Photo Credit - Josh James Artwork
Ricky Thornton Jr. took the lead just past the halfway mark on lap 26 from pole sitter Cade Dillard then held off a hard charging Mike Marlar to win the 50 lap $25,000 to win World Finals. Chris Madden would round out the Case Construction World of Outlaws podium.
The night started off with six heat races taking the top 3 from each heat with only the heat race winners going to the redraw. Chris Madden , Dale McDowell , Mike Marlar , Garrett Smith , Cade Dillard , and Daulton Wilson would be your heat race winners with Dillard drawing the pole position and receiving a $500 bonus from SRI Performance.
The three B Main winners were Jonathan Davenport , Chris Ferguson , and Zack Mitchell. Brandon Sheppard , Tanner English , Brent Larson , and Shane Clanton took series provisionals.
They decided to do a total track rework to produce a better racing surface for the fans and drivers before the Late Model feature and it was definitely the right decision by the officials. The Big Block Modifieds and NOS Energy WoO Sprint Cars had already raced their features so the track was already used up requiring more than just the water truck and pack trucks to get the track ready.
Cade Dillard would jump out to the early lead from his pole position setting a fast pace for the field. Ricky Thornton Jr was quickly making moves from his 10th starting spot and was already knocking on the door of the top 5 with just a couple of laps in.
Lap 10 had Dillard still out in front with Chris Madden adding pressure for the lead as Garrett Smith was pressuring Madden. On lap 18 Thornton would find a line on the top side of the track that his car liked and moved into the third spot. Then on lap 24 he would overtake the runner up position and was quickly moving in on race leader Dillard.
As the field took the cross flags marking the halfway point of the race , RTJ was setting up his winning pass and would have the lead as Thornton led lap 26 and would lead the rest of the way.
The lone caution would wave on lap 33 for Ryan Gustin. The Hawkeye State driver definitely seemed frustrated to close out the 2023 World of Outlaws season as he was one of several drivers battling for the fourth place point standings.
When the green replaced the yellow Thornton jumped back out to a comfortable lead as Mike Marlar came to life after the restart. "The Winfield Warrior" in his new Skyline Motorsports ride looked like the fastest car on the track and would pass Chris Madden for second with 5 laps to go but ran out of time to challenge the SSI Motorsports Longhorn of Thornton Jr.
Last night's win gives Thornton 38 total wins in 2023 with a few more races left on his schedule before the calendar flips to 2024.
Bobby Pierce was officially crowned the 2023 World of Outlaws Champion after the confetti settled from Ricky Thornton's victory. The 26 year old from Oakwood ,IL not only had an incredible WoO season but flipped flopped with Thornton for the number 1 dirt late model driver in the country. Pierce would end his series season with 14 wins 25 top fives and 32 top 10's in 38 starts. He also won 19 Heat races. The Championship pays $150,000 and Pierce also earned an additional $25,000. Chris Madden finishes second in the point standings with Sheppard third. Fourth through ninth was were all the attention was as them spots were all up for grabs going into the weekend. When the final checkered fell last night Bronson would finish fourth with 2023 WoO ROY Nick Hoffman taking fifth.
Photo Credit - World of Outlaws
WORLD FINALS RESULTS
RICKY THORNTON JR.
MARLAR
Madden
McDowell
Smith
Pierce
Hoffman
Dillard
Owens
Bronson
Davenport
Wilson
Sheppard
Watkins
Bloomquist
McIntosh
McCreadie
D. Erb
T. Erb
English
Clanton
Shirley
Carson Ferguson
Overton
Gustin
Mitchell
Chris Ferguson
Larson
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