THORNTON X3: Ricky Thornton Jr. Claims Third Straight World Finals Victory 

“RTJ” earned his fifth career World of Outlaws Feature win; Nick Hoffman jumped to second in points, cutting Brandon Sheppard’s point lead in half

Ricky Thornton Jr. can count on one hand his number of starts at The Dirt Track at Charlotte during World of Outlaws World Finals but he already made history there Thursday night.

In his fifth start at the Charlotte track with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models, Thornton scored his third straight victory, joining Jimmy Owens as the only driver to win three straight World Finals Features.

He put himself in position to do so by drawing the Bilstein Pole Award for the 35-lap Feature.

However, Hyndman, PA native Drake Troutman got the best of Thornton at the drop of the Gorsuch Performance green flag, passing him on the high side of the 4/10-mile dirt track.

While Troutman controlled the early going, Thornton had to fend off Gray Court, SC driver Chris Madden from stealing his second-place position as the two drivers traded both the high and low lanes to find an advantage.

When Troutman got caught in lap traffic, Thornton took advantage of the opportunity to build momentum by closing the bubble on the high side of the track as the laps continued to tick down.

Thornton took his chances to pass Troutman when he got caught by a lapped car on the bottom lane to open up the door for the No. 20RT to swing by for the lead with 13 laps remaining.

Continuing to use the high line to his advantage, Thornton extended his length from the field as Troutman had to battle Madden to retain second place.

Flying under the twin checkered flags, Thornton joined Owens in the record books.

“Jimmy’s always been my hero growing up, so it’s pretty cool to share something like that with him,” Thornton said. “This track kind of suits me, you can run hard around the bottom or roll through the middle or really get after it around the top. Last year, I felt really good, and this year is a different team, but it’s the same car, shocks, motor program. Hopefully, we can qualify in a good spot for the Heat, then get a good draw. Everyone was about as equal as you’re gonna get, so we’ll wait and see what happens.”

Thornton attempted to make the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Feature earlier in the night but missed the show. However, he credited the track time to helping him secure the Late Model victory.

“Running the Sprint Car definitely helped,” Thornton said. “It sucks that we didn’t make the show but running the LCS really helped me understand how racey the track was. Troutman was running through the middle early, and he was a little bit better than I was. Once we got to traffic and slowed down, I was able to get back around him. I think he saw me move down so I had to hustle really hard up on the wall to get by him.”

Troutman finished second to Thornton with lessons he can use from Thursday to go after his first World of Outlaws CASE Late Models win in the two nights to come at Charlotte.

“That one was tough to swallow,” Troutman said. “I feel like Ricky was a little bit better than us, but I feel like if I would have known what he was doing and go up before him, maybe we could have held on. That lap traffic really hurt us. I felt like I got a really good line through the middle for the first 15 laps. But I used up my tires pretty bad at the beginning and I gotta use my head behind the seat and do a better job.”

Madden rounded out the opening night’s podium in his first Series start since May. Madden said it was the first Feature on his No. 44 Team22 Inc. Late Model that he piloted to the third-place result.

“It was pretty good there,” Madden said. “We just needed a little bit more of an adjustment there. This was my first time in this car, this is a brand new car, so it wasn’t bad. It came out of the box pretty good, so we’ll keep tuning on it and find what it’s asking for and give it (what it wants). I think we have a shot to win one of these races before we leave this weekend. We feel really good about what we got going on, we got a good hot rod, and we’ll get us one of these.”

Winfield, TN driver Mike Marlar finished fourth, and Fayetteville, NC native Daulton Wilson ended the night with a top-five result.

Behind the top runners was a wild shake up in the championship chase. With points leader Brandon Sheppard finishing 18th, Bobby Pierce finishing 13th and Nick Hoffman finishing sixth, Hoffman jumped to second in points, now 26 points behind Sheppard. Pierce is third, 34 points back.

RECAP NOTES:

Simpson Quick Time Award: Chris Madden

Heat Race Winners: Chris Madden, Drake Troutman, Ricky Thornton Jr, Jordan Koehler, Mike Marlar, Daulton Wilson

Last Chance Showdown Winners: Cade Dillard, Zack Mitchell, Kyle Strickler

Bilstein Pole Award: Ricky Thornton Jr

Fox Factory Hard Charger: Jonathan Davenport (+10)

Up Next: The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models rip around The Dirt Track at Charlotte for two more nights of the World of Outlaws World Finals on Friday, Nov. 8, and Saturday, Nov. 9. Drivers will again race for 35 laps with a $15,000 payday on Friday.

TICKETS: bit.ly/2024WorldFinals

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all of the action on DIRTVision, either online or with the DIRTVision app.

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World of Outlaws World Finals
Wednesday, November 6th to Saturday, November 9th
The Dirt Track at Charlotte
5500 Concord Parkway S
Concord, North Carolina 28027 

Event Description

The most prestigious dirt racing event in the country lights up The Dirt Track at Charlotte with four days of heart-pounding, clay-slinging action on the lightning-fast, four-tenths mile oval. The World of Outlaws World Finals brings together the top series in the sport, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series and the Super DIRTcar Series, for four full days of racing, culminating in the crowning of all three series champions.

Series Racing
Super DIRTcar Series, World of Outlaws Late Model Series, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

Event Schedule

Tuesday
3pm-7pm: Pit Pass sales begin (Gate 2)
4pm-6pm: Hauler Parade

Wednesday
9am: Pit Pass sales begin
11am: Pit Gates Open
12pm: Display & Souvenir Areas Open
3pm: Main Gates Open
4:45pm: Opening Ceremonies

Thursday
9am: Pit Pass sales begin
11am: Pit Gates Open
12pm: Display & Souvenir Areas Open
3pm: Main Gates Open 
4pm: Opening Ceremonies

Friday
9am: Pit Pass sales begin
11am: Pit Gates Open
12pm: Display & Souvenir Areas Open
3pm: Main Gates Open 
4pm: Opening Ceremonies

Saturday
9am: Pit Pass sales begin
11am: Pit Gates Open
12pm: Display & Souvenir Areas Open
3pm: Main Gates Open 
4pm: Opening Ceremonies

*Subject to Change

*All times Eastern

Event Hashtag
#AllDirtRoads

Ticket Phone
800-455-3267

Options And Prices

Wednesday:
General Admission: $45
Pit Pass: $30
Thursday:
General Admission: $65
Pit Pass: $50
Friday:
General Admission: $65
Pit Pass: $50
Saturday:
General Admission: $65
Pit Pass: 450

Grandstand Type
Bleacher with backs

Family Section Location
n/a

Handicapped Seating Location
Lower level and Second level - Reserved seating required - Companion seating is available

Pit Age Requirement
All ages allowed. Minors ages 17 and under must have a signed waiver sheet. ONE parent must be present OR waiver should be notarized with the required ONE parent signature. Call 1-800-455-FANS with questions.

Pit Gate Location
Pit gate is located at Gate 2 of the zMax Dragway

Parking Cost
FREE

Handicapped Parking Location
Designated handicap parking between the dirt track and zMax dragway

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite, showers, waste services

Camping Cost
Contact the track for pricing

Type of Grandstand
Bleacher with backs

Stadium Seating
Not allowed

Handicapped Seating
Lower level and Second level - Reserved seating required - Companion seating is available

Handicapped Parking
Designated handicap parking between the dirt track and zMax dragway

Pit Age Limit
All ages allowed. Minors ages 17 and under must have a signed waiver sheet. ONE parent must be present OR waiver should be notarized with the required ONE parent signature. Call 1-800-455-FANS with questions.

Pit Gate Location
Pit gate is located at Gate 2 of the zMax Dragway

Personal Coolers
Fans can bring in a soft-sided cooler no bigger than 14x14x14 and a bag/backpack no bigger than 18x18x14. Hard coolers are not allowed through the gates. Coolers are not allowed in Suites.

ATMs
1

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is also sold at the track

Smoking Policy
designated smoking areas only

Family Section
n/a

Parking Cost
FREE

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite, showers, waste services

Camping Cost
Contact the track for pricing

The Dirt Track at Charlotte
5500 Concord Parkway S
Concord, North Carolina 28027 

Track Phone
(704) 455-3200

Ticket Phone
800-455-3267

Track Size
0.4

Track Type
semi banked

Closest Airport
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport

Other Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Pit Gate Location
Pit gate is located at Gate 2 of the zMax Dragway

Track Map

Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php

Tire Rules

Left Front Tire: Hoosier (Open)

Left Rear & Right Front Tire: Hoosier (90) NLMT2, (90) NLMT3 

Right Rear Tire: Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4

** Grooving and siping will be allowed. **