Ricky Thornton Jr. fired the first shot Friday night with a decisive victory on opening night of the 16th Annual S&S Fishing & Rental USRA Fall Nationals presented by Barnett Harley-Davidson and NAPA Auto Parts at the Southern New Mexico Speedway.
Thornton, who started fifth in the 30-lap USRA Modified feature, advanced quickly and after taking the lead he took off from the field to claim the win and earn the pole position for Sunday's $10,000-to-win finale.
Defending USRA Modified national champion Fito Gallardo started next to Thornton in the third row and followed him across the finish line. The remainder of the top five finishers—Johnny Scott, Dereck Ramirez and Alex Stanford—also punched their tickets to Sunday's show.
Defending race winner Stormy Scott finished sixth and will join the remainder of the 51 entrants who failed to lock themselves into Sunday's race. Rodney Sanders took the seventh spot, Terry Phillips was eighth, Bobby Malchus ended up ninth and Ryan Gustin completed the top ten.
Read the full story and results at www.usraracing.com.
