Dirt on Dirt - Pierce's slip lifts RTJ to $10,000 at Brownstown

October 11

Brownstown Speedway,

Brownstown, IN

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (C.J. Rayburn Memorial) - $10,000

Information provided by: Bryan Ault, series and track reports (last updated October 12, 8:29 am)

Pierce's slip lifts RTJ to $10,000 at Brownstown

C.J. Rayburn Memorial

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Mike Marlar
Bobby Pierce
Tanner English
Hudson O'Neal
Dennis Erb Jr.
Max Blair
Brandon Sheppard
Jonathan Davenport
Devin Moran
Garrett Alberson
Drake Troutman
Nick Hoffman
Daulton Wilson
Adam Stricker
Tyler Erb
Jimmy Owens
Ross Robinson
Tim McCreadie
Chad Stapleton
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Carson Ferguson
Boom Briggs
Clay Harris
Brenden Smith
Jason Jameson
Cory Lawler
Dave Hess Jr.

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Ricky Thornton Jr. (20RT) slipped past Bobby Pierce (32) for the lead with seven laps remaining en route to winning Friday's C.J. Rayburn Memorial at Brownstown.

What won the race: Sliding by race-long leader Bobby Pierce as he slipped in heavy lapped traffic, second-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., assumed command and paced the final seven laps to win Friday's third annual C.J. Rayburn Memorial at Brownstown Speedway. Thornton's $10,000 victory in the 40-lap feature was his 12th full-field Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season and the 35th of his career and vaulted him into the points lead in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship.

Quotable: “It’s not that we’ve been way off the pace, it’s just trying to figure out that exact balance that you need,” Thornton said. “I feel like here, for some reason it suits me once it gets slick and really methodical around the bottom. I feel like our car’s getting better and better and I feel like I’m getting a little more confident, and obviously racing’s a big confidence thing.”

Key notes: Pierce led the opening 33 laps from the pole before being overtaken by Thornton. He gave way to Mike Marlar on the final lap and finished third. ... The 10th-starting Marlar powered around the outside of Pierce and beat him to the checkers by 0.034 of a second for runner-up honors, 1.357 seconds behind Thornton. ... Thirteenth-starting Tanner English finished fourth after taking the spot from a fading Hudson O'Neal on lap 25. ... O'Neal traded fifth with Brandon Sheppard several times over the final 15 laps before prevailing to round out the top five. Sheppard slipped to eighth on the final lap. ... Third-starting Jonathan Davenport, fresh off his first career Pittsburgher victory, faded to ninth in the finishing order, one spot ahead of Devin Moran who entered the race as the points leader. Moran climbed from 21st to 10th after transferring through the first consolation but slipped 20 points behind Thornton. ... The race was slowed by four cautions, the final one coming when Boom Briggs slowed on lap 22. ... Tim McCreadie over-rotated while running seventh on lap nine, nearly spinning sideways at the turn-three entrance to draw the third stoppage. Although McCreadie continued, he was forced to tag the field and finished 19th, dropping him 145 points behind Thornton. ... Daulton Wilson slowed on the opening lap for the first caution while Chad Stapleton hopped the turn-three cushion to pause the race on lap four. … The main event lasted 19 minutes with 25 starters running at the finish. ... Lucas Oil action continues at Brownstown on Saturday with the $50,000-to-win Jackson 100.

On the move: Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, started 21st and finished 10th.

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 Brownstown Friday: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (6,460); 2. Devin Moran (6,440); 3. Jonathan Davenport (6,435); 4. Tim McCreadie (6,315); 5. Hudson O'Neal (5,620); 6. Garrett Alberson (5,410); 7. Mike Marlar (5,285); 8. Daulton Wilson (5,170); 9. Max Blair (5,070); 10. Jimmy Owens (5,005).

Current weather: Clear, 61°F

Car count: 38

Fast qualifier: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Time: 13.520 seconds

Polesitter: Bobby Pierce

Heat race winners: Bobby Pierce, Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O'Neal

Consolation race winners: Garrett Alberson, Nick Hoffman

Provisional starters: Daulton Wilson, Jimmy Owens, Clay Harris, Brenden Smith, Carson Ferguson, Cory Lawler

Next series race: October 12, Brownstown Speedway (Brownstown, IN) $50,000

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

From staff reports

BROWNSTOWN, Ind. — Live updates from Friday’s third annual C.J. Rayburn Memorial, a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win main event for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Sliding by race-long leader Bobby Pierce as he slipped in heavy lapped traffic, second-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., assumed command and paced the final seven laps to win Friday's third annual C.J. Rayburn Memorial at Brownstown Speedway. Thornton's $10,000 victory in the 40-lap feature was his 12th full-field Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season and the 35th of his career and vaulted him into the points lead in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Bobby Pierce, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 2: Jonathan Davenport, Hudson O'Neal
Row 3: Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb
Row 4: Jason Jameson, Tim McCreadie
Row 5: Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Marlar
Row 6: Drake Troutman, Dave Hess Jr.
Row 7: Tanner English, Chad Stapleton
Row 8: Max Blair, Ross Robinson
Row 9: Garrett Alberson, Nick Hoffman
Row 10: Adam Stricker, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Row 11: Devin Moran, Boom Briggs
Row 12: Daulton Wilson, Jimmy Owens
Row 13: Clay Harris, Brenden Smith
Row 14: Carson Ferguson, Cory Lawler

Consolation results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Garrett Alberson, Adam Stricker, Devin Moran, Jimmy Owens, Carson Ferguson, Daulton Wilson, Tristan Chamberlain, Brenden Smith, Don O'Neal, Cory Lawler, Jeff Shackelford.

Second consolation: Nick Hoffman, Frank Heckenast Jr., Boom Briggs, Shannon Babb, Clay Harris, Shelby Miles, Zak Blackwood, Devin Gilpin, Tyler Collins, Kody Marsee, Quentin White.

Heat race recap

Bobby Pierce led all eight laps from the pole to win the first heat race by 1.056 seconds over second-starting Brandon Sheppard. Dennis Erb Jr. started and finished third, while fifth-starting Tanner English grabbed the fourth and final transfer spot into Friday’s 40-lap, $10,000-to-win main event. The race’s lone caution came on lap three when Devin Moran hopped the turn-three cushion and briefly left the racing surface. Moran soldiered to a seventh-place result and will need to qualify through a consolation. … Pole-starting Jonathan Davenport cruised to win the second heat, leading the entire distance and winning by 1.602 seconds over third-starting Jason Jameson. Drake Troutman improved three positions and rounded out the podium, while second-starting Max Blair faded to fourth. … Ricky Thornton Jr. scored a flag-to-flag win in heat three, taking the checkers 1.217 seconds ahead of third-starting Tyler Erb who narrowly fended off a late-race challenge from Mike Marlar, who crossed the line 0.126 of a second behind Erb. Second-starting Chad Stapleton slipped to fourth, earning the fourth and final transfer position. … Hudson O’Neal staved off a late-race challenge from Tim McCreadie to win the fourth and final heat race by 0.351 of a second over the second-starting McCreadie. … Dave Hess Jr. and Ross Robinson each passed Frank Heckenast Jr. to finish third and fourth, while the third-starting Heckenast slipped to seventh.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Dennis Erb Jr., Tanner English, Garrett Alberson, Adam Stricker, Devin Moran, Daulton Wilson, Brenden Smith, Jeff Shackelford.

Second heat: Jonathan Davenport, Jason Jameson, Drake Troutman, Max Blair, Jimmy Owens, Tristan Chamberlain, Don O'Neal, Carson Ferguson, Cory Lawler.

Third heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Tyler Erb, Mike Marlar, Chad Stapleton, Boom Briggs, Shannon Babb, Shelby Miles, Devin Gilpin, Zak Blackwood, Kody Marsee.

Fourth heat: Hudson O'Neal, Tim McCreadie, Dave Hess Jr., Ross Robinson, Nick Hoffman, Clay Harris, Frank Heckenast Jr., Tyler Collins, Quentin White.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Bobby Pierce (32p), Oakwood, Ill., 13.558
2. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 13.651
3. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 13.802
4. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 14.045
5. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.060
6. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 14.084
7. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.091
8. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 14.093
9. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 14.094
10. Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 14.109
11. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 14.169
12. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.181
13. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 14.201
14. Don O’Neal (71x), Martinsville, Ind., 14.269
15. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 14.276
16. Carson Ferguson (93F), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.276
17. Adam Stricker (68), Batavia, Ohio, 14.458
18. Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 14.606
19. Jeff Shackelford (28js), Clayton, Ind., 15.198
Group B
1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 13.520
2. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 13.772
3. Chad Stapleton (7R), Edinburgh, Ind., 13.929
4. Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 14.046
5. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 14.050
6. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 14.057
7. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 14.091
8. Dave Hess Jr. (44), Waterford, Pa., 14.179
9. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 14.210
10. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 14.299
11. Shelby Miles (76), Bloomington, Ind., 14.387
12. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 14.402
13. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 14.441
14. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.564
15. Devin Gilpin (1G), Columbus, Ind., 14.575
16. Tyler Collins (11T), North Vernon, Ind., 14.734
17. Zak Blackwood (93x), Columbus, Ind., 14.795
18. Quentin White (14), Greenwood, Ind., 15.338
19. Kody Marsee (43), Spiceland, Ind., 16.888

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - Gates open
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Crate group hot lap qualifying
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Crate Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Crate Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Super Late Model feature (40 laps)
- Crate feature (50 laps)