ROSSBURG, OH – The 55th running of the World 100 at Eldora Speedway will be remembered not just for its racing, but for the history it made. For the first time ever, Eldora was completely sold out, with a full house of dirt racing fans witnessing an unforgettable night under the lights. And after 100 intense laps, it was Ricky Thornton Jr. who came out on top, claiming the prestigious globe trophy and a $72,000 check.
Prelim Nights Deliver Repeat Winners
The build-up to Saturday’s feature began with two nights of split-field preliminary racing on Thursday and Friday. Each night featured two groups, and both ended with a feeling of déjà vu:
- Thursday Night Winners:
- Group A: Dale McDowell
- Group B: Jonathan Davenport
- Friday Night Winners:
- Group A: Dale McDowell
- Group B: Jonathan Davenport
The repeat victories from McDowell and Davenport made them the clear drivers to watch heading into Saturday’s finale.
Saturday: Heat Races, Carnage, and a Sold-Out Crowd
Saturday night began with intense heat races, where drivers battled to lock into the coveted A-main. But it wasn’t all clean racing—Heat #6 brought the night’s biggest incident. A multi-car crash created a pileup of twisted sheet metal and halted the action, drawing gasps from the packed house. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but several cars were too damaged to continue.
After the heat races and B-features wrapped up, fans were treated to a spectacular drone light show—a modern touch to Eldora’s old-school roots. The sold-out crowd was on their feet, buzzing with anticipation for what was to come.
The A-Feature: Thornton Dominates, McDowell Impresses
When the green flag dropped on the A-main, Ricky Thornton Jr. wasted no time proving he was the car to beat. Starting from the pole, Thornton dominated the 100-lap feature, keeping challengers behind him and managing the track like a veteran. As conditions changed, so did his lines, and it paid off with a flag-to-flag victory and one of the biggest wins of his career.
But just behind him, Dale McDowell was putting on a show of his own. After starting deep in the field in 19th, the veteran driver made an incredible run through the pack, picking off cars lap after lap. He ultimately finished second, leaving many fans wondering what could’ve been if he’d started closer to the front.
A Weekend to Remember
While Ricky Thornton Jr. was the rightful winner on the final night, the weekend as a whole belonged to Dale McDowell. With back-to-back prelim wins and a runner-up finish in the feature, he reminded the sport—and its younger drivers—that he’s far from done.
The 55th World 100 didn’t just meet expectations—it shattered them. With a sellout crowd, a spectacular drone show, hard racing, and high drama, it cemented Eldora’s place as the spiritual home of dirt late model racing.
Quick Recap:
- 🏁 A-Main Winner: Ricky Thornton Jr. (Started 1st)
- 🥈 2nd Place: Dale McDowell (Started 19th)
- 🥉 3rd Place: Nick Hoffman (Started 6th)
- ⚠️ Major Incident: Multi-car crash in Heat #6 (no injuries)
- 🎆 Special Feature: Drone light show between B-features and A-main
- 👑 Attendance: Sold out for the first time in Eldora Speedway history
More from the World 100:
📊 Full Results (click on the Day): Thursday – Friday – Saturday
📸 Photo Gallery (Nearly 2,000 photos from all 3 days): Click here for all galleries
