Jonathan Davenport Edges Tyler Erb To Win Night 5 Of Winternationals

Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – TAMPA, FL – Jonathan Davenport grabbed the lead from Tyler Erb on lap 38 and led the rest of the way to score his second win in the Wrisco Industries Winternationals presented by Lucas Oil.

Erb entered the event with two wins during the week and bolted to the lead at the start of the 50-lap main event. Erb held the lead until Davenport forged ahead with twelve laps remaining. Erb’s Best Performance Motorsports, Rocket crossed the stripe in second followed by Earl Pearson Jr. in the Ronnie and Terri Stuckey-owned, Lucas Oil Products, Black Diamond Race Car.

Completing the top five were Scott Bloomquist in the STEEL-IT, Sweet-Bloomquist entry, and Devin Moran in the Big River Steel, Dunn-Benson Ford, Rocket.

Davenport made his way to Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 38th time in his career, joined by his son Blane. “I just want to thank all of the fans for coming out tonight. Knowing that tonight was a point race, we really wanted to put on a good show. We have had a really good car here the last three nights. When I turned under Erb to get the lead he left me some room there where there was some brown on the race track. Congrats to him [Erb] and Earl [Pearson] for both putting on a good run tonight as well.”

“We have such a great race team,” Davenport added. “Thanks to Lance Landers for putting this together. Thanks to my crew: Jason, Tyler and Lance they do such a great job. Gavin [Landers] is here this week and Brewster back at the t-shirt trailer. The track has been racy all week. This is what we love doing. We come down here to compete and mix it up with everybody and you never know who is going to win.”

“It was crazy when the bottom kind of died there,” said Erb. “The top got faster in one and two. I just went up top and out of a lucky chance I could run there. We got to three-wide for the lead and that’s when JD got by me. Congratulations to JD and his team, they had a great car, Earl did too. We will take second tonight, it was another podium finish for the team, and we will come back tomorrow night.”

Pearson was runner-up to Hudson O’Neal on Thursday night and took third behind Davenport and Erb tonight. “This is all for the guys here they have worked their tails off during the winter. We went to Arizona to try some stuff out there. My Black Diamond Chassis has been really good since we have come down here. It has been a very good week for us, and we will keep digging.”

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

Completing the top ten were Tim McCreadie, Billy Moyer, Jr., Jason Jameson, Mike Benedum, and Jeff Mathews.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, February 8th, 2019
Wrisco Industries Winternationals presented by Lucas Oil
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, Fla.

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Scott Bloomquist / 14.525 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Earl Pearson Jr. / 14.880 seconds

Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jonathan Davenport, Scott Bloomquist, Austin Hubbard, Billy Moyer, Jr., Kyle Bronson, Stormy Scott, Dan Stone, Jeff Mathews, Tyler Carpenter, Vic Hill, Michael Lake, Morgan Bagley

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Tyler Erb, Mike Benedum, Devin Moran, Justin Williams, Devin Dixon, Jonathan Rowan, Blair Nothdurft, Tim Dohm , Johnny Pursley, Joey Moriarty, Kerry King

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Jimmy Owens, Tim McCreadie, Don O’Neal, Ryan King, Terry Casey, Gregg Satterlee, Jason Jameson, Allen Murray, Greg Oakes, Colton Horner, Geoff Carey

Lucas Oil Products Penetrating Oil Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Colton Flinner, Tanner English, Josh Richards, Hudson O’Neal, Austin Rettig, Matt Cosner, Rusty Schlenk, Chad Stapleton, Shanon Buckingham, Freddie Carpenter, Joel Callahan

Lucas Oil Products Red “N” Tacky Spray Grease B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Stormy Scott, Kyle Bronson, Devin Dixon, Tim Dohm , Jonathan Rowan, Jeff Mathews, Johnny Pursley, Tyler Carpenter, Joey Moriarty, Kerry King, Dan Stone, Blair Nothdurft, Vic Hill-DNS, Michael Lake-DNS, Morgan Bagley-DNS

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Terry Casey, Ryan King, Jason Jameson, Gregg Satterlee, Austin Rettig, Chad Stapleton, Matt Cosner, Rusty Schlenk, Joel Callahan, Greg Oakes, Allen Murray, Freddie Carpenter, Shanon Buckingham, Geoff Carey, Colton Horner-DNS

DirtOnDirt.com Strawberry Dash Finish: Austin Rettig, Chad Stapleton, Allen Murray, Joey Moriarty, Tyler Carpenter, Joel Callahan, Dan Stone, Kerry King, Freddie Carpenter, Jonathan Rowan, Colton Horner, Rusty Schlenk

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (50 Laps): Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Earl Pearson Jr, Scott Bloomquist, Devin Moran, Tim McCreadie, Billy Moyer Jr, Jason Jameson, Mike Benedum, Jeff Mathews, Hudson O’Neal, Josh Richards, Justin Williams, Devin Dixon, Austin Hubbard, Jimmy Owens, Ryan King, Austin Rettig, Stormy Scott, Tanner English, Kyle Bronson, Don O’Neal, Gregg Satterlee, Tim Dohm, Terry Casey, Colton Flinner

Race Statistics
Entrants: 46
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1 – 14); Tyler Erb (Laps 15 – 37); Jonathan Davenport (Lap 38 – 50)
Wrisco Feature Winner: Jonathan Davenport
Margin of Victory: 1.933 seconds
Cautions: Colton Flinner (Lap 6); Ryan King (Lap 10); Josh Richards (Lap 36); Hudson O’Neal (Lap 37); Kyle Bronson, Hudson O’Neal (Lap 39); Tanner English (Lap 45); Stormy Scott (Lap 46)
Series Provisional: Gregg Satterlee
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: Tim Dohm
Wrisco Industries Winternationals Provisional: Jeff Mathews
DirtOnDirt.com Strawberry Dash Provisional: Austin Rettig
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Jeff Mathews (Advanced 15 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Earl Pearson Jr.
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Jason Jameson
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Tyler Erb
Eibach Springs Rookie of the Race: *Rookie of the Race will begin after April 1st.*
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
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: Jonathan Davenport (Lap #50 – 14.772 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Tough Break of the Race: Don O’Neal
STEEL-IT Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (27 Laps)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Jonathan Davenport
Time of Race: 42 minutes 36 seconds