Doubleheader Thursday Thunder action brought high-stakes battles, redemption stories, and a thrilling photo finish that made EchoPark Speedway history Wednesday night.
The razor-thin finish came in the second leg of Adrenalin Powersports Young Lions action as Colt Johnson of Smyrna, Tenn., earned his first win in a Legends car in spectacular fashion. Johnson started up front, but was relegated to the rear of the field in an early caution.Undeterred, he launched a thrilling comeback, climbing back up the scoring pylon from 13th. As Lane Christensen (Pendergrass, Ga.) took the lead from Mitchell Flater (Conyers, Ga.) Johnson continued his charge to the front, reaching 2nd place when the final caution of the race flew.
On the green-white-checkered restart, Christensen and Johnson traded blows all the way to the checkered flag, with Johnson nipping Christensen at the line by just 0.002 seconds. The margin of victory was not only the closest in Thursday Thunder history, but in the entirety of EchoPark Speedway’s racing history.
“It’s just amazing to get my first Legends car win. This is so awesome,” Johnson said in victory lane. Asked if he ever imagined his first win would come in a photo finish, he said, “Absolutely not, but that just makes it ten times better!”
There was more nail-biting action in the Incentive Risk Management Bandits division’s second feature of the night. Casen Tate of Zebulon, Ga., started strong and held the lead through most of the event. However,a caution set up a thrilling showdown to the finish between Tate and Evan Johnson (Vancleave, Miss.). On the final lap, Johnson seized the top spot, but Tate dove back to the inside in the final set of turns and the pair raced door-to-door back to the checkered flag. At the line Tate eclipsed Johnson by just a couple feet to secure a hard-fought victory.
James Behnke (Canton, Ga.) and Dylan Bongiovanni (Cumming, Ga.) both returned to victory lane to claim their fifth wins of the season in the first feature races of the evening in the Bandits and Young Lions divisions, respectively.
In the Incentive Risk Management Outlaws division, Carson Sherman (Loganville, Ga.) took an early lead and held on until the checkered flag in the division’s first feature of the night. Landon Thrasher (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) captured his first win in the second, striking early and protecting his lead through the finish.
WJP Investments Semi-Pro teammates Bryce Sanders (Ola, Ga.) and Cole Denton (Pascagoula, Miss.) captured the checkered flags in the first and second features of the night, respectively. Sanders held off a late-race charge by Denton to win the opener, while Denton bounced back in the second feature, leading from flag-to-flag to earn a trip to victory lane.
Mason Massey (Lucedale, Miss.) kicked off the Incentive Risk Management Rookie Bandolero division with a win in a caution-marred feature, securing his first-ever victory. Later, Camden Powers (Hernando, Fla.) responded with a flawless drive of his own, leading from start to finish for a commanding victory.
The momentum continued in the WJP Investments Chargers division, where Ben Mack (Louisville, KY) swept both features. He fought through heavy traffic and multiple cautions in the opener, then returned with a dominant green-to-checkered performance in the second.
In the Circle C Auto Sales Masters division, veterans Bill Plemons Jr. (Locust Grove, Ga.) and Eric Simpson (Fitzgerald, Ga.) claimed victories, adding to their decorated resumes with clean and confident runs.
Rounding out the night, Jensen Jorgensen (Stockbridge, Ga.) extended his undefeated streak to seven in the first The Associated Group Insurance Pro feature. Nick Woodall (Canton, Ga.) snapped Jorgensen’s run of perfection in the night cap, running away with the Round 8 victory.
Brexton Busch, son of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch, made his Thursday Thunder debut in the Incentive Risk Management Bandits division, earning finishes of 10th and 15th at EchoPark Speedway Wednesday night. A multi-time winner this year in Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Summer Shootout, Busch will look to translate some of that speed he’s shown on the Thunder Ring’s sister ¼-mile track when he returns for his third feature event in Atlanta tonight; a full slate of Thursday Thunder racing is slated for the penultimate round of the 2025 season Thursday.
Here are the full results from Rounds 7 and 8 of Thursday Thunder at EchoPark Speedway:
Round 7:
Adrenalin Powersports Young Lions
- Bongiovanni, Dylan (Cumming, GA)
- Harbison, Keaton (Las Vegas, NV)
- Johnson, Colt (Smyrna, TN)
- James, Case (Newton, NC)
- Christensen, Lane (Pendergrass, GA)
- Lee, Billy (Ruskin, FL)
- Mayhue, Bowen (Roswell, GA)
- Flater, Mitchell (Conyers, GA)
- Youngblood, Carson (Flowery Branch, GA)
- Pendley, Grayson (Cumming, GA)
- O'Neil, Baylor (Grantville, GA)
- Cox, Kaleb (Albuquerque, NM)
- DNS - Soto, Javier (Marietta, GA)
WJP Investments Semi-Pro
- Sanders, Bryce (Ola, GA)
- Denton, Cole (Pascagoula, MS)
- Butler, Sam (Taylorsville, NC)
- Treschl, Jason (Hogansville, GA)
- Wright, Mitch (Curtis, ON)
- Jordan, Hunter (Davidson, NC)
- Burgeson, Chase (Yucaipa, CA)
- Hampton, Ian (Stockbridge, GA)
- Britt, Emma (Hampton, GA)
- Tadrzak, Trey (Stockbridge, GA)
- White, Cameron (Lakeland, FL)
- Spears, Kellan (Atlanta, GA)
- Cosier, Brian (Marietta, GA)
The Associates Group Pro
- Jorgensen, Jensen (Stockbridge, GA)
- Woodall, Nick (Canton, GA)
- Bacon, Kyle (Buchanan, GA)
- Gaul, Cooper (Seminole, FL)
- Taylor, Jonathan (Roswell, GA)
Circle C Auto Sales Masters
- Plemons, Bill Jr (Locust Grove, GA)
- Young, Phillip (Dallas, GA)
- Mullins, Josh (Columbia, TN)
- Fox, James (Mooresville, IN)
- Young, Lisa (Dallas, GA)
- Pierce, Dwight (Griffin, GA)
- Hillhouse, Matt (Angie, LA)
- Bolen, Jeff (Columbia, SC)
- Carpenter, Steve (Land O'lakes, FL)
- Swan, Mark (Athens, GA)
- Simpson, Eric (Fitzgerald, GA)
- Wright, Steve (Barnesville, GA)
- Wehunt, Ronnie (Canton, GA)
- McMillian, Matthew (Warner Robins, GA)
Incentive Risk Management Bandits
- Behnke, James (Canton, GA)
- Castille, Bryce (Vancleave, MS)
- Pennington, Daylen (Radiator Springs, AZ)
- Johnson, Evan (Vancleave, MS)
- White, Gerald III (Lakeland, FL)
- Sanders, Connor (Dublin, GA)
- Pinion, Tryson (Eagleville, TN)
- Houk, Jackson (Theodore, AL)
- Brown, Isaac (Nashville, TN)
- Busch, Brexton (Mooresville, NC)
- Bradshaw, Maverick (Troutman, NC)
- Shirley, Reese (Rainbow City, AL)
- Murphy, Colton (Pensacola, FL)
- Tate, Casen (Zebulon, GA)
- Prowell, Maci (Brooksville, FL)
- Chance, Keegan (Inverness, FL)
Incentive Risk Management Rookie Bandoleros
- Massey, Mason (Lucedale, MS)
- Wong, Nicolas (Johns Creek, GA)
- West, Ryleigh (Cumming, GA)
- Linker, Wyatt (Mount Pleasant, NC)
- Penn, Josh (Charlotte, NC)
- Sherman, Colton (Loganville, GA)
- Clapp, Carter (Greenville, IN)
- Treschl, Ava (Hogansville, GA)
- Weiss, Chloe (Brooksville, FL)
- Powers, Camden (Hernando, FL)
- Pedulla, Anthony (Mooresville, NC)
Incentive Risk Management Outlaws
- Sherman, Carson (Loganville, GA)
- Jones, Jackson (Concord, NC)
- Cauble, Carson (Salisbury, NC)
- Bishop, Brenten (Social Circle, GA)
- Speight, Rylan (Emerald Isle, NC)
- Monolo, James (Beaver Dam, VA)
- Mallette, Kamryn (Vancleave, MS)
- McFall, Lucas (Greer, SC)
- Rudolph, Briella (Griffin, GA)
- Robertson, Mason (Hernando, MS)
- Bauer, Jordan (Murfreesboro, TN)
- Cannon, Corbin (Conway, SC)
- Motykiewicz, Patrick (Theodore, AL)
- Thrasher, Landon (Murfereesboro, TN)
- Hooker, Grant (Marysville, IN)
- Weiss, Joseph (Brooksville, FL)
- Leslie-Kubat, Matthew (Nashville, TN)
- Grizzard, Wyatt (McDonough, GA)
WJP Investments Chargers
- Mack, Ben (Louisville, KY)
- Linc, Jacob (Lake Orion, MI)
- Gregory, Carsten (Johns Creek, GA)
- Laine, Emerson (Cumming, GA)
- Jimenez, Bashi (Springfield, VA)
- McMillian, Michael (Juliette, GA)
- Tatum, Kinsley (Cordele, GA)
- Young, Luke (Dallas, GA)
- Harmon, Jake (Mansfield, GA)
- Stearns, Cameron (Sharpsburg, GA)
- Richards, Ivanna (Mexico City, MX)
- Stevens, Kendall (Griffin, GA)
- Pounds, Carson (Butler, GA)
- White, Gerald III (Lakeland, FL)
- Impellizzeri, Lilly (Munroe falls, OH)
- Harbison, Peyton (Senoia, GA)
- Rist, Sebastian (Crownsville, MD)
- Green, Lincoln (Atlanta, GA)
Round 8:
Adrenalin Powersports Young Lions
- Johnson, Colt (Smyrna, TN)
- Christensen, Lane (Pendergrass, GA)
- Pendley, Grayson (Cumming, GA)
- Soto, Javier (Marietta, GA)
- Bongiovanni, Dylan (Cumming, GA)
- Flater, Mitchell (Conyers, GA)
- O'Neil, Baylor (Grantville, GA)
- Cox, Kaleb (Albuquerque, NM)
- Mayhue, Bowen (Roswell, GA)
- James, Case (Newton, NC)
- Lee, Billy (Ruskin, FL)
- Harbison, Keaton (Las Vegas, NV)
- Youngblood, Carson (Flowery Branch, GA)
WJP Investments Semi-Pro
- Denton, Cole (Pascagoula, MS)
- Erwin, Garrett (Covington, GA)
- Butler, Sam (Taylorsville, NC)
- Burgeson, Chase (Yucaipa, CA)
- Treschl, Jason (Hogansville, GA)
- Wright, Mitch (Curtis, ON)
- Tadrzak, Trey (Stockbridge, GA)
- White, Cameron (Lakeland, FL)
- Britt, Emma (Hampton, GA)
- Sanders, Bryce (Ola, GA)
- Hampton, Ian (Stockbridge, GA)
- Jordan, Hunter (Davidson, NC)
- Spears, Kellan (Atlanta, GA)
- Cosier, Brian (Marietta, GA)
The Associates Group Pro
- Woodall, Nick (Canton, GA)
- Jorgensen, Jensen (Stockbridge, GA)
- Taylor, Jonathan (Roswell, GA)
- Bacon, Kyle (Buchanan, GA)
- Gaul, Cooper (Seminole, FL)
Circle C Auto Sales Masters
- Simpson, Eric (Fitzgerald, GA)
- Mullins, Josh (Columbia, TN)
- Young, Phillip (Dallas, GA)
- Swan, Mark (Athens, GA)
- Bolen, Jeff (Columbia, SC)
- Wehunt, Ronnie (Canton, GA)
- Plemons, Bill Jr (Locust Grove, GA)
- Carpenter, Steve (Land O'lakes, FL)
- Wright, Steve (Barnesville, GA)
- Conaway, Scott (Griffin, GA)
- McMillian, Matthew (Warner Robins, GA)
- Pierce, Dwight (Griffin, GA)
- Young, Lisa (Dallas, GA)
- Hillhouse, Matt (Angie, LA)
- DNS - Fox, James (Mooresville, IN)
Incentive Risk Management Bandits
- Tate, Casen (Zebulon, GA)
- Johnson, Evan (Vancleave, MS)
- Pennington, Daylen (Radiator Springs, AZ)
- Sanders, Connor (Dublin, GA)
- Behnke, James (Canton, GA)
- Castille, Bryce (Vancleave, MS)
- Bradshaw, Maverick (Troutman, NC)
- White, Gerald III (Lakeland, FL)
- Pinion, Tryson (Eagleville, TN)
- Houk, Jackson (Theodore, AL)
- Brown, Isaac (Nashville, TN)
- Prowell, Maci (Brooksville, FL)
- Murphy, Colton (Pensacola, FL)
- Shirley, Reese (Rainbow City, AL)
- Busch, Brexton (Mooresville, NC)
- Chance, Keegan (Inverness, FL)
Incentive Risk Management Rookie Bandoleros
- Powers, Camden (Hernando, FL)
- Wong, Nicolas (Johns Creek, GA)
- Massey, Mason (Lucedale, MS)
- Linker, Wyatt (Mount Pleasant, NC)
- Pedulla, Anthony (Mooresville, NC)
- Sherman, Colton (Loganville, GA)
- Clapp, Carter (Greenville, IN)
- Penn, Josh (Charlotte, NC)
- West, Ryleigh (Cumming, GA)
- Treschl, Ava (Hogansville, GA)
- Weiss, Chloe (Brooksville, FL)
Incentive Risk Management Outlaws
- Thrasher, Landon (Murfereesboro, TN)
- McFall, Lucas (Greer, SC)
- Sherman, Carson (Loganville, GA)
- Bishop, Brenten (Social Circle, GA)
- Jones, Jackson (Concord, NC)
- Mallette, Kamryn (Vancleave, MS)
- Cauble, Carson (Salisbury, NC)
- Speight, Rylan (Emerald Isle, NC)
- Robertson, Mason (Hernando, MS)
- Cannon, Corbin (Conway, SC)
- Monolo, James (Beaver Dam, VA)
- Leslie-Kubat, Matthew (Nashville, TN)
- Weiss, Joseph (Brooksville, FL)
- Motykiewicz, Patrick (Theodore, AL)
- Bauer, Jordan (Murfreesboro, TN)
- Hooker, Grant (Marysville, IN)
DNS. Grizzard, Wyatt (McDonough, GA)
DNS. Rudolph, Briella (Griffin, GA)
WJP Investments Chargers
- Mack, Ben (Louisville, KY)
- Stearns, Cameron (Sharpsburg, GA)
- Linc, Jacob (Lake Orion, MI)
- Rist, Sebastian (Crownsville, MD)
- Laine, Emerson (Cumming, GA)
- Impellizzeri, Lilly (Munroe falls, OH)
- Jimenez, Bashi (Springfield, VA)
- White, Gerald III (Lakeland, FL)
- Richards, Ivanna (Mexico City, MX)
- Harbison, Peyton (Senoia, GA)
- Stevens, Kendall (Griffin, GA)
- Pounds, Carson (Butler, GA)
- Green, Lincoln (Atlanta, GA)
- Tatum, Kinsley (Cordele, GA)
- Young, Luke (Dallas, GA)
- McMillian, Michael (Juliette, GA)
- Harmon, Jake (Mansfield, GA)
- Gregory, Carsten (Johns Creek, GA)
