Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competitors invade Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., for the 32nd annual Show-Me 100, the state’s richest Late Model event and longtime Memorial Day weekend tradition.

Zipping from his fourth starting spot into the lead on the first lap, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., twice survived side-by-side contact Jonathan Davenport after nosing ahead and raced to Friday's 40-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory at Lucas Oil Speedway.

Thornton's second straight $10,000 victory in Show-Me 100 prelims sets him up as a favorite in Saturday's $50,000-to-win finale. Runner-up Devin Moran was six-tenths of a second behind at the checkers while Davenport settled for third. Thornton notched his series-leading eighth Lucas Oil Series victory of the season and 31st of his career.

Making a three-wide move, Thornton split front-row starters Garrett Alberson and Jonathan Davenport at the outset to take the lead. As Thornton slid high exiting turn four to take the lead, he got together with Davenport as Davenport's car also got a piece the frontstretch wall. The pair came together again as they entered turn one. Thornton's car had right-side damage but it didn't seem to slow him.

Davenport ran second for 10 laps, slipped back a few spots on the lap-10 restart, then nipped Max Blair for third on the final lap.

Polesitter Garrett Alberson was never a factor in dropping out of the top five after eight laps, but after dropping back as far as ninth he ended up sixth.

The lone caution appeared on the 10th lap when Dillon McCowan's broken spoiler left debris on the track. ... Thursday and Friday's prelims lock 18 drivers into Saturday's $50,000-to-win finale.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Lucas Oil Speedway Results