7’s Dream XXXI at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
The 23-year-old Thornton was one of five DirtonDirt Breakout Drivers of the Year in 2024 during an 18-win multidivision season, including six Dirt Late Model wins among five tracks highlighted by the IMCA Super Nationals at Boone (Iowa) Speedway.
Sommer debuted his first Race DRT Chassis with himself behind the wheel during last year’s World 100 at Eldora.
2025 Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway
“Honestly, when I first started this ‘Dream Driver’ search and put it out there, I didn’t have Dylan high on my list because I don’t really know him at all,” Sommer told DirtonDirt. “Then, after I seen the impact this entire concept had on people, the hope, the dreams, the eagerness for drivers out there to get an opportunity like this, I kind of changed my entire mentality halfway through this.
“I then wanted to legitimately pick someone that I didn’t know that well and therefore give them an opportunity to prove themselves on a national stage. It was only after doing some research on my entire list of guys that I started to see Dylan has been slowly working his way up the ladder and most recently he made the World of Outlaws at the Dairyland Showdown, that impressed me.
“He also has some other notable accomplishments, all non-Super Late Model related, but he has enough starts that I think he is ready for this big jump. I truly believe he might be the next breakout guy in Dirt Late Model racing if the cards fall right for him.”
Thornton texted DirtonDirt that he’s “very humbled and shocked to be picked out of the 500 names” that Sommer had to choose from, and that “I wouldn’t be going to the Dream without getting phone call from him.”
Sommer prefaced Thursday’s announcement with a video to social media Wednesday saying “it was humbling” to see the amount of interest in his DRT seat at the Dream and that he’ll be “doing more stuff like this” in the future.
Sommer also announced last week on social media a unique raffle in which the winner will receive a new Race DRT Dirt Late Model and $20,000 cash.
Contestants can earn entries in the contest by purchasing merchandise or Fast Pass options at www.racedrt.com with the winner randomly drawn on the final night of Dec. 4-6’s Gateway Dirt Nationals, Sommer’s indoor racing spectacle at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo.
