Davenport Shines In North Star Nationals For Lucas Oil LM Dirt Series Win

Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – SPRING VALLEY, MN – Jonathan Davenport fended off a late race charge from Bobby Pierce on Saturday night to find Victory Lane in the inaugural NAPA Auto Parts North Star Nationals at Deer Creek Speedway.

Pierce settled for a runner-up finish for the second consecutive night, just 0.281 seconds behind the race winner. Chad Simpson finished in third, with Don O’Neal and Scott Bloomquist rounding out the top five.

Jimmy Mars bolted to the lead at the start of the main event and led the first 20 laps of the race. A torrid battle between the top four drivers then ensued, with Simpson taking the point on lap 21. Simpson then led until Davenport put himself atop the scoring pylon as the new leader on lap 32.

Pierce began to make his late-race surge, taking over the second position and chasing down Davenport in heavy lapped traffic. Heading into turn four on the final lap Pierce threw a slide job in front of Davenport to momentarily take over the lead. As the two raced down the main straightaway to the checkers, Davenport powered his car to the inside of Pierce and beat the youngster to the finish by just a few inches.

In addition to his $12,000 first place prize money, Davenport pocketed an $1,000 bonus from NAPA Auto Part. In Lucas Oil Victory Lane, Davenport commented: “First off, thanks to Chad [Simpson], Jimmy [Mars] and Bobby [Pierce] for racing hard and clean out there. That was an awesome race. I knew he [Pierce] was coming for me at the end. The lapped cars were holding us up bad.”

“I felt like we had a little better car than to make it that close at the end,” Davenport added. “I was just trying to hit my marks out there. I went down the back straightaway and I saw my spotter and I knew the slider was coming. I made sure I entered the corner a little softer so that way I could turn back to the inside of him [Pierce]. I saw him out of the corner of my eye, so I knew he was there. I was just hoping I could make it back to the line and not spin the tires. What a great night, this was a turnaround from last night. Thanks to the track crew for a great track tonight and thanks for the fans for coming out.”

Pierce was still breathless after nearing pulling off the last-lap-last corner win. “Hats off the JD, he ran a heck of a race, he is one of the best on top. It was really great racing and a lot of fun. I only made one mistake out there tonight. I wanted to slide up earlier because he gave me some room. This track is just great. I can’t wait to come back here.”

Chad Simpson was looking for his second-career Lucas Oil victory. “I knew I was in trouble when that caution came out. You know anytime you can run like that against these guys, you have to feel good about yourself. Hats off to the Queensland Family and everybody associated with the track. We always enjoy coming up here to race. It was disappointing when this show was rained out last year. I have a lot of fans over there in turn four. It’s good to come up here and put on a good show for them.”

Davenport’s winning Lance Landers Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by: Crop Production Services, Spartan Mowers, Valvoline, ASC Warranty, Penske Shocks, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Midwest Sheet Metal, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Hawkeye Trucks.

Completing the top ten were Hudson O’Neal, Jimmy Mars, Jimmy Owens, Darrell Lanigan, and Gregg Satterlee.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday, May 19th, 2018
NAPA Auto Parts North Star Nationals
Deer Creek Speedway – Spring Valley, MN

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Chad Simpson / 14.185 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Bobby Pierce / 14.374 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Chad Simpson, Jonathan Davenport, Gregg Satterlee, Dennis Erb, Jr., Rodney Sanders, Ricky Weiss, Brandon Sheppard, Nick Herrick-DNS

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Darrell Lanigan, Scott Ward, Allen Murray, Tad Pospisil, Chris Simpson, Jordan Yaggy

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Mars, Bobby Pierce, Josh Richards, Kyle Bronson, Mason Zeigler, Brent Larson, Cade Dillard, Mark Rose

QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Scott Bloomquist, Hudson O’Neal, Don O’Neal, Tim McCreadie, Joey Moriarty, Jeff Massingill

Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Ricky Weiss, Rodney Sanders, Brandon Sheppard, Chris Simpson, Tad Pospisil, Jordan Yaggy, Nick Herrick-DNS

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Mason Zeigler, Tim McCreadie, Brent Larson, Joey Moriarty, Jeff Massingill, Mark Rose, Cade Dillard-DNS

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (50 Laps):

FINISH	START	CAR #	DRIVER NAME	HOMETOWN	EARNINGS
1	5	49	Jonathan Davenport	Blairsville, GA	$13,900
2	6	32	Bobby Pierce	Oakwood, IL	$6,200
3	1	25	Chad Simpson	Mt. Vernon, IA	$3,500
4	16	5	Don O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$3,550
5	8	0	Scott Bloomquist	Mooresburg, TN	$3,050
6	12	71	Hudson O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$2,500
7	2	28m	Jimmy Mars	Menomonie, WI	$1,500
8	3	20	Jimmy Owens	Newport, TN	$2,100
9	7	14	Darrell Lanigan	Union, KY	$1,900
10	9	22	Gregg Satterlee	Indiana, PA	$1,800
11	17	7w	Ricky Weiss	Headingley, MB	$1,075
12	4	1	Earl Pearson, Jr.	Jacksonville, FL	$1,950
13	20	39	Tim McCreadie	Watertown, NY	$1,725
14	13	28	Dennis Erb, Jr.	Carpentersville, IL	$1,000
15	10	1R	Josh Richards	Shinnston, WV	$2,000
16	21	B5	Brandon Sheppard	New Berlin, IL	$1,000
17	22	B1	Brent Larson	Lake Elmo, MN	$1,000
18	14	40B	Kyle Bronson ®	Brandon, FL	$1,800
19	11	37	Scott Ward	Hayti, SD	$1,000
20	23	77	Jordan Yaggy	Rochester, MN	$1,000
21	18	25Z	Mason Zeigler ®	Chalk Hill, PA	$1,000
22	19	20X	Rodney Sanders	Happy, TX	$1,000
23	24	04	Tad Pospisil	Norfolk, NE	$1,000
24	15	2M	Allen Murray	San Antonio, TX	$1,000