Dirt on Dirt - Thornton repels J.D., wins $30,000 Hillbilly

August 30

Lernerville Speedway,

Sarver, PA

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Hillbilly Hundred) - $30,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated August 31, 2:05 pm)

Thornton repels J.D., wins $30,000 Hillbilly

Hillbilly Hundred

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Jonathan Davenport
Max Blair
Devin Moran
Brandon Overton
Mike Marlar
Carson Ferguson
Tim McCreadie
Brandon Sheppard
Tyler Erb
Boom Briggs
Garrett Alberson
Dan Ebert
Donald McIntosh
Brock Pinkerous
Hudson O'Neal
Joseph Joiner
Drake Troutman
Ken Schaltenbrand
Clay Harris
Logan Zarin
Daniel Hilsabeck
Cory Lawler
Colton Flinner
Alex Ferree
Kyle Bronson
Tyler Dietz
Chub Frank

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Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt) edged Jonathan Davenport (49) at Lernerville.

What won the race: Turning back a backstretch challenge from polesitter Jonathan Davenport on a lap-91 restart, fellow front-row starter Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., led all the way in Saturday's Hillbilly Hundred in the Carl Short-promoted event's debut at Lernerville Speedway. Thornton's 13th Lucas Oil Series victory this season paid $30,000 as he took the checkers 1.397 seconds ahead of Davenport, who nearly slipped off the backstretch with 10 laps remaining when he and Thornton made contact.

Quotable: "It was tough. I'm glad that first yellow came out," Thornton said. "I didn't really get that great of a start and let J.D. get out in front of me, and I felt like whoever got out front was gonna be the one to beat. It didn't matter if a car was better than theirs or not."

Key notes: Ricky Thornton Jr. notched his 48th career full-field Lucas Oil Series victory. ... While Thornton led all the way, he got a poor start on the race's first start attempt, but got a second chance when the initial green flag was called back for a turn-four pileup that involved Joseph Joiner, Garrett Alberson and Daniel Hilsabeck, who had a flat with his crew struggling to removed a bent wheel. ... The event had nine other slowdowns, starting with a turn-three yellow for Colton Flinner. ... Kyle Bronson slowed on the 15th lap and Donald McIntosh had a flat on the ensuing restart. ... Joiner went around in turn four on the 18th lap. ... Tim McCreadie had a left-rear flat on lap 27. ... Ken Schaltenbrand, who earned $1,000 from Peluso Roofing as the top-finishing local, spun in turn four on the 38th lap. ... There was a red flag on the 40th lap as fire flamed up under Cory Lawler's hood; he pulled to the infield and climbed out without injury while the safety crew attended to the car. ... Hudson O'Neal, who had pitted previously, slowed for a lap-44 caution. ... Schaltenbrand broke a driveshaft and slowed again on lap 91 for the final yellow. ... The 100-lapper took more than an hour, with 12 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., started 13th and finished third.

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 Lernerville: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (7,735); 2. Jonathan Davenport (7,695); 3. Devin Moran (7,270); 4. Hudson O’Neal (7,185); 5. Brandon Sheppard (6,965); 6. Garrett Alberson (6,910); 7. Brandon Overton (6,645); 8. Daulton Wilson (5,980); 9. Carson Ferguson (5,825); 10. Donald McIntosh (5,705); 11. Daniel Hilsabeck (5,485); 12. Dan Ebert (5,240).

Current weather: Clear, 59°F

Car count: 38

Fast qualifier: Jonathan Davenport

Time: 15.357 seconds

Polesitter: Jonathan Davenport

Heat race winners: Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O'Neal

Consolation race winners: Tim McCreadie, Tyler Erb

Provisional starters: Donald McIntosh, Cory Lawler, Ken Schaltenbrand, Tyler Dietz

Next series race: September 18, Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) $10,000

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

From staff reports

SARVER, Pa. — Updates from Saturday’s 57th annual Hillbilly 100 at Lernerville Speedway, highlighted by a 100-lap, $30,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Turning back a backstretch challenge from polesitter Jonathan Davenport on a lap-91 restart, fellow front-row starter Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., led all the way in Saturday's Hillbilly Hundred in the Carl Short-promoted event's debut at Lernerville Speedway. Thornton's 13th Lucas Oil Series victory of the season paid $30,000 as he took the checkers 1.397 seconds ahead of Davenport, who nearly slipped off the backstretch with 10 laps remaining when he and Thornton made contact.

Feature lineup

(100 laps)

Row 1: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 2: Devin Moran, Hudson O'Neal
Row 3: Joseph Joiner, Brandon Sheppard
Row 4: Mike Marlar, Boom Briggs
Row 5: Garrett Alberson, Carson Ferguson
Row 6: Daniel Hilsabeck, Alex Ferree
Row 7: Max Blair, Drake Troutman
Row 8: Brock Pinkerous, Colton Flinner
Row 9: Tim McCreadie, Tyler Erb
Row 10: Logan Zarin, Clay Harris
Row 11: Brandon Overton, Kyle Bronson
Row 12: Dan Ebert, Chub Frank
Row 13: Donald McIntosh, Cory Lawler
Row 14: Ken Schaltenbrand, Tyler Dietz

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top four transfer)

First consolation: Tim McCreadie, Logan Zarin, Brandon Overton, Dan Ebert, Haiden Cowan, Dan Angelicchio, Tyler Wyant, Clay Ruffo, Chris Schneider, Tyler Dietz, Gary Lyle.

Second consolation: Tyler Erb, Clay Harris, Kyle Bronson, Chub Frank, Ken Schaltenbrand, Bump Hedman, Cory Lawler, Levi Yetter, Donald McIntosh, John Garvin Jr.

Heat race recap

Jonathan Davenport overcame early-race contact with Joseph Joiner before leading all eight laps in winning the night's first heat race, taking the checkers 2.224 seconds ahead of Joiner. Garrett Alberson, winner of Friday’s opener and Max Blair join Davenport and Joiner in punching their tickets into Saturday’s 100-lap finale. … Devin Moran overcame an early restart to lead the entire distance, winning the second heat by 1.770 seconds over Mike Marlar, who trailed him the entire way. Daniel Hilsabeck and Brock Pinkerous both held serve in finishing third and fourth. The race’s lone caution came on the opening lap when Brandon Overton and Dan Ebert made contact, sending Overton spinning at the turn-one entrance; both drivers continued with Ebert finishing fifth and Overton soldiering to a seventh-place result. … Ricky Thornton Jr. dominated the third heat, crossing the line 1.256 seconds over second-starting Brandon Sheppard, who pursued him the entire distance. Carson Ferguson and Drake Troutman rounded out the top-four finishers. The race’s lone caution came when Donald McIntosh had a solo-spin on the second lap; he avoided contact, but could only rebound to ninth. … Second-starting Hudson O’Neal got the jump on the start and led all eight laps to win the fourth and final heat race by 1.421 seconds over polesitter Boom Briggs. Alex Ferree started and finished third, while sixth-starting Colton Flinner grabbed the fourth and final transfer spot into Saturday’s $30,000-to-win main event. The race’s lone yellow flag flew on the sixth lap when Ken Schaltenbrand stopped outside the banking in turn two; he continued and settled for ninth. … The four prelims combined to last just shy of 13 minutes.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Jonathan Davenport, Joseph Joiner, Garrett Alberson, Max Blair, Logan Zarin, Tim McCreadie, Tyler Wyant, Gary Lyle, Haiden Cowan, Clay Ruffo.

Second heat: Devin Moran, Mike Marlar, Daniel Hilsabeck, Brock Pinkerous, Dan Ebert, Tyler Dietz, Brandon Overton, Dan Angelicchio, Chris Schneider.

Third heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Carson Ferguson, Drake Troutman, Chub Frank, Clay Harris, John Garvin Jr., Cory Lawler, Donald McIntosh, Bump Hedman.

Fourth heat: Hudson O'Neal, Boom Briggs, Alex Ferree, Colton Flinner, Tyler Erb, Justin Kann, Levi Yetter, Kyle Bronson, Ken Schaltenbrand.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.357
2. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.595
3. Joseph Joiner (19m), Milton, Fla., 15.725
4. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.746
5. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.783
6. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 15.881
7. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.919
8. Brock Pinkerous (555), Ellenville, N.Y., 15.977
9. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 15.986
10. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 16.065
11. Clay Ruffo (14R), Brookfield, Ohio, 16.154
12. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 16.205
13. Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 16.288
14. Chris Schneider (55), Lower Burrell, Pa., 16.350
15. Haiden Cowan (14H), Rincon, Ga., 16.361
16. Tyler Dietz (77), Saxonburg, Pa., 16.472
17. Gary Lyle (10L), Hyde Park, Pa., 16.578
18. Dan Angelicchio (14), Mount Pleasant, Pa., 16.745
19. Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., no time
Group B
1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.406
2. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.591
3. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 15.598
4. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.744
5. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.768
6. Alex Ferree (1c), Saxonburg, Pa., 15.881
7. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.922
8. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.975
9. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 16.018
10. Levi Yetter (66L), Cabot, Pa., 16.056
11. Chub Frank (1*), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.077
12. Colton Flinner (48), Allison Park, Pa., 16.134
13. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.144
14. Justin Kann (66), Huntingdon, Pa., 16.149
15. John Garvin Jr. (J4), Sarver, Pa., 16.158
16. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 16.166
17. Bump Hedman (B22), Sugar Grove, Pa., 16.302
18. Ken Schaltenbrand (29), Sarver, Pa., 16.324
19. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 16.399

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
2 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
2:30 p.m. - Pits open
2:45 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
5-5:45 p.m. - Drivers’ autograph session
5:45 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Ohio Valley Series hot laps
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Ohio Valley Series time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Ohio Valley Series heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- 57th annual Hillbilly Hundred (100 laps)
- Ohio Valley Series feature (50 laps)