What won the race: Grabbing the lead from Shannon Babb on lap 71 just before the Illinois driver’s car lost power, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., emerged victorious in Friday night’s Farmer City 74 at Farmer City Raceway. The 33-year-old star controlled the final three circuits to beat Jonathan Davenport by 1.744 seconds and earn $25,000 for his third consecutive and 29th career win on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

Quotable: “I got to second behind J.D., and I’m like, ‘Man, second will be a really good night for us,’” Thornton said. “We got to traffic and I was able to close up on him a little bit and I’m like, ‘Man, I got a shot here.’ Me and him, that’s probably the hardest we’ve drove in a while. I think we gave each other plenty of room. I gotta thank J.D. for leaving us a lane every time and the same with Shannon there (in the late stages). It was a wild one.”

Key notes: The eighth-starting Thornton won for the first time at the quarter-mile oval and the sixth time this season on the Lucas Oil Series. … Davenport led laps 1-54 before losing the top spot to Babb, who brought his home-state crowd alive with a stirring drive forward from the ninth starting spot. Babb turned back challenges from Thornton until finally falling to RTJ’s slider through turns three and four on lap 71 and then slowing to bring out the caution flag moments later. … Babb, who led laps 55-70, said that running through holes apparently “jarred something and it just completely shut off. … Garrett Alberson’s third-place finish marked his third podium run in a row on the national tour. ... Eight caution flags slowed the feature beginning on lap when Brian Shirley slowed and collected Cory Lawler in turn two and ending with Babb’s trouble. … Drivers who spun to trigger cautions were Mike Spatola (lap four), Carson Ferguson (lap 13) and Ross Robinson (lap 31). … Debris (Kyle Bronson’s right-rear quarter-panel) caused a caution on lap 38; Jason Feger slowed while in the top 10 on lap 47; and Mike Marlar slid off the track in turn one on lap 53. … Brandon Sheppard used a provisional to start the feature and retired on lap 26 with thick smoke wafting from his car. ... Notables non-qualifiers: Bobby Pierce (missed by one spot in a B-main), Tanner English, Gordy Gundaker, Ryan Unzicker, Mike Harrison, McKay Wenger, Clay Harris and Trevor Gundaker. ... The race kicked off an abbreviated Illinois Speedweek after Castrol FloRacing Night in America events the previous two nights were rained out.

On the move: Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., started 25th and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Dyno One, Hoker Trucking LLC, Coltman Farms Racing, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Big River Steel, Murty Farms, High Performance Lubricants, West Side Tractor Sales, Bilstein, Sunoco Race Fuels, FK Rod Ends, Allstar Performance, Dirt Car Lift, Midwest Sheet Metal and EMD Wraps.

Points chase: After Farmer City: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (2,545); 2. Jonathan Davenport (2,440); 3. Devin Moran (2,290); 4. Hudson O'Neal (2,210); 5. Mike Marlar (2,185); 6. Jimmy Owens (2,150); 7. Garrett Alberson (2,135); 8. Daulton Wilson (2,120); 9. Tim McCreadie (2,090); 10. Brandon Sheppard (2,025); 11. Tyler Erb (2,005); 12. Max Blair (1,765).

Current weather: Clear, 61°F

Car count: 55

Fast qualifier: Jonathan Davenport

Time: 12.578 seconds

Polesitter: Jonathan Davenport

Heat race winners: Jonathan Davenport, Drake Troutman, Mike Marlar, Garrett Smith, Cody Overton, Garrett Alberson

Consolation race winners: Frank Heckenast Jr., Carson Ferguson, Daulton Wilson

Provisional starters: Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb, Max Blair, Brenden Smith, Cory Lawler

Next series race: May 11, Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, IL) $30,000