5/14/2022
Ricky Thornton Jr
Ricky Thornton Jr. lands runner-up finish in Farmer City 74
Ricky Thornton Jr. was one of 56 Late Models amassed at Spoon River Speedway (Banner, Ill.) on Wednesday afternoon as the inaugural Illinois Speedweek kicked off with the Castrol FloRacing Night in America. (Josh James Artwork)
Taking the top-four from heats, Ricky gained one spot to grab the fourth-and-final transfer spot. With $22,022 on the line in the feature, Thornton Jr. advanced forward nine spots in the 50-lapper to register a fifth-place finish. He trailed Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar, Tanner English, and Stormy Scott to the checkers.
On Thursday evening at Lincoln Speedway (Lincoln, Ill.), Ricky salvaged a sixth-place finish in his heat after running into steering issues in his time trial session. Relying on a provisional into the $22,022-to-win A-Main, Thornton was an early retiree from the 50-lap affair after breaking a rear-end.
For the MARS Racing Series-sanctioned Farmer City 74 presented by Douglas Dodge on Friday at Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, Ill.), Thornton topped the 52-car field in time trials before placing first in his heat. Starting on the pole for the main event, Ricky led the majority of the race but was overtaken by Tyler Erb on the final lap, marking him second on the rundown with Hudson O’Neal rounding out the podium.
To wrap up the Illinois Speedweek on Saturday, Ricky headed to Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, Ill.) for the Titan Industries FALS Spring Shootout. After missing a transfer spot by one position in his heat, Thornton charged to a 12-lap consolation victory. Earning the 20th-starting position for the $30,000-to-win finale, Ricky passed 14 cars in the 50-lapper to finish sixth.
Ricky is currently fourth in the Castrol FloRacing Night in America point standings with four events completed.
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