Davenport Makes History with 95th Career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Victory

Column By: LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – WAYNESVILLE, GA –  Jonathan Davenport made Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing history on Friday night, scoring the 95th win of his career by capturing the 50-lap, $12,000-to-win Wieland Winter Nationals feature at Golden Isles Speedway.

With the victory, Davenport becomes the all-time winningest driver in series history, breaking a tie with the late Scott Bloomquist.

Tyler Erb rallied from the outside of the seventh row to finish second, followed by Ricky Thornton Jr., Max Blair, and Ethan Dotson rounding out the top five. Blair earned the Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race award after passing 22 cars en route to his fourth-place finish.

Brandon Overton raced to the early lead, pulling away with Brian Shirley and Davenport in the opening 10 laps until the first caution flew with 11 laps complete.

Overton led the first 14 laps before Davenport cleared him for the top spot on lap 15. Current Midwest Sheet Metal points leader Hudson O’Neal was on the move during the first half of the race, advancing from his 17th starting position to take second on lap 33.

A pair of caution flags kept the field tightly bunched, and Erb capitalized by slipping past O’Neal on the bottom groove on lap 41. The final caution waved with 41 of the 50 laps complete, setting up a dash to the finish.

With Davenport committed to the high side of the racetrack, Erb searched for speed on the bottom in turns three and four, briefly closing the gap. However, Davenport maintained control to secure his third straight win of the week at Golden Isles and his series-record 95th career victory.

Davenport will now attempt a weekend sweep on Saturday night in the $25,000-to-win Wieland Winter Nationals finale.

“It was fun for sure tonight. There were a couple of times I had to hit the brake pedal,” Davenport said. “I saw him (Brandon Overton) coming, and I got turned back under him. We were just sliding back and forth, and that was definitely a lot of fun. Turns three and four were just a little bit different tonight. I felt like the shelf was more aggressive, and it was starting to rubber right against it. There were a couple of times when I hit it just right that I could roll around there pretty good without being all the way up on it.”

“One time I went through there really fast and about knocked the wall down. I thought I had a flat because it started vibrating, but I think my stuff was just worn out. Tyler (Erb) must have been really good to get up there. I could see him down there, but after running the top so many laps and hitting my marks, I didn’t think he could get a run to the flag stand coming to the white or the checkered and try to slide me.”

Erb, who started 14th and worked primarily the bottom groove, finished just 0.992 seconds behind Davenport.

“I didn’t think I was going to catch him following him through three and four, and I felt like one and two were faster around the top,” Erb said. “I just committed to running that line. I really didn’t want that last caution. I got ahead of Hudson but just didn’t have quite enough. Starting 14th and finishing second is pretty good. We’ll try again tomorrow. It was a good race.”

Thornton, who started eighth, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third.

“With 15 to go, I thought if I just finish here it’s going to be a good night, and it turned out to be a good night for us,” said the 2024 series champion. “I qualified well again. I was really good in the heat race, and overall we just put ourselves in a solid position.”

Davenport’s Double L Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Ace Doran Hauling and Rigging, Nutrien Ag Solutions, ASC Warranty, Mark Martin Automotive, and Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas.

Completing the top 10 were Hudson O’Neal, Garrett Alberson, Kyle Bronson, Dillon McCowan, and Garrett Smith.

The 15-lap 604 Late Model feature went to veteran racer Ross Bailes of Clover, South Carolina, who drove the Pursley Racing entry to the $1,500 victory. Bailes led all but the opening lap.

Griffin Smith, winner of Thursday night’s 602 Late Model feature, finished second, followed by Adam Yarbrough, Michael Brown, and Trent Ivey.

The $2,000-to-win Crown Vic feature concluded with Hunter Thigpen of Lyons, Georgia, in Victory Lane after Daniel Starner made contact with race leader Johnny Collins on the final lap, sending Collins spinning. Starner was disqualified from the event.

Brody Collins was credited with second, followed by Tony Bromley, Adam Chambers, and Daniel Baldwin.