What won the race: Repelling multiple challenges from Josh Rice, including a turn-one slider on lap 26, pole-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., officially led the entire distance to win Atomic Speedway's Buckeye Spring 50. Thornton beat Rice to the checkers by 0.541 of a second for his first career Atomic victory and his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph of the season.

Quotable: “I knew Josh (Rice) was gonna be good. Really I feel like he was probably a little better than I was there, I was just able to get out front,” Thornton said. “We had a little bit of right-side romance, as (Jerry) Vansickel would say, I was behind the lapped car and he kept going to the wall, then he turned back to the bottom finally, I knew it was time I had to go or I was gonna get passed. Me and (Brenden Smith) hit a little bit obviously, I got some right-side damage but it’s part of it.”

Key notes: Thornton, who ran the final 10 laps with right-side damage following contact with Brenden Smith, notched his 39th full-field tour victory. ... Thornton's win catapulted him into the points lead as he confirmed he'll chase a second straight title. ... Josh Rice briefly took the lead with a lap-26 slider before Thornton executed a textbook crossover and led the rest of the way. ... Mike Marlar finished fourth in his debut aboard an Infinity Chassis. ... Hudson O'Neal took fifth on the last lap from Garrett Alberson, who ran as high as second. ... Second-starting Jonathan Davenport trailed Thornton for the opening 11 laps before tangling with Tyler Wyant and spinning in turn one. Wyant appeared to slap the turn-one wall, sending his left-rear into Davenport's right-front and sending J.D. for a spin, triggering the race's second caution; Davenport finished 10th. ... Brandon Sheppard finished 11th after tagging the field aboard his backup; he damaged an engine in his primary car while finishing third in his heat. ... Tyler Erb had a lap-20 spin and finished 13th. ... The fourth stoppage came on lap 25 when Daulton Wilson slowed from eighth with a flat left-rear. ... The fifth and final caution flew on lap 41 when Tyler Bruening spun from 12th down the backstretch. ... The 50-lapper lasted 26 minutes, with 19 starters completing the distance. ... Lucas Oil competitors are slated to return to Atomic on July 4 after the $25,000-to-win Independence 50 was moved from Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park.

On the move: Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, started ninth and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Coltman Farms Racing, Hoker Trucking, Capital Waste, Excel Floor Covering, Five Star Metal Buildings, Ultimate Towing, FK Rod Ends, Dynamic Drivelines, Ultrashield Race Products, Sharp Advantage Safety Products, Winning Edge Carburetion, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Midwest Sheet Metal and EMD Wraps.

Points chase: After Atomic: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (1,410); 2. Devin Moran (1,380); 3. Jonathan Davenport (1,355); 4. Brandon Overton (1,250); 5. Garrett Alberson (1,180); 6. Daulton Wilson (1,175); 7. Hudson O’Neal (1,170); 8. Brandon Sheppard (1,140); 9. Tyler Erb (1,135); 10. Tyler Bruening (1,035).

Current weather: Clear, 46°F

Car count: 33

Fast qualifier: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Time: 13.220 seconds

Polesitter: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Heat race winners: Ricky Thornton Jr., Josh Rice, Jonathan Davenport, R.J. Conley

Consolation race winners: Seth Daniels, Tyler Erb

Provisional starters: Spencer Hughes, Daniel Hilsabeck, Clay Harris, Cory Lawler

Next series race: April 25, Georgetown Speedway (Georgetown, DE) $20,049