Dirt on Dirt - RTJ doubles up at All-Tech, cruises to $12,000

January 31

All-Tech Raceway,

Ellisville, FL

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Wieland winternationals) - $12,000

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated February 1, 12:36 pm)

RTJ doubles up at All-Tech, cruises to $12,000

Wieland winternationals

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Daulton Wilson
Spencer Hughes
Hudson O'Neal
Devin Moran
Tyler Erb
Brandon Sheppard
Brandon Overton
Garrett Alberson
Clay Harris
Daniel Hilsabeck
Max Blair
Jackson Hise
Blair Nothdurft
Cory Lawler
Tyler Bruening
Ryan Gustin
Mike Marlar
Kyle Bronson
Ethan Dotson
Jonathan Davenport
Joseph Joiner
Tim McCreadie
Drake Troutman
Carson Ferguson
Shane Clanton
Jimmy Owens

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Ricky Thornton Jr. in victory lane with his family after his second straight win at All-Tech.

What won the race: Powering around race-long leader Spencer Hughes, third-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., dominated the final 22 laps to win Friday's 50-lap Wieland Winternationals second round at All-Tech Raceway. Thornton raced to the $12,000 payday 8.423 seconds ahead of Daulton Wilson for his second full-field Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season and the 37th of his career. Hughes ended up third after leading 28 laps.

Quotable: “I was so tight on entry, I really couldn’t slow down (even with a big lead),” Thornton said. “I don’t know, we had 900 yellows I felt like there, with the rain coming I was hoping we’d at least get to halfway. I screwed up on the restart and I was a ping pong ball for a little bit there, I think Wrecky came out and after that it was just kinda toss your nuts up over the shoulder and just let it go.”

Key notes: Thornton notched his fourth Lucas Oil victory in seven All-Tech starts, adding to his $10,000 triumph in Thursday's opener. ... Fifth-starting Daulton Wilson grabbed second from Spencer Hughes on lap 45 and finished a distant runner-up. ... The second-starting Hughes led the opening 28 laps before giving way to Thornton and eventually fading to third because of apparent engine issues in the closing laps. ... Fourth-starting Hudson O'Neal ran as high as second on lap 20 before slipping back to fourth. ... Devin Moran, rebounding from a late-race flat in Thursday's opener, gained six spots and completed the top five. ... Tyler Erb improved 11 positions and placed sixth. ... Polesitter Garrett Alberson faded to ninth; he lowered the track record in time trials. ... Fifth-running Mike Marlar made heavy contact with the turn-two wall on lap 22, drawing the race's seventh and final caution. ... Jonathan Davenport appeared to hit the outer concrete wall while 13th on the 19th lap before retiring. ... Deep-running Kyle Bronson ripped his car's nose off on an infield tire on the ensuing restart. ... Sixth-running Ethan Dotson climbed the turn-one cushion and nearly flipped on a lap-18 restart, triggering the fourth slowdown. ... Tim McCreadie retired from eighth for the third yellow flag on lap 18. ... Carson Ferguson slowed from 13th on lap 12, while Jimmy Owens pulled off from sixth on the third lap after hitting the turn-two wall. ... The 50-lapper lasted 37 minutes, with eight starters completing the distance and 15 running at the finish.

On the move: After a rollover wreck in his heat race, Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., started 27th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements 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 Friday: 1. Devin Moran (635); 2. Daulton Wilson (630); 3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (625); 4. Max Blair (590); T5. Tyler Bruening (580); T5. Tyler Erb (580); T7. Jonathan Davenport (555); T7. Brandon Sheppard (555); 9. Brandon Overton (545); 10. Garrett Alberson (520); T11. Hudson O'Neal (515); T11. Jimmy Owens (515).

Current weather: Clear, 72°F

Car count: 46

Fast qualifier: Garrett Alberson

Time: 16.430 seconds

Polesitter: Garrett Alberson

Heat race winners: Garrett Alberson, Ricky Thornton Jr., Spencer Hughes, Hudson O'Neal

Consolation race winners: Tyler Erb, Ryan Gustin

Provisional starters: Jonathan Davenport, Drake Troutman, Clay Harris, Cory Lawler, Brandon Sheppard

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

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

From staff reports

ELLISVILLE, Fla. — Updates from Friday’s Wieland Winternationals second round at All-Tech Raceway, featuring a 50-lap, $12,000-to-win main event for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Powering around race-long leader Spencer Hughes, third-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., dominated the final 22 laps to win Friday's 50-lap Wieland Winternationals second round at All-Tech Raceway. Thornton raced to the $12,000 payday 8.423 seconds ahead of Daulton Wilson for his second full-field Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season and the 37th of his career. Hughes ended up third after leading 28 laps.

Feature lineup

(50 laps)

Row 1: Garrett Alberson, Spencer Hughes
Row 2: Ricky Thornton Jr. Hudson O'Neal
Row 3: Daulton Wilson, Ethan Dotson
Row 4: Tyler Bruening, Jimmy Owens
Row 5: Max Blair, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 6: Devin Moran, Shane Clanton
Row 7: Mike Marlar, Tim McCreadie
Row 8: Kyle Bronson, Carson Ferguson
Row 9: Tyler Erb, Ryan Gustin
Row 10: Brandon Overton, Joseph Joiner
Row 11: Blair Nothdurft, Jackson HIse
Row 12: Jonathan Davenport, Drake Troutman
Row 13: Clay Harris, Cory Lawler
Row 14: Brandon Sheppard

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Tyler Erb, Brandon Overton, Blair Nothdurft, Michael Brown, Donald McIntosh, Brian Shirley, Clay Harris, Tyler Millwood, Dennis Erb Jr., Brenden Smith, Michael Leach, Trey Mills. Scratched: Dale McDowell, Boom Briggs, Mark Whitener.

Second consolation: Ryan Gustin, Joseph Joiner, Jackson Hise, Ross Robinson, Cory Lawler, Kyle Bryant, Beckham Malone, Dan Ebert, Carson Brown, Seth Zacharias, Nicholas Johnson. Scratched: Jonathan Davenport, Derrick Stewart, Drake Troutman, Brandon Sheppard.

Heat race recap

Pole-starting Garrett Alberson led all eight laps to win the first heat by 0.900 of a second over second-starting Daulton Wilson, with Max Blair and Mike Marlar rounding out the top-four finishers. The race’s lone caution came on the opening lap when Dale McDowell slowed from ninth. … Ricky Thornton Jr. led all eight laps from the pole to win the second heat by 1.814 seconds over second-starting Tyler Bruening, with Devin Moran in third and sixth-starting Kyle Bronson grabbing the fourth and final transfer spot into Friday’s 50-lap feature. The race’s opening stoppage came when Brandon Sheppard got tangled in the turn-one cushion and rolled over on the second lap, necessitating a 10-minute red flag for cleanup. He wasn't hurt. Drake Troutman also slammed the wall. … Spencer Hughes cruised to win the third heat, leading all eight laps and winning by 1.271 seconds over third-starting Ethan Dotson, with fifth-starting Daniel Hilsabeck and seventh-starting Tim McCreadie grabbing the fourth and final transfer position. … Third-starting Hudson O’Neal cruised to win the fourth and final heat race, winning by 1.120 seconds over fourth-starting Jimmy Owens, with sixth-starting Shane Clanton coming home third and pole-starting Carson Ferguson in fourth. The lone stoppage came on the sixth lap when Derrick Stewart appeared to get stuck in the turn-two cushion and retired.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Garrett Alberson, Daulton Wilson, Max Blair, Mike Marlar, Blair Nothdurft, Brandon Overton, Michael Brown, Clay Harris, Tyler Millwood, Brenden Smith, Brian Shirley. Scrtached: Mark Whitener.

Second heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Tyler Bruening, Devin Moran, Kyle Bronson, Tyler Erb, Donald McIntosh, Dennis Erb Jr., Trey Mills, Michael Leach, Dale McDowell. Scratched: Boom Briggs.

Third heat: Spencer Hughes, Ethan Dotson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Tim McCreadie, Joseph Joiner, Jackson Hise, Cory Lawler, Kyle Bryant, Seth Zacharias, Beckham Malone, Drake Troutman, Brandon Sheppard.

Fourth heat: Hudson O'Neal, Jimmy Owens, Shane Clanton, Carson Ferguson, Ryan Gustin, Dan Ebert, Ross Robinson, Carson Brown, Jonathan Davenport, Derrick Stewart, Nicholas Johnson.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 16.430
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 16.749
3. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 16.837
4. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 16.852
5. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 16.896
6. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 16.896
7. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 16.937
8. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 17.011
9. Michael Brown (24D), Pageland, S.C., 17.029
10. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 17.105
11. Blair Nothdurft (76n), Renner, S.D., 17.113
12. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 17.160
13. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 17.162
14. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 17.179
15. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 17.212
16. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 17.261
17. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 17.300
18. Trey Mills (59), St. Augustine, Fla., 17.319
19. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 17.380
20. Dale McDowell (81m), Chickamauga, Ga., 17.472
21. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 17.503
22. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 17.768
23. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., no time
Group B
1. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 16.575
2. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 16.607
3. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 16.648
4. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 16.867
5. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 16.884
6. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 16.925
7. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 16.953
8. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 16.968
9. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 16.972
10. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 17.093
11. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 17.105
12. Shane Clanton (11), Zebulon, Ga., 17.106
13. Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., 17.117
14. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 17.194
15. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 17.256
16. Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, Iowa, 17.316
17. Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., 17.388
18. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 17.390
19. Kyle Bryant (79B), Navarre, Fla., 17.569
20. Carson Brown (28), New London, N.C., 17.595
21. Seth Zacharias (17z), Vestal, N.Y., 17.612
22. Nicholas Johnson (109), Alachua, Fla., 17.702
23. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 17.798

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
2 p.m. - Pits open
2:30 p.m. - Registration and tech opens
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:15 p.m. - Registration and tech closes
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- 604 Crate hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- 604 Crate group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- 604 Crate heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (50 laps)