BROWNSTOWN, Ind. (Sept. 27) — Could Ricky Thornton Jr. have run a better race in Saturday’s 46th annual Jackson 100 at Brownstown Speedway?

He was patient when he needed to be. He was aggressive when the time was right. And he took advantage of the breaks presented to him.

The result was a $50,000 victory in the quarter-mile oval’s marquee event, one that thrust Thornton solidly into the leadership position of the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship as he pursues a second straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship.

Racing on the eve of his 35th birthday, the superstar from Chandler, Ariz., rallied after an early fall from the outside pole starting spot to seventh to wrestle the lead from Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, on lap 76. He never looked back en route to securing his second Jackson 100 triumph in three years and 14th win of 2025 on the Lucas Oil Series, which kicked off its four-driver, five-race battle for the $250,000 championship with Brownstown’s doubleheader.

Moran settled for his third career runner-up finish in the Jackson 100, falling several car lengths short of Thornton after leading laps 1-21 and 46-75 and surviving a lap-44 scrape with fellow Big Four driver Jonathan Davenport that sent the Blairsville, Ga., racer spinning out of second place. He ended the night second in the Chase standings, 80 points in arrears of Thornton.

Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., finished third after bolting forward from the ninth starting spot to lead laps 22-45. Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., cracked the top five late in the distance and finished fourth while Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, placed fifth after running as high as third.

Thornton remarked after his 49th career full-field Lucas Oil Series victory that a conservative approach out of the starting gate paid off later in the century grind. He didn’t overreact when he slipped as far back as seventh during the race’s first quarter.

“I wasn’t sure exactly how good the top was going to be off the get-go, so I just tried to play it smart, not kill my race car and just try to put together the smoothest race I could,” Thornton said. “I felt like if I went too hard, too early, I was gonna hurt my left-rear tire and I really didn’t want to do that. I feel like this place, you knew eventually it was gonna get where it was just a big circle, and I feel like you really gotta conserve your left-rear for that and hope you have something there at the end to go for it.”

Thornton turned up the wick in his Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis after the critical moment on lap 44 when Davenport spun from contention between turns three and four following contact with Moran. That moved Thornton to third place and put him in an extended tussle for the spot with Erb.

“I didn’t know exactly what happened to Devin and J.D,” Thornton said. “It looked like they just kind of both were going to the bottom and made a little contact and J.D. went around. Obviously, you never want to see that with a championship competitor, but luckily for us, that was one really good car that we didn’t have to worry about after that.”

Thornton said he “felt like me and Terbo ran door-to-door for 20, 25 laps” until he gained control of third place. Then a caution flag on lap 65 gave him an opening to climb higher.

“We got that yellow, and when (second-place) Bobby (Pierce) picked the bottom (for the Delaware double-file restart), I’m like, ‘Oh, thank you,’” Thornton said. “I don’t think he really knew the top was a little bit better, just that first lap or two (after a restart). Once your tires are cold, and before they got warm again, you could just use a little bit of the choppiness of the racetrack and really get going.”

Nevertheless, while Thornton overtook Pierce for second after trading several sliders, he had to figure out a way to pass Moran.

“We get to second, and I’m like, ‘Well, in clean air, there’s no way I’m gonna get by Devin,’” Thornton said. “So I’m like, ‘Oh, let’s just start throwing, like, some sliders,’ but leave enough room where I wasn’t gonna wreck him.

“And I think we did that seven, eight laps in a row. A couple times I’m like, ‘Ahh, I’m not gonna slide him,' almost like had a cat-and-mouse game with him. And then I knew he didn’t think I was gonna slide him, so then I slid him.

“I kind of felt like we were racing really hard and made no contact,” he added. “And that’s what you love about this sport. You can run really hard, not make contact.”

There was no stopping Thornton once he finally battled past Moran’s Double Down Motorsports Longhorn Chassis for the lead on lap 76. A final caution flag tightened the field on lap 86, but Moran was never able to offer a serious challenge over the remaining distance as Thornton marched to his fourth victory of 2025 worth at least $50,000.

“I found a really good line there the last six or seven laps, and I felt like I was inching back (toward Thornton),” Moran said. “But it was just too late at that point. Ricky’s just a really good racer and just makes this Chase for a Championship a little bit harder.”

Moran acknowledged that he went at it hard for a stretch with Thornton, but his most memorable moment in the race wasn’t with the eventual winner. It came on lap 44 when he got together with Davenport as they contested second place.

When Moran, 31, looked underneath Davenport rounding turns three and four, contact sent Davenport around to bring out the race’s second caution flag. Davenport had to restart at the rear — after he pulled alongside Moran on the backstretch during the caution period to express his displeasure — and had to push hard just to salvage a sixth-place finish.

“I definitely didn't want that to happen,” Moran said of the incident with Davenport. “He was just laying out really hard and I filled the gap right there, and we must have hit tire-to-tire because neither of us had any marks on our cars or anything. So really, really unfortunate. I wanted to race it out.”

Davenport, 41, declined comment to DirtonDirt when asked about the situation after the race. Combined with a rough Friday outing that included a flat tire and involvement in a tangle resulting in a 14th-place finish, he departed Brownstown sitting third in the Chase standings, 160 points behind Thornton.

The 28-year-old Pierce thought he might be primed for his second career Jackson 100 victory when he burst into the lead on lap 22, but he lost spots on restarts and had to be content with finishing third.

“A lot of times here I’ve been good in the beginning of the race,” Pierce said. “You know, it’s a great feeling when you drive from ninth to the lead, and then you’re driving away from them, but, you know, it was so early in the race still. I knew the track was gonna change some, and once the speeds slowed down a little bit … I feel like that’s when I struggle, you know, just keeping the car in the racetrack, once we get that slow and we’re just crawling around there.”

Pierce noted, though, that he had a great view of the Thornton-Moran race for the top spot.

“I got to say, those guys are a bunch of wheelmen up there, battling for the lead,” Pierce said. “That was fun to watch when I was back in third. I was waiting for them to take each other out, but unfortunately it never happened.”

Four caution flags slowed the race, including two for Clay Harris, who spun in turn two on lap 23 (Pierce clipped him while putting a lap on him) and slowed on lap 65. Davenport’s spin paused the race on lap 44 and Chris Ferguson slowed on lap 86 and pulled to the infield with a steaming engine.

Big Four title contender Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., climbed as high as fourth after a lap-23 restart, but he lost spots after contact with Tyler Erb on lap 25 and never ran in the top five again. He faded to a 17th-place finish.

Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., who won Friday's $10,000 C.J. Rayburn Memorial prize, never seriously contended en route to finishing eighth.

Feature lineup

(100 laps)

Row 1: Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 2: Jonathan Davenport, Nick Hoffman
Row 3: Tyler Erb, Brandon Sheppard
Row 4: Brandon Overton, Carson Ferguson
Row 5: Bobby Pierce, Hudson O'Neal
Row 6: Josh Rice, Drake Troutman
Row 7: Garrett Alberson, Tanner English
Row 8: Chris Ferguson, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 9: Tyler Neal, Camaron Marlar
Row 10: Jason Jameson, Clay Harris
Row 11: Bob Gardner, Dan Ebert
Row 12: Daulton Wilson, Donald McIntosh
Row 13: Daniel Hilsabeck, Devin Gilpin

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Tyler Neal, Jason Jameson, Bob Gardner, Tristan Chamberlain, Donald McIntosh, Don O'Neal, Chad Stapleton, Cory Lawler, Trevor Landrum, Justin Smith, Justin Wetington, Daniel Hilsabeck, Jacob Leitzman, Conner Mertens. Scratched: Devin Gilpin, Cody Mahoney.

Second consolation: Camaron Marlar, Clay Harris, Dan Ebert, Jordan Wever, Max Blair, Steve Peeden, Tyler Collins, Logan Zarin, Jared Bailey, Evan Harrell, Zak Blackwood, Daulton Wilson, Justin Rattliff, Matt Boknecht. Scratched: Derek Groomer.

Heat race recap

Devin Moran led all eight laps from the pole to win the first heat race in dominating fashion, crossing the line 1.581 seconds ahead of third-starting Tyler Erb, who trailed him the entire way. Fifth-starting Bobby Pierce finished third, while Garrett Alberson started and finished fourth, each punching their ticket into Saturday’s 46th annual Jackson 100. … Jonathan Davenport cruised to win the second heat by 2.321 seconds over Brandon Overton, who pursued him all eight laps. Josh Rice and Chris Ferguson both held serve in finishing third and fourth, claiming the final transfer spots into the $50,000-to-win main event. … Second-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. fired off from the outside front row and led the entirety of Saturday’s third heat, taking the checkers 0.202 of a second ahead of polesitter Brandon Sheppard, who was hot on his heels for all eight laps. Hudson O’Neal started and finished third, while fifth-starting Tanner English grabbed the fourth and final transfer position. The night’s first caution flew on the opening lap when Evan Harrell over-rotated in turn three, collecting Zak Blackwood and Jared Bailey; Bailey did not continue, while Blackwood placed 10th and Harrell in 11th. … Nick Hoffman earned a flag-to-flag victory in the fourth and final heat race, winning by 1.678 seconds over third-starting Carson Ferguson. Fourth-starting Drake Troutman finished third, with Dennis Erb Jr. holding on to complete the top-four finishers. The race’s lone stoppage came on the fourth lap when Daulton Wilson slowed from sixth with a flat right-rear tire; he could only rebound to eighth after changing the tire. … The four heat races combined to last slightly more than 12 minutes.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Tyler Erb, Bobby Pierce, Garrett Alberson, Jason Jameson, Tristan Chamberlain, Chad Stapleton, Cory Lawler, Don O'Neal, Daniel Hilsabeck, Jacob Leitzman. Scratched: Devin Gilpin.

Second heat: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Overton, Josh Rice, Chris Ferguson, Tyler Neal, Bob Gardner, Donald McIntosh, Justin Smith, Trevor Landrum, Justin Wetington, Conner Mertens. Scratched: Cody Mahoney.

Third heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O'Neal, Tanner English, Camaron Marlar, Justin Rattliff, Clay Harris, Logan Zarin, Max Blair, Zak Blackwood, Evan Harrell, Jared Bailey.

Fourth heat: Nick Hoffman, Carson Ferguson, Drake Troutman, Dennis Erb Jr., Dan Ebert, Jordan Wever, Steve Peeden, Daulton Wilson, Tyler Collins, Matt Boknecht. Scratched: Derek Groomer.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 13.653
2. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 13.702
3. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 13.810
4. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 13.875
5. Tyler Erb (01), New Waverly, Texas, 13.876
6. Josh Rice (11R), Crittenden, Ky., 13.914
7. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 13.953
8. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 14.009
9. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 14.044
10. Tyler Neal (20), Paragon, Ind., 14.101
11. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 14.171
12. Justin Smith (7), Barbourville, Ky., 14.201
13. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 14.229
14. Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 14.251
15. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 14.280
16. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 14.325
17. Chad Stapleton (32c), Edinburgh, Ind., 14.456
18. Conner Mertens (81), Charlestown, Ind., 14.613
19. Devin Gilpin (1G), Columbus, Ind., 14.666
20. Trevor Landrum (18), Florence, Ky., 14.721
21. Don O’Neal (71D), Martinsville, Ind., 14.721
22. Justin Wetington (48J), Edinburgh, Ind., 14.835
23. Jacob Leitzman (2nd), Paragon, Ind., 14.853
24. Cody Mahoney (4), Madison, Ind., no time
Group B
1. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 13.754
2. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 13.915
3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 13.950
4. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Caprentersville, Ill., 13.994
5. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.090
6. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.113
7. Camaron Marlar (57m), Winfield, Tenn., 14.133
8. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 14.214
9. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 14.227
10. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 14.247
11. Justin Rattliff (16J), Campbellsville, Ky., 14.342
12. Steve Peeden (P3), Martinsville, Ind., 14.343
13. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.358
14. Matt Boknecht (22x), Seymour, Ind., 14.370
15. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 14.389
16. Tyler Collins (11c), North Vernon, Ind., 14.438
17. Evan Harrell (29), Franklin, N.C., 14.485
18. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 14.510
19. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 14.582
20. Jordan Wever (29J), Bloomington, Ind., 14.587
21. Jared Bailey (24), Bedford, Ind., 14.616
22. Derek Groomer (D48), Bloomington, Ind., 14.707
23. Zak Blackwood (93x), Columbus, Ind., 14.728

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - Gates open
2 p.m. - Outreach service (Pavillion)
2:30 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
5:15 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ autograph session (midway)
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Super stock group qualifying
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Pure stock hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super stock heats (8 laps)
- Pure stock heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- 46th annual Jackson 100 (100 laps)
- Super stock feature (20 laps)
- Pure stock feature (20 laps)