How far Ricky Thornton Jr. has come — and how much confidence he has — as a Dirt Late Model driver was on full display Friday during one exhilarating trip around the supersonic West Virginia Motor Speedway. 

DirtonDirt.com’s newly-christened No. 1-ranked driver was running third when the 19th circuit of the 30-lap Historic 100 weekend opener was scored. Twenty seconds or so later, he flashed across the start-finish line as the leader of lap 20 and was hurdling head-long toward a $10,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory to continue his career year in the full-fender division.

Daulton Wilson led the first 19 laps, keeping Jimmy Owens in check until Thornton's winning move. Tim McCreadie claimed runner-up honors, with Wilson hanging on to complete the podium. Hudson O'Neal and Owens finished fourth and fifth, respectively. 

WATCH REPLAY

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Highlights From West Virginia Motor Speedway

VIDEO: Watch Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series highlights from Friday at West Virginia Motor Speedway. 

Winning Quote From Ricky Thornton, Jr. 

“I think the more laps I get to run in (a Late Model), the more confidence I have. I ran Late Models forever ago … I think it was 2009, 2010, and then I didn’t until 2018 or whatever it was (he returned to the division on a limited basis). It’s a completely different car now, so I’m relearning all of it again essentially, and the more I get to run the Late Model, I think the better mentally I’ll be to put yourself in situations like that."

Friday's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Results At West Virginia Motor Speedway

1. Ricky Thornton Jr.

2. Tim McCreadie

3. Daulton Wilson

4. Hudson O'Neal

5. Jimmy Owens

6. Jonathan Davenport

7. Brandon Overton

8. Gregg Satterlee

9. Devin Moran

10. Spencer Hughes

11. Max Blair

12. Tyler Evans

13. Eddie Carrier Jr.

14. Tyler Bruening

15. Tyler Erb

16. Earl Pearson Jr.

17. Ross Robinson

18. Rod Conley

19. Garrett Alberson

20. Boom Briggs

21. Freddie Carpenter

22. K.C. Burdette

23. Matt Cosner

24. Brandon Francis

25. Ed Shuman

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Point Standings

With his win on Friday night, Ricky Thornton Jr. extended his championship lead to 165 points over Hudson O'Neal. Brandon Overton and Tim McCreadie currently hold down the all-important third and fourth positions. 

Updated Point Standings

Last Race: May 27 - Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 at Lucas Oil Speedway

Next Race: June 3 - Lucas Oil Historic 100 at West Virginia Motor Speedway