Dirt on Dirt - Moran's flat lifts RTJ to $10,000 All-Tech victory

January 30

All-Tech Raceway,

Ellisville, FL

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Wieland Winternationals) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated January 31, 10:12 pm)

Moran's flat lifts RTJ to $10,000 All-Tech victory

Wieland Winternationals

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Max Blair
Daulton Wilson
Devin Moran
Tyler Erb
Jonathan Davenport
Donald McIntosh
Jimmy Owens
Tim McCreadie
Hudson O'Neal
Ryan Gustin
Tyler Bruening
Brandon Sheppard
Carson Ferguson
Tyler Millwood
Trey Mills
Spencer Hughes
Garrett Alberson
Brandon Overton
Clay Harris
Shane Clanton
Ethan Dotson
Drake Troutman
Ross Robinson
Kyle Bronson

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The winning Koehler Motorsports team at All-Tech Raceway.

What won the race: Using a fifth-to-first move on a restart with 10 laps remaining, then capitalizing on Devin Moran's late flat tire, eighth-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., made a last-lap pass for a $10,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory Thursday at All-Tech Raceway. The lone multiple-race winner on the series at All-Tech, Thornton notched his third victory at the 4/10-mile oval. Moran, who led 34 of 40 laps, limped home fourth.

Quotable: "I got a good run (on the lap-40 restart), got under Daulton (Wilson) for second getting into (turn) three — we bumped a little bit, nothing too bad," Thornton said. "Then I got to Devin, like I said, and I knew his (crew) guy was going to move him up. ... I actually didn't even see (Moran) good enough to see that he was having a right-rear flat. We got to (turn) three and it was all the way down and he was three-wheeled up. We were coming to the white (flag) and I was like, it really sucks for him, but I guess someone's misfortune was good for us and we'll take it."

Key notes: Ricky Thornton Jr., whose team rebuilt his car at Koehler Motorsports in Mount Airy, N.C., earlier in the week, notched his 36th full-field Lucas Oil victory. He owns three All-Tech victories in eight Lucas Oil races. .. Devin Moran notched his sixth top-five in eight All-Tech starts. ... Thornton exploded from fifth on the lap-30 restart and pressured the leading Moran, but Thornton slipped back when he got too high in turn two on lap 33, getting into the wall. He recovered and Moran's flat tire opened the door on the final lap. ... Shane Clanton, who led laps 13-17, was running second when a flat tire forced him to pit on lap 31. ... Clanton drove Austin Smith's No. 11 Capital Race Car; Smith is the son of Clanton's co-owner with Capital Race Cars, Chad Smith. … Donald McIntosh, looking for his third top-five in Lucas Oil competition, ran as high as second for Billy Hicks Racing but settled for seventh. ... Jonathan Davenport improved 11 spots and placed sixth a night removed from slapping the wall in practice. ... Lucas Oil regulars will also contest 50-lap features Friday ($12,000-to-win) and Saturday ($15,000-to-win).

On the move: Runner-up Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., started 10th.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Coltman Farms Racing, Hoker Trucking, Capital Waste, Excel Floor Covering, Five Star Metal Buildings, Ultimate Towing, FK Rod Ends, Dynamic Drivelines, Ultrashield Race Products, Sharp Advantage Safety Products, Winning Edge Carburetion, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Midwest Sheet Metal and EMD Wraps.

Points chase: After All-Tech Thursday: T1. Tyler Bruening (430); T1. Devin Moran (430); T1. Jonathan Davenport (430); 4. Max Blair (420); 5. Daulton Wilson (400); 6. Jimmy Owens (390); 7. Tyler Erb (380); 8. Ricky Thornton Jr. (375); 9. Brandon Sheppard (360); 10. Brandon Overton (355).

Current weather: Clear, 55°F

Car count: 45

Fast qualifier: Devin Moran

Time: 18.924 seconds

Polesitter: Devin Moran

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Shane Clanton, Donald McIntosh, Tyler Bruening

Consolation race winners: Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens

Provisional starters: Ross Robinson, Clay Harris, Kyle Bronson

Next series race: February 1, All-Tech Raceway (Ellisville, FL) $15,000

Editor's note: Corrects number of laps led by Moran to 34 sted 35 and Thornton's lap-30 restart to position to fifth sted fourth; corrects that Brian Shirley wasn't fielding the car involved in the fiery incident in Georgia.

From staff reports

ELLISVILLE, Fla. — Updates from Thursday’s Winter Nationals opener at All-Tech Raceway, featuring a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win main event for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Using a fourth-to-first move on a restart with 10 laps remaining, then capitalizing on Devin Moran's late flat tire, eighth-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., made a last-lap pass for a $10,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory Thursday at All-Tech Raceway. The lone multiple-race winner on the series at All-Tech, Thornton notched his third victory at the 4/10-mile oval. Moran, who led 34 of 40 laps, limped home fourth.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Devin Moran, Donald McIntosh
Row 2: Shane Clanton, Tyler Bruening
Row 3: Daulton Wilson, Tim McCreadie
Row 4: Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 5: Carson Ferguson, Max Blair
Row 6: Ethan Dotson, Trey Mills
Row 7: Tyler Millwood, Hudson O'Neal
Row 8: Spencer Hughes, Brandon Overton
Row 9: Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens
Row 10: Drake Troutman, Brandon Sheppard
Row 11: Garrett Alberson, Ryan Gustin
Row 12: Ross Robinson, Clay Harris
Row 13: Kyle Bronson

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Jonathan Davenport, Drake Troutman, Garrett Alberson, Joseph Joiners, Dale McDowell, Beckham Malone, Brenden Smith, Michael Brown, Carson Brown, Kyle Bronson, Ross Robinson, Nicholas Johnson, Derrick Stewart, Seth Zacharias, Michael Leach.

Second consolation: Jimmy Owens, Brandon Sheppard, Ryan Gustin, Boom Briggs, Mark Whitener, Brian Shirley, Daniel Hilsabeck, Blair Nothdurft, Jackson Hise, Clay Harris, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Marlar, Dan Ebert, Cory Lawler.

Heat race recap

Pole-starting Devin Moran led all eight laps and cruised to win the first heat race by 2.928 seconds over third-starting Daulton Wilson, with Carson Ferguson hanging on for third and Tyler Millwood grabbing the fourth and final transfer spot into Thursday’s 40-lap opener. … Shane Clanton fired off from the pole and never looked back en route to winning the second heat by 2.675 seconds over second-starting Tyler Erb, with fourth-starting Ethan Dotson in third and fifth-starting Spencer Hughes claiming the fourth transfer position. … Donald McIntosh dominated heat three, leading the entire distance and winning by 2.141 seconds over fourth-starting Tim McCreadie, with Max Blair settling for third and Hudson O’Neal finishing fourth. The race’s lone caution came when Mike Marlar spun on the opening start. He did not continue. … Tyler Bruening earned a flag-to-flag victory, winning the fourth and final heat race by 2.576 seconds over Ricky Thornton Jr. Trey Mills started and finished third, with sixth-starting Brandon Overton charging to take fourth. … All four heat races combined to last 13 minutes, 30 seconds.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Daulton Wilson, Carson Ferguson, Tyler Millwood, Garrett Alberson, Jonathan Davenport, Drake Troutman, Brenden Smith, Ross Robinson, Carson Brown, Seth Zacharias, Derrick Stewart.

Second heat: Shane Clanton, Tyler Erb, Ethan Dotson, Spencer Hughes, Kyle Bronson, Michael Brown, Joseph Joiner, Dale McDowell, Beckham Malone, Michael Leach, Nicholas Johnson.

Third heat: Donald McIntosh, Tim McCreadie, Max Blair, Hudson O'Neal, Boom Briggs, Brandon Sheppard, Ryan Gustin, Mark Whitener, Clay Harris, Dan Ebert, Mike Marlar.

Fourth heat: Tyler Bruening, Ricky Thornton Jr., Trey Mills, Brandon Overton, Jimmy Owens, Blair Nothdurft, Brian Shirley, Daniel Hilsabeck, Jackson Hise, Dennis Erb Jr., Cory Lawler.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 18.924
2. Shane Clanton (11), Zebulon, Ga., 19.082
3. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 19.099
4. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 19.189
5. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 19.198
6. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 19.273
7. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 19.314
8. Michael Brown (24D), Pageland, S.C., 19.326
9. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 19.334
10. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 19.394
11. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 19.469
12. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 19.510
13. Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, Iowa, 19.550
14. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 19.669
15. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 19.672
16. Dale McDowell (81m), Chickamauga, Ga., 19.731
17. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 19.753
18. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 19.775
19. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 19.844
20. Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., 19.889
21. Seth Zacharias (17z), Vestal, N.Y., 19.980
22. Nicholas Johnson (109), Alachua, Fla., 20.088
23. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., no time
Group B
1. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 18.999
2. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 19.012
3. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 19.282
4. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 19.387
5. Boom Briggs, (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 19.393
6. Trey Mills (59), St. Augustine, Fla., 19.413
7. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 19.484
8. Blair Nothdurft (76), Renner, S.D., 19.499
9. Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., 19.505
10. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 19.531
11. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 19.532
12. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 19.542
13. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 19.572
14. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 19.575
15. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 19.669
16. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 19.732
17. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 19.760
18. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 19.761
19. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 19.829
20. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 19.858
21. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 20.154
22. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., no time

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
2 p.m. - Pits open
2:30 p.m. - Registration and tech inspection opens
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:15 p.m. - Registration and tech inspection closes
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Features
- Late Models (40 laps)