Racing in his car owners’ backyard, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., couldn’t be denied in Saturday’s 44th annual Jackson 100 at Brownstown Speedway.

The breakout driver of 2023 ceded the lead to Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., on lap 58 but rallied to regain command on the 86th circuit en route to capturing the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event for the first time in his career. He beat O’Neal to the finish line by 2.167 seconds to pocket a race-record $30,000 top prize while recording his 17th full-field triumph of 2023 on the national tour.

Thornton, who will celebrate his 33rd birthday on Sept. 28, was most pleased to win for the couple who field his SSI Motorsports operation.

The 23-year-old O’Neal, who brought the Burnses their first Jackson 100 checkered flag in 2019, settled for the runner-up check after advancing from the 10th starting spot to lead laps 58-85 in the Rocket Chassis house car.

Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, placed third in a race that saw him briefly run in second place (laps 1-2 and 26) and never fall out of the top three. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who started 13th in a new Paylor Motorsports Longhorn car, cracked the top five on lap 83 and moved up one spot on the 91st circuit to finish fourth while Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., completed the top five in his first Jackson 100 feature start.

WATCH REPLAY

Lucas Oil Jackson 100 Highlights From Brownstown Speedway

Winning Quote From Ricky Thornton, Jr. 

“I just kind of kept my cool, kept my cool. (O’Neal) made that one mistake over there in turn two and it kind of broke his concentration a little bit and he started searching around.”

Lucas Oil Jackson 100 at Brownstown Speedway Results

1. Ricky Thornton Jr.

2. Hudson O'Neal

3. Devin Moran

4. Tim McCreadie

5. Cory Hedgecock

6. Michael Chilton

7. Daulton Wilson

8. Tanner English

9. Nick Hoffman

10. Max Blair

11. Brandon Overton

12. Garrett Alberson

13. Earl Pearson Jr.

14. Spencer Hughes

15. Dennis Erb Jr.

16. Jonathan Davenport

17. Tyler Erb

18. Josh Rice

19. Mike Marlar

20. David Webb

21. Ross Robinson

22. Boom Briggs

23. Trevor Landrum

24. Rod Conley

25. Jared Bailey

26. Jason Jameson

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Point Standings

Ricky Thornton, Jr. now leads Hudson O'Neal by 435 points at the top of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point standings. Jonathan Davenport continues to hold on to the third position, while Brandon Overton leads Devin Moran and Tim McCreadie by 80 points for the all-important fourth position.

Full Point Standings

Last Race: Lucas Oil Late Model C.J. Rayburn Memorial at Brownstown Speedway - September 23

Next Race: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Raceway 7 - September 29