JEFFERSON, S.D. – Ricky Thornton Jr. completed a successful trip to South Dakota by earning his second modified victory in as many nights on Sunday evening at The New Raceway Park.

Thornton started the weekend with a victory on Saturday at nearby Park Jefferson Int’l Speedway, but he had a little bit of work to do on Sunday if he was going to complete the weekend sweep.

Defending track champion Chris Mills held the early advantage in the 20-lap feature after starting from the pole and fending off an early challenge from Oregon invader Grey Ferrando, who soon faded to third behind Jeff Taylor.

Behind the leaders Thornton was on the move after starting from the seventh position. He soon dispatched Ferrando before challenging Taylor for second at the halfway mark. Two laps later Thornton was around Taylor for second and had his sights set firmly on Mills in the lead.

With six laps left Thornton tried to go around the top of turns three and four to challenge Mills, but the move didn’t stick. Two laps later Thornton tried a similar move through turns one and two, but this time he had enough momentum to stick with Mills.

Coming out of turn four and down the fronstretch Thornton was able to pull clear of Mills to take the lead for the first time. Mills tried to challenge Thornton for the lead, but instead Mills spun in turn four to bring out the first caution of the race with three laps left.

Racing resumed with three laps left, but the field failed to complete a lap as Bob Moore spun in turn two to bring the caution back out. The second attempt at the restart was successful and Thornton pulled clear of the field, leading the final three laps to earn the victory over Taylor in second.

Ferrando finished third after making the long haul to South Dakota from Oregon. Tom Berry Jr. finished fourth after starting 17th in the feature. Aaron Johnson completed the top-five.

Former NASCAR stars Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader crossed the finish line in eighth and ninth, respectively.

After starting from the pole and leading most of the race, Mills failed to finish and was scored 23rd.

Modified heats were won by Ferrando, Mills, Jeff Larson and Tyler Madigan. Jim Thies won the B-Main.

Johnathon Logue survived a last-lap challenge from Cade Richards to claim the sport mod feature. Travis Barker topped the 18-lap stock car event despite a late-race restart. Craig Clift held off a determined challenge from Zach Ankrum to win the hobby stock main event. Anthony Clark led every lap as he cruised to victory in the sport compact feature.

Sunday’s event was run without fans in the stands due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It was streamed live via SPEED SPORT TV affiliate Advantage Racing TV.

The finish:

Ricky Thornton Jr., Jeff Taylor, Grey Ferrando, Tom Berry Jr., Aaron Johnson, Tim Ward, Chris Abelson, Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader, Robby Sawyer, Jeff Larson, Matt Bonine, Kenny Kostenbader, Tyler Madigan, Jim Thies, Jim Cole, Ethan Braaksma, Jason Schneiders, Jim Mathieson, Chad Ten Napel, Sean Barragan, Bob Moore, Chris Mills, Steve Streeter.