late Model heats (10 laps)
- Late Model consolations (12 laps)
- Late Model feature (50 laps)

Correction: Fixes Tyler Carpenter, sted Freddie Carpenter, among entries; fixes Linville to No. 6 sted No. D8.