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Ricky Thornton Jr. Leads Every Lap to Silver Dollar Nationals Victory
Scores $52,000 LOLMDS Triumph at Shelby County Speedway
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (July 20, 2026) — Ricky Thornton Jr. capped a busy week with a dominant victory in Saturday night’s Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals finale at Shelby County Speedway, securing his first win in the crown jewel event.
Thornton won the pole after an impressive round of heats on Friday, then led all 80 laps, finishing 0.697 seconds ahead of runner-up Jonathan Davenport to claim the $52,000 top prize and his 60th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory.
“I was trying to get myself clear of Hoffman and McCreadie,” Thornton said. “I stayed beside them for what felt like 50 laps, and I figured the top wasn’t any better, so I just kept rolling around the bottom. Hats off to everyone at Koehler Motorsports. It’s a little sigh of relief because I feel like we got our old selves back. I love coming to this place, and thanks to all of the fans for coming out. It’s pretty awesome to win this since I’m only an hour and a half away.”
Thornton's week began Monday with a return to his roots at Beatrice Speedway, where he pulled double duty during the Joey Hergott Memorial. He picked up the Modified victory and finished fourth in the Street Stock feature following a mid-race invert.
Back behind the wheel of the Koehler Motorsports No. 20RT Late Model on Tuesday for the Half Mile Hustle at Adams County Speedway, Thornton battled from 17th to eighth before a flat tire on lap 38 dropped him back to a 17th-place finish.
Action shifted to Shelby County Speedway on Thursday for the Malvern Bank Go 50, where Thornton charged from a provisional starting spot to a sixth-place finish after passing 17 cars in the 50-lap feature.
Thornton entered Friday's dual passing-point program and quickly moved himself into position for Saturday's finale. He gained seven spots in the opening round before winning the second race, securing the pole for the $52,000-to-win Silver Dollar Nationals main event.
From the pole, Thornton controlled the 80-lap feature from start to finish, leading every circuit to secure the victory.
Thornton remains sixth in the latest Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship standings.
For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, visit www.LucasDirt.com.
Thornton's busy week continues Tuesday with the rescheduled FloRacing Night in America event at Lincoln Speedway before the team heads to Fairbury Speedway for a pair of marquee events, including the Prairie Dirt Classic.
July 21: Lincoln Speedway – FloRacing Night in America
July 22: Fairbury Speedway Speedway – FloRacing Night in America
July 24-25: Fairbury Speedway Speedway – Prairie Dirt Classic
Additional event information can be found at www.FloSeries.com and www.FairburySpeedway.com.
Ricky Thornton Jr. and the Koehler Motorsports team would like to thank their sponsors, which include Knight’s Companies, Hoker Trucking, Longhorn Chassis, Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Clement’s Racing Engines, Cornett Racing Engines, Coltman Farms Racing, Capital Waste, Elite Ready Mix, Jones Racing Products, SI Towing & Recovery, Certified Inspection Service Co., Inc., Henry’s Headers and Exhaust Systems, Varsitee Screenprinting, D and E Outside Services, Slicker Graphics, GoSunoco, Dynamic Drivelines, Excel Floor Coverings, Performance Bodies, Swift Springs , Buzze Performance, Keyser Manufacturing, Dirtcarlift, Behrent's Performance Warehouse , Ultra Shield Race Products, LLC, Sharp Advantage Safety Products, LLC, Team SRI Motorsports, MPI - Max Papis Innovations, Strange Oval, TireDemon, FK Rod Ends
Midwest Sheetmetal, VMG, Shocker Hitch, Vortex Race Starters, AK Engineering, and MyRacePass Marketing Services.
For the latest news on Ricky Thornton Jr., visit www.TwentyRT.com and follow Koehler Motorsports at www.KoehlerMotorsports.com. Fans can also stay connected by subscribing to Thornton's official mailing list at https://pages.insightly.services/RickyThorntonJrRacing.
PR Contact:
Jeremy Peters (jeremy.peters@myracepass.com)
Scores $52,000 LOLMDS Triumph at Shelby County Speedway
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (July 20, 2026) — Ricky Thornton Jr. capped a busy week with a dominant victory in Saturday night’s Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals finale at Shelby County Speedway, securing his first win in the crown jewel event.
Thornton won the pole after an impressive round of heats on Friday, then led all 80 laps, finishing 0.697 seconds ahead of runner-up Jonathan Davenport to claim the $52,000 top prize and his 60th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory.
“I was trying to get myself clear of Hoffman and McCreadie,” Thornton said. “I stayed beside them for what felt like 50 laps, and I figured the top wasn’t any better, so I just kept rolling around the bottom. Hats off to everyone at Koehler Motorsports. It’s a little sigh of relief because I feel like we got our old selves back. I love coming to this place, and thanks to all of the fans for coming out. It’s pretty awesome to win this since I’m only an hour and a half away.”
Thornton's week began Monday with a return to his roots at Beatrice Speedway, where he pulled double duty during the Joey Hergott Memorial. He picked up the Modified victory and finished fourth in the Street Stock feature following a mid-race invert.
Back behind the wheel of the Koehler Motorsports No. 20RT Late Model on Tuesday for the Half Mile Hustle at Adams County Speedway, Thornton battled from 17th to eighth before a flat tire on lap 38 dropped him back to a 17th-place finish.
Action shifted to Shelby County Speedway on Thursday for the Malvern Bank Go 50, where Thornton charged from a provisional starting spot to a sixth-place finish after passing 17 cars in the 50-lap feature.
Thornton entered Friday's dual passing-point program and quickly moved himself into position for Saturday's finale. He gained seven spots in the opening round before winning the second race, securing the pole for the $52,000-to-win Silver Dollar Nationals main event.
From the pole, Thornton controlled the 80-lap feature from start to finish, leading every circuit to secure the victory.
Thornton remains sixth in the latest Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship standings.
For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, visit www.LucasDirt.com.
Thornton's busy week continues Tuesday with the rescheduled FloRacing Night in America event at Lincoln Speedway before the team heads to Fairbury Speedway for a pair of marquee events, including the Prairie Dirt Classic.
July 21: Lincoln Speedway – FloRacing Night in America
July 22: Fairbury Speedway Speedway – FloRacing Night in America
July 24-25: Fairbury Speedway Speedway – Prairie Dirt Classic
Additional event information can be found at www.FloSeries.com and www.FairburySpeedway.com.
Ricky Thornton Jr. and the Koehler Motorsports team would like to thank their sponsors, which include Knight’s Companies, Hoker Trucking, Longhorn Chassis, Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Clement’s Racing Engines, Cornett Racing Engines, Coltman Farms Racing, Capital Waste, Elite Ready Mix, Jones Racing Products, SI Towing & Recovery, Certified Inspection Service Co., Inc., Henry’s Headers and Exhaust Systems, Varsitee Screenprinting, D and E Outside Services, Slicker Graphics, GoSunoco, Dynamic Drivelines, Excel Floor Coverings, Performance Bodies, Swift Springs , Buzze Performance, Keyser Manufacturing, Dirtcarlift, Behrent's Performance Warehouse , Ultra Shield Race Products, LLC, Sharp Advantage Safety Products, LLC, Team SRI Motorsports, MPI - Max Papis Innovations, Strange Oval, TireDemon, FK Rod Ends
Midwest Sheetmetal, VMG, Shocker Hitch, Vortex Race Starters, AK Engineering, and MyRacePass Marketing Services.
For the latest news on Ricky Thornton Jr., visit www.TwentyRT.com and follow Koehler Motorsports at www.KoehlerMotorsports.com. Fans can also stay connected by subscribing to Thornton's official mailing list at https://pages.insightly.services/RickyThorntonJrRacing.
PR Contact:
Jeremy Peters (jeremy.peters@myracepass.com)