7/8/2023
Ricky Thornton Jr
Thornton attends NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 to Deer Creek
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) brought SSI Motorsports and Ricky Thornton Jr. to Deer Creek Speedway (Spring Valley, Minn.) on Thursday afternoon for the 44th annual NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50.
Relying on a runner-up finish in his B-Main to make the $5,000-to-win preliminary feature, Ricky crossed the line in ninth but was later disqualified after a post-race scuffle.
For another round of prelims on Friday, Thornton outran Hudson O’Neal in his heat to pick up the eight-lap victory. Chasing another $5,000 prize in the preliminary feature, Ricky dropped one spot to place fourth. He trailed Chris Madden, Brandon Overton, and Bobby Pierce across the line with Jonathan Davenport coming in fifth.
Forced to run a consolation on Saturday, Ricky raced his way into the $50,000-to-win NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 with a seventh-to-third showing. Rolling off on the 11th row, Thornton worked his way up to sixth by lap 45 only to suffer a flat right-rear tire 20 circuits later. He charged from the tail to salvage a 14th-place finish in the 75-lap finale.
Ricky remains out front in the latest LOLMDS point standings.
Full results from the events are available at www.LucasDirt.com.
Article Credit: Heath Lawson image