Dirt on Dirt - Up from 15th, Thornton nabs $20,000 at Fairbury

July 24

Fairbury Speedway,

Fairbury, IL

Sanction: Castrol FloRacing Night in America (One for the Road) - $20,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated July 25, 7:06 am)

Up from 15th, Thornton nabs $20,000 at Fairbury

One for the Road

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Shannon Babb
Ryan Gustin
Bobby Pierce
Brian Shirley
Devin Moran
Tim McCreadie
Garrett Smith
Daulton Wilson
Jason Feger
Dennis Erb Jr.
Kyle Bronson
Cody Overton
Tyler Bruening
Cade Dillard
Myles Moos
Max McLaughlin
Spencer Hughes
Garrett Alberson
Mike Spatola
Mike Marlar
Nick Hoffman
Carson Ferguson
Kaede Loudy

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Winner Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt) survives this tense moment in chasing down Shannon Babb (18).

What won the race: Sneaking past Shannon Babb coming to the white flag, 15th-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., led the final two circuits of Wednesday's 50-lap Castrol FloRacing Night in America event at Fairbury Speedway. Making his debut aboard the Kevin Rumley-owned Longhorn, Thornton narrowly held off Babb's turn-four crossover attempt heading to the checkers for a $20,000 victory by 0.111 of a second.

Quotable: “I was running around the bottom and then we had a restart and (Tim McCreadie) actually picked the top and drove through the middle and passed like three or four cars,” Thornton said. “I felt like I could move out (off the bottom) just a little bit and really just get above the hole and there was a lot of traction there from everyone digging it out. I thought I was going over (when he bicycled in turn two on lap-41) — it got up and I turned right, I’m like, ‘Don’t turn too hard, cause then you’re really gonna hurt when you land,' so I just tried to get (the car) back down and get my momentum going again.”

Key notes: Tiptoeing primarily around the bottom line, Thornton bicycled and nearly went upside down on the inside of turn two as he pursued Babb with nine laps to go. ... Babb led twice for 44 laps (1-2, 7-48) before getting held up while lapping low-running Myles Moos and allowing Thornton to slip through in the middle groove in the closing laps. ... The pole-starting Moos led laps 3-6 before fading to 16th, the first driver one lap down. ... Tenth-starting Ryan Gustin was third. ... Bobby Pierce started and finished fourth aboard his backup car after losing the engine in his primary machine during hot laps. ... Ninth-starting Brian Shirley worked his way as high as third before settlling for fifth. ... Tim McCreadie improved 10 spots to seventh. ... Max McLaughlin spun on lap eight to draw the race's first caution. McLaughlin also delayed the race's start when he was late to join the feature lineup and drug his aluminum pit lift onto the track, causing a delay of several laps for track officials to clean up the resulting debris. ... The second and final yellow flag came on the lap-eight restart attempt for a three-car tangle involving Garrett Alberson, Carson Ferguson and Kaede Loudy. Ferguson and Loudy were unable to continue. ... The 50-lap feature lasted 19 minutes, with 18 competitors running at the checkers.

On the move: Race winner Ricky Thornton Jr. started 15th.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s K&L Rumley Enterprises Longhorn Chassis carries sponsorship from Lionel Racing, Senior Life Insurance Company, Rumley Engineering, D&E Marine, Mesilla Valley Transportation, American Racing Wheels, Coltman Farms Racing, Hoker Trucking, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilsetin Shocks and Wheeler Metals.

Points chase: After Fairbury: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (240); 2. Bobby Pierce (231); 3. Jason Feger (216); 4. Daulton Wilson (183); 5. Myles Moos (171).

Current weather: Overcast, 72°F

Car count: 65

Fast qualifier: Nick Hoffman

Time: 12.683 seconds

Polesitter: Myles Moos

Heat race winners: Myles Moos, Shannon Babb, Jason Feger, Garrett Smith, Bobby Pierce, Devin Moran

Consolation race winners: Nick Hoffman, Garrett Alberson, Max McLaughlin

Next series race: August 21, Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA) $20,000

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

From staff reports

FAIRBURY, Ill. (July 24) — Updates and results from Wednesday’s fifth annual One for the Road, featuring a 50-lap, $20,000-to-win main event for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Sneaking by Shannon Babb as they came to take the white flag, 15th-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., led the final two circuits to top Wednesday's 50-lap fifth annual One for the Road at Fairbury Speedway. Making his debut aboard the Kevin Rumley-owned Longhorn, Thornton narrowly held off Babb's turn-four crossover attempt on the final lap and secured the $20,000 victory by 0.111 of a second. Tiptoeing primarily around the bottom line, Thornton bicycled and nearly went upside down as he pursued Babb with nine laps to go. Babb led twice for 44 laps (1-2, 7-48) before getting held up while lapping Myles Moos and allowing Thornton to slip by him in the closing laps.

Feature lineup

(50 laps)

Row 1: Myles Moos, Garrett Smith
Row 2: Shannon Babb, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Jason Feger, Devin Moran
Row 4: Cody Overton, Mike Spatola
Row 5: Brian Shirley, Ryan Gustin
Row 6: Cade Dillard, Daulton Wilson
Row 7: Kyle Bronson, Carson Ferugson
Row 8: Ricky Thornton Jr., Kaede Loudy
Row 9: Tim McCreadie, Tyler Bruening
Row 10: Nick Hoffman, Garrett Alberson
Row 11: Max McLaughlin, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 12: Mike Marlar, Spencer Hughes

Consolation race results

(12 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Nick Hoffman, Dennis Erb Jr., Tanner English, Chris Simpson, Dustin Sorensen, McKay Wenger, Matt Tifft, Ross Camponovo, Thomas Hunziker, Bob Sidener, Brenden Smith, Allen Weisser. Scratched: Ashton Winger, Max Blair, Matt Cosner, Trey Mills

Second consolation: Garrett Alberson, Mike Marlar, Hudson O'Neal, Kye Blight, Brandon Sheppard, Donny Walden, Tommy Sheppard Jr., Tristan Chamberlain, Billy Hough, Timmy Dick, Lyle Zanker, Ethan Dotson, Daniel Adam. Scratched: Gordy Gundaker, Brian Rickman

Third consolation: Max McLaughlin, Spencer Hughes, Frank Heckenast Jr., Chris Ferguson, Ryan Unzicker, Chase Junghans, Mike Provenzano, Justin Duty, Tyler Millwood, Steven Roberts, Tyler Erb, Kyle Strickler. Scratched: Dillon McCowan, Manny Falcon, Kyle Hammer, Jake Little

Heat race recap

Third-starting Myles Moos grabbed the lead from Nick Hoffman on lap two and never looked back, winning the first heat race by 0.525 of a second over sixth-starting Cody Overton. Seventh-starting Kyle Bronson grabbed third from Hoffman in the late going, claiming the third and final transfer spot into the 50-lap, $20,000-to-win feature by 0.185 of a second over the polesitter. … Second-starting Shannon Babb got the jump on Brian Shirley and led all 10 laps to win the second heat by 0.781 over the pole-starting Shirley. Ricky Thornton Jr. started and finished third aboard the Kevin Rumley-owned Longhorn. … Second-starting Jason Feger led the entire distance to win the third heat by 0.549 of a second over Cade Dillard, with Tim McCreadie holding serve in third and grabbing the final transfer position. … Pole-starting Garrett Smith dominated the fourth heat, winning by 2.834 seconds over second-starting Mike Spatola. Spatola held off race-long challenges from Brandon Sheppard, Ethan Dotson and Carson Ferguson, with Ferguson finishing third. … Bobby Pierce survived a couple restarts to win the fifth heat by 1.745 seconds over fourth-starting Ryan Gustin, with sixth-starting Kaede Loudy finishing third while lightly trailing smoke the entire distance. The race’s first stoppage came when the opening start was called back. The second and final yellow was displayed when third-running Kyle Hammer slammed into the turn-one wall on lap six, ending his night. … Devin Moran cruised to win the sixth and final heat race, leading all 10 laps and taking the checkers by 1.311 seconds ahead of sixth-starting Daulton Wilson, with fourth-starting Tyler Bruening muscling his way to place third. The race’s lone caution was displayed on the fourth lap when Jake Little slowed from seventh; he was unable to continue.

Heat race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Myles Moos, Cody Overton, Kyle Bronson, Nick Hoffman, Tanner English, McKay Wenger, Allen Weisser, Thomas Hunziker, Matt Cosner, Matt Tifft, Trey Mills.

Second heat: Shannon Babb, Brian Shirley, Ricky Thornton Jr., Dennis Erb Jr., Chris Simpson, Dustin Sorensen, Ashton Winger, Max Blair, Brenden Smith, Bob Sidener, Ross Camponovo.

Third heat: Jason Feger, Cade Dillard, Tim McCreadie, Garrett Alberson, Mike Marlar, Hudson O'Neal, Kye Blight, Tommy Sheppard Jr., Gordy Gundaker, Lyle Zanker.

Fourth heat: Garrett Smith, Mike Spatola, Carson Ferguson, Ethan Dotson, Brandon Sheppard, Tristan Chamberlain, Donny Walden, Billy Hough, Daniel Adam, Brian Rickman, Timmy Dick.

Fifth heat: Bobby Pierce, Ryan Gustin, Kaede Loudy, Max McLaughlin, Tyler Erb, Frank Heckenast Jr., Chris Ferguson, Kyle Strickler, Steven Roberts, Tyler Millwood, Kyle Hammer.

Sixth heat: Devin Moran, Daulton Wilson, Tyler Bruening, Spencer Hughes, Ryan Unzicker, Justin Duty, Mike Provenzano, Chase Junghans, Dillon McCowan, Manny Falcon, Jake Little.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 12.683
2. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 12.699
3. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 12.788
4. McKay Wenger (99w), Fairbury, Ill., 12.798
5. Shannon Babb (18B), Moweaqua, Ill., 12.798
6. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 12.805
7. Myles Moos (84), Lincoln, Ill., 12.841
8. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 12.858
9. Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 12.866
10. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 12.881
11. Chris Simpson (32s), Oxford, Iowa, 12.900
12. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 12.904
13. Matt Tifft (57), Cleveland, Ohio, 12.912
14. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 12.920
15. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 12.926
16. Cody Overton (97x), Evans, Ga., 12.931
17. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 12.931
18. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 12.938
19. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 12.963
20. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 12.980
21. Kye Blight (33), Katanning, W. Australia, 13.075
22. Allen Weisser (25w), Peoria, Ill., 13.104
23. Max Blair (111B), Centerville, Pa., 13.156
24. Tommy Sheppard Jr. (T6), New Berlin, Ill., 13.203
25. Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 13.235
26. Ross Camponovo (18c), Merigold, Miss., 13.277
27. Lyle Zanker (9z), Rockford, Ill., 13.278
28. Trey Mills (14jr), St. Augustine, Fla., 13.278
29. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 13.313
30. Gordy Gundaker (11G), St. Charles, Mo., 13.329
31. Matt Cosner (66c), Ridgeley, W.Va., 13.470
32. Bob Sidener (15B), Springfield, Ill., 13.823
Group B
1. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 12.748
2. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 12.787
3. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 12.824
4. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 12.907
5. Kyle Hammer (45), Clinton, Ill., 12.936
6. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 12.952
7. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 12.975
8. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 12.985
9. Justin Duty (15), Mulino, Ore., 12.987
10. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 13.002
11. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 13.057
12. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 13.112
13. Daniel Adam (75), Wade, N.C., 13.114
14. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 13.118
15. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 13.153
16. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 13.169
17. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 13.177
18. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 13.184
19. Donny Walden (1w), Towanda, Ill., 13.204
20. Max McLaughlin (22*), Mooresville, N.C., 13.236
21. Ryan Unzicker (24), El Paso, Ill., 13.247
22. Timmy Dick (122), Monticello, Ill., 13.264
23. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 13.270
24. Chase Junghans (18J), Manhattan, Kan., 13.281
25. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 13.315
26. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 13.318
27. Jake Little (38J), Springfield, Ill., 13.321
28. Billy Hough (33-4), Thomasboro, Ill., 13.345
29. Steven Roberts (111), Sylvester, Ga., 13.372
30. Mike Provenzano (m27), Marseilles, Ill., 13.436
31. Brian Rickman (90), Columbus, Miss., 13.608
32. Kyle Strickler (61z), Mooresville, N.C., disqualified (light at scales)
33. Manny Falcon (995), Pine Grove, La., no time

Wednesday’s schedule

(All times local)
9 a.m. - All gates open
5:45 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:15 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model consolations (12 laps)
Feature event
- Fifth annual One for the Road (50 laps)