Ricky Thornton Jr. expressed his hope that his newfound partnership with Koehler Motorsports and car owner Bobby Koehler will last for “many years” after winning the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship.
Ricky Thornton Jr. via FloRacing.com
Thornton announced he would return to Koehler Motorsports earlier this month in a post to Facebook celebrating his Championship.
He said, “This is only the beginning for us with Koehler Motorsports. We will return next year, and hopefully for many many years to come.”
Ricky Thornton Jr. on Facebook
Thornton and Koehler shared more details speaking with DirtonDirt.com revealing that the initial deal was just for this year. Koehler revealed, “When we done this deal, everybody agreed to finish this year. We didn’t even know if Ricky was gonna stay next year. We were gonna help him get through the year and that was our commitment.”
Thornton added, “Our plan was to kind of get through the year and then go from there. I talked to to Bobby a few weeks ago and we’re for sure running next year together, and hopefully for many years after that.”
He continued, “Hopefully we can develop a really strong team for the future, and at the same time help Jordan and Evan get really up to speed and help Jimmy get going a little bit better. Hopefully, we can have a bad-ass, four-car team.”
Hudson O’Neal, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Garrett Alberson at Shelby County. Photo Credit: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
While Thornton and Koehler are back for another year. Chris Madden will not return as the crew chief for 2025. Thornton revealed in a Facebook comment that Madden would be pursuing some business ventures and the deal they made was only for 2024.
Ricky Thornton Jr. on Facebook
According to Kevin Kovac on DirtonDirt, Madden’s crewmen Ricky Arnold and former SSI Motorsports tire guy D.J. Williams, who joined Koehler with Thornton, are still figuring out what their future will be.
Kovac wrote, “Madden won’t be back — his commitment to Koehler was only through the end of this year’s Lucas Oil Series schedule — and Arnold and Williams are contemplating their futures, though Koehler and Thornton both said they’re hoping to talk the pair into remaining with the team.”
Ricky Thornton Jr. and his team celebrate their 2024 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship. Photo Credit: Lucas Oil Late Model Series.
What do you make of Thornton hoping his partnership with Koehler Motorsports will last “many years?”