5/2/2026
Ricky Thornton Jr
Ricky Thornton Jr. Tops LOLMDS Stop at Circle City Raceway
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (May 2, 2026) – Ricky Thornton Jr. made a late-race pass on Hudson O’Neal this past weekend at Circle City Raceway to secure his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season.
The 2024 series champion tracked down O’Neal on lap 42 after the pair exchanged sliders, then led the final 19 circuits to claim the $10,000 payday and his seventh overall win of the season.
"I feel like, by watching so many midget and sprint car races here, like once it gets so technical around the top, the bottom's gonna come in," Thornton said, later adding that "it was just gonna take a little bit of traffic to slow (Hudson O'Neal) down and have to move around. I don't know. It worked out for us."
Thornton advanced into Friday’s program with a heat race victory and started fifth in the feature, methodically working his way forward. He took control for good on lap 42 and never looked back, securing his 58th career LOLMDS triumph.
In Saturday’s Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway, Thornton capped the weekend with a third-place finish in the $25,000-to-win finale, joining winner Hudson O’Neal and runner-up Devin Moran on the podium.
On the strength of the weekend, Thornton climbed to third in the latest LOLMDS point standings.
For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, visit www.LucasDirt.com.
Thornton and the Koehler Motorsports are set to tackle the Illinois Speedweek, featuring four races in four nights across the Midwest following Tuesday’s rainout at La Salle Speedway:
May 5 – La Salle Speedway – FloRacing Night in America - RAIN OUT
May 6 – Spoon River Speedway – FloRacing Night in America
May 7 – Lincoln Speedway – FloRacing Night in America
May 8 – Farmer City Raceway – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
May 9 – Fairbury Speedway – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Additional event information is available at www.FloSeries.com and www.LucasDirt.com.
Ricky Thornton Jr. and the Koehler Motorsports team would like to thank their sponsors, including Knight's Companies, Hoker Trucking LLC, Longhorn Chassis, Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Clement’s Racing Engines, Cornett Racing Engines, Coltman Farms Racing, Capital Waste LLC, Elite Ready Mix LLC, Jones Racing Products, SI Towing & Recovery, Certified Inspection Service Co., Inc., Varsitee Screenprinting, D and E Outside Services, Slicker Graphics, GoSunoco, Dynamic Drivelines, Excel Floor Coverings, Performance Bodies, Swift Springs, Buzze Performance, Keyser Manufacturing, Dirtcarlift, Behrent's Performance Warehouse, Ultra Shield Race Products, LLC, Sharp Advantage Safety Products, LLC, Team SRI Motorsports, MPI, Max Papis Innovations, Strange Oval, TireDemon, FK Rod Ends, Midwest Sheetmetal, VMG, Shocker Hitch, Vortex Race Starters, and MyRacePass Marketing Services.
For the latest news on Ricky Thornton Jr., visit his official website at www.TwentyRT.com and follow updates at www.KoehlerMotorsports.com. Fans can also stay connected by subscribing to his official mailing list at https://pages/RickyThorntonJrRacing.
Article Credit: Photo by Heath Lawson
Article Media
