After the Checkers
Instant reaction, analysis from Buckeye Spring 50
By Kyle McFadden
DirtonDirt.com staff reporter
Ricky Thornton Jr. celebrates at Atomic. (Heath Lawson)
ALMA, Ohio (March 29) — Instant reaction and analysis from Sunday’s $15,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series program at Atomic Speedway won by Ricky Thornton Jr. (RaceWire):
HE’S BACK: It’s safe to say Ricky Thornton Jr. is back. After a cumbersome few months to begin the season, the Chandler, Ariz., superstar appears to have found his mojo, snapping a 22-race winless drought at a track that’s become one he embraces (see Stat of Night below). Sunday wasn’t a quintessential RTJ victory in relation to the 78 wins he’s racked up over the last three seasons. He didn’t dominate. He wasn’t necessarily the fastest. But he and his Koehler Motorsports crew have been chipping away since the tail end of Speedweeks, and when you’re hanging around the front long enough, doors of opportunity are bound to open — and be there for the taking when those you’re chasing falter. That’s how RTJ won Sunday. Although Brandon Sheppard was the driver to beat, he couldn’t navigate traffic cleanly. Tyler Erb, next in line chasing Sheppard, couldn’t avoid trouble. Thornton stayed diligent and ever so steady, just as he has since March 5 at Golden Isles Speedway when he began a string of solid finishes: four podiums and two sixths in six starts leading into Atomic. What stood out afterward Sunday was RTJ sharing that he’s been studying other drivers and how their cars handle throughout the night more than ever this year. Of course, he would’ve liked a better start, but maybe a hungrier RTJ is a blessing in disguise, a version of himself poised to launch into the heart of the season with rejuvenation and newfound purpose.
TERBO TORN: It was a shame a rear-end failure knocked Tyler Erb out of second on lap 13. The World of Outlaws regular didn’t make the 570-mile overnight tow from Senoia for nothing, and for a stretch, looked like a legitimate threat to race-long leader Brandon Sheppard. That shouldn’t come as a surprise either — Terbo’s three national tour wins at Atomic (all with the Outlaws) are tied for most all-time with Jonathan Davenport and Bobby Pierce. Misfortune aside, Erb has put himself in contention more than he has in recent seasons. The speed is there. The confidence, with Terbo, seldom lacks. But the inconsistency is even hard for Terbo to ignore. Over his last 11 races, he has three top-fives — but also seven finishes of 13th or worse, including two races where he was running second before things unraveled. Erb is close — closer than he’s been in a while — but the streakiness continues to keep him from capitalizing when it matters most.
RICE REBOUNDS: As the adage goes, if you’re not going to win the show, be the show — and that was Josh Rice this weekend. A night after charging from 17th to fourth at Brownstown, Rice backed it up with a crowd-stirring 10th-to-fourth run at Atomic. For a stretch late, he was the fastest car on the track. If not for Brandon Overton playing defense, Rice likely snags his first Lucas Oil podium of the season. Still, it marks a pivotal weekend for the Lucas Oil rookie, who’s clearly benefitting from putting Speedweeks in the rearview. His new partnership with Bilstein Shocks insider Vinny Guliani is off to a strong start — a timely boost for the longtime Rocket Chassis driver who’s finally starting to get comfortable in a Longhorn.
HAT TIP: Shoutout to Atomic Speedway owner Charlie Vest and his track prep crew. Just weeks removed from knee replacement surgery, Vest was still out there Sunday — headset on and everything, hobbling around on his recovering leg and making sure the Lucas Oil program ran smoothly. Atomic took its share of criticism during last July’s Lucas Oil stop for being rough and unforgiving — a race where more drivers failed to finish than did. Sunday was the complete opposite — glass-smooth surface from top to bottom. A 7:46 p.m. checkered flag is always welcomed, too.
BLAIR’S STREAK: As noted in Saturday’s After the Checkers, Max Blair just keeps impressing. Sunday’s fifth-place run marked his sixth straight top-five finish on tour. He now has finishes of fifth, fifth, fourth, second, third and fifth since March 4 at Golden Isles.
STAT OF THE NIGHT: In the span of a year, Atomic has evolved from a track Ricky Thornton Jr. didn’t quite jive with into one he now looks forward to on the schedule, having won two of the last three Lucas Oil features there. Until last March’s victory at Atomic, the 2024 Lucas Oil champion had finishes of eighth, 11th, sixth, 18th and 13th since debuting at the 3/8-mile in 2021. Thornton also ran second at the track last July before lap-10 radiator issues sidelined him. Another note: RTJ registered his 19th top-10 through 24 races Sunday, matching that same mark through 24 races a year ago. He did, however, have seven victories and 16 podiums through 24 races last year.
