Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. of Martinsville will be one of the top drivers on hand today for the 27th Annual Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway. Thornton, shown here winning the Spring 50 March 16 at Florence Speedway in Kentucky, won two features last year at Brownstown.
Submitted photo
Brownstown Speedway will finally open its 2024 racing season today with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned 27th Annual Icebreaker. There will be earlier start times slated for today’s racing action. Gates will open at noon, with hot laps slated to start at 5 p.m. Also competing today will be super stocks and pure stocks.
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. of Martinsville will lead a field of the best dirt late model drivers in the nation into the Jackson County 4-H Fairgrounds quarter-mile track. Thornton won two races at Brownstown in 2023 when he won the Castrol FloRacing Night in America event and the track’s signature event the Jackson 100 in September.
Thornton holds a slim five-point advantage over Hudson O’Neal of Hope, who is second in the points. O’Neal will be debuting in a new ride for him at the Icebreaker. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Georgia, is third in the series standings; followed by Daulton Wilson of Fayetteville, North Carolina; Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Illinois; Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio; Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tennessee; Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tennessee; Tim McCreadie of Watertown, New York; and Garrett Alberson of Dubuque, Iowa.
So far in 2024, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series has had nine different winners in the first 13 races held. Thornton and O’Neal lead the way with three wins apiece this year, with Tyler Erb, Owens, Sheppard, Davenport, Wilson and Marlar all scoring early season victories. There are 26 drivers with perfect attendance so far this season.
Thornton wins Spring 50
Ricky Thornton Jr. captured his second Spring 50 win in four years on March 16 at Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky. The event sanctioned by the Northern Allstars Late Model Dirt Series drew the largest car count at the event since 2014.
Mike Marlar drew close to Thornton in the late stages of the race, but a caution flag allowed Thornton to pull away on a restart. Marlar was second, followed by Josh Rice, Tyler Erb and Jason Jameson. Completing the top 10 were Daulton Wilson, Ross Robinson, Adam Stricker, Tyler Carpenter, and Robby Hensley.
Trent Green won the crate late model feature over Dustin Linville, Dwight Smith, Billy Vaughan and Elliott Williams.
Cole Falloway took the modified feature win over Trent Green, Clin Green, Chris Wilson and Caleb Slaughter.
The next event at Florence will be on March 30 with a $5,000-to-win super late model feature. Also running will be crate late models, sport mods and crown vics.
This week in racing history
From 10 years ago in 2014 at Brownstown, Don O’Neal won the Indiana Icebreaker for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series over Eddie Carrier Jr., Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist and Kent Robinson. Jeff Curl won the modified feature over Nick Allen, Derek Losh, Michael England and Jamie Lomax. Bodi Henry took the pure stock feature over Josh Sternberg, Dusten Carr, Brad Kemp and Chris McCoy.
Upcoming local race schedule
Today: Brownstown Speedway — Indiana Icebreaker for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-$15,000 to win, plus super stocks and pure stocks. For more information, visit brownstownspeedway.com
Friday: Paragon Speedway — No Way Out 40 for 410 non-wing sprint cars-$10,000 to win, plus modifieds. For more information, visit paragonspeedway.com
March 30: Brownstown Speedway — Spring Meltdown for the Midwest Thunder 410 non-wing sprint cars, plus MMSA mini-sprints and hornets.
March 30: Florence Speedway, Union, Kentucky — super late models $5000 to win plus crate late models, sport mods and crown vics. For more information, visit florencespeedway.com