12/7/2024
Ricky Thornton Jr
RTJ adds two wins in Gateway Dirt Nationals
With plans to pull double duty in the Super Late Model and Modified ranks, Ricky Thornton Jr. invaded The Dome at America's Center (St. Louis, Mo.) on Thursday night to kick off his Modified preliminary aboard the Mike and Lauren Learman-owned No. 20RT Royal Race Car.
After topping his 32-car group in time trials, Thornton advanced into Thursday's prelim with a runner-up showing in his heat. Wasting no time working his way forward, Ricky soared into the lead on fifth circuit and never looked back, storming to his 30th win of the season. The 25-lap triumph was worth $3,000.
Pulling off a clean sweep in the Koehler Motorsports No. 20RT Late Model on Friday, Ricky backed up the fast time honors in qualifying with a flag-to-flag victory in his heat race and the A-Main. Thornton banked the $5,000 preliminary win ahead of Nick Hoffman and Gordy Gundaker.
The eighth annual Gateway Dirt Nationals concluded for Thornton on Saturday with a third-place finish in the $30,000-to-win Late Model finale. He joined race-winner Brandon Sheppard and Bobby Pierce on the podium.
His night in the Modified ended after a mechanical issue struck while challenging for the lead, relegating him to 14th in the final rundown.
Full results from the eighth annual Gateway Dirt Nationals can be found at www.GatewayDirt.com.
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