After the Checkers
Instant reaction, analysis of Topless 100 prelims
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Ricky Thornton Jr. at Batesville. (heathlawsonphotos.com)
LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Aug. 14) — Instant reaction and analysis from Friday’s twin 25-lap Ace Doran Topless 100 semifeatures at Batesville Motor Speedway, a pair of $5,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned events captured by Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., and Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz.:
TIRED SITUATION: Semifeatures run over a 25-lap distance aren’t typically tire-killing affairs, but Friday’s Topless 100 prelims certainly were the exception. The first race had six drivers felled by flat tires: Devin Moran (while leading), Brandon Sheppard (twice, the first as he ran second), Chris Ferguson (twice, the first knocking him from second), Josh Rice (while third), Kyle Bronson and Terry Phillips. The second semi saw Dan Ebert forced pitside while leading and Sam Seawright, Daniel Hilsabeck and Brian Shirley also slowed by flats. What’s notable is that the outbreak wasn’t the result of excessive tire wear but rather tires apparently being cut by rocks on the 3/8-mile oval, which was resurfaced earlier this year. The second 25-lapper notably had fewer flats — perhaps because the surface slowed down and “cleaned up” — but the tire problems that frustrated so many teams raise the question of how big an issue flat tires will be in Saturday’s 100-lap, $50,000-to-win finale.
LOW TURNOUT: Where were the cars? The Topless 100 field dwindled for the third straight year since it rose to 64 cars in 2023, dropping to 40 entries after sitting at 54 in ’24 and 45 in ’25. While car counts aren’t available for the first four editions of the event that began in 1993, the smallest recorded field in Topless 100 history before Friday was 41 in 2017. Did the searing temperatures forecast for the weekend — a high of over 100 degrees both days — keep potential competitors home? Were racers leery of the possibility that the track surface would be hard on tires? It’s a notable development considering that the only other sub-50 car count of the six previous crown jewel events contested this season was 46 for the rain-hampered Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.
SUBDUED WINNER: Max Blair certainly savored his $5,000 triumph in Friday’s first 25-lap semifeature. It was a much-needed success for the Pennsylvanian, who struggled through an awful Sunoco North-South 100 last weekend at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., filled with mechanical trouble and his involvement in the finale’s massive wreck. He also made it clear that he didn’t come to Batesville with serious expectations of winning even a prelim. “This is one of them weekends that I try to just survive,” he said. But fortune fell his way as he avoided the flat tires that struck so many others to inherit the lead on lap 19 when Devin Moran and Chris Ferguson both headed to the pits for tire changes. Blair didn’t celebrate too much, however, because he was upset about getting into the rear end of Dale McDowell’s car on a lap-four restart, causing the two-time Topless 100 winner to spin and collect Dillon McCowan. “I feel terrible. I wish that wouldn’t have happened,” said Blair, who apologized to McDowell during his victory lane interview.
IS THIS THE YEAR?: Ricky Thornton Jr. won a Topless 100 prelim for the third time in the last four years, but can he change the storyline of his previous runs in Batesville’s finale after starting the weekend with a triumph? He sure hopes so — and his cool march to the checkered flag in Friday’s second 25-lapper makes him look like he’s primed to break through in his seventh Topless 100 start. Thornton, who owns a best Topless 100 finish of third (2023) and has placed worse than seventh just once (16th in ’22), starts Saturday’s century grind from the pole position. Logic would say that he’s due considering his solid performance history in the event — not to mention the bad luck he suffered in the Prairie Dirt Classic and North-South 100 after winning the Silver Dollar Nationals last month — but little has gone smoothly for RTJ this season. Can he avoid more trouble on Saturday?
STAT OF THE NIGHT: The Topless 100 weekend has included preliminary features since 2019: two full-field programs in ’19 and ’20; single full-field prelims from 2022-24; and one night of split-field twin 25-lap semifeatures last year and this season. A prelim winner has gone on to win the Topless 100 finale four times with Jonathan Davenport doing it twice (2022 and ’25) and Jimmy Owens (’20) and Chris Madden (’19) also pulling off the double.
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