ROSSBURG, Ohio (June 8) — Red-hot Ricky Thornton Jr. continued his torrid 2023 campaign, while possibly giving his competitors a glimpse of what’s to come over the final two days of the Dream XXIX weekend.

Thornton, of Chandler, Ariz., dominated Thursday night's second 25-lap preliminary feature at Eldora Speedway, leading every lap from his pole starting position for a $12,000 victory, his 13th of the season and fifth in his last eight starts. Thornton won by a comfortable 3.127 seconds ahead of Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, who started alongside the winner on the front row and chased him throughout, but never managed to mount a challenge in running second.

Results & Story From Dirt Late Model Dream Group A Prelim

Winfield, Tenn.’s Mike Marlar advanced from 12th to join Thornton and Moran on the podium, while Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., improved two spots to finish fourth. Blairsville, Ga.’s Jonathan Davenport a five-time World 100 winner, who won the 2015 Dream as well as last year’s Eldora Million, completed the top five after starting fourth.

WATCH GROUP B FEATURE REPLAY

Dirt Late Model Dream Thursday Highlights From Eldora Speedway

VIDEO: Watch highlights from Thursday's Dirt Late Model Dream preliminary features.

Winning Quote From Ricky Thornton, Jr. 

“I got out front and I was just over driving. I got into the turn one wall a couple times where I'm like, ‘What are you doing? Just slow yourself down.’ Finally I slowed myself down and I felt like I was really good. I got the traffic and I really didn't know if I needed to move down or stay on the top. I figured the top got me to (the slower cars) so I’m just gonna stay there and it worked out for us.”

Dirt Late Model Dream Thursday Preliminary Feature #2 Results