SENOIA, Ga. (Nov. 16) — Ricky Thornton Jr. aimed to replicate his 2022 Peach State Classic success entering this weekend’s fourth edition of the event in order for a true shot at overturning Bobby Pierce for the Castrol FloRacing Night in America title.

The Chandler, Ariz., superstar didn’t just replicate his Peach State Classic excellence Saturday at the 3/8-mile Georgia oval, but he was nearly flawless en route toward leading all 75 laps and a $125,000 weekend.

Thornton controlled 114 of the 115 laps between the features as he cashed in Friday’s $20,000 top prize, Saturday’s $30,000 big check, and the $75,000 Castrol miniseries title.

“This thing was really good. I owe it to (crew chief) Ricky (Arnold). He wanted to do a couple things after the heat race and we were really good there,” Thornton said in victory lane. “I feel like we’re way different tire wise compared to the other guys, and we all got together and discussed it. We chose the right route. I knew we were able to get off right away and hopefully get out front to dictate our own pace. It worked out for us. It’s pretty awesome.”

While Thornton turned in a perfect weekend, Bobby Pierce struggled Saturday in his 11th-place finish. Pierce entered Saturday with a 21-point lead, needing to finish sixth or better to clinch. But he qualified 19th of 26 drivers in Group B time trials and finished seventh in his heat race, which prompted him to change race cars because “we just struggled.”

Pierce needed a provisional to start 25th in the main event where the feature’s lone caution for Ashton Winger on lap 25 set up unfavorable long runs for the Oakwood, Ill., superstar.

“I made a decision after the heat race, I wanted to pull this car out. We were like, ‘Well, let’s stick with it and try to figure it out.’ In the B-main, I was even worse,” Pierce said. “I felt like I was worse all night with that car. Finally, with this car we took it out, we hustled pretty hard to get it ready for the feature there. I don’t know, I don’t want to say it was a night and day difference, but it was definitely a lot better.

“I can go into the corner and feel the car under me. It just took so long to make moves on guys, even if I was better than them. Everyone is about the same speed on this racetrack, it’s hard to make moves. We eventually got going. We just needed some cautions.”

Now with titles on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Castrol miniseries in hand, Thornton calls multiple championships in a single season “a dream come true.” As for Pierce, “we may have not won the points, but all in all, I don’t feel quite as bad leaving the racetrack now that we weren’t completely dogwater.”

“Have to give the guys a big thanks for working their butts off back there,” Pierce added. “We were throwing the kitchen sink at our other car, and as I said, working to get this thing ready. Yeah, just, all-in-all it’s been a great year for us. To come home second in Flo, it’s alright.”

Starting from the outside front row, Thornton’s would-be winning move came on the initial start when he powered ahead pole-starting Zack Mitchell on the opening lap. Thornton mounted a one-second lead over Mitchell by lap five, but Mitchell then kept Thornton honest in the early going as he pulled within mere car lengths of the lead from laps 12 through 25.

The caution for Winger on lap 25 stymied Mitchell’s momentum, which allowed Garrett Alberson around the Enoree, S.C., driver on the ensuing restart. While Thornton  went unchallenged for the race-ending 50-lap run, Mitchell eventually worked his way back to second on lap 52.

“I think they were a little softer on tires there in the left-rear. I just couldn’t fire off on that restart,” Mitchell said. “Garrett got by me and it took too long for me to get back around him. Just glad to be up here and glad to be competitive. I have to thank Brent for putting me in his stuff. We’ll get everything bunched back and head to (Sunday’s Blue-Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway in) Gaffney, S.C., to see if we can’t be one spot better.”

Thornton’s victory at Senoia marks his third straight at the Georgia oval, dating back to when he won the 2022 finale by 8.5 seconds. Thornton attributes Senoia’s “gritty” and slicked-off racing surface that brings the best out of his driving skillset.

“I don’t know if it’s the dirt or what, but it’s kind of funny, my two other favorite racetracks are this style of dirt,” Thornton said. “It’s kind of gritty, like a gray color. It just fits me well. I have to thank Steve Sheppard (for July 8’s ride at Lincoln Speedway) and Kevin Rumley (for July 24’s ride at Fairbury Speedway), too. They gave me a ride whenever I needed it for these Flo races. There’s been so many things happened this year, and to be able to pull it off is awesome.”

Jonathan Davenport rounded out the podium Saturday with his march to the front from the 10th-starting spot. The Blairsville, Ga., veteran moved into the top-five by lap 16, and that’s what helped him sneak his way onto the podium before “the racetrack died as soon as my tires did.”

“We went soft on tires just to try to get as much as we could early. It was pretty racy there probably the first 40 of 50 laps, I’d say 40, and then the racetrack laned up,” Davenport said. “At least it didn’t rubber tonight. But the whole Pollard family, the track staff, did a great job from what we had last night. I don’t know if anyone would’ve lasted 75 laps like that. But they can’t do nothing about Mother Nature. Hats off to them.”

Feature lineup

(75 laps)

Row 1: Zack Mitchell, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 2: Chris Madden, Garrett Alberson
Row 3: Hudson O'Neal, Tyler Erb
Row 4: Michael Page, Joseph Joiner
Row 5: Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport
Row 6: Wil Herrington, Jason Feger
Row 7: Spencer Hughes, Dalton Cook
Row 8: Trey Mills, Ashton Winger
Row 9: Cory Hedgecock, Nick Hoffman
Row 10: Austin Smith, Austin Horton
Row 11: Payton Freeman, Dylan Knowles
Row 12: Shane Clanton, Kyle Bronson
Row 13: Bobby Pierce, Daulton Wilson

Consolation race results

(12 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Austin Smith, Dylan Knowles, Tim McCreadie, Brenden Smith, Haiden Cowan, Chad Tuten, Matthew Taylor, Landon Gentry, Derek Dent, J.R. Moseley. Scratched: Jimmy Owens, Ethan Dotson.

Second consolation: Austin Horton, Shane Clanton, Max McLaughlin, Carson Ferguson, Jake Jackson, Daulton Wilson, Bobby Pierce, Montana Dudley, Jackson Hise, Lamary Haygood. Scratched: Tyler Stevens.

Third consolation: Payton Freeman, Kyle Bronson, Donald McIntosh, Tyler Millwood, Zach Leonhardi, Cla Knight, Dennis Erb Jr. Scratched: J.T. Seawright, Sam Seawright, Jordy Nipper, Hadley Greene.

Consolation lineups

First consolation
Row 1: Austin Smith, Haiden Cowan
Row 2: Dylan Knowles, Landon Gentry
Row 3: Tim McCreadie, J.R. Moseley
Row 4: Brenden Smith, Derek Dent
Row 5: Matthew Taylor, Jimmy Owens
Row 6: Chad Tuten, Ethan Dotson
Second consolation
Row 1: Austin Horton, Shane Clanton
Row 2: Max McLaughlin, Daulton Wilson
Row 3: Jake Jackson, Carson Ferguson
Row 4: Tyler Stevens, Bobby Pierce
Row 5: Jackson Hise, Montana Dudley
Row 6: Lamar Haygood
Third consolation
Row 1: Payton Freeman, Donald McIntosh
Row 2: Kyle Bronson, Tyler Millwood
Row 3: Zach Leonhardi, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 4: J.T. Seawright, Sam Seawright
Row 5: Cla Knight, Jordy Nipper
Row 6: Hadley Greene

Heat race recap

Zack Mitchell led all 10 laps from the pole to dominate the first heat race, winning by 2.836 seconds over third-starting Michael Page, who trailed Mitchell the entire way. Fifth-starting Spencer Hughes slid by Austin Smith to grab the third and final transfer spot on lap eight, relegating Smith to fourth. The race’s lone caution came when Smith was called for jumping the opening start. Chad Tuten pulled off on lap six. … Second-starting Chris Madden earned a flag-to-flag victory in the second heat, winning by 0.720 of a second over pole-starting Brandon Overton, who trailed Madden the entire way. Jimmy Owens entered the final lap in third before appearing to lose an engine and slowing, coasting across the line in eighth. Trey Mills used a turn-four crossover by Haiden Cowan to grab the third and final transfer position into Saturday’s 75-lap, $30,000-to-win finale. The lone stoppage came on the second lap when Ethan Dotson hopped the turn-four cushion and pounded the frontrstretch wall, knocking the rear end out. The incident necessitated a brief red flag for cleanup, as Dotson’s damaged machine required a tow back to the pits. … Hudson O’Neal led the entire way from the pole to win the third heat by 2.050 seconds over second-starting Wil Herrington. Cory Hedgecock and Austin Horton traded the third spot throughout the 10-lap heat, with Hedgecock prevailing after a turn-three slider on lap six, punching his ticket into the Peach State Classic. … Ricky Thornton Jr. cruised to win heat four from the pole, taking the checkers 2.307 seconds ahead of Joseph Joiner, who pursued Thornton the entire way. Dalton Cook held serve and rounded out the podium finishers. Bobby Pierce started and finished seventh, he'll need to qualify through a consolation or rely on a series provisional. … Garrett Alberson earned a green-to-checked victory in the fifth heat, holding off a charging Jonathan Davenport and beating him to the line by 1.799 seconds. The fifth-starting Davenport grabbed second from Ashton Winger on lap six and chopped a half-second off of Alberson’s lead. Winger repelled a late-race surge from Payton Freeman to finish third. … Tyler Erb dominated the sixth and final heat race, leading all 10 laps and winning by 2.225 seconds over second-starting Jason Feger. Fourth-starting Nick Hoffman held third the entire distance and rounded out the podium. Sam Seawright and Jordy Nipper exchanged pleasantries following the checkered flag after apparent on-track contact.

Heat race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Zack Mitchell, Michael Page, Spencer Hughes, Austin Smith, Dylan Knowles, Tim McCreadie, Brenden Smith, Matthew Taylor, Chad Tuten.

Second heat: Chris Madden, Brandon Overton, Trey Mills, Haiden Cowan, Landon Gentry, J.R. Moseley, Derek Dent, Jimmy Owens, Ethan Dotson.

Third heat: Hudson O'Neal, Wil Herrington, Cory Hedgecock, Austin Horton, Max McLaughlin, Jake Jackson, Tyler Stevens, Jackson Hise.

Fourth heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Joseph Joiner, Dalton Cook, Shane Clanton, Daulton Wilson, Carson Ferguson, Bobby Pierce, Montana Dudley, Lamar Haygood.

Fifth heat: Garrett Alberson, Jonathan Davenport, Ashton Winger, Payton Freeman, Kyle Bronson, Zach Leonhardi, J.T. Seawright, Cla Knight. Scratched: Hadley Greene.

Sixth heat: Tyler Erb, Jason Feger, Nick Hoffman, Donald McIntosh, Tyler Millwood, Dennis Erb Jr., Sam Seawright, Jordy Nipper.

Heat race lineups

First heat
Row 1: Zack Mitchell, Austin Smith
Row 2: Michael Page, Dylan Knowles
Row 3: Spencer Hughes, Tim McCreadie
Row 4: Brenden Smith, Matthew Taylor
Row 5: Chad Tuten
Second heat
Row 1: Brandon Overton, Chris Madden
Row 2: Trey Mills, Haiden Cowan
Row 3: Jimmy Owens, Ethan Dotson
Row 4: Landon Gentry, Derek Dent
Row 5: J.R. Moseley
Third heat
Row 1: Hudson O’Neal, Wil Herrington
Row 2: Cory Hegecock, Austin Horton
Row 3: Max McLaughlin, Jake Jackson
Row 4: Tyler Stevens, Jackson Hise
Fourth heat
Row 1: Ricky Thornton Jr., Joseph Joiner
Row 2: Dalton Cook, Daulton Wilson
Row 3: Shane Clanton, Carson Ferguson
Row 4: Bobby Pierce, Montana Dudley
Row 5: Lamar Haygood
Fifth heat
Row 1: Garrett Alberson, Ashton Winger
Row 2: Payton Freeman, Cla Knight
Row 3: Jonathan Davenport, Zach Leonhardi
Row 4: J.T. Seawright, Kyle Bronson
Row 5: Hadley Greene
Sixth heat
Row 1: Tyler Erb, Jason Feger
Row 2: Tyler Millwood, Nick Hoffman
Row 3: Sam Seawright, Donald McIntosh
Row 4: Dennis Erb Jr., Jordy Nipper

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 15.212
2. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.274
3. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.309
4. Austin Smith (11), Cedartown, Ga., 15.311
5. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.379
6. Wil Herrington (38), Hawkinsville, Ga., 15.395
7. Michael Page (18x), Douglasville, Ga., 15.408
8. Trey Mills (14jr), St. Augustine, Fla., 15.423
9. Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 15.441
10. Dylan Knowles (66k), Lanett, Ala., 15.453
11. Haiden Cowan (14), Rincon, Ga., 15.498
12. Austin Horton (16H), Whitesburg, Ga., 15.504
13. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 15.510
14. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.524
15. Max McLaughlin (4), Mooresville, N.C., 15.595
16. Tim McCreadie (58v), Watertown, N.Y., 15.670
17. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.706
18. Jake Jackson (J1), Rutherfordton, N.C., 15.722
19. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 15.748
20. Landon Gentry (629), Rossville, Ga., 15.781
21. Tyler Stevens (2), Searcy, Ark., 15.816
22. Matthew Taylor (38T), Fort Valley, Ga., 15.869
23. Derek Dent (18), Appling, Ga., 15.877
24. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 15.989
25. Chad Tuten (51), Blackshear, Ga., 16.124
26. J.R. Moseley (99), Columbus, Ga., 16.260
Group B
1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.862
2. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.207
3. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 15.245
4. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 15.284
5. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 15.329
6. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.339
7. Dalton Cook (44D), Columbus, Ga., 15.358
8. Payton Freeman (F1), Commerce, Ga., 15.415
9. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 15.451
10. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.499
11. Cla Knight (42), North Augusta, S.C., 15.512
12. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.538
13. Shane Clanton (25c), Zebulon, Ga., 15.540
14. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.572
15. Sam Seawright (16), Rainsville, Ala., 15.681
16. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.682
17. Zach Leonhardi (24), Cartersville, Ga., 15.688
18. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 15.700
19. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.715
20. J.T. Seawright (1JT), Fort Payne, Ala., 15.746
21. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.758
22. Montana Dudley (7), Phenix City, Ala., 15.780
23. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.781
24. Jordy Nipper (1n), Gray, Ga., 15.847
25. Lamar Haygood (17H), Douglasville, Ga., 16.032
26. Hadley Greene (2G), Ellaville, Ga., 16.140

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Luncheon, cornhole tournament
2 p.m. - Pits open
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
4 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
4:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Super Late Model hot laps
- 604 Crate hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- 604 Crate group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heats (10 laps)
- 604 Crate consolations (10 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (12 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Peach State Classic feature (75 laps)
- 604 Crate feature (20 laps)