ROSSBURG, Ohio — Ricky Thornton Jr. wasn’t the favorite at Eldora Speedway’s 55th World 100. The Chandler, Ariz., driver wasn’t particularly confident. And in the early stages of Saturday’s main event, he wasn’t heading the right direction either, slipping back from his pole position to the fifth spot after 20 laps.
But for the first time in a crown jewel at the legendary Ohio oval that drew a record-setting crown, things went Thornton’s way as he overtook race-long leader Jonathan Davenport on the 42nd lap and led the rest of the 100-lapper for a $72,000 payday and the biggest victory of a shining career.
How does it feel? “It means the world, honestly,” Thornton said in victory lane, where he discussed the new Longhorn Chassis the Mount Airy, N.C.-based Koehler Motorsports team brought to Eldora for World Week.
“We were able to work on it and work on it and I don't know, we kind of went (back) to the drawing board,” Thornton said. “I feel like every time I get here I overthink it. I don't do exactly what I need to do. Tonight, I tried not to do that and really we didn't change anything from the heat race to the feature — and that never happens. Overall, it's just crazy. Finally.”
The 34-year-old Thornton, a standout racer in various divisions before becoming a full-time Late Model driver several years ago, reached the pinnacle of his career by taking the checkers 1.676 seconds ahead of 19th-starting Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., at the historic half-mile oval. Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., briefly challenged Thornton late in the race before settling for third while 16th-starting Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, and Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, who ran as high as third on laps 43-85 after starting 12th, rounded out the top five.
The five-time race winner Davenport, like McDowell a double winner in Thursday and Friday’s semifeature action, ended up seventh after leading 41 laps but flattening a tire with 10 laps remaining while chasing Thornton.
Thornton came into the World 100 the winner of four of his previous five starts, three on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series where he’s the points leader and reigning champ, and one at Eldora’s Baltes Classic tuneup on Sunday, where he debuted his new car.
But he wasn’t among the favorites at a track where Davenport and Bobby Pierce have shared the biggest victories in recent years, and he didn’t join that conversation following prelims like McDowell and Hoffman did with their impressive performances.
“Honestly today, I didn't really have a whole lot of confidence,” Thornton said. “You can never let your guys know that though.”
Instead of telling his crew of his doubts, Thornton focused on making all the right moves, making sure he didn’t "do something dumb and hit the wall” or overadjust his car.
“You hate going to a racetrack where a lot of people count you out,” Thornton said, who entered the World 100 with a single top-five finish in six starts. “I just tried to be as methodical as I could and just make sure I did every right move and didn't put myself in a bad situation and all that ... and finally it worked out.”
Much to the delight of car owners Bobby and Jessica Koehler, who scrambled last summer to provide Thornton a ride when he was suddenly released by SSI Motorsports.
"Bobby told me a couple of months ago there was one race he wanted to win,” Thornton said, “and it was this one.”
Starting alongside Davenport on the front row, it didn’t look promising initially for Thornton, who was third after one lap and was mired in fifth from laps 20-24 while Davenport, Chris Madden, Hoffman and Brandon Overton ran ahead of him. But Thornton found some fire on a pair of restarts as the race neared halfway, restarted on the front row with Davenport on the 42nd lap and dove under him in turns three and four to take command.
"We got that restart and I was able to get by Hoffman and Madden and I'm like, ‘Man, I might actually have a shot at this.’ And then I don't know if it was determination or what. I got a really good restart and I stayed next to J.D. and I knew he was going to move up,” Thornton said. "I'm like, if I can just dictate where he's going to go on this restart, we're all watching that (video) board getting into turn one trying to see exactly how much of a gap you have and don't have and I don't know. I was able to get by him. I was running scared probably the next 15 laps. Every time I was coming down the front straightway I go, ‘Man, is he going to go around the outside of me of go under me.’ ”
Instead, Thornton kept a gap on Davenport and stayed in control into the second half of the race while McDowell charged up to third just before Davenport’s demise. Thornton was able to turn back Hoffman and McDowell’s low-running charge, holding on after the race’s final restart.
“(McDowell) got under me off of (turn) two and I'm like, ‘Man, if he gets in that traction down there, he's gonna drive right by me down the back straightaway,' and I got a really good start,” Thornton said.
McDowell was left to wonder what might’ve happened without a pair of late-race yellows.
"I was catching them. I don't know if I could have got to them, but I definitely had some momentum going and it's kind of like the tires sealed up a little bit and I couldn't take back off on those restarts. I don't know. I needed to carry momentum,” said the 59-year-old driver for his brother’s Shane McDowell Racing who won the World 100 in 2005. “I mean, I'm dejected a little bit. I'm bridesmaid, but you can't be dejected with this crowd and the best racers in the world here, so I'm proud to be a part of it.
“Two firsts and a second over the weekend — man, I wanna get one before, before I quit — but, hopefully, hopefully we'll be back next year and, and it looks like we're gonna be back next year, so hopefully we can take another shot at it.”
Hoffman, the top points earner during preliminary night action, started sixth in the main event and reached third by the 23rd lap before slipping back to sixth in the second half of the race. He was still sixth with 12 laps remaining, but used the last restart to get by McDowell and into the second spot from laps 90-94
“In the middle stage of that race, I didn't feel very good. I was a little too loose and then we had that last restart and I was able to restart on the outside and get a really good start and get to second there,” Hoffman said. “I felt like at that point Ricky was kind of vulnerable. He looked like he was sliding a little bit and I felt like I was going to be able to get to him. Then about two laps later, I felt like I was sliding too much and then Dale drives right back by me.”
Hoffman, also third in June’s Dream at Eldora won by Davenport, said he felt “pretty crazy to kind of feel down on myself a little bit by running third in the World. It's pretty wild, but it's just the standards I kind of hold myself to. I felt super confident coming into today and it just didn't pan out for me.”
Notes: Jonathan Davenport will have to wait another year for a crack at tying Billy Moyer’s record of six World 100 victories. … Six cautions slowed the action, the first on the 12th lap for a slowing Josh Rice, who retired. ... On the 38th lap, debris drew a yellow and another quick caution appeared on the 40th lap for more debris. ... On the 42nd lap, two drivers named Garrett (Smith and Alberson) slowed; Smith had a flat and Alberson damage from contact with Bobby Pierce. ... A lap-89 caution appeared for Kyle Strickler (ninth-running Tim McCreadie simultaneously pulled his smoking car to the infield; he'd pitted earlier in the race). ... One lap later, the yellow returned for a slowing Chris Madden as Davenport also headed to the infield with his flat tire. ... Brandon Overton, who ran third early, slipped to eighth and pitted on the lap-37 caution; he retired after 70 laps.
55th World 100
Pos. Driver (car no.), hometown, chassis, earnings
1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., Longhorn, $72,000
2. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., Team Zero, $25,000
3. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., Longhorn, $15,000
4. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, Rocket, $12,500
5. Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa, Infinity, $10,000
6. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., Rocket, $9,000
7. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., Longhorn, $8,000
8. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., Stinger, $7,750
9. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., Longhorn, $7,500
10. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., Longhorn, $7,250
11. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., Rocket, $7,000
12. Cory Hedgecock (23v), Loudon, Tenn., Longhorn, $6,750
13. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., Longhorn, $6,500
14. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, Longhorn, $6,250
15. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., Longhorn, $6,000
16. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., Longhorn, $5,900
17. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., Longhorn, $5,800
18. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., Longhorn, $5,700
19. Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., Longhorn, $5,600
20. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., Longhorn, $5,575
21. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., AK, $5,550
22. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., Rocket, $5,525
23. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., Longhorn, $5,500
24. Garrett Smith (10), Madison, Ga., Longhorn, $5,500
25. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., Longhorn, $5,500
26. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., Longhorn, $5,500
27. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., Longhorn, $5,500
28. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., Rocket, $5,500
Lap leaders: Davenport 1-41; Thornton 42-100
Fast qualifier (among 101 cars): Alberson, 15.291 seconds
Heat race winners: Hoffman, Ca. Ferguson, Shirley, Madden, Davenport, Thornton
Consolation winners: McCreadie, Strickler
Provisional starters: McDowell, Hedgecock
Preliminary feature winners: McDowell (2), Davenport (2)
Feature lineup
(100 laps)
Row 1: Ricky Thornton, Jonathan Davenport
Row 2: Chris Madden, Brian Shirley
Row 3: Carson Ferguson, Nick Hoffman
Row 4: Brandon Overton, Brandon Sheppard
Row 5: Dennis Erb Jr., Garrett Smith
Row 6: Devin Moran, Ryan Gustin
Row 7: Drake Troutman, Ethan Dotson
Row 8: Tanner English, Tyler Erb
Row 9: Jason Feger, Jimmy Owens
Row 10: Dale McDowell, Cory Hedgecock
Row 11: Tim McCreadie, Kyle Strickler
Row 12: Max Blair, Josh Rice
Row 13: Hudson O'Neal, Chris Ferguson
Row 14: Bobby Pierce, Garrett Alberson
10:34 p.m. | Green flag
Jonathan Davenport jumps into the early lead. We'll bow out of updates and have results immediately after the race.
10:19 p.m. | Staff struggles
DirtonDirt staffer heat predictions weren’t great. With a potential for 30 points, Kyle McFadden finished on top with 14 points while Todd Turner has 12 and Kevin Kovac 11. There’s always next year, right?
McFadden’s highlights were picking the correct winner for three of six heats and picking every transferee correctly in the fourth heat (albeit not in order).
Turner’s highlights were few and far between until the last two heats, when he picked both winners. In the final heat, he got the maximum five points by picking the three transferees and the winner.
Kovac picked two heat winners but never more than two transferrees. We’ll let him pick the consolation races next year.
10:14 p.m. | World 100 statistics
Fifteen states are represented in the 28-car World 100 lineup with a race-high five drivers from Illinois. Four drivers apiece represent Georgia and North Carolina.
Two drivers apiece are from Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Tennessee with the rest single-driver states: Arizona, California, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico, Ohio, New York, South Carolina and Texas.
Among six chassis brands represented, Longhorn Chassis has the lion’s share with 19 starters. Rocket Chassis has five starters with one starter apiece for AK, Infinity, Stinger and Team Zero.
Two Pennsylvania drivers will make their first World 100 starts: Hyndman’s Drake Troutman and Centerville’s Max Blair.
9:50 p.m. | Deep-starting McDowell
Falling back on a provisional as one of the two high-point drivers failing to transfer through the heats, Dale McDowell has qualified for his 17th straight World 100 feature, rolling off from the 19th-starting spot.
The 59-year-old ageless wonder who swept his prelims Thursday and Friday is no stranger to this position. This is the sixth time since 2017 he’s started from the 19th-starting spot or worse.
He’s been able to finish third (from 27th in 2023), eighth (from 25th in ’22), seventh (from 19th in ’20), eighth (from 22nd in ’18) and fourth (from 25th in ’17) from deep in the field, so while it’s not ideal, there’s hope.
“We’ll just put the car right back to where it was the last two nights and hope for the best,” said McDowell, who started sixth and finished sixth in the third heat. “It looks like there’s a little bit of curb around the top in one and two. They can’t really use it right now in three and four. Bobby (Pierce) was just using it in that B, so there is something up there. So, I don’t know. We’ll just have to see. Definitely wish we were up a little further.”
The first two heat race winners saw sixth-starting Nick Hoffman and fifth-starting Carson Ferguson triumph, McDowell said the track’s groove started to migrate to the top side in his heat, making it difficult for him to pass. He’s hoping to at least keep his top-10 streak off 11 finishes of eighth or better alive at the World 100.
“In our heat, heat three and heat four is a real pivotal time where the racetrack takes change and there really wasn’t much passing,” McDowell said. “You kind of get up around the top and roll. Shane’s working on this thing and we’ll see if we can’t keep this hot rod up front.”
9:29 p.m. | Strickler wins second consolation
Kyle Strickler led all 15 laps in his Austin Kirkpatrick-owned car to capture the second consolation and earn his sixth straight World 100 start. Strickler transferred along with Josh Rice, Chris Ferguson and Garrett Alberson, who nipped Chase Junghans. The first of two cautions appeared on the eighth lap for a slowing Wil Herrington, who had a flat right rear tire. A lap-14 yellow fell for sixth-running Forrest Trent's spin.
Second consolation finish: Kyle Strickler, Josh Rice, Chris Ferguson, Garrett Alberson, Chase Junghans Travis Stemler, Austin Smith, Jadon Frame, Clay Stuckey, Dalton Cook, Dustin Nobbe, Todd Morrow, Brenden Smith, Luke Morey, Jason Jameson, Haiden Cowan, Evan Koehler, Forrest Trent, Clint Keenan, Wil Herrington, Mario Gresham, Jeff Robertson. Scratched: Shannon Babb, Jason Riggs.
9:14 p.m. | McCreadie wins first consolation
Tim McCreadie overtook Hudson O'Neal on the eighth lap and led the rest of the first consolation. Polesitter Max Blair finished second in the 15-lapper, transferring to the main event along with O'Neal and last year's World 100 winner, Bobby Pierce.
First consolation finish: Tim McCreadie, Max Blair, Hudson O'Neal, Bobby Pierce, Kyle Bronson, Gregg Satterlee, Trey Mills, Joseph Joiner, Gordy Gundaker, Mike Spatola, Mike Marlar, Jackson Hise, Colten Burdette, Zack Dohm, Frank Heckenast Jr., Rod Conley, Kent Robinson, Trent Ivey, Dylan Thornton, Michael Leach, Tyler Bruening, Freddie Carpenter, Bayley Currey. Scratched: Cade Dillard.
9:08 p.m. | World 100 polesitter
Overtaking Ryan Gustin for the lead propelled Ricky Thornton Jr. to victory in the sixth heat — and, for the first time in his seven career World 100 feature starts, he’ll start from the pole position.
Thornton knows, though, that the driver who will come to the green directly to his right — Jonathan Davenport — is the rival he has to beat. “We’ll see if we can try to do something with J.D.,” Thornton said.
Thornton won a World 100 heat race for the fourth time. His previous heat triumphs came in 2021 (started second, finished eighth), ’22 (started and finished fifth) and ’24 (started sixth, finished 20th).
Consolation race lineups
(15 laps; top four transfer)
First consolation
Row 1: Max Blair, Joseph Joiner
Row 2: Hudson O’Neal, Mike Marlar
Row 3: Kyle Bronson, Tim McCreadie
Row 4: Cade Dillard, Gregg Satterlee
Row 5: Bobby Pierce, Gordy Gundaker
Row 6: Frank Heckenast Jr., Tyler Bruening
Row 7: Trent Ivey, Trey Mills
Row 8: Zack Dohm, Jackson Hise
Row 9: Dylan Thornton, Michael Leach
Row 10: Freddie Carpenter, Mike Spatola
Row 11: Kent Robinson, Colten Burdette
Row 12: Bayley Currey, Rod Conley
Second consolation
Row 1: Kyle Strickler, Josh Rice
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Wil Herrington
Row 3: Chris Ferguson, Austin Smith
Row 4: Brenden Smith, Jadon Frame
Row 5: Forrest Trent, Dalton Cook
Row 6: Chase Junghans, Shannon Babb
Row 7: Travis Stemler, Clint Keenan
Row 8: Dustin Nobbe, Clay Stuckey
Row 9: Haiden Cowan, Jason Jameson
Row 10: Mario Gresham, Jeff Robertson
Row 11: Todd Morrow, Luke Morey
Row 12: Jason Riggs, Evan Koehler
8:59 p.m. | Thornton wins sixth heat
Ricky Thornton Jr. overtook Ryan Gustin on a mid-race restart and captured the final heat to earn the pole for the World 100. Gustin and Jimmy Owens got the other two transfer spots while Garrett Alberson settled for fourth. A lap-six red flag eliminated Jason Riggs, Jordan Koehler, Tyler Millwood, Rusty Ballenger and Rusty Schlenk.
Sixth heat finish: Ricky Thornton Jr., Ryan Gustin, Jimmy Owens, Garrett Alberson, Austin Smith, Forrest Trent, Shannon Babb, Clint Keenan, Haiden Cowan, Jeff Robertson, Jason Riggs, Jordan Koehler, Tyler Millwood, Rusty Ballenger, Rusty Schlenk, Brandon Moore.
8:42 p.m. | Positioned well
Jonathan Davenport’s drive for a record-tying sixth career World 100 victory — not to mention a sweep of the weekend after capturing both of his semifeatures — is looking very good after he burst from fourth to first on the opening lap of the fifth heat and went on to defeat Devin Moran.
The 41-year-old superstar said his 2021-vintage Eldora Longhorn Chassis is running “real good” and he’s primed to take the green flag from the outside pole.
It’s the 13th consecutive World 100 start for Davenport, who since finishing 2018 has tallied three wins, one second, one third and one fifth in his last six starts. He won a World 100 heat race for the seventh time; he’s captured the World 100 three times after topping ahead (2017, ’21, ’22).
8:40 p.m. | Red flag in sixth heat
A red flag appeared on the sixth lap for the final heat for a pileup in turns one and two involving Jason Riggs, Jordan Koehler, Tyler Millwood, Rusty Schlenk, and perhaps others (apparently there were no injuries). It appeared Koheler and Riggs got tangled together and slid into the upper groove to collect several onrushing cars. An early caution appeared for Brandon Moore's spin.
8:31 p.m. | Sixth heat lineup
Row 1: Ryan Gustin, Jimmy Owens
Row 2: Haiden Cowan, Jordan Koehler
Row 3: Ricky Thornton Jr., Garrett Alberson
Row 4: Tyler Millwood, Shannon Babb
Row 5: Jason Riggs, Clint Keenan
Row 6: Rusty Ballenger, Rusty Schlenk
Row 7: Austin Smith, Forrest Trent
Row 8: Brandon Moore, Jeff Robertson
8:28 p.m. | Davenport wins fifth heat
Leading all 15 laps, fourth-starting Jonathan Davenport secured a front-row starting spot for the World 100 while Devin Moran and Jason Feger snagged the other two transfer spot.
Fifth heat finish: Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Jason Feger, Josh Rice, Chris Ferguson, Jadon Frame, Chase Junghans, Travis Stemler, Clay Stuckey, Mario Gresham, Luke Morey, Justin Duty, Brody Smith, Bryant Dickinson, Evan Harrell, Jerry Bowersock, Dan Ebert.
8:23 p.m. | Tangle in fifth heat
A lap-four caution appeared in the fourth heat when Josh Rice and Dan Ebert got together exiting turn two, forcing Ebert to slow and drop to the infield for repairs on the left-front wheel, among other things. Fourth-starting Jonathan Davenport led from the outset.
8:22 p.m. | Looking good
Is this finally the year Chris Madden break his crown jewel curse at Eldora? A victory from the fifth starting spot in the fourth heat certainly indicated that he’s ready to break through in his 17th World 100 feature start and 37th overall appearance in a major event finale at the half-mile oval.
Madden seized the race on lap 12 after running down Garrett Smith, who Madden said “got hung in the cushion” in turn four to open the door for the Gray Court, S.C., veteran to grab the lead. He will start third in the headliner.
“We’ll see if we can get this World 100 win tonight,” Madden said after proclaiming that his Kale Green-owned Longhorn Chassis was “great” in the prelim.
8:18 p.m. | Fifth heat lineup
Row 1: Jason Feger, Dan Ebert
Row 2: Josh Rice, Jonathan Davenport
Row 3: Chris Ferguson, Devin Moran
Row 4: Jadon Frame, Chase Junghans
Row 5: Luke Morey, Justin Duty
Row 6: Jerry Bowersock, Travis Stemler
Row 7: Mario Gresham, Clay Stuckey
Row 8: Evan Harrell, Bryant Dickinson
Row 9: Brody Smith
8:15 p.m. | Madden wins fourth heat
Fifth-starting Chris Madden overtook race-long leader Garrett Smith on the 12th lap and led the rest of the 15-lap fourth heat. Smith, who slide into the wall exiting turn four after losing the lead, held on to finish second with Tyler Erb nabbing the third and final transfer spot. Wil Herrington came from tail to fifth (he had to start on the tail for a starting grid violation when his team removed a wheel cover). Cory Hedgecock will take a provisional starting spot after finishing eighth.
Fourth heat finish: Chris Madden, Garrett Smith, Tyler Erb, Kyle Strickler, Wil Herrington, Brenden Smith, Dalton Cook, Cory Hedgecock, Dustin Nobbe, Jason Jameson, Todd Morrow, Evan Koehler, Donnie Jeschke, Michael Chilton. Scratched: Steven Roberts, Kaede Loudy, Michael Page.
8:12 p.m. | He’s in
Brian Shirley rolled to victory in the third heat and immediately stated what his run meant.
“Like I always say, first you gotta get in. Then you gotta figure out how to beat J.D.,” Shirley said with a smile, referring, of course, to five-time World 100 winner Jonathan Davenport.
The 44-year-old Shirley cracked the World 100 starting field for the 11th time in his career, but it’s just the second time that he’s won a heat race. His previous heat triumph came in 2013 when he started fifth and finished 18th; he’ll start fourth this time as he seeks to beat his career-best event finish of fourth in 2023.
8:07 p.m. | Fourth heat notes
Polesitter Garrett Smith led early in the fourth heat. ... Contact between Michael Chilton and Jason Jameson on the second lap drew a flat right-rear tire for Jameson. ... Debris brought out a caution on the first start. ... That gave Jameson a reprieve after he got a poor start from his outside second row starting position. ... Steven Roberts, Kaede Loudy and Michael Page scratched.
8:04 p.m. | Fourth heat lineup
Row 1: Garrett Smith, Tyler Erb
Row 2: Michael Chilton, Jason Jameson
Row 3: Chris Madden, Cory Hedgecock
Row 4: Kyle Strickler, Dalton Cook
Row 5: Wil Herrington, Todd Morrow
Row 6: Dustin Nobbe, Steven Roberts
Row 7: Brenden Smith, Kaede Loudy
Row 8: Evan Koehler, Donnie Jeschke
Row 9: Michael Page
8:02 p.m. | Shirley wins third heat
Brian Shirley led all 15 laps to transfer to the 100-lapper, pulling away from Dennis Erb Jr. to win comfortably. Tanner English fought off Hudson O'Neal to get the final transfer spot while Tim McCreadie finished fifth. Dale McDowell finished sixth but is in line for a provisional starting spot.
Third heat finish: Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Tanner English, Hudson O'Neal, Tim McCreadie, Dale McDowell, Frank Heckenast Jr., Trey Mills, Dylan Thornton, Mike Spatola, Bayley Currey, Rod Conley, Seth Daniels, Gary Stuhler, Dillon Kohn, Tristan Chamberlain. Scratched: Shane Clanton.
7:58 p.m. | Third heat notes
With an all-Illinois front row, Brian Shirley got the jump on Dennis Erb Jr. ... Tristan Chamberlain got into the wall on the first lap and was towed off the track. ... Shane Clanton was a scratch.
7:56 p.m. | Third heat lineup
Row 1: Dennis Erb Jr., Brian Shirley
Row 2: Tanner English, Tim McCreadie
Row 3: Hudson O’Neal, Dale McDowell
Row 4: Trey Mills, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 5: Frank Heckenast Jr., Dylan Thornton
Row 6: Mike Spatola, Seth Daniels
Row 7: Rod Conley, Gary Stuhler
Row 8: Bayley Currey, Dillon Kohn
Row 9: Shane Clanton
7:55 p.m. | Great move
Taking advantage of a caution flag with three laps to go, Carson Ferguson burst forward on the restart to outduel Ethan Dotson over the final circuits for the win. The two young drivers traded sliders several times before Ferguson triumphed by a half-second over Brandon Overton, who slipped past Dotson on the final lap.
Ferguson, who finished 25th in his first World 100 feature start last year, was smiling broadly after the checkered flag as he sat in his Paylor Motorsports Longhorn Chassis.
“I lost brakes there a little bit, but it might have helped because it made me not drive like a girl,” said Ferguson, who didn’t exactly endear himself to female fans with that in-the-moment comment.
7:50 p.m. | Carson Ferguson wins second heat
Carson Ferguson outdueled Ethan Dotson after a late restart to capture the second heat. Dotson, who leds laps 9-12, settled for third behind sixth-starting Sheppard among the feature transfers. Joseph Joiner, who led the first eight laps but lost the point to Dotson on a restart, battled with Sheppard for the final transfer spot before settling for fourth. In the second of two cautions, Ryan Crane spun in turn four for a lap-13 caution.
Second heat finish: Carson Ferguson, Brandon Sheppard, Ethan Dotson, Joseph Joiner, Kyle Bronson, Gregg Satterlee, Gordy Gundaker, Trent Ivey, Jackson Hise, Freddie Carpenter, Colten Burdette, Eli Johnson, Casey Noonan, Ryan Crane, Jon Hodgkiss, Tyler Carpenter, Zack Mitchell.
7:46 p.m. | Big statement
Starting sixth in the first World 100 heat typically makes winning the race a difficult chore, but Nick Hoffman made it look easy. He vaulted to third on the first lap and overtook Brandon Overton for the lead on lap six en route to a very impressive victory.
Saying “the seas parted for me on the first lap,” Hoffman expressed great relief that he was able to not only transfer in the prelim but win it.
“This hot rod is really good right now,” said Hoffman, who will start sixth as he makes his sixth career World 100 appearance.
7:44 p.m. | Second heat notes
Joseph Joiner grabbed the early lead from the pole in the second heat, with fellow Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series driver Zack Mitchell giving chase in second early. ... But Mitchell got into the wall exiting turn two for a lap-nine caution, losing the air off his car when Ethan Dotson took the second spot. ... That moved Carson Ferguson up to a transfer spot for the mid-race restart. ... Jackson Hise was scheduled to start ninth but was dropped to the tail because he changed tires.
7:39 p.m. | Second heat lineup
Row 1: Joseph Joiner, Ethan Dotson
Row 2: Zack Mitchell, Gregg Satterlee
Row 3: Carson Ferguson, Brandon Sheppard
Row 4: Trent Ivey, Tyler Carpenter
Row 5: Jackson Hise, Kyle Bronson
Row 6: Gordy Gundaker, Colten Burdette
Row 7: Ryan Crane, Freddie Carpenter
Row 8: Casey Noonan, Eli Johnson
Row 9: Jon Hodgkiss
7:38 p.m. | Hoffman wins first heat
Overcoming the six-car inversion, Nick Hoffman overtook outside front-row starter Brandon Overton on the sixth lap and led the rest of the 15-lap first heat. Overton transferred along with Drake Troutman while last year's World 100 winner, Bobby Pierce, struggled in finishing seventh.
First heat finish: Nick Hoffman, Brnadon Overton, Drake Troutman, Max Blair, Mike Marlar, Cade Dillard, Bobby Pierce, Tyler Bruening, Zack Dohm, Michael Leach, Kent Robinson, Carson Brown, Dylan Thompson, Luke Anstett, Nevin Gainey, Montana Dudley. Scratched: Andy Clark.
7:35 p.m. | First heat notes
Bobby Pierce got off to a slow start in the opening heat while sixth-starting Nick Hoffman took the lead from Brandon Overton on the sixth lap. ... Montana Dudley got into the wall on the first lap and retired. ... Andy Clark scratched from the scheduled 17-car lineup.
7:30 p.m. | Format reminder
The top three from each of six heats transfer to the main event. The two top drivers in qualifying points who don't transfer through heats will get provisionals in the 10th row and four drivers from each of two consolations will round out the 28-car starting field.
7:28 p.m. | First heat lineup
Row 1: Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton
Row 2: Cade Dillard, Drake Troutman
Row 3: Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman
Row 4: Max Blair, Michael Leach
Row 5: Zack Dohm, Dylan Thompson
Row 6: Tyler Bruening, Montana Dudley
Row 7: Carson Brown, Kent Robinson
Row 8: Nevin Gainey, Andy Clark
Row 9: Luke Anstett
7:26 p.m. | Race time
Opening ceremonies ended around 7:25 p.m. after the national anthem was sung by Rusty Shiels while a huge American flag was unfurled on the front stretch and three horses galloped down the straightaway in an iconic Eldora scene.
During the ceremonies, Eldora track owner took the stage and thanked the fans for turning out in record-setting fashion. The former NASCAR Cup Series champion said more than 22,000 people are in attendance.
7:06 p.m. | Getting ready
Hot laps ended just before 7 p.m. with the track up to speed as Ricky Thornton Jr. was fastest at 15.578 seconds. Chris Ferguson (15.603), Cory Hedgecock (15.707), Ryan Gustin (15.750) and Garrett Alberson (15.754) followed on the speed chart. As cars scheduled for the first heat began assembling in the infield staging area, officials were preparing to begin opening ceremonies at 7:15 p.m.
6:44 p.m. | Trouble for Marlar
As hot laps for the drivers in the first heat rolled onto the track, the prelim’s scheduled polesitter, Mike Marlar, was still in the pit area with the hood off his Skyline Motorsports machine. His Josh Davis-led crew was scrambling after discovering a hole in the car’s radiator while getting heat in the engine, forcing them to hastily install a new one.
Marlar missed the practice session, which was run on a track surface that wasn’t yet up to speed because it was still wet. Cars that were on the track were splattered with large amounts of mud when they returned to the pit area.
6:29 p.m. | More cash
The most notable announcement made during Saturday afternoon’s drivers’ meeting centered on next year’s 56th World 100, which Eldora officials said will offer a record purse.
Tonight’s World 100 is already reaching a new high in first-place payoff ($72,000) and overall purse (exceeding $600,000). Details of the 2026 purse weren’t revealed, but it appears the total purse will climb even higher into the upper six-figures with the increases likely coming behind first place.
6:27 p.m. | All filled up
Shortly before the scheduled start of hot laps, Eldora officials hung signs on the ticket and pit pass booths with two big words: SOLD OUT.
Reserved seats for tonight’s program were sold out on Friday, but sales of general admission and pit passes have now also been cut off with the speedway’s capacity reached. Officials said the attendance is officially an all-time record, exceeding even the Prelude to the Dream and NASCAR Truck Series events held at the track.
A massive line of cars was still stretching along Route 118 in front of the track waiting to enter the already jammed grounds as race time approached.
6:11 p.m. | Hauler dealings
Lance Landers has spent the weekend at Eldora beaming over his driver Jonathan Davenport’s pair of $12,000 semifeature victories. Another item, though, has put the team owner from Batesville, Ark., in a decidedly testy mood.
Recall the toterhome trouble that Davenport’s crew experienced two weeks ago while traveling to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway, forcing them to borrow a hauler from Ohio driver Todd Brennan to get to the track? That whole episode still isn’t in Landers’s rear-view window.
Landers said Davenport is using Brennan’s rig for the third straight weekend racing trip because the team’s 2024 toterhome was having the injectors replaced (under warranty Landers noted). Brennan actually drove Landers’s hauler to Eldora this weekend after the work was finished, but a warning light popped on just as he arrived at the track. Further inspection revealed that the newly-installed injectors had failed again, prompting Landers to locate a truck repair shop 7 miles from the speedway that will put different type injectors in it tomorrow.
According to Landers, he can’t send enough thanks to Brennan for allowing his team the use of his rig for the last three weekends. “Todd really stepped up to help us out,” Landers said. “He’s saved us.”
5:50 p.m. | Todd Turner heat picks
First heat: Bobby Pierce, Mike Marlar, Nick Hoffman (A good start by outside front-row starter Brandon Overton might may make me regret this).
Second heat: Ethan Dotson, Brandon Sheppard, Zack Mitchell (Baltes Classic winner Kyle Bronson from 10th? I don’t see it).
Third heat: Dale McDowell, Hudson O’Neal, Tim McCreadie (McDowell has proven he doesn’t need a ton of laps to go forward).
Fourth heat: Cory Hedgecock, Chris Madden, Michael Chilton (Overlooking front row of Garrett Smith and Tyler Erb at my own peril).
Fifth heat: Jonathan Davenport, Josh Rice, Devin Moran (J.D. taking the checkers first a familiar site this weekend — and this might not be the last time).
Sixth heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Jimmy Owens, Ryan Gustin (Garrett Alberson and his throwback scheme likeliest to spoil my predictions).
5:49 p.m. | Kyle McFadden’s heat picks
First heat: Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Mike Marlar (most drivers dread first heat because it’s hard to pass, but Pierce embraces juiced-up track conditions to win from fifth).
Second heat: Joseph Joiner, Brandon Sheppard, Gregg Satterlee (Joiner takes advantage of clean air to keep hard-charging Sheppard and Satterlee behind in a Rocket Chassis 1-2-3 finish).
Third heat: Brian Shirley, Hudson O’Neal, Dale McDowell (Shirley gets going quicker than Dennis Erb Jr., who slips out of transfer while O’Neal and McDowell claw their way from third row).
Fourth heat: Garrett Smith, Chris Madden, Tyler Erb (an underrated driver at the Big E with two career Eldora crown jewel top-10s, Smith runs away from the pole as Madden drives from fifth-to-second).
Fifth heat: Jonathan Davenport, Josh Rice, Devin Moran (Davenport from the second row too much to handle while throttle-mashers Rice and Moran are aggressive enough to transfer).
Sixth heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Ryan Gustin, Garrett Alberson (Liking his car in heat action this week, RTJ drives past his Koehler teammates for the victory as Gustin hangs to transfer with Alberson sneaking in from sixth).
5:48 p.m. | Kevin Kovac’s heat picks
First heat: Nick Hoffman, Bobby Pierce, Mike Marlar (Hoffman flexes his muscle immediately, beating Pierce to the front).
Second heat: Ethan Dotson, Zack Mitchell, Brandon Sheppard (Dotson 2-for-2 in World 100 qualifications).
Third heat: Dale McDowell, Tim McCreadie, Hudson O’Neal (McDowell’s speed makes him second winner from sixth).
Fourth heat: Tyler Erb, Chris Madden, Jason Jameson (Cory Hedgecock falls just short, but gets break with high-points provisional).
Fifth heat: Jonathan Davenport, Josh Rice, Devin Moran (Davenport too much for the competition from fourth starting spot).
Sixth heat: Jimmy Owens, Ricky Thornton Jr., Garrett Alberson (Jordan Koehler nearly gives Koehler Motorsports a transfer-spot sweep).
5:47 p.m. | Heat race predictions
Nothing like a little friendly competition among colleagues and friends to spice up Saturday’s World 100 heat races. DirtonDirt and FloRacing writers Kevin Kovac, Kyle McFadden and Todd Turner predict 18 drivers to transfer from the six prelims.
Our point system: One point per transferring drivers with a bonus point for picking winners and one for picking all three transfers (maximum of five points per heat and 30 points overall).
This could be interesting. There’s no consensus in any heat and no prognosticator chose a driver to transfer from beyond the third row (deep-starting drivers can lodge their complaints now). The picks appear above with a brief comment on each heat.
5:43 p.m. | Memories for Francis
World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series director Steve Francis is at Eldora helping officiate the World 100 — a race he won in 1999 — with other DIRTcar staffers. One car in the field made it appear that he had come out of retirement to compete.
Clayton Stuckey of Shreveport, La., entered a car sporting a throwback wrap honoring Francis. It’s a close duplicate of the Larry Moring-owned No. 15 that Francis ran in special events from 2003-05 with Stuckey’s father, Ronnie, surviving as his crew chief.
“I didn’t know anything about it until the day before they got here,” Francis said. “Terri (Stuckey, Ronnie’s wife and Clayton’s mother) sent me a picture.
“I was completely surprised,” he added. “Honored, really.”
The younger Stuckey is scheduled to start 14th in the fifth heat as he seeks his first-ever World 100 finale start in his second attempt. He failed to qualify last year.
5:28 p.m. | Beautifying victory lane
Jonathan Davenport knows Eldora’s winner’s stage like no one else. After all, he’s won 26 features at the track after sweeping his pair of 25-lap semifeatures to kick off the weekend.
So when he climbed out of his car after winning Thursday’s preliminary, his head swiveled with a double-take before starting his interview with pit reporter Ben Shelton. His eyes were grabbed by the different look he encountered.
“I said, ‘What the hell is this?’” Davenport said later, referring with a laugh to the potted plants and, most notably, the lighted arch of flowers and shrubbery positioned in front of the Eldora World 100 backdrop.
Davenport was surprised by the additions that Eldora officials made to add some extra beauty to victory lane. He said it made he feel like he had stepped into a “wedding chapel.”
Eldora didn’t, however, keep the flowery scene intact on Friday. The arch was gone — an Eldora official said the plan was for the archway to be integrated into the backdrop but it instead blocked part of the World 100 logo — and just two of the potted plants remained along the back so none would block the FloRacing logos. A further alteration was made for tonight’s finale: there now are two taller potted plants positioned on each side of the World 100 logo.
4:51 p.m. | Eldora's throng
With Eldora announcing on Friday that all reserved seat tickets were already sold out for Saturday’s World 100 finale, all signs are pointing to a record crowd for Dirt Late Model racing’s most prestigious event.
Anecdotal pre-race evidence appears to point toward an unprecedented turnout as well. At 2 p.m. — more than four hours before the scheduled start of hot laps — the country roads leading to the track were already backing up with traffic at intersections and the spectator parking lots all seemed to be filling earlier than usual. The main parking area behind the grandstand was filled by 1 p.m.
Spectator traffic was heavy in the pit area throughout the afternoon and a long line of fans was waiting at the barn where drivers were signing autographs starting at 4 p.m.
4:44 p.m. | Wonderful weather
While a brief rain shower hit Eldora Speedway between Friday’s two 25-lap semifeatures, it seemingly came out of nowhere and barely delayed the start of the nightcap. And if tonight's forecast is correct, the World 100’s grand finale should run without any threat of precipitation.
Saturday’s conditions have been spectacular with a fall-like feel as the afternoon high reached the upper 60s under partly sunny skies. A chill will be in the air as the evening goes on with the temperature expected to be in the mid-50s around the time the green flag flies for the 100-lapper.
Heat race lineups
(15 laps; top three transfer)
First heat
Row 1: Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton
Row 2: Cade Dillard, Drake Troutman
Row 3: Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman
Row 4: Max Blair, Michael Leach
Row 5: Zack Dohm, Dylan Thompson
Row 6: Tyler Bruening, Montana Dudley
Row 7: Carson Brown, Kent Robinson
Row 8: Nevin Gainey, Andy Clark
Row 9: Luke Anstett
Second heat
Row 1: Joseph Joiner, Ethan Dotson
Row 2: Zack Mitchell, Gregg Satterlee
Row 3: Carson Ferguson, Brandon Sheppard
Row 4: Trent Ivey, Tyler Carpenter
Row 5: Jackson Hise, Kyle Bronson
Row 6: Gordy Gundaker, Colten Burdette
Row 7: Ryan Crane, Freddie Carpenter
Row 8: Casey Noonan, Eli Johnson
Row 9: Jon Hodgkiss
Third heat
Row 1: Dennis Erb Jr., Brian Shirley
Row 2: Tanner English, Tim McCreadie
Row 3: Hudson O’Neal, Dale McDowell
Row 4: Trey Mills, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 5: Frank Heckenast Jr., Dylan Thornton
Row 6: Mike Spatola, Seth Daniels
Row 7: Rod Conley, Gary Stuhler
Row 8: Bayley Currey, Dillon Kohn
Row 9: Shane Clanton
Fourth heat
Row 1: Garrett Smith, Tyler Erb
Row 2: Michael Chilton, Jason Jameson
Row 3: Chris Madden, Cory Hedgecock
Row 4: Kyle Strickler, Dalton Cook
Row 5: Wil Herrington, Todd Morrow
Row 6: Dustin Nobbe, Steven Roberts
Row 7: Brenden Smith, Kaede Loudy
Row 8: Evan Koehler, Donnie Jeschke
Row 9: Michael Page
Fifth heat
Row 1: Jason Feger, Dan Ebert
Row 2: Josh Rice, Jonathan Davenport
Row 3: Chris Ferguson, Devin Moran
Row 4: Jadon Frame, Chase Junghans
Row 5: Luke Morey, Justin Duty
Row 6: Jerry Bowersock, Travis Stemler
Row 7: Mario Gresham, Clay Stuckey
Row 8: Evan Harrell, Bryant Dickinson
Row 9: Brody Smith
Sixth heat
Row 1: Ryan Gustin, Jimmy Owens
Row 2: Haiden Cowan, Jordan Koehler
Row 3: Ricky Thornton Jr., Garrett Alberson
Row 4: Tyler Millwood, Shannon Babb
Row 5: Jason Riggs, Clint Keenan
Row 6: Rusty Ballenger, Rusty Schlenk
Row 7: Austin Smith, Forrest Trent
Row 8: Brandon Moore, Jeff Robertson
Saturday's schedule
8-11 a.m. - Breakfast buffet (ballroom)
11 a.m. - Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
11 a.m. - Grounds closed and cleared
Noon - All gates, suites and concessions open
2 p.m. - Church service (behind main office)
3:30 p.m. - Driver autograph session (Fan Zone)
4:30 p.m. - Public drivers’ meeting (Fan Zone)
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7:15 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
8 p.m. - Ballroom closes
Competition
- Late Model heats (15 laps)
- Late Model consolations (20 laps)
- 55th annual World 100 feature (100 laps)
