Ricky Thornton, Jr. Bags $38,000 for 20th Annual Wild West Shootout Opener Win in Arizona
Ricky Thornton, Jr. is starting out 2026 much like he spent much of his time in 2025: in the winner’s circle. The Arizona native outran the field in the opener of the 20th Annual Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts.
For his efforts Saturday night at FK Rod Ends Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande, Thornton took home a total of $38,000 – $25K for the feature win and another $13K in Rio Grande Waste Services Lap Leader Loot. Not a bad payday for a single evening’s work.
RTJ had to hold off a hard-charging Hudson O’Neal
Making his win even more impressive, it was Thornton’s first night driving the Adam Family Motorsports late model. To start the race, he led the first 16 laps of the main event. He was passed on lap 17 by Hudson O’Neal. O’Neal held the top spot for 24 laps – earning him $12,000 in lap leader bonus pay – but gave way to Thornton in the waning moments of the race.
“I could tell he (Hudson O’Neal) was running about 75%, and I was running pretty hard,” Speed Sport reported Ricky Thornton, Jr. said after his victory. “Whenever I slid him, I knew he was going to cross me, and I figured if I could race him hard into three … and catch enough traction, I could ride back by him.”
O’Neal ended up in second, with Cade Dillard (who started in 16th), Ryan Gustin, and Mike Marlar rounding out the top five finishers. Clay Stuckey, Garrett Alberson, Drake Troutman, Ethan Dotson, and Kyle Beard filled out the top 10.
Tyler Erb, Dillon McCowan, Bobby Pierce, Jake O’Neil, and R.C. Whitwell followed to the line in 11th through 15th. In 16th through 20th was Daniel Adam, Bricen James, Eston Whisler, Kylan Garner, and Chase Junghans. Tyler Peterson, Brandon Sheppard, Billy Moyer, Sr., Dustin Sorensen, and Jonathan Davenport completed the 25-car field’s finish.
Hudson O’Neal snagged the victory on night two of the Wild West Shootout
Subsequently, in round two of the Wild West Shootout, Hudson O’Neal came home one spot better than on night one. His effort on night two earned him the top prize of $10,000. Mike Marlar, Bobby Pierce, Garrett Alberson, and Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five.
Ethan Dotson, Tyler Erb, Ryan Gustin, Justin Duty, and Jake Timm followed them in the top 10. Brandon Sheppard, Dustin Sorensen, Dillon McCowan, Sam Mars, and Kyle Beard finished 11th through 15th. Clay Stuckey, Gunner Frank, Eli Ross, Drake Troutman, and Jake O’Neil filled out the top 20. Coming in 21st through 24th were Billy Moyer, Sr., Daniel Adam, R.C. Whitwell, Tim Isenberg, and Bricen James.
