Jonathan Davenport Emerges Victorious In Front of Home-State Crowd

Story By: LUCAS OIL DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES – CHATSWORTH, GA – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series returned to North Georgia Speedway for the first time since 2009 on Saturday night. Jonathan Davenport conquered the red clay oval for his fourth victory of the season.

Davenport took control on lap 20 by darting under race leader David Payne. Davenport then led the rest of the way for a convincing victory in front of his home-state crowd. With the win, Davenport maintains his championship point lead.

Payne set the Miller Welders Overall Fast Time and went on to win the third heat, putting him on the front-row outside of Josh Richards for the 50-lap main event. Payne led the first 19 laps of the race until Davenport slid under him heading into turn three on lap 20. Payne then ran second to Davenport before he suffered a flat left rear tire on lap 25 forcing him to pit. Devin Moran picked up the chase for the lead and challenged Davenport several times before fading.

Tyler Erb; who entered the event second in points to Davenport; then moved into the runner-up position. Erb was attempting to track down Davenport but on lap 37 he hooked the cushion and spun to a stop, forcing a caution flag.

The final caution of the race came on lap 42. In the closing laps, Davenport pulled away from the Clint Bowyer teammates, Don O’Neal and Josh Richards to score the win. O’Neal had his best finish of the year by taking second with Richards finishing third. Moran and Earl Pearson Jr. completed the top five.

Davenport was jubilant in victory lane before an appreciative crowd. “I was kind of glad to see a few of those cautions. I was needing a water break,” Davenport said jokingly. “I have never won a late model race here. This is so fun to come back to almost my hometown crowd and get this win. I grew up just an hour-and-a-half from here. My crew chief is Jason Durham, this is a big win for him as well. This is basically his home track.”

“I didn’t think we could get it done,” Davenport added. It was cool to race with David [Payne]. I grew up racing against him and us battling for the lead was pretty great. He had a good car until he had that flat. I drove a line I had never really driven here before. I have seen so many guys passed coming off turn four here. I moved around enough to where I could get comfortable out there.”

O’Neal, who moved into second on lap 39, was happy with his podium finish. “Man, we need a win bad. After last night it feels good to run up front like that. It was a good night for the Bowyer cars running second and third. The track slowed down after a while. Josh slid under me once and I got back around him. We needed to build some momentum heading into next weekend.”

Richards started on the pole but fell back significantly as he nearly spun in turn four on the opening circuit. “I was trying to get the lead. I drove it into three and it nearly got away from me. Jonathan and Don did a great job. Like Don said, it was a good night for Clint Bowyer Racing.”

The winner’s Lance Landers Motorsports-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by: Nutrien Ag Solutions, ASC Warranty, Penske Racing Shocks, Valvoline, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, and Spartan Mowers.

Completing the top ten were Hudson O’Neal, Billy Moyer Jr., Tim McCreadie, Tyler Erb, and Will Roland.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday, April 6, 2019
North Georgia Speedway – Chatsworth, Ga.

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Ross Bailes 12.260 seconds
Fast Time Group B: David Payne 12.236 seconds (overall)

Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Josh Richards, Don O’Neal, Billy Moyer Jr, Michael Page, Andrew Littleton, Brandon Overton (DNF), Ross Bailes (DNF), Jason Jameson (DNF)

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Dale McDowell, Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal, Shanon Buckingham, Kyle Bronson (DNF), Dalton Polston (DNF), Arva Brooks (DNF), Lamar Haygood (DNF)

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): David Payne, Tim McCreadie, Jacob Hawkins, Aaron Ridley, Stormy Scott, Jimmy Owens, Kurt English, Justin Shipley

Lucas Oil Products Penetrating Oil Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Ryan King, Earl Pearson Jr, Cla Knight, Ahnna Parkhurst, Will Roland

Lucas Oil Products Red “N” Tacky Spray Grease B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jason Jameson, Andrew Littleton, Kyle Bronson, Brandon Overton (DNS), Dalton Polston (DNS), Ross Bailes (DNS), Arva Brooks (DNS), Lamar Haygood (DNS)

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Stormy Scott, Cla Knight, Will Roland, Ahnna Parkhurst, Justin Shipley, Jimmy Owens (DNS), Kurt English (DNS)

1. (4) 49 Jonathan Davenport 2. (5) 5 Don O’Neal 3. (1) 14 Josh Richards 4. (7) 1M Devin Moran ® 5. (16) 1 Earl Pearson, Jr. 6. (11) 71 Hudson O’Neal 7. (9) 21JR Billy Moyer, Jr. 8. (6) 39 Tim McCreadie 9. (8) 1T Tyler Erb ® 10. (22) 22R Will Roland 11. (21) 40B Kyle Bronson 12. (12) 1Gk Ryan King 13. (23) 20 Jimmy Owens 14. (2) 8P David Payne 15. (10) 8 Jacob Hawkins 16. (3) 17m Dale McDowell 17. (18) 2s Stormy Scott 18. (14) 81R Aaron Ridley 19. (19) 87a Andrew Littleton20. (5) 50 Shanon Buckingham 21. (13) 18x Michael Page 22. (17) 12J Jason Jameson ® 23. (20) 42 Cla Knight 24. (24) 00 Dalton Polston

Race Statistics

Entrants: 31

Lap Leaders: David Payne (1-19); Jonathan Davenport (20-50)

Wrisco Feature Winner: Jonathan Davenport

Margin of Victory: 1.097 seconds

Cautions: Jason Jameson (Lap 6); Stormy Scott (Lap 17); Aaron Ridley (Lap 20); Ryan King (Lap 21); Jacob Hawkins (Lap25); David Payne, Jimmy Owens, Ryan King, Will Roland (Lap25); Tyler Erb (Lap 37); Jacob Hawkins (Lap 38); Kyle Bronson (Lap 39); Jimmy Owens (Lap 42)

Series Provisionals: Jimmy Owens

Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: Dalton Polston

Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Will Roland (Advanced 12 Positions)

Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport

Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Tyler Erb

Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Don O’Neal

Eibach Springs Rookie of the Race: Devin Moran

COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engine

Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis

Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason Durham (Jonathan Davenport)

Dirty Girl Racewear Fastest Lap of the Race: David Payne (Lap #3 – 12.483 seconds)

Hot Rod Processing Tough Break of the Race: Shanon Buckingham