Dirt on Dirt - RaceWire

November 5

The Dirt Track at Charlotte,

Concord, NC

Sanction: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (World Finals Thursday prelim) - $15,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated November 5, 11:08 pm)

Thornton robs Overton, wins World Finals opener

World Finals Thursday prelim

Ricky Thornton Jr.
Brandon Overton
Bobby Pierce
Nick Hoffman
Chris Ferguson
Trey Mills
Michael Leach
Brandon Sheppard
Chris Madden
Tim McCreadie
Ryan Gustin
Tyler Erb
Josh Rice
Jonathan Davenport
Carson Ferguson
Ethan Dotson
Ben Watkins
Daulton Wilson
Drake Troutman
Tristan Chamberlain
Dustin Sorensen
Garrett Alberson
Dennis Erb Jr.
Luke Morey
Kale Green
Dallon Murty
Kyle Strickler
Beckham Malone
Logan Zarin
Jadon Frame

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Photo slideshow Related story Race history

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Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt) slides by Brandon Overton (17) on the 19th lap.

What won the race: Sliding by race-long leader Brandon Overton shortly after a lap-18 restart following a 35-minute rain delay, 12th-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., led the final 17 laps of Thursday's 20th annual Dave Smith Motors World Finals opener at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Thornton beat Overton by 0.780 of a second for the $15,000 payday, his second World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of the season and seventh of his career.

Quotable: "All we did was put fuel in it (at the rain delay). We didn’t know if we were allowed to work on it or not, so we decided to just leave it covered, put a little bit of fuel in it and hop in and go back out," Thornton said. "I was just able to get a really good restart, those guys kinda shoved and I was able to drive straight."

Key notes: Thornton notched his seventh victory in consecutive starts dating back to Oct. 9 at Eldora Speedway, earning more than $240,000 in race winnings over that span. ... He's won seven of eight starts since being coupled with crew chief Justin Tharp, his worst result being fifth in Oct. 3's Pittsburgher at PPMS in Imperial, Pa. ... It's his third career World Finals prelim victory (2023 and '24), to go along with his $25,000 payday in the 2023 finale. ... Thornton registered his second WoO victory this year, adding to a $12,000 triumph on May 28 at Ohio's Wayne County Speedway. ... Brandon Overton led the opening 18 laps largely unchallenged until Thornton took advantage of a lap-18 restart, moving from fifth-to-second then overtaking Overton with a turn-three slide job on the ensuing lap. Overton settled for second aboard a No. 17 Billy Franklin-owned Rocket Chassis. ... Points leader Bobby Pierce surged from his 11th starting spot and dispatched of Chris Ferguson for third on lap 22 before rounding out the podium. ... Pierce's closest title challenger, fast qualifier Nick Hoffman grabbed fourth on lap 26, dropping Ferguson to fifth. ... Brandon Sheppard gained five spots and placed eighth aboard his backup car after losing an engine during Wednesday's time trials. ... Tim McCreadie improved nine positions to complete the top-10 finishers. ... Besides a 35-minute rain delay while under a lap-18 caution, previous stoppages came for a Kyle Strickler spin in the opening turn; he retired after 21 laps and was credited with 27th. ... Second-running Jadon Frame slowed and pitted on lap eight with right-front damage that resulted in a significant tire rub; he was the race's first retiree after appearing to hop the turn-four cushion on the previous lap, resulting in significant right-side damage caused by the heavy track surface. ... Logan Zarin and Beckham Malone tangled to trigger yellow flags for spins on lap 16 and 18, the latter required both drivers to be towed back to the pits. ... The 35-lapper lasted more than 65 minutes, including the rain delay, with 24 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Race winner Ricky Thornton Jr. started 12th.

Winner's sponsors: Thornton’s Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is 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 Charlotte Thursday: 1. Bobby Pierce (7,179); 2. Nick Hoffman (7,101); 3. Tyler Erb (6,771); 4. Tim McCreadie (6,739); 5. Ryan Gustin (6,600); 6. Ethan Dotson (6,458); 7. Daulton Wilson (6,383); 8. Trey Mills (6,334); 9. Dennis Erb Jr. (6,284); 10. Dustin Sorensen (6,157).

Current weather: Overcast, 72°F

Car count: 74

Fast qualifier: Nick Hoffman

Time: 14.621 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Overton

Heat race winners: Kale Green, Chris Madden, Brandon Overton, Michael Leach, Jadon Frame, Chris Madden

Consolation race winners: Tim McCreadie, Jonathan Davenport, Daulton Wilson

Provisional starters: Tyler Erb, Ethan Dotson, Dennis Erb Jr., Dustin Sorensen, Tristan Chamberlain, Logan Zarin

Next series race: November 6, The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Concord, NC) $15,000

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

From staff reports

CONCORD, N.C. — Live updates from Thursday’s 20th annual Dave Smith Motors World Finals second preliminary night, highlighted by a 35-lap, $15,000-to-win feature for World of Outlaws Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Sliding by race-long leader Brandon Overton shortly after a lap-18 restart following a 35-minute rain delay, 12th-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., led the final 17 laps of Thursday's 20th annual Dave Smith Motors World Finals opener at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Thornton beat Overton by 0.780 of a second for the $15,000 payday, his second World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of the season and seventh of his career.

Feature lineup

(35 laps)

Row 1: Brandon Overton, Jadon Frame
Row 2: Michael Leach, Chris Ferguson
Row 3: Chris Madden, Kale Green
Row 4: Dallon Murty, Nick Hoffman
Row 5: Ryan Gustin, Trey Mills
Row 6: Bobby Pierce, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 7: Brandon Sheppard, Ben Watkins
Row 8: Josh Rice, Carson Ferguson
Row 9: Kyle Strickler, Drake Troutman
Row 10: Tim McCreadie, Jonathan Davenport
Row 11: Daulton Wilson, Luke Morey
Row 12: Garrett Alberson, Beckham Malone
Row 13: Tyler Erb, Ethan Dotson
Row 14: Dennis Erb Jr., Dustin Sorensen
Row 15: Tristan Chamberlain, Logan Zarin

Consolation results

(Eight laps; top two transfer)

First consolation finish: Tim McCreadie, Luke Morey, Logan Zarin, Hudson O’Neal, Ethan Dotson, Dan Ebert, Brenden Smith, Rick Eckert, Demetrios Drellos, Braden Jones, Gray Parton, Alex Vance, Callan Hill, Troy Morris III, Trent Ivey, Brian Shirley, Brent Larson (DNS) Kevin Godwin, Benji Hicks.

Second consolation finish: Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Alberson, Dennis Erb Jr., Jason Riggs, Max McLaughlin, Tyler Erb, Evan Koehler, Austin Holcombe, Jamison McBride, Barrett Lowe, Trevor Collins, Donovan Jackson, Eli Johnson, Mathew Porter, Todd Morrow (DNS) Steve Banal, Jordan Koehler, Gabe Miles, Dalton Jacobs.

Third consolation finish: Daulton Wilson, Beckham Malone, Austin Smith, Ross Robinson, Devin Moran, Kyle Bronson, Brody Smith, Willie Milliken, Dustin Sorensen, Tristan Chamberlain, Seth Zacharias, Ethan Wilson, Brent Robinson, Brian Ledbetter, Kerry King, Anthony Sanders (DNS) Tyler Wyant, Dale McDowell.

Heat race recap

Kale Green held off Dallon Murty to win the first heat, while Brandon Sheppard regained the third and final transfer spot after briefly slipping outside the top three. An opening-lap tangle involving Dan Ebert and fourth-starting Benji Hicks ended Hicks’ race. ... Chris Madden used a slick crossover move on Ryan Gustin down the backstretch to take the lead on the opening-lap restart after Troy Morris III spun on the initial start. Madden won the second heat ahead of Gustin and Josh Rice. ... A night after a faulty spark plug hindered his time trial effort, Bobby Pierce caught a few breaks in the third heat. Jordan Koehler didn’t make the call due to terminal engine trouble (he'll switch to a backup car for Friday's program), moving Pierce from fifth to fourth on the grid, and outside polesitter Kyle Strickler was sent back a row after the initial start was called back, promoting Pierce again. Pierce then passed Garrett Alberson for second and followed winner Brandon Overton to the finish. ... Michael Leach charged off the cushion through turns one and two on the opening lap of the fourth heat, powering alongside polesitter Nick Hoffman down the backstretch and completing the winning pass entering turn three. Hoffman settled for second, missing a valuable heat-win bonus point as he tries to erase a 76-point deficit to Bobby Pierce. ... Using an identical opening-lap move Michael Leach executed one heat earlier, Jadon Frame rocketed past polesitter Trey Mills and pulled away to win the fifth heat. Carson Ferguson advanced from fifth to claim the third and final transfer spot. Kyle Bronson's entry went up in smoke while running 11th on the fifth lap. ... The sixth heat started with a scare when Dale McDowell emerged sore but otherwise unharmed after flipping in the opening corner of the sixth heat from his outside-pole starting spot. The 60-year-old veteran slid high after losing the air on his car's nose and had his right-front bumper dig into the cushion, sending him onto two wheels and then over once; his Team Zero Chassis was heavily damaged and his brother and car owner, Shane, said they were uncertain about running a backup machine on Friday. ... Chris Ferguson held serve from the pole to capture the sixth and final heat race over red-hot Ricky Thornton Jr., who now tries to win his seventh feature in a row from the 12th starting spot. Drake Troutman salvaged the third and final transfer from seventh.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Kale Green, Dallon Murty, Brandon Sheppard, Tim McCreadie, Brenden Smith, Hudson O'Neal, Ethan Dotson, Demetrios Drellos, Dan Ebert, Gray Parton, Rick Eckert, Alex Vance, Benji Hicks.

Second heat: Chris Madden, Ryan Gustin, Josh Rice, Luke Morey, Logan Zarin, Brian Shirley, Trent Ivey, Braden Jones, Brent Larson, Callan Hill, Troy Morris III, Kevin Godwin.

Third heat: Brandon Overton, Bobby Pierce, Kyle Strickler, Garrett Alberson, Jason Riggs, Evan Koehler, Todd Morrow, Austin Holcombe, Mathew Porter, Barrett Lowe, Eli Johnson, Jordan Koehler.

Fourth heat: Michael Leach, Nick Hoffman, Ben Watkins, Jonathan Davenport, Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Erb, Max McLaughlin, Trevor Collins, Jamison McBride, Donovan Jackson, Steve Banal, Gabe Miles, Dalton Jacobs.

Fifth heat: Jadon Frame, Trey Mills, Carson Ferguson, Austin Smith, Devin Moran, Ross Robinson, Beckham Malone, Brody Smith, Kerry King, Tyler Wyant, Kyle Bronson, Ethan Wilson.

Sixth heat: Chris Ferguson, Ricky Thornton Jr., Drake Troutman, Daulton Wilson, Dustin Sorensen, Tristan Chamberlain, Brian Ledbetter, Seth Zacharias, Anthony Sanders, Dale McDowell, Willie Milliken, Brent Robinson.

Time trials (completed Wednesday)

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Kale Green (4), Pelion, S.C., 14.659
2. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 14.697
3. Brandon Overton (17), Evans, Ga., 14.735
4. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 14.768
5. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 14.782
6. Jordan Koehler (114) Mount Airy, N.C., 14.782
7. Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, 14.784
8. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 14.829
9. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 14.845
10. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 14.859
11. Luke Morey (49m), Zeeland, Mich., 14.863
12. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.872
13. Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., 14.879
14. Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 15.054
15. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.075
16. Hudson O’Neal (6), Martinsville, Ind., 15.084
17. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 15.173
18. Todd Morrow (T1), Penton, Ala., 15.193
19. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.222
20. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.284
21. Jason Riggs (24), College Grove, Tenn., 15.322
22. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 15.335
23. Braden Jones (5J), Cherryville, N.C., 15.372
24. Evan Koehler (114E), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.381
25. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 15.396
26. Troy Morris III (07x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.419
27. Barrett Lowe (72), Fletcher, N.C., 15.450
28. Rick Eckert (5*), York, Pa., 15.470
29. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 15.487
30. Austin Holcombe (8A), Elm City, N.C., 15.568
31. Demetrios Drellos (111D), Queensburg, N.Y., 15.573
32. Callan Hill (87c), Lawton, Okla., 15.620
33. Mathew Porter (19p), Austinville, Va., 15.627
34. Alex Vance (95), Waynesville, N.C., 15.852
35. Kevin Godwin (G2), Blythwood, S.C., 16.213
36. Eli Johnson (55E), Clewiston, Fla., 16.508
37. Gray Parton (18p), Rutherfordton, N.C., 16.904
Group B
1. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 14.621
2. Trey Mills (14), St. Augustine, Fla., 14.707
3. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 14.718
4. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 14.732
5. Jadon Frame (81F), Decherd, Tenn., 14.768
6. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 14.854
7. Ben Watkins (16), Rock Hill, S.C., 14.865
8. Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., 14.907
9. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.908
10. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.978
11. Austin Smith (11), Cedartown, Ga., 15.016
12. Daulton Wilson (58), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.034
13. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.057
14. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.063
15. Anthony Sanders (421), Spartanburg, S.C., 15.066
16. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.075
17. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.101
18. Max McLaughlin (8m), Mooresville, N.C., 15.102
19. Ethan Wilson (5w), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.110
20. Drake Troutman (5), Hyndman, Pa., 15.145
21. Donovan Jackson (93J), Hope Mills, N.C., 15.149
22. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.170
23. Brent Robinson (3), Smithfield, Va., 15.184
24. Jamison McBride (215), Danbury, N.C., 15.255
25. Ross Robinson (7R), Georgetown, Del., 15.261
26. Willie Milliken (1m), Roanoke Rapids, N.C., 15.287
27. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.341
28. Tyler Wyant (24w), Oil City, Pa., 15.403
29. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 15.424
30. Trevor Collins (11c), Seaford, Del., 15.453
31. Seth Zacharias (17z), Vestal, N.Y., 15.591
32. Dalton Jacobs (7J), Reidsville, N.C., 15.838
33. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 15.842
34. Brian Ledbetter (07), Dallas, N.C., 16.210
35. Gabe Miles (m11), Ridgeway, S.C., 18.949
36. Steve Banal (T8), Lincoln, N.C., no time
37. Kerry King (KB), Delmar, Del., no time

Thursday's schedule

(All times local)
11 a.m. - Pits open, pit pass sales begin
Noon - Souvenir and display areas open (midway)
1 p.m. - WoO Gameday show (DIRTVision stage)
1:30 p.m. - Race Day Live (DIRTVision stage)
2 p.m. - Grandstands open, ticket sales begin
2:15 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting (WoO command center)
2:15 p.m. - Pre-race show (DIRTVision stage)
3 p.m. - Opening ceremonies, on-track activity
- Sprint car heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
Intermission/WoO redraw
- Sprint car C-main consolation (10 laps)
- Sprint car dash (6 laps)
- Sprint car B-main consolation (12 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Sprint cars (25 laps)
- Late Models (35 laps)
- Modifieds (30 laps)