Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Ricky Thornton Jr. is returning to his roots for a chance at another six-figure payday.

"RTJ" is teaming up with former United States Modified Touring Series champion Rodney Sanders for the $100,025 to win Modified World Championship at Mississippi Thunder Speedway (WI) on May 28-31. It’s an open Modified event, featuring Modifieds from USRA, WISSOTA, and UMP sanctioning.

The Arizona native got a firsthand look at the equipment he will have under him during the World of Outlaws Late Models’ visit to Mississippi Thunder in early May, when Sanders drove from 21st to sixth in the USRA Northern Lights Modified Series A-Feature on opening night of the Dairyland Showdown.

“I know he’s got really good equipment anywhere. He came from the back last night and charged towards the front so at least I know I’ll be in really good equipment,” Thornton said. “I know Jimmy Mars and all them have got a million laps around here, so that’ll help me too. I’m excited to be able to do it, I think it’s going to be really fun.”

This gives Thornton a chance to return to the Modified ranks, where he first made a name for himself in dirt racing by winning the IMCA Super Nationals and multiple championships throughout the country.

With his racing schedule now filled up with chasing the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and other marquee Late Model events around the country, Thornton cherishes anytime he is able to get back in a Modified.

“You never knew where I would show up," Thornton said when speaking about his Modified days. "We’d run in Iowa one night and go to Kansas the next night, then be in Wisconsin the night after that. I would say my travel is a little bit more limited with how we do it with Lucas Oil. It’s different but I’m still having fun. I enjoy it, I’m still a race fan. I watch as many races as I can to try and keep up with those guys and I still have a lot of friend who run Modifieds. Try to do what we can to enjoy it and every now and then sneak in a race or two.”

Thornton has two previous appearances at Mississippi Thunder, one of them coming in last year’s version of the Modified World Championship. He made the A-Feature out of the 145 entries into the event, but was relegated to a 16th-place finish after a DNF.

With a similar entry list a possibility for next week’s event, he hopes to lean on that past experience at Mississippi Thunder.

“Luckily enough, I’ve been here twice, which isn’t really a whole lot. Anytime you can get track time at a place, you learn what you can and hopefully when you come back it’ll be close to race conditions.”

Thornton bagged $100K-plus to win races in the past in both a Late Model and a Stock Car, but has yet to do so in a Modified. He looks to change that next weekend.

“It would be huge. I’ve been fortunate to win a couple $100,000 to win shows but never in a Modified. Coming to a place where I don’t have a lot of experience, it would be crucial to get one. As long as we can have a good weekend and run up front, it’ll be successful.”

This year's Modified World Championship will be streamed live on FloRacing. If you're not already a FloRacing subscriber, click here to sign up today.