ALBION, Neb. (Jul. 13, 2025) – Chandler, Arizona transplant Ricky Thornton Jr. stormed to a thrilling last-lap victory during the 5th annual Tanner Pelster Memorial at Boone County Raceway, scoring his first Sunoco IMCA Stock Car win of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and becoming the fifth different winner of the prestigious $10,111-to-win event.
The 30-lap main event saw Minnesota’s Jim Horejsi and Iowa racer Maguire De Jong duel for the top spot at the start, with De Jong securing the early advantage. A caution on lap two bunched up the field, but De Jong took off again on the restart while Kyle Vanover and Horejsi scrapped for second, allowing De Jong to check out with a big lead.
Vanover, a four-time Beatrice Speedway Stock Car champion, eventually settled into second but soon faced pressure from two-time Modified and two-time Late Model Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner Ricky Thornton Jr., who had made the eight-hour overnight trek from Missouri. After a lap 12 caution, a fierce battle erupted for second, and De Jong again pulled away.
Defending Nebraska State champion and two-time Boone County Raceway titlist Cameron Wilkinson found the high line and worked his way into second. He tracked down De Jong, eventually passing him at the stripe on lap 17. But Thornton was closing fast, entering the fray just as Wilkinson took the lead.
A caution with nine laps to go set up a showdown. Wilkinson nailed the restart, but Thornton kept him within reach. Thornton launched a slide job on lap 25, but Wilkinson crossed him back. On the following lap, Thornton tried again—only for Wilkinson to counter once more. Coming to the white flag, Thornton threw one more slider, edging ahead at the line.
The final lap was a war between champions, but Thornton held on for the dramatic win in the Jordan Grabouski Racing-provided no. 20RT. Wilkinson was a close second, De Jong third. A staggering 75 Stock Cars entered the event.
Graham Gets Hobby Stock Glory in $3,111 Showdown
Bradly Graham added his name to Tanner Pelster Memorial history with a wire-to-wire victory in the $3,111-to-win Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, becoming the fifth different winner in five editions of the event.
The 25-lap main began with Graham, the reigning Independence Motor Speedway and 2022 Marshalltown Speedway track champion, leading the opening lap before a tangle on lap two with 2022 IMCA Super Nationals champion Zach Olmstead shook up the front. Olmstead had taken the lead briefly via the outside groove but got sideways in turn three, resulting in a chain reaction that collected several contenders. Graham managed to escape with the top spot intact.
A debris caution on lap three reset the field, but Graham powered away again while former Pelster winners Dillon Richards and Jason Wilkinson battled for second. That fight allowed Graham to build a gap until a lap 10 caution paused the action again. A big crash on the restart thinned the field, but Graham hit his marks and maintained control.
Richards, the 2022 National champion, eventually took second and mounted a late charge. Still, Graham stayed flawless to earn his first-ever win at Boone County Raceway and sixth of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Hailing from Victor, Iowa, Graham crossed the stripe ahead of Richards and two-time Stuart Raceway track champion Dustin Jackson. A field of 80 Hobby Stocks filled the pit area.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Advantage TV. Watch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for just $24.99/month. Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries is also now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
