BRUNSWICK, Ga. — It took Saturday’s 60-lap Super Bowl of Racing finale at Golden Isles Speedway a while to get going. Two multi-car crashes before an official lap was completed delayed the start of the main event by more than 15 minutes. But once the action got rolling around the 4/10-mile Kyle and Amber Bronson-owned oval, it didn’t disappoint.

Unless, perhaps, you’re Ricky Thornton Jr.

Race by race, Thornton inched closer to a win at Golden Isles during the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series three-race opening weekend. After finishing third on Thursday and second on Friday,  the Chandler, Ariz., native appeared to be on the verge of his first Lucas Oil Series win of the season Saturday.

But polesitter Brandon Overton had other ideas. Overton, who won Thursday’s series opener and led the first 22 laps on Saturday until Thornton flashed by to lead lap 23, never gave up. He rode patiently in second as Thornton led 37 laps and on the final circuit he was there to pounce. Swinging wide as they raced toward the checkered flag, Overton, of Evans, Ga., rolled around the top in turns three and four to make a dramatic last-lap pass for the win.

Nosing ahead at the finish, Overton won by a scant 0.056 of a second to complete the improbable last-lap rally and earn the $25,000 to prize. Seventh-starting Tanner English of Benton, Ky., finished third, while Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., improved two positions to finish fourth. Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., completed the top five after starting alongside Overton on the front row.

“I got lucky,” said Overton, who has now won four of the last five Lucas Oil Series races at Golden Isles. “You know I tried to do it (Friday) night and stuffed it in the fence. When I sent it in there today I made sure I had to (rear end) pointed out and on the chip. It just worked out. I hate it for Ricky. That's what it takes man when you're on the track and lapped traffic plays a big part in it. I knew when he passed me, I said, 'Alright I just got to stay in second and I got to do a better job of managing the tires.' I knew like a hail Mary was all I had. Ricky's been really good. Man that was badass. I'm so happy. I love this.”

VIDEO: Brandon Overton breaks down his last-lap pass during Saturday night's race. 

It was Overton’s second win of the weekend. After winning the opener, he finished third behind NASCAR star Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, Calf., and Thornton on Friday.

“I can't let Kyle come down here and show us up,” Overton said in victory lane referencing Larson’s victory. “You know (Larson) did a hell of a job last night. They were telling me to do some doughnuts (after the win), but you know I think I used all my talent up running around the top. I better not do no donuts or I’d really junk some (stuff).”

Before thinking about making doughnuts (a reference to Larson’s ill-fated victory celebration Friday that ended with him smacking the wall), Overton was sizing up Thornton, who led by as much as 1.929 seconds after grabbing the top spot from Overton on lap 23.

“I just keep playing it back through my head, just trying to make sure I didn't go too soon,” Overton said. “I seen the white (flag) and I was like, 'Alright here it is. We're either about to knock the motor out of it or I'm going to get him.' it just worked out perfect.”

RELATED: Viewer's Guide - Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Georgia-Florida Speedweeks

Not so much for Thornton, however, who rolled the bottom with ease after taking the lead, but made a mistake in trying to rip off the cushion with nine laps remaining and then struggled after catching the slower cars of Dennis Erb Jr. and Garrett Alberson in the waning circuits.

“I got to the traffic and I went to the top and about destroyed the thing,” Thornton said, trying to find a bit of solace in his third straight podium finish. “So I figured I had to just stick around the bottom. I thought I set myself up good. I gave myself a nice gap behind Dennis there and then they just kind of got racing in front of him and slowed my pace down a little bit. I knew (Overton) was going to hail Mary it there in three and four. My crew guy was telling me to move up, but it's like one of those deals where I tried it and about destroyed (the car). Congrats to Brandon. It definitely sucks to lose another one here, but the good part is at least we've got good speed going into Bubba (Raceway Park on Sunday) and we're looking forward to it.”

VIDEO: Watch highlights from Saturday's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race at Golden Isles. 

Finishing 1.785 seconds behind Thornton, English wasn’t close enough to mix things up with the leaders at the finish, but he was plenty close enough to see the action unfold in front of him.

“They're two of the toughest in the business,” English said. “I think they win the award for the two widest cars too. I think I got the skinniest one. It just sucks riding behind them because they put out a wake like you wouldn't believe. It's just hard to go in there behind them because you lose all the air, but that's racing you know.

“We got to figure out how to get better. I just can't say enough about my whole team. It's been a rough, what feels like a month, but I think we've only been down here for two weeks. But we're turning it around. I think we got this thing going.”

Notes: Brandon Overton has won four of the last five Lucas Oil features at Golden Isles Speedway, collecting more than $62,000 in the process. … Overton tied Jeff Purvis, Darrell Lanigan and Earl Pearson Jr. with his 12th career Georgia-Florida Speedweeks victory. … Thornton has finishes of third, second and second to open the season. … Longhorn Race Cars is still unbeaten in January’s 11 features that include the Wild West Shootout in Vado, N.M.; the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series Sunshine Nationals and the Lucas Oil Series Super Bowl of Racing. … An opening lap melee triggered by Shane Clanton’s contact with Brandon Sheppard also collected Carson Ferguson, Tyler Erb, Garrett Smith, Spencer Hughes, G.R. Smith and Jeff Choquette. Ferguson’s machine suffered major body damage. … Before the first lap was completed a second caution flew when Brian Shirley spun, collecting Tyler Bruening, John Henderson and G.R. Smith. … Cautions during the race appeared for Devin Moran (broken rear end on lap eight) and Daulton Wilson (slowed to a stop on lap 34). … The Lucas Oil Series heads to Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla., for a pair of races Jan. 29-30.