Ricky Thornton Jr. is having a fantastic 2025, claiming 13 trophies with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and leading the season standings by 40 points over Jonathan Davenport. Now we can add World 100 at Eldora winner to that list.

RTJ started on the pole, sharing the front row with five-time World 100 winner Jonathan Davenport. Davenport took the lead on lap one and led much of the early laps of the race as the 20RT lost ground, falling to 4th before beginning a march forward that saw him reclaim the lead on lap 41. RTJ would lead the rest of the way and hold on for the win over a closing Dale McDowell and Nick Hoffman. Five-time race winner Davenport suffered a flat tire with 11 to go and finished 7th.

In his prior six starts, in the event, Thornton had a best finish of fifth. In the podium press conference following the race, he joked, saying, “I had a little chip, just because you see all of the headlines, you hear the announcers and everything else, it’s like, man, I’m not even good enough to be talked about here.”. It’s safe to say he’ll be talked about going forward.

Image Sourced via Ricky Thornton’s Facebook