Thornton, Davenport, Moran, and O’Neal Battle for 2025 National Championship

Column By: LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES / BATAVIA, OH- The Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP has now narrowed to a five-race showdown among four drivers.

Ricky Thornton Jr. received a $10,000 bonus following Saturday’s Late Model Knoxville Nationals, while second through fourth each earned $2,000. The Big River Steel “Big Four” championship points were then consolidated. Afterwards, each driver was awarded ten bonus points for each eligible feature win during the regular season.

Ricky Thornton Jr. keeps his lead in the championship standings. Jonathan Davenport is 70 points behind, while Devin Moran and Hudson O’Neal are tied for third with an 80-point gap. The Big River Steel “Big Four” will fiercely battle over the next three weeks to determine the 2025 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing National Champion.

The five-race chase toward the championship begins on Sept. 26-27 at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway, followed by Oct. 3-4 at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in Imperial, Pa., and Eldora Speedway’s season-ending Dirt Track World Championship on Oct. 18 in Rossburg, Ohio.

2025 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Point Fund: 1. $250,000, 2. $200,000, 3. $150,000, 4.$125,000, 5. $100,000, 6. $80,000, 7. $60,000, 8. $55,000, 9. $50,000, 10. $45,000, 11. $40,000, 12. $35,000, 13. $30,000, 14. $25,000, 15. $20,000

Big River Steel Big Four Eligible Feature Wins:

10 Bonus Points Awarded for Each Win in a Championship Points-Earning Event

Ricky Thornton Jr. (13)

1/30 – All-Tech Raceway

1/31 – All-Tech Raceway

2/7 – Ocala Speedway

3/21 – Atomic Speedway

4/26 – Hagerstown Speedway

4/27 – Port Royal Speedway

5/9 – Farmer City Raceway

5/15 – Eagle Raceway

5/17 – Eagle Raceway