Dirt on Dirt - Thornton cruises to repeat in Topless 100 prelim

August 16

Batesville Motor Speedway,

Locust Grove, AR

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Topless 100 prelim) - $5,000

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated August 17, 10:21 am)

Thornton cruises to repeat in Topless 100 prelim

Topless 100 prelim

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Dale McDowell
Tim McCreadie
Mike Marlar
Hudson O'Neal
Scott Crigler
Devin Moran
Ethan Dotson
Garrett Alberson
Tyler Stevens
Carson Ferguson
Jared Landers
Stormy Scott
Jimmy Owens
Jonathan Davenport
B.J. Robinson
Max Blair
Billy Moyer
David Breazeale
Daulton Wilson
Timothy Culp
Boom Briggs
Drake Troutman
Ross Robinson

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Ricky Thornton Jr. heads for a Topless 100 preliminary victory.

What won the race: Inheriting a front-row starting spot after Tim McCreadie jumped the initial start, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., earned a commanding flag-to-flag victory in Friday's 30-lap Topless 100 prelim at Batesville Motor Speedway. Thornton raced to the $5,000 prize in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition by 0.765 of a second ahead of Dale McDowell, who inherited the pole after McCreadie's one-row penalty.

Quotable: “For some reason, I’m really good here early in the week. I feel like we were better tonight than what we typically are,” Thornton said. “We tried to work on our stuff to get a little bit better for these long features and stuff like that … setup-wise, we were completely different than I’ve ever been. In the car, I really wasn’t quite sure why the (opening) start got called back, I felt like (Tim McCreadie) took off exactly when he’s supposed to.”

Key notes: Thornton tallied his 11th full-field feature victory of the season and his first since joining Koehler Motorsports in early July — he previously won Aug. 8's $6,000 North-South semifeature at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky. ... Thornton notched his 34th career Lucas Oil Series victory, moving him out of a tie with Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and just one behind Tim McCreadie for sixth on the tour's all-time win list. ... McCreadie settled for third after finishing runner-up to Thornton in last year's Topless 100 prelim at Batesville. ... The Mooney Starr-founded event was held in the shadow of five-time race winner Scott Bloomquist's death. He died Friday morning in a small plane crash near his Mooresville, Tenn., home. ... The race's lone caution was for McCreadie's premature start; it lasted nine minutes, with 21 starters running at the finish. ... Among non-qualifiers, Clay Harris appeared to lose an engine in the second consolation and Kyle Beard slowed with a flat tire a couple laps later.

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

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: Before Batesville: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4,985); 2. Devin Moran (4,765); 3. Jonathan Davenport (4,710); 4. Tim McCreadie (4,300); 5. Hudson O'Neal (4,290); 6. Garrett Alberson (4,120); 7. Mike Marlar (4,115); 8. Daulton Wilson (4,095); 9. Jimmy Owens (3,870). 10. Max Blair (3,710).

Current weather: Clear, 84°F

Car count: 54

Fast qualifier: Tim McCreadie

Time: 13.689 seconds

Polesitter: Tim McCreadie

Heat race winners: Tim McCreadie, Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O'Neal, Dale McDowell, Mike Marlar, Scott Crigler

Consolation race winners: Jonathan Davenport, B.J. Robinson

Next series race: August 17, Batesville Motor Speedway (Locust Grove, AR) $50,000

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

From staff reports

LOCUST GROVE, Ark. — Live updates from Friday’s Topless 100 opener featuring a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win main event for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Inheriting a front-row starting spot after Tim McCreadie jumped the initial start, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., earned a commanding flag-to-flag victory in Friday's 30-lap Topless 100 prelim at Batesville Motor Speedway. Thornton raced to the $5,000 prize in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition by 0.765 of a second ahead of Dale McDowell, who inherited the pole after McCreadie's one-row penalty.

Feature lineup

(30 laps)

Row 1: Tim McCreadie, Dale McDowell
Row 2: Ricky Thornton Jr., Mike Marlar
Row 3: Hudson O'Neal, Scott Crigler
Row 4: Garrett Alberson, Ethan Dotson
Row 5: Devin Moran, Tyler Stevens
Row 6: Jared Landers, Carson Ferguson
Row 7: David Breazeale, Jimmy Owens
Row 8: Stormy Scott, Boom Briggs
Row 9: Max Blair, Ross Robinson
Row 10: Jonathan Davenport, B.J. Robinson
Row 11: Drake Troutman, Billy Moyer
Row 12: Timothy Culp, Daulton Wilson

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Jonathan Davenport, Drake Troutman, Timothy Culp, Jon Kirby, Matt Cooper, Joe Chalmers, Brenden Smith, Eli Ross, Jake Elam, Brandon Smith, Cory Lawler, Nathan Stewart, Ryan Johnson, Henry Gustavus, Lynn Irwin, Jeff Sloan, Josh Farris. Scratched: Bryan Glaze.

Second consolation: B.J. Robinson, Billy Moyer, Daulton Wilson, Bryce Clark, Jarret Stuckey, Jamie Elam, Charlie Cole, Austin Vincent, Chandler Petty, Chris Jones, Chance Mann, Devon Andrews, Nathan Brown, Peyton Foster, Kyle Beard, Clay Harris. Scratched: Travis Ashley, Steven Crocker.

Heat race recap

Pole-starting Tim McCreadie led all eight laps to win the first heat race by 1.249 seconds over fourth-starting Garrett Alberson, with David Breazeale holding on for the third and final transfer spot into Friday’s 40-lap, $10,000-to-win opener. The first caution flag flew on the opening lap when Henry Gustavus pounded the turn-one wall and required a tow to the pits. Jon Kirby made contact with Drake Troutman and spun to draw the second stoppage on lap four. He rebounded to finish fifth. … Ricky Thornton Jr. cruised to win heat two by several car lengths over third-starting Devin Moran, who held off challenges from fifth-starting Stormy Scott. … Hudson O’Neal led the entire distance to win heat three over Jared Landers, who narrowly fended off late-race challenges from Max Blair. Landers and Blair will join O’Neal in the Hawkeye 100 opener. … Dale McDowell dominated heat four from the pole, winning by 1.433 seconds over second-starting Ethan Dotson, with fifth-starting Jimmy Owens grabbing the third and final transfer position. … Mike Marlar grabbed a green-to-checkered victory in heat five, winning by 1.369 seconds over third-starting Tyler Stevens, with Boom Briggs hanging on to complete the podium finishers. … Second-strating Scott Crigler slipped by early leader Carson Ferguson and led the final four laps to win the sixth and final heat race by 1.742 seconds over Ferguson. Ross Robinson held serve, starting and finishing third.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Tim McCreadie, Garrett Alberson, David Breazeale, Drake Troutman, Jon Kirby, Matt Cooper, Eli Ross, Josh Farris, Henry Gustavus.

Second heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Devin Moran, Stormy Scott, Jonathan Davenport, Joe Chalmers, Brandon Smith, Cory Lawler, Lynn Irwin, Bryan Glaze.

Third heat: Hudson O'Neal, Jared Landers, Max Blair, Timothy Culp, Brenden Smith, Jake Elam, Nathan Stewart, Ryan Johnson, Jeff Sloan.

Fourth heat: Dale McDowell, Ethan Dotson, Jimmy Owens, Billy Moyer, Daulton Wilson, Charlie Cole, Austin Vincent, Chance Mann, Peyton Foster.

Fifth heat: Mike Marlar, Tyler Stevens, Boom Briggs, B.J. Robinson, Jarret Stuckey, Bryce Clark, Chandler Petty, Nathan Brown, Devon Andrews.

Sixth heat: Scott Crigler, Carson Ferguson, Ross Robinson, Clay Harris, Kyle Beard, Chris Jones, Jamie Elam, Travis Ashley. Scratched: Steven Crocker.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 13.689
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 13.800
3. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 13.858
4. David Breazeale (54), Four Corners, Miss., 13.889
5. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 13.895
6. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 13.895
7. Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 14.011
8. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 14.084
9. Timothy Culp (c8), Prattsville, Ark., 14.099
10. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.103
11. Bryan Glaze (1G), Little Rock, Ark., 14.294
12. Jared Landers (777), Batesville, Ark., 14.411
13. Matt Cooper (18), McKenzie, Tenn., 14.413
14. Stormy Scott (2s), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.471
15. Ryan Johnson (7J), Aurora, Mo., 14.510
16. Eli Ross (66), Muskogee, Okla., 14.834
17. Brandon Smith (1s), Floral, Ark., 14.930
18. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 14.960
19. Henry Gustavas (78), West Memphis, Ark., 14.993
20. Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 14.996
21. Jake Elam (24), Senatobia, Miss., 15.011
22. Josh Farris (90), Harrison, Ark., 15.330
23. Lynn Irwin (27), Walls, Miss., 15.823
24. Nathan Stewart (15), Bryant, Ark., no time
25. Jon Kirby (11), Russellville, Ark., no time
26. Joe Chalmers (1au), South Yunderup, W. Australia, no time
27. Jeff Sloan (7s), Charleston, Mo., no time
Group B
1. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 13.909
2. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 14.010
3. Carson Ferguson (93F), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.058
4. Ethan Dotson (74), Bakersfield, Calif., 14.109
5. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 14.133
6. Scott Crigler (12), Alton, Mo., 14.229
7. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 14.277
8. Tyler Stevens (2), Searcy, Ark., 14.309
9. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 14.420
10. Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 14.421
11. B.J. Robinson (1B), Bossier City, La., 14.454
12. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.535
13. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.535
14. Jarret Stuckey (17), Shreveport, La., 14.691
15. Kyle Beard (86), Trumann, Ark., 14.735
16. Chance Mann (88), Newport, Ark., 14.791
17. Bryce Clark (41), Conway, Ark., 14.795
18. Chris Jones (91), Neelyville, Mo., 14.861
19. Austin Vincent (5v), Moody, Mo., 14.899
20. Nathan Brown (3n), Marion, Ark., 15.046
21. Jamie Elam (12E), Senatobia, Miss., 15.201
22. Charlie Cole (2c), Wynne, Ark., 15.217
23. Chandler Petty (47), Cabot, Ark., 15.375
24. Travis Ashley (997), Batesville, Ark., 15.562
25. Peyton Foster (F15), Finch, Ark., 15.606
26. Devon Andrews (usa1), Wynne, Ark., 15.919
27. Steven Crocker (33), Jonesboro, Ark., no time

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
2:30 p.m. - Pits close
3 p.m. - Pits re-open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
7 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7:30 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified consolations (12 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (30 laps)
- Modified feature (20 laps)