9/17/2010
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Davenport Wins Classic Battle at Winchester in the Gunter’s Honey 50
WINCHESTER, VA (September 17, 2010) – In one of the best dirt Late Model races of 2010, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA won his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event on Friday Night at Winchester Speedway. The 26-year-old driver pulled away from a great battle for the lead in winning the “Gunter’s Honey 50” worth $10,000. Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL finished second, followed by Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; and 23rd starting, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN.
“I’m at a loss for words to describe this win; it’s my first Lucas Oil Series win, Barry Wright’s first Lucas Oil victory. I hope it doesn’t take as long to get the second one,” said Davenport, who became the 12th different winner on the series tour in 2010. “The track was excellent tonight, it was my first time here and obviously I really took a liking to the track. You could run anywhere out there, Jimmy (Owens) and I; Richards and Earl, we put on quite a show, I hope the fans enjoyed that one.”
“I have to thank Barry Wright, his son Lance, and the entire crew, we ran well at the Hillbilly Hundred a few weeks ago, we had some back luck at Eldora last week, but tonight the car was awesome. I have to than my sponsors Clements Racing Engines, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Baird Transport, Elite Concrete and everybody else that helps out. This is a great win for the team,” said the victor afterwards.
Owens quickly grabbed the lead at the start of the race after passing front row starters Davenport and Pearson. Owens held a narrow lead as a terrific battle for second was going on between Davenport and Pearson, who swapped the second spot back-and-forth for several circuits.
The race was slowed by several cautions as the battle for the lead was one of the best of the year. Owens pulled away from the three cars that were challenging him in. Davenport, Pearson and Richards battled it out, jockeying for position. Davenport finally overhauled Owens for the lead on lap 37.
Davenport pulled away in the final laps to win his first series event. Pearson outran Owens in the final six laps to take second as Richards squeezed by Owens to finish third. Owens then had to withstand a late-race charge from Bloomquist to take fourth.
Bloomquist, who flipped his primary car in his heat race, went to a back-up car for the main event and came up through the field to salvage a solid point’s night. Bloomquist now leads Owens by 190-points in the chase for the 2010 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship.
Completing the top ten were Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Austin Hubbard of Laurel, DE; John Blankenship of Williamson, WV; Booper Bare of Rockbridge Baths, VA; and Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC.
In preliminary action, Ronnie DeHaven Jr. was the Red Buck Cigar Time Trials fast timer with a record setting lap of 14.322 seconds among the 44 entrants. There were 20 drivers that eclipsed the previous track record at Winchester set earlier this year by D.J. Myers at 14.910 seconds. Heat race winners were Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr. and J.T. Spence. The B-Mains were taken by Dan Stone and Jason Covert.
The next Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event will be on Saturday Night, September 18th at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway in Saluda, VA. On the docket will be the 31st Annual ASi Racewear sponsored “USA 100” paying $15,000 to win. There will be 2-25 lap preliminary races, followed by a B-Main and the 50-lap “USA 100”. For more information, visit www.vamotorspeedway.com.
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log on to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday Night, September 27th, 2010
“Gunter’s Honey 50”
Winchester Speedway – Winchester, VA
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time: Ronnie DeHaven Jr. / 14.322 seconds (Overall and Group A); Earl Pearson Jr. / 14.332 seconds (Group B)
Wiles Driveshaft’s First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jonathan Davenport, Austin Hubbard, Booper Bare, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Bo Feathers, Doug Dodd, Chris Wall, Brad Omps, Scott LeBarron, Dale McDowell, Steve Casebolt
AFCO Racing Products Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Tommy Armel, Tim Isenberg, Daniel Stone, Kyle Hardy, Darryl Hills, Mark Pettyjohn, Devin Friese, LC Powers, Andy Anderson
Allstar Performance Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Earl Pearson Jr., Josh Richards, Jamie Lathroum, Gary Stuhler, Jason Covert, DJ Myers, Brad Neat, Leon Lloyd, Dan Schlieper, Jeremy Miller-DNS, Jonathan DeHaven-DNS
Superflow Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): j.t. Spence, Eric Wells, John Blankenship, Tyler Reddick, Tony Crim, Ross Robinson III, Ray Cook, Brian Tavenner, Ray Kable, Lewis Hudson, Scott Bloomquist
Hawk Brake First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Daniel Stone, Bo Feathers, Chris Wall, Doug Dodd, Steve Casebolt, Scott LeBarron, Andy Anderson, Kyle Hardy, LC Powers, Brad Omps, Mark Pettyjohn, Devin Friese-DNS, Darryl Hills-DNS, Dale McDowell-DNS
Performance Rod and Custom (PRC) Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Jason Covert, DJ Myers, Brad Neat, Tony Crim, Brian Tavenner, Ray Kable, Lewis Hudson, Leon Lloyd, Dan Schlieper, Ross Robinson III, Scott Bloomquist-DNS, Ray Cook-DNS, Jeremy Miller-DNS, Jonathan DeHaven-DNS
Feature Finish – 50 Laps: 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 44-Earl Pearson Jr[2]; 3. 25-Josh Richards[6]; 4. 20-Jimmy Owens[3]; 5. 0-Scott Bloomquist[23]; 6. 71-Don O'Neal[7]; 7. 19-Austin Hubbard[5]; 8. 23-John Blankenship[12]; 9. 00B-Booper Bare[9]; 10. 53-Ray Cook[24]; 11. 43A-Jason Covert[18]; 12. 18E-Eric Wells[8]; 13. 71W-Chris Wall[21]; 14. 17M-Dale McDowell[25]; 15. 9T-Tim Isenberg[15]; 16. 91-JT Spence[4]; 17. 11T-Tyler Reddick[16]; 18. 41N-Brad Neat[22]; 19. 70J-DJ Myers[20]; 20. 1D-Ronnie Dehaven Jr[13]; 21. 21D-Dan Stone[17]; 22. 6-Jamie Lathroum[10]; 23. 15-Tommy Armel[11]; 24. 7S-Gary Stuhler[14]; 25. 00-Bo Feathers[19]
Race Statistics
Entrants: 44
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1-36); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 37-50)
Caution Flags: Bo Feathers (Lap 19); Tommy Armel (Lap 20); Dale McDowell (Lap 22); Jamie Lathroum (Lap 22 [restart]); Ronnie DeHaven Jr. (Lap 28); J.T. Spence (Lap 28 [restart]); Brad Neat (Lap 31); Tyler Reddick (Lap 39)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Scott Bloomquist, Ray Cook
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: Dale McDowell
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: (Started 23rd; Finished 5th; Advanced 18 positions)
Ohlin’s Shocks Performer of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Eric Wells
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: Brad Neat
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Tommy Hicks (Scott Bloomquist)
Time of Race: 42 minutes 47 seconds
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields