Dirt on Dirt - RaceWire

October 9

Eldora Speedway,

Rossburg, OH

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Clash on the Wabash prelim) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated October 10, 2:34 am)

Overtaking B-Shepp, RTJ grabs Eldora’s $10,000

Clash on the Wabash prelim

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Brandon Sheppard
Devin Moran
Kyle Bronson
Hudson O'Neal
Josh Rice
Bobby Pierce
Garrett Alberson
Chris Madden
Nick Hoffman
Dale McDowell
Tyler Erb
Max Blair
Garrett Smith
Brian Shirley
Dillon McCowan
Clay Harris
Brandon Overton
Daniel Hilsabeck
Carson Ferguson
Dan Ebert
Jonathan Davenport
Boom Briggs
Chris Ferguson
Brenden Smith

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Ricky Thornton Jr. heads to a $10,000 victory at Eldora Speedway.

What won the race: Deftly sliding between Brandon Sheppard and the turn-four wall on the 37th lap, a high-running Ricky Thornton Jr. took command with four laps remaining at Eldora Speedway for a $10,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory in Friday's Clash on the Wabash prelim. The fourth-starting Thornton tracked down Sheppard for his seventh series victory of the season, taking the checkers by a 1.065-second margin in the 40-lapper.

Quotable: "My car was really good all night," Thornton said. "Just trying a few small little things, just trying to get better and better, and I feel like we've gotten better here. That's probably the fastest early in the night I've been the last two years, so I feel like that's a little bit better. I still think we can be a little bit better come feature time."

Key notes: Ricky Thornton Jr., who utilized the low groove early, notched his 63rd career Lucas Oil Series victory in Justin Tharp's third race as crew chief (Tharp was elevated to the role after the departure of Anthony Burroughs). ... Runner-up Brandon Sheppard led laps 15 and 18-36; he said he "felt I gave that thing up in lapped traffic" as Thornton took command. ... Polesitter Chris Madden led laps 1-4 and 16-17 but faded to ninth with left-front damage he blamed on Thornton, who said in victory lane he regretted the contact. ... Kyle Bronson climbed six spots and finished fourth in his debut aboard a new Burroughs-prepared Longhorn. ... Jonathan Davenport ran among the top five for 17 laps but slipped to seventh and retired after 26 laps; he discovered his car had lost a spark plug. ... Two cautions slowed the race, the first for Chris Ferguson's left-rear blowout on the 15th lap (Brandon Overton pitted during the caution with right-rear body damage). ... Dan Ebert stopped on the backstretch with heavy right-front suspension damage on the 38th lap. ... The 18-minute feature concluded at 9:26 p.m. ... Brenden Smith retired after 14 laps with a hole in his radiator. ... The two-day event concludes with Saturday’s 50-lap, $50,000-to-win finale (facing an iffy weather forecast, hot laps will start at 4:45 p.m.) ... Watch live on FloRacing.

On the move: Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, started 11th and finished third; Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., started 21st and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton's Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Knight's Companies, Hoker Trucking, Capital Waste, Certified Inspection Service, Coltman Farms Racing, Elite Ready Mix, Five Star Metal Buildings, D&E Outside Services, SI Towing & Recovery, Velocity Manufacturing Group, Jones Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire South, Henry's Headers & Exhaust, High Performance Lubricants, Strange Oval, Sharp Advantage Safety Products, DirtCarLift, Midwest Sheet Metal and Slicker Graphics.

Points chase: After Eldora Friday: 1. Brandon Sheppard (7,155); 2. Hudson O’Neal (7,090); 3. Devin Moran (7,080); 4. Ricky Thornton Jr. (6,695); 5. Brandon Overton (6,565); 6. Max Blair (6,500); 7. Josh Rice (6,255); 8. Brian Shirley (6,095); 9. Garrett Alberson (5,960); 10. Kyle Bronson (5,700).

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 63°F

Car count: 50

Fast qualifier: Garrett Alberson

Time: 14.802 seconds

Polesitter: Chris Madden

Heat race winners: Chris Madden, Josh Rice, Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Alberson, Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Sheppard

Consolation race winners: Max Blair, Brandon Overton

Provisional starters: Clay Harris, Dillon McCowan, Daniel Hilsabeck

Next series race: October 10, Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH) $50,000

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

From staff reports

ROSSBURG, Ohio — Updates from Friday’s Clash on the Wabash prelim at Eldora Speedway, highlighted by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Deftly sliding between Brandon Sheppard and the turn-four wall on the 37th lap, a high-running Ricky Thornton Jr. took command with four laps remaining at Eldora Speedway for a $10,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory in Friday's Clash on the Wabash prelim. The fourth-starting Thornton tracked down Sheppard for his seventh series victory of the season, taking the checkers by a 1.065-second margin in the 40-lapper.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Chris Madden, Garrett Alberson
Row 2: Josh Rice, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard
Row 4: Nick Hoffman, Dale McDowell
Row 5: Carson Ferguson, Kyle Bronson
Row 6: Devin Moran, Tyler Erb
Row 7: Bobby Pierce, Dan Ebert
Row 8: Chris Ferguson, Boom Briggs
Row 9: Garrett Smith, Brian Shirley
Row 10: Max Blair, Brandon Overton
Row 11: Hudson O'Neal, Brenden Smith
Row 12: Clay Harris, Dillon McCowan
Row 13: Daniel Hilsabeck

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Max Blair, Hudson O'Neal, Jason Jameson, Ryan Montgomery, Dillon McCowan, Jimmy Owens, Ryan Gustin, Tristan Chamberlain, Seth Daniels, Daniel Hilsabeck, Frank Heckenast Jr., Clay Harris, Dustin Nobbe, Curt Schroeder. Scratched: Braden Jones, Cody Overton.

Second consolation: Brandon Overton, Brenden Smith, Jerry Bowersock, Luke Morey, Mike Marlar, Drake Troutman, Earl Pearson Jr., Ethan Dotson, Freddie Carpenter, Mike Spatola, Brock Pinkerous, Rob Anderzack, Logan Hitt, Jon Hodgkiss, Brody Smith, Christian Thomas.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Chris Madden, Nick Hoffman, Bobby Pierce, Max Blair, Jason Jameson, Tristan Chamberlain, Dillon McCowan, Frank Heckenast Jr., Curt Schroeder.

Second heat: Josh Rice, Carson Ferguson, Chris Ferguson, Ryan Montgomery, Jimmy Owens, Braden Jones, Cody Overton, Seth Daniels.

Third heat: Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Garrett Smith, Hudson O'Neal, Clay Harris, Ryan Gustin, Daniel Hilsabeck, Dustin Nobbe.

Fourth heat: Garrett Alberson, Dale McDowell, Dan Ebert, Brandon Overton, Jerry Bowersock, Earl Pearson Jr., Brody Smith, Mike Marlar, Rob Anderzack.

Fifth heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Kyle Bronson, Boom Briggs, Luke Morey, Brock Pinkerous, Ethan Dotson, Christian Thomas, Jon Hodgkiss.

Sixth heat: Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb, Brian Shirley, Brenden Smith, Drake Troutman, Freddie Carpenter, Mike Spatola, Logan Hitt.

Prerace notes

Friday’s opening-night program of Eldora’s Lucas Oil Series-sanctioned Clash on the Wabash — topped by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win feature — comes on a partly cloudy day that saw the high temperature rise to nearly 80. Evening temps are expected to only drop into the mid- to low-60s. … The 50-car field includes 13 drivers who weren’t part of last month’s 103-car World 100 driver roster. ... Two 16-year-olds are making their Eldora debuts: Brock Pinkerous of Ellenville, N.Y., and Braden Jones of Cherryville, N.C. … Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., has entered a Longhorn Chassis from his Double L Motorsports stable that he’s never raced at Eldora. It’s the car that served as his backup for last month’s World 100. … Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., is behind the wheel of a brand-new Longhorn Chassis that was assembled over the past week under the watchful eye of the Lucas Oil regular’s new crew chief Anthony Burroughs. Bronson has run Rocket Chassis for the entirety of the 2026 season. … Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, is back at Eldora one month after his heartbreaking late-race mechanical failure while leading the World 100. He had veteran mechanic Cody Mallory along with him again in hopes of duplicating the speed that nearly carried him to the crown jewel victory. … Boom Briggs of Bear Lake, Pa., has his No. 95 machine — a throwback scheme honoring his late father — in the field while his team’s regular driver, Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., is at Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway competing in this weekend’s $50,000-to-win Super DIRT Week big-block modified 200. The 55-year-old Briggs decided to compete this weekend because it could be his “last hurrah” racing at Eldora. … Lucas Oil Series officials said crews are allowed to signal their drivers during the weekend’s action but only from the designated area on the inside of turn three. ... With weather forecasts for Saturday indicating that the chance of rain rises starting around 9-10 p.m., series and track officials indicated that they will discuss adjusting the start time for Saturday's finale highlighted by a 50-lap, $50,000-to-win feature.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Nick Hoffman (9H), Mooresville, N.C., 14.834
2. Chris Ferguson (22F), Mount Holly, N.C., 14.875
3. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.930
4. Chris Madden (44m), Gray Court, S.C., 14.998
5. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 15.038
6. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.060
7. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.062
8. Carson Ferguson (93F), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.107
9. Garrett Smith (10), Madison, Ga., 15.120
10. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.126
11. Seth Daniels (s21), Jackson, Ohio, 15.132
12. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.134
13. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 15.204
14. Cody Overton (97), Evans, Ga., 15.211
15. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 15.228
16. Jason Jameson (12J), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 15.241
17. Ryan Montgomery (12m), Fairmont, W.Va., 15.282
18. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.334
19. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 15.336
20. Braden Jones (5J), Cherryville, N.C., 15.428
21. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 15.432
22. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 15.440
23. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.480
24. Dustin Nobbe (5n), Batesville, Ind., 15.792
25. Curt Schroeder (15c), Newton, Iowa, 16.125
Group B
1. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.802
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.891
3. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 14.963
4. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 14.964
5. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.049
6. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 15.087
7. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.119
8. Boom Briggs (95), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.122
9. Brian Shirley (8s), Chatham, Ill., 15.153
10. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 15.189
11. Luke Morey (49m), Zeeland, Mich., 15.194
12. Logan Hitt (7*), Buckhannon, W.Va., 15.267
13. Jerry Bowersock (95J), Wapakoneta, Ohio, 15.274
14. Brock Pinkerous (555), Ellenville, N.Y., 15.277
15. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 15.294
16. Earl Pearson Jr. (1p), Jacksonville, Fla., 15.321
17. Christian Thomas (7T), Wake Forest, N.C., 15.329
18. Freddie Carpenter (c4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 15.399
19. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.422
20. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.440
21. Drake Troutman (5T), Hyndman, Pa., 15.468
22. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 15.472
23. Jon Hodgkiss (69), Pittsburgh, Pa., 15.732
24. Mike Spatola (89), Manahattan, Ill., 15.895
25. Rob Anderzack (8A), Swanton, Ohio, 16.882

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
1 p.m. - Pits open
2 p.m. - Tech and registration open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
5 p.m. - Tech and registration close
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Super stock group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Super stock heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (40 laps)
- Super stocks (15 laps)