CONCORD, NC – The battle for World Finals glory heated up Thursday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte as all three of dirt racing’s premier series returned to the clay, crowning the first feature winners of the weekend at the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals.

AT A GLANCE:

●       Ricky Thornton Jr. continued his historic run, capturing his seventh consecutive victory in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series feature.

●       Rico Abreu capitalized on his dominant start at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, racing to victory in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series feature.

●       Jimmy Phelps raced to the checkered flag in Thursday’s Super DIRTcar Series feature.

●       Championship weekend continues Friday with another round of heat racing and feature action before Saturday’s finales.

A DEEPER DIVE:

World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTvision

Ricky Thornton Jr. continued his remarkable run at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, capturing his seventh consecutive victory of the season in Thursday night’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series feature. Brandon Overton and Jadon Frame battled side-by-side early, with Frame briefly taking the lead after starting on the front row of a Late Model feature for the first time in his career, before Overton reclaimed the top spot on a restart and began building an advantage.

Overton controlled much of the 25-lap feature, finding speed around the high side of the turns while fending off challenges through multiple cautions and restarts. But Thornton Jr. saved his best move for the final restart, charging from fifth to first in a thrilling late-race surge. The championship contender quickly powered past Overton for the lead and opened a two-second advantage by Lap 23.

Thornton Jr. held on to extend his winning streak to seven straight races, while Overton finished second after a strong night out front. Current points leader Bobby Pierce crossed the line third, followed by season runner-up Nick Hoffman in fourth and Chris Ferguson rounding out the top five in Thursday’s Late Model feature.

NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series

In the first feature race of the four-day World Finals spectacular, Rico Abreu continued to showcase his speed, capturing Thursday night’s World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory. After sweeping Wednesday night’s qualifying sessions and winning the earlier WIX Filters Heat Race, Abreu carried that momentum into the feature and delivered when it mattered most.

The “North Pole Nightmare” Bill Balog looked ready to spoil Abreu’s momentum, capitalizing on his pole position and controlling the first 20 laps of the 25-lap feature. Balog fought off challenges from Garet Williamson and Abreu through multiple cautions and restarts, holding the field at bay as the clay-covered oval continued to evolve. But Abreu stayed patient, tracking down the leader before making the winning move on Lap 21.

Once out front, Abreu pulled away from the field, all the way to the checkered flag for a 1.136-second advantage over Courtney, who fought his way to second. Balog held on for a podium finish, while championship contender Michael Kofoid finished fourth and Williamson completed the top five.

SuperDIRT Car Series

Closing out Thursday’s feature races, Jimmy Phelps raced to the checkered flag in the Super DIRTcar Series. After winning Heat Race No. 1, Phelps quickly established himself as the driver to beat, building a 1.574-second lead by Lap 7 before a caution brought the field back together. Phelps capitalized on the restart and once again pulled away from the competition.

Reigning champion Mat Williamson eventually worked his way into second while Ryan Godown battled for a spot on the podium. As Phelps continued to extend his advantage and work through lapped traffic, a caution with 10 laps remaining set up for a dramatic finish. On the restart, Williamson began to close the gap and eventually pulled alongside Phelps in a side-by-side battle for the lead. Phelps fought tooth and nail to maintain his position, ultimately leaving Williamson behind.

Phelps secured the victory by just 0.439 seconds over Williamson, with Alex Yankowski finishing third. Alex Payne crossed the line fourth, while Felix Roy rounded out the top five.

FRIDAY SCHEDULE:

●       12 p.m.: Souvenir and Display Areas Open

●       2:30 p.m.: Race Day Live (DIRTvision Stage)

●       3 p.m.: Gates Open

●       4 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies

●       4:10 p.m.: Heat Racing Begins

TICKETS:

Friday’s action heats up at The Dirt Track as drivers return to the clay for another round of heat races and feature competition across all three divisions, with Saturday’s championship finales on the line. Tickets are available online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets or can be purchased at the gate.

KEEP TRACK:

Follow all the World of Outlaws Final action through the hashtag #WorldFinals. Connect with The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on X, Facebook and Instagram.

Photo Credit: CMS/HHP Photo