BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 12) – The seventh time was a charm as Ricky Thornton Jr. put another check on his IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s bucket list Saturday night.
Making his career seventh start in the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, Thornton chased down Jeff Aikey in traffic, leading the last eight times around the track in taking a fast-paced IMCA Modified feature.
The win paid $1,675. Thornton previously posted a race career best third place finish in 2016 and was already a candidate for next year’s Invitational.
Nineteenth starting Jason Wolla, 16th starting Tim Ward and Ethan Dotson rounded out the top five.
Aikey rocketed from sixth starting to the front on the initial green flag, following the high side of the track and scored ahead of Mitchell Hunt and Thornton, who’d started 10th, following the only caution of the contest on lap two.
Much accomplished at Boone Speedway himself, Aikey took off again and led Thornton and defending race winner Joel Rust into traffic by midway.
Thornton cut into Aikey’s lead and finally slipped past when the leader was slowed by a lapped car, then sped to the checkers.
He becomes the fifth driver to complete the Super Nationals Modified triple crown, having previously won both the main event and the Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions.
Now the two-time and defending Late Model champion, he’s already qualified for Sunday’s Modified and Stock Car main events.
Twenty-eight drivers were elected to the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational field, which was filled by the top driver in national point standings and the top driver in 40-point feature wins competing at Super Nationals.
Feature results – 1. Ricky Thornton Jr., Adel; 2. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls; 3. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D.; 4. Tim Ward, Chandler, Ariz.; 5. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.; 6. Todd Shute, Norwalk; 7. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 8. Chris Elliott, Abilene, Texas; 9. Joel Rust, Grundy Center; 10. Mitchell Hunt, Kent City, Mich.; 11. Kelly Shryock, Fertile; 12. Tom Berry, Des Moines; 13. Jay Noteboom, Hinton; 14. A.J. Ward, Ionia, Mich.; 15. Clay Money, Penokee, Kan.; 16. Zane DeVilbiss, Farmington, N.M.; 17. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn.; 18. David Goode Jr., Copperas Cove, Texas; 19. Steven Bowers Jr., Topeka, Kan.; 20. Chris Abelson, Sioux City; 21. Tanner Black, Otis, Kan.; 22. Jeff Taylor, Cave City, Ark.; 23. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill.; 24. William Gould, Calera, Okla.; 25. Kyle Brown, Madrid; 26. Trever Sloan, Lake Odessa, Mich.; 27. Jesse Sobbing, Malvern; 28. Kelsie Foley, Tucson, Ariz.; 29. Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa.