Dirt on Dirt - Thornton captures first of Volusia's Triple 20s

February 12

Volusia Speedway Park,

Barberville, FL

Sanction: DIRTcar Supers (Federated DIRTcar Nationals first semifeature) - $5,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac and DIRTcar reports (last updated February 13, 5:48 pm)

Thornton captures first of Volusia's Triple 20s

Federated DIRTcar Nationals first semifeature

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Cade Dillard
Max Blair
Daulton Wilson
Shane Clanton
Brenden Smith
Jimmy Owens
Boom Briggs
Dennis Erb Jr.
Jason Riggs
Ashton Winger
Stacy Boles
Reid Millard
Kyle Bronson
Drake Troutman
Carson Ferguson
Seth Zacharias
Jordan Koehler
Matt Nailor

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Ricky Thornton Jr. picks up a $5,000 victory at Volusia.

What won the race: Pole-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., dominated the first of three Triple 20 semifeatures Wednesday at Volusia Speedway Park for a $7,000 midweek victory in the Federated DIRTcar Nationals. Thornton, the previous night's feature winner, took the checkers 1.4 seconds ahead of fellow front-row starter Cade Dillard in extending his miniseries points lead in the chase for the Big Gator trophy.

Quotable: "We've been good the last couple of days. I felt really good there," Thornton said. "I could really run across the bottom and enter at the top, kind of do whatever I needed to. I was kind of hoping it was gonna be a later feature so it'd be little bit drier, but we'll take one we can get."

Key notes: Thornton notched his 12th career Georgia-Florida Speedweeks victory and fourth at Volusia. ... Kyle Bronson ran in the top five early but retired after nine laps. ... Three cautions slowed the action, the first at the conclusion of the opening lap. Matt Nailor, Jordan Koehler and Dennis Erb Jr. were among drivers involved in the incident. ... Carson Ferguson slowed for a lap-eight yellow flag. ... Reid Millard spun on the ninth lap when he clipped a slowing Drake Troutman. ... Ashton Winger elected to start on the tail. ... Daniel Hilsabeck and Kyle Bryant scratched. ... A dozen drivers completed 20 laps in the first of three Wednesday semifeatures. ... The first of three nights of World of Outlaws Late Models action begins Thursday at Volusia. ... Watch live on DIRTVision.

On the move: Daulton Wilson of Fayetteville, N.C., started 10th and finished fourth; Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., started 14th and finished fifth.

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: DIRTcar Nationals after Wednesday: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (235); 2. Jonathan Davenport (215); 3. Brandon Overton (195); 4. Max Blair (186); 5. Cade Dillard (181); 6. Bobby Pierce (177); 7. Nick Hoffman (165); 8. Devin Moran (164); 9. Tyler Erb (163); 10. Mike Marlar (162).

Current weather: Few Clouds, 75°F

Car count: 61

Fast qualifier: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Time: 15.582 seconds

Polesitter: Ricky Thornton Jr.

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

From staff reports

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Updates from Wednesday’s 54th annual Federated DIRTcar Nationals third round, featuring three 20-lap, $5,000-to-win semifeatures for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

First semifeature

Pole-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., dominated the first of three Triple 20 semifeatures Wednesday at Volusia Speedway Park for a $7,000 midweek victory in the Federated DIRTcar Nationals. Thornton took the checkers 1.4 seconds ahead of fellow front-row starter Cade Dillard in extending his miniseries points lead in the chase for the Big Gator trophy.

First semifeature lineup

(20 laps)

Row 1: Ricky Thornton Jr., Cade Dillard
Row 2: Max Blair, Kyle Bronson
Row 3: Carson Ferguson, Drake Troutman
Row 4: Jimmy Owens, Jordan Koehler
Row 5: Jason Riggs, Daulton Wilson
Row 6: Dennis Erb Jr., Ashton Winger
Row 7: Boom Briggs, Shane Clanton
Row 8: Brenden Smith, Matt Nailor
Row 9: Stacy Boles, Seth Zacharias
Row 10: Reid Millard, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 11: Kyle Bryant

Time trials

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

Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.582
Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.590
Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.637
Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.712
Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.747
Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.758
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.771
Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.797
Jason Riggs (81r), College Grove, Tenn., 15.830
Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.907
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.931
Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 15.949
Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.239
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 16.245
Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.277
Matt Nailor (000), Shermansdale, Pa., 16.369
Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 16.394
Seth Zacharias (17z), Vestal, N.Y., 16.610
Reid Millard (14R), Jefferson City, Mo., 18.846
Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, no time
Kyle Bryant (79), Navarre, Fla., no time

Wednesday’s schedule

(All times local)
10 a.m. - Pits open
11 a.m. - Hauler parking
1 p.m. - Ticket and pit pass sales begins
3 p.m. - All gates open
4:45 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting (turn two grandstands)
5:15 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modified time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model first semifeature (20 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model second semifeature (20 laps)
Intermission/redraw
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
- Late Model third semifeature (20 laps)
- Modified feature (30 laps)