Feb 2, 20212 min read

Thorton Gets Speedweeks Win Following Timely Caution

Updated: Feb 3, 2021

Quincy, MI (Tuesday, February 2, 2021) - The penultimate night for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 2021 Speedweeks featured an exciting 40-lap race at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida. Once again, the field was led to the green flag by Illinois', Brian Shirley, but bad luck would find the Bob Cullen Racing driver early in the event. This made way for the seventh different winner in eight races.

Shirley took the lead early and opened a comfortable lead before a caution on lap four bunched the field back together. On lap 13, Jonathan Davenport raced to the inside of Shirley taking the lead away, bringing company with him. Soon, Shirley was on a slide out of the top five and on lap 14, Shirley began sliding up the race track at the exit of turn two as Ricky Thorton, Jr was mounting a charge on the topside, the two made contact and Shirley spun to a stop.

On the following restart, trouble struck Davenport as he all but parked his Nutrient Ag Solutions number 49 in turn one, causing Brandon Sheppard and Jimmy Owens to crash into the outside wall. This incident handed the lead over to Thorton. The 20RT machine had a nice lead, holding off Mike Marlar down the stretch - then slower traffic presented itself. Thorton confessed in his post-race interview that his car was getting tight in traffic, and Marlar was prepared to make a move for the lead, when a caution flew with just three laps remaining. Thorton was able to pull away on the final restart of the race, collecting his second career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win.

Tonight, Bubba Raceway Park is back in action with the Late Model Dirt Series, the final event of their 2021 Speedweeks. Also, the Ollie's Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions hopes to get their show in at East Bay Raceway Park after rain washed away Monday night's show. Finally, Volusia Speedway Park kicks off their DIRTcar Nationals with an unsanctioned 410 Sprints and Modifieds show.