ROSSBURG, Ohio (Oct. 9) — Takeaways and analysis from Friday’s Clash on the Wabash opener at Eldora Speedway, a $10,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature captured by Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz. (RaceWire):
BACK IN FRONT: Maybe Ricky Thornton Jr. didn’t have the fastest car in Friday’s 40-lap feature; even he didn’t make that claim after driving his brand-new Koehler Motorsports Longhorn Chassis to victory. It’s quite possible Brandon Sheppard holds on to win that race if he’s more aggressive in lapped traffic and rings the top of the track. But Thornton seized the moment to sail into the lead on lap 37 when Sheppard lost momentum behind a slower car — and really, that’s the kind of opportunistic move the hard-driving RTJ has successfully pulled off so many times in recent years. He hasn’t done it with regularity this season, but when he’s on his game he makes things happen. The Thornton who recorded his fifth full-field and seventh overall Lucas Oil Series triumph of ’26 looked to be in vintage form. He won for the first time since Aug. 28 at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway, but he had five runner-up finishes and three other top-fives in his nine starts between that victory and Friday. And the Eldora checkered flag was his first since Justin Tharpe was elevated to Thornton’s crew chief position following the departure of Anthony Burroughs. Thornton might not be red-hot, but he’s certainly smoldering and ready to ignite.
UNHAPPY CAMPER: Chris Madden’s career-long frustration at Eldora is well documented. Add another notation to his list after Friday’s feature. He led the race’s first 18 laps in his Wells Motorsports Infinity Chassis and then things, as they often do for him at Eldora, went wrong. Most notably, after ceding the top spot to Brandon Sheppard, Madden absorbed significant contact from Thornton in turn four on lap 21, not only costing him third but dropping him steadily backward to a ninth-place finish due to left-front suspension damage from the encounter. Madden wouldn’t mention Thornton’s name when discussing the incident afterward; Thornton felt it was a racing deal. Whatever the case, Madden had another promising run at Eldora end in ill fashion.
ON THE GAS: Friday’s racing surface wasn’t shiny and slick like it was during last month’s World 100 finale. There was plenty of moisture in the clay, it had “character” (including an ample cushion), and it stayed fast. Thornton clicked off his second-fastest lap of the race (16.005 seconds) on the final circuit. Various factors played into the speedy surface, including the amount of water laid down by the track crew, half the cars of the World 100 (50 vs. last month’s 103), fewer laps on the track, less daylight (plus overcast skies) in October and a cooler autumn evening. Will the half-mile oval remain the same Saturday? The start time for hot laps has been moved up to 4:45 p.m. with the threat of rain in the forecast, but a cloudy afternoon is expected. It’s likely teams will be presented similar conditions, which will create a scenario where drivers will be pursuing a $50,000 top prize in a 50-lap race that doesn’t require the typical patience and tire conservation of Eldora’s long-distance majors.
BIG DIFFERENCE: For anyone accustomed to attending only Eldora’s crown jewel events — probably most Big E fans — opening night of the Clash on the Wabash provided a quite jarring scene. For starters, upon arriving you see far fewer RVs in the camping area, including a completely empty lot across the street from turns three and four. All the Dirt Late Model haulers fit in the infield pit area (and there’s parts unoccupied). Fans aren’t swarming everywhere in the pits. The stands aren’t full and roaring with sound. The concession stands and merchandise trailers don’t have long lines. You’re simply not pounded by the usual electricity and sensory overload of an Eldora major. It’s still the Big E, and Saturday’s finale should bring a bigger crowd, but it’s a little hard getting used to a more laid-back atmosphere after experiencing the Dream and World 100.
STAT OF THE NIGHT: One month after Eldora’s World 100 boasted a 103-car field, the Clash on the Wabash — facing, of course, more competition from other conflicting events as well as the prestige factor of Eldora’s crown jewel event — drew 50 entries. Thirteen of Friday’s drivers didn’t participate in the World 100: Garrett Alberson, Rob Anderzack, Boom Briggs, Clay Harris, Daniel Hilsabeck, Logan Hitt, Jon Hodgkiss, Braden Jones, Ryan Montgomery, Cody Overton, Earl Pearson Jr., Brock Pinkerous and Christian Thomas.