GREENWOOD, Neb. — If Jonathan Davenport has competed for the final time at I-80 Speedway, his memories of the 4/10-mile oval will certainly be sweet.

Coming alive in the final 10 laps, the 38-year-old Blairsville, Ga., driver caught race-dominating Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., amid traffic and took command with an outside pass on the frontstretch on lap 74, pulling way for an 80-lap Imperial Tile Silver Dollar Nationals victory worth $53,000.

In becoming the lucrative event's first three-time winner, Davenport took the checkers 1.473 seconds ahead of McCreadie and collected the hardware with the track's closure all but certain with the Kosiski family's plans to sell the property that rests between Lincoln and Omaha.

"I don't know what the future holds for this place," Davenport said in victory lane, "but it's an awesome racetrack."

Davenport, whose career-richest season includes a seven-figure payday at Ohio's Eldora Million, notched his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season and denied the series points-leading McCreadie his second Silver Dollar Nationals victory after he led 73 laps. Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, improved nine positions in finishing third while pole-starting Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., who held the second spot from laps 47-61, was fourth and Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., rounded out the top five in a race postponed by Saturday rain.

For most of the race, McCreadie cruised comfortably ahead of contenders who mixed it up among the top-five spots, but after a lengthy caution on the 60th lap — pitted cars and lineup issues appeared to drag the caution out for several minutes — Davenport's fortunes became brighter.

Taking the second spot from Marlar on lap 62, Davenport was able to stay closer than anyone ever had with McCreadie, who frequently had led by margins of three seconds or more through the race's middle stages. And when the leader was coming upon slower cars in the late stages, Davenport quickly closed within striking distance.

With a pair side-by-side slower cars ahead and McCreadie in the low groove trying to get underneath, Davenport used the high side and swept into the lead on the 74th lap, nipping McCreadie at the flagstand to take the point. It wasn't close the rest of the way.

Davenport said the timing of the traffic played in his favor.

"These cars are so aero-dependent. And I didn't think we was that good, really, until we finally got some clean air on the nose and I could start moving around a little bit," Davenport said. "And once we got to third or fourth there, I think Devin was on the inside of me. I never could arc my corner and come all the way down to catch traction. But once we finally got clear of him and could start running about same line McCreadie was, we started tracking (him) down there a little bit.

"Then just lapped traffic. You know, that's the only way we got by him. I'd rather pass anybody in the pit area but him. He's one of my best buddies on the road and we share a lot of information, so it's good to see him running good, too, and hopefully he can get this championship."

McCreadie, who hadn't felt well Sunday because of issues with kidney stones, preferred long green-flag stretches and said his car didn't quite fire the same on the final restart.

"I don't think it helped, but I didn't think we changed a ton until we caught traffic because we just got hung under a couple of cars there where I just couldn't get all the way by 'em, you know what I mean?" McCreadie said. "I wouldn't say his car was way better than ours at the end, it's just one one little deal where I got hung up and he got by."

Moran had a chance to steal a spot from Davenport in the second half of the race when he tried to work underneath him, but couldn't quite make the pass.

"I was kind of married to that bottom (groove), but as the race went on, the grease went away and really at the end, it felt like it was the most grip it had," the third-place finisher said. "Once I could clear cars and arc out and get down to it, it was really good. I got up the J.D. at one point in time and I was right there on him. I just couldn't get enough air off of him to get by him."

Like Davenport, Moran will miss racing at I-80 if the series never returns.

"This place (never) ceases to amaze me you know?" he added. "I thought for sure they didn't do enough (track preparation) for it and I thought it was gonna rubber and we were gonna run around here one-laned. The Kosiski family does an awesome job at this place and it races awesome each and every time. Super sad we don't get to come back, but we definitely had a lot of fun tonight."

Marlar saw all the frontrunners as near equal where things might've played out different if things had developed differently.

"It's kind of situational out there, really. I feel like I had a shot at winning with 20 (laps) to go and we had that long caution and the track got kind of dirty and crummy and muddy, and then I never could steer after that restart," said Marlar, who extended a personal streak of 16 consecutive top-five finishes. "I would love to have won the race, but as tough as the competition is in Dirt Late Model racing, to be up there in the top five all these races is pretty cool, too. Congratulations to Jonathan and Timmy and Devin, and Earl back there. We had a really fun race there. We're all so close, it's just real situational on how it finishes."

Three cautions slowed the action, none for wrecks. Garrett Alberson lost power on lap 61. Jesse Sobbing and Kyle Strickler slowed simultaneously on lap 49 for the first slowdown while a lap-59 yellow fell when the slower car of Tyler Erb headed pitside.

Notes: Jonathan Davenport notched his 11th overall victory of 2022. ... He has 61 career Lucas Oil victories, third on the all-time victories list. ... Fifth-place finisher Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., was eager to head home with expectations of becoming a grandfather for the first time in a few weeks. ... While I-80's future isn't completely clear, before Sunday's race the series announced the event would be held July 20-22 next season with details — and a venue — to be announced. There's been speculation the event will move to Huset's Speedway in Brandon, S.D., which hosted its first Lucas Oil Series event last week. ... Nineteen of 33 starters completed 80 laps.

Imperial Tile Silver Dollar Nationals
Pos. Driver (car no.), hometown, chassis, earnings
1. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., Longhorn, $53,000
2. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., Longhorn, $20,000
3. Devin Moran (9), Dresden, Ohio, Longhorn, $15,000
4. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., Longhorn, $10,000
5. Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla., Longhorn, $8,000
6. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., Rocket, $7,000
7. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., Pierce, $6,800
8. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., Longhorn, $6,600
9. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., Longhorn, $6,500
10. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., Rocket, $6,400
11. Chad Simpson (25), Mount Vernon, Iowa, Black Diamond, $6,300
12. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, Capital, $6,200
13. Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, Sniper, $6,100
14. Nick Hoffman (2H), Mooresville, N.C., Barry Wright, $6,000
15. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., Capital, $5,953
16. Max Blair (111v), Centerville, Pa., Rocket, $5,900
17. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., Rocket, $5,853
18. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., Rocket, $5,800
19. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., Rocket, $5,753
20. Spencer Hughes (11), Meridian, Miss., Longhorn, $5,700
21. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., Rocket, $5,653
22. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., Black Diamond, $5,600
23. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., Longhorn, $5,553
24. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, Rocket, $5,500
25. Jesse Sobbing (18), Malvern, Iowa, Rocket, $5,453
26. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., Longhorn, $5,400
27. Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa, Rocket,, $5,375
28. Johnny Scott (1st), Las Cruces, N.M., Longhorn, $5,353
29. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., Black Diamond, $5,325
30. Dale McDowell (17M), Chickamauga, Ga., Team Zero, $5,300
31. Bill Leighton (24), La Vista, Neb., Rocket, $5,300
32. Ben Schaller (98), Omaha, Neb., Barry Wright, $5,300
33. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., Longhorn, $0
Lap leaders: McCreadie 1-73; Davenport 74-80
Non-qualifiers’ race winner: Gustin
Heat race winners (among 60 cars): Hoffman, McCreadie, Davenport, Strickler, Pearson, Erb, Thornton, Weiss, Shirley, Marlar
Consolation race winners: Dillard, Clanton, Bronson
Provisional starters: Alberson, Wilson, Sobbing, Schaller, Robinson

Silver Dollar Nationals lineup

Row 1: Mike Marlar, Tim McCreadie
Row 2: Bobby Pierce, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Max Blair, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 4: Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens
Row 5: Chase Junghans, Brandon Sheppard
Row 6: Kyle Strickler, Chad Simpson
Row 7: Devin Moran, Nick Hoffman
Row 8: Johnny Scott, Dale McDowell
Row 9: Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening
Row 10: Cade Dillard, Shane Clanton
Row 11: Kyle Bronson, Bill Leighton
Row 12: Ricky Weiss, Garrett Smith
Row 13: Hudson O'Neal, Spencer Hughes
Row 14: Tyler Erb, Garrett Alberson
Row 15: Daulton Wilson, Jesse Sobbing
Row 16: Ben Schaller, Ryan Gustin
Row 17: Ross Robinson

Non-qualifers' race

(16 laps; winner takes option to transfer)

Results: Ryan Gustin, Stormy Scott, Daniel Hilsabeck, Charlie McKenna, Blair Nothdurft, Terry Phillips, Andrew Kosiski, Mason Zeigler, Chris Spieker, Cale Osborn, Mike Collins, Doug Burgess, Alan Hopp, Ross Robinson, Tad Pospisil, Jake Neal.

Consolation race results

(12 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Cade Dillard, Bill Leighton Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Ryan Gustin, Jesse Sobbing, Blair Nothdurft, Terry Phillips, Mason Zeigler, Ross Robinson, Doug Burgess. Scratched: Chris Simpson, Chris Madden, John Anderson, Jake Timm.

Second consolation: Shane Clanton, Ricky Weiss, Spencer Hughes, Daniel Hilsabeck, Chris Spieker, Garrett Alberson, Jake Neal, Mike Collins, Cale Osborn, Boom Briggs, Dan Battaglia. Scratched: Matt Furman, Aaron Marrant, Todd Cooney.

Third consolation: Kyle Bronson, Garrett Smith, Tyler Erb, Stormy Scott, Ben Schaller, Daulton Wilson, Charlie McKenna, Andrew Kosiski, Tad Pospisil, Allan Hopp, Jason Papich, Colby Moore.

Action resumes Sunday

After three days of stifling conditions at I-80 Speedway — temperatures were in the high 90s Thursday and Friday and topped 100 degrees before Saturday's action was postponed by rain — the Imperial Tile Silver Dollar Nationals closes on Sunday with spectacular weather. Sunny skies have prevailed throughout the day with the temperatures only climbing into the mid-80s to provide some relief from the intense heat.

Sunday's hot laps began right on schedule at 5:30 p.m. CT with the track surface quickly coming around. It's expected that the 80-lap Silver Dollar Nationals feature will be ready to roll shortly after the live MAV-TV network broadcast comes on the air at 8:30 p.m. CT/9:30 p.m. ET. (The entire program will be streamed live on FloRacing.)

Sunday’s consolation lineups

(12 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation
Row 1: Cade Dillard, Hudson O’Neal
Row 2: Jesse Sobbing, Bill Leighton
Row 3: Mason Zeigler, Ryan Gustin
Row 4: Ross Robinson, Chris Simpson
Row 5: Chris Madden, Terry Phillips
Row 6: Blair Nothdurft, John Anderson
Row 7: Jake Timm, Doug Burgess
Second consolation
Row 1: Shane Clanton, Boom Briggs
Row 2: Ricky Weiss, Garrett Alberson
Row 3: Chris Spieker, Matt Furman
Row 4: Jake Neal, Spencer Hughes
Row 5: Aaron Marrant, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 6: Cale Osborn, Mike Collins
Row 7: Todd Cooney, Dan Battaglia
Third consolation
Row 1: Stormy Scott, Kyle Bronson
Row 2: Tyler Erb, Daulton Wilson
Row 3: Charlie McKenna, Garrett Smith
Row 4: Jason Papich, Justin Zeitner
Row 5: Tad Pospisil, Andrew Kosiski
Row 6: Allan Hopp, Dusty Leonard
Row 7: Ben Schaller, Colby Moore

Finale postponed

With precipitation beginning to pick up again at 10 p.m. CDT after a rain delay of more than two hours, Lucas Oil Series and I-80 Speedway officials announced the postponement of Saturday's Imperial Tile Silver Dollar Nationals to Sunday. Hot laps are set to begin at 5:30 p.m. CT with the scheduled program to follow.

Saturday's card had been minutes away from starting with modified heat races when rain struck at 7:40 p.m., delaying the action. While strong storms missed the track, the moderate rain lasted long enough to make the track surface unraceable without extensive reconditioning.

Qualifying recap

Friday night’s two rounds of Imperial Tile Silver Dollar Nationals heat races produced 10 different winners, setting the stage for Saturday’s 80-lap, $53,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned finale.

Round 1 winners were Nick Hoffman, Tim McCreadie, Jonathan Davenport, Kyle Strickler and Earl Pearson Jr., while Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton Jr., Ricky Weiss, Brian Shirley and Mike Marlar claimed victories in Round 2. All heat victors received $250 in silver dollars for their efforts.

Marlar and  McCreadie earned the most passing points in Friday's heats, putting them on the front row for the start of Saturday’s headliner. McCreadie won the race in 2017 while Marlar will be gunning for his first-ever victory in the event.

The biggest story of the night came during Round 2 when a multi-car tangle on the opening lap of the second heat included Thursday-night feature winner Chris Madden, who overran polesitter Dusty Leonard entering turn one and went sliding wildly toward the outside wall. Madden wasn’t injured but his car sustained heavy damage to all four corners amid the wreck that also included Leonard, Mike Collins, Tyler Bruening and John Anderson.

Round 2 heat results

First heat finish: Tyler Erb, Bobby Pierce, Hudson O’Neal, Tad Pospisil, Chad Simpson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Boom Briggs, Garrett Smith, Blair Nothdurft, Mason Zeigler, Aaron Marrant, Colby Moore.

Second heat finish: Ricky Thornton Jr., Jesse Sobbing, Brandon Sheppard, Max Blair, Tyler Bruening, Kyle Strickler, Ross Robinson, Todd Cooney, Mike Collins, Dusty Leonard, Chris Madden, John Anderson.

Third heat finish: Ricky Weiss, Kyle Bronson, Stormy Scott, Garrett Alberson, Bill Leighton, Terry Phillips, Devin Moran, Jason Papich, Charlie McKenna, Cale Osborn, Doug Burgess, Andrew Kosiski.

Fourth heat finish: Brian Shirley, Daulton Wilson, Tim McCreadie, Chase Junghans, Jimmy Owens, Jonathan Davenport, Jake Neal, Ryan Gustin, Chris Simpson, Chris Spieker, Allan Hopp, Dan Battaglia.

Fifth heat finish: Mike Marlar, Dale McDowell, Spencer Hughes, Cade Dillard, Earl Pearson Jr., Johnny Scott, Shane Clanton, Nick Hoffman, Jake Timm, Matt Furman, Justin Zeitner, Ben Schaller.

Round 1 heat results

First heat finish: Nick Hoffman, Jimmy Owens, Mason Zeigler, Chris Spieker, Justin Zeitner, Chris Madden, John Anderson, Garrett Alberson, Blair Nothdurft, Ben Schaller, Daniel Hilsabeck, Terry Phillips.

Second heat finish: Tim McCreadie, Devin Moran, Johnny Scott, Matt Furman, Charlie McKenna, Aaron Marrant, Dale McDowell, Ross Robinson, Allan Hopp, Mike Collins, Dan Battaglia, Colby Moore.

Third heat finish: Jonathan Davenport, Bobby Pierce, Chase Junghans, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Bruening, Cade Dillard, Stormy Scott, Jason Papich, Kyle Bronson, Daulton Wilson, Tyler Erb, Spencer Hughes.

Fourth heat finish: Kyle Strickler, Mike Marlar, Shane Clanton, Chad Simpson, Ryan Gustin, Garrett Smith, Bill Leighton, Jake Neal, Cale Osborn, Dusty Leonard, Doug Burgess.

Fifth heat finish: Earl Pearson Jr., Max Blair, Ricky Thornton Jr., Boom Briggs, Andrew Kosiski, Chris Simpson, Hudson O’Neal, Brian Shirley, Jesse Sobbing, Ricky Weiss, Jake Timm, Tad Pospisil.

Round 1 heat lineups

(Passing points format; distance is number of cars plus two)

First heat
Row 1: Mason Zeigler, Nick Hoffman
Row 2: Jimmy Owens, Terry Phillips
Row 3: John Anderson, Blair Nothdurft
Row 4: Justin Zeitner, Chris Spieker
Row 5: Garrett Alberson, Chris Madden
Row 6: Daniel Hilsabeck, Ben Schaller
Second heat
Row 1: Matt Furman, Tim McCreadie
Row 2: Devin Moran, Ross Robinson
Row 3: Colby Moore, Johnny Scott
Row 4: Dan Battaglia, Charlie McKenna
Row 5: Mike Collins, Aaron Marrant
Row 6: Dale McDowell, Allan Hopp
Third heat
Row 1: Jonathan Davenport, Jason Papich
Row 2: Tyler Bruening, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Cade Dillard, Chase Junghans
Row 4: Stormy Scott, Brandon Sheppard
Row 5: Tyler Erb, Spencer Hughes
Row 6: Daulton Wilson, Kyle Bronson
Fourth heat
Row 1: Doug Burgess, Kyle Strickler
Row 2: Chad Simpson, Shane Clanton
Row 3: Ryan Gustin, Bill Leighton
Row 4: Todd Cooney, Garrett Smith
Row 5: Mike Marlar, Jake Neal
Row 6: Cale Osborn, Dusty Leonard
Fifth heat
Row 1: Max Blair, Boom Briggs
Row 2: Earl Pearson Jr., Chris Simpson
Row 3: Andrew Kosiski, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 4: Hudson O’Neal, Jake Timm
Row 5: Brian Shirley, Ricky Weiss
Row 6: Jesse Sobbing, Tad Pospisil

Round 2 heat lineups

(Passing points format; distance is number of cars plus two)

First heat
Row 1: Tad Pospisil, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 2: Aaron Marrant, Tyler Erb
Row 3: Garrett Smith, Hudson O’Neal
Row 4: Blair Nothdurft, Colby Moore
Row 5: Bobby Pierce, Chad Simpson
Row 6: Boom Briggs, Mason Zeigler
Second heat
Row 1: Dusty Leonard, Jesse Sobbing
Row 2: Chris Madden, Mike Collins
Row 3: Brandon Sheppard, Todd Cooney
Row 4: Ricky Thornton Jr., John Anderson
Row 5: Ross Robinson, Tyler Bruening
Row 6: Kyle Strickler, Max Blair
Third heat
Row 1: Kyle Bronson, Cale Osborn
Row 2: Ricky Weiss, Garrett Alberson
Row 3: Charlie McKenna, Stormy Scott
Row 4: Bill Leighton, Andrew Kosiski
Row 5: Terry Phillips, Devin Moran
Row 6: Jason Papich, Doug Burgess
Fourth heat
Row 1: Allan Hopp, Daulton Wilson
Row 2: Jake Neal, Brian Shirley
Row 3: Chris Spieker, Dan Battaglia
Row 4: Chase Junghans, Ryan Gustin
Row 5: Chris Simpson, Jimmy Owens
Row 6: Tim McCreadie, Jonathan Davenport
Fifth heat
Row 1: Ben Schaller, Dale McDowell
Row 2: Spencer Hughes, Mike Marlar
Row 3: Jake Timm, Justin Zeitner
Row 4: Johnny Scott, Cade Dillard
Row 5: Shane Clanton, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 6: Nick Hoffman, Matt Furman

Numerical drivers’ roster

(Driver, car number, hometown)

Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill.
Jake Neal (1J), Omaha, Neb.
Aaron Marrant (1x), Richmond, Mo.
Johnny Scott (1ST), Las Cruces, N.M.
Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas
Nick Hoffman (2H), Mooresville, N.C.
Stormy Scott (2s), Las Cruces, N.M.
Doug Burgess (3), Villisca, Iowa
Mike Collins (3c), New Orleans, La.
Brian Shirley (3S), Chatham, Ill.
Tad Pospisil (04), Norfolk, Neb.
Cale Osborn (6c), Lexington, Neb.
Al Humphrey (6H), Giltner, Neb.
Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del.
Dusty Leonard (7D), Marysville, Kan.
Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba
Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C.
Devin Moran (9), Dresden, Ohio
Mason Zeigler (9z), Chalk Hill, Pa.
Garrett Smith (10G), Eatonton, Ga.
Spencer Hughes (11), Meridian, Miss.
Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa
Dale McDowell (17M), Chickamauga, Ga.
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan.
Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C.
Jesse Sobbing (18S), Malvern, Iowa
Colby Moore (19M), Springtown, Texas
Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn.
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20RT), Adel, Iowa
Charlie McKenna (22), Ames, Iowa
Daniel Hilsabeck (22H), Earlham, Iowa
Bill Leighton (24), Lavista, Neb.
Chad Simpson (25), Mt. Vernon, Iowa
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga.
Todd Cooney (30), Des Moines, Iowa
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill.
Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y.
Kyle Bronson (40b), Brandon, Fla.
Chris Madden (44M), Gray Court, S.C.
Dan Battaglia (45D), Gretna, Neb.
Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla.
Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga.
Jake Timm (49T), Winona, Minn.
Matt Furman (51), Iowa City, Iowa
Andrew Kosiski (53), Omaha, Neb.
Chris Spieker (56), Massena, Iowa
Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruce, N.M.
Justin Zentner (62), Malvern, Iowa
Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind.
Terry Phillips (75), Springfield, Mo.
Blair Nothdurft (76B), Renner, S.D.
Allan Hopp (80), Harlan, Iowa
Jason Papich (91P), Nipomo, Calif.
Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La.
Ben Schaller (98), Omaha, Neb.
Boom Briggs (99b), Bear Lake, Pa.
Max Blair (111v), Centerville, Pa.
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn

Saturday’s schedule

7 p.m. - On-track action begins
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model B-main cars hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model B-mains (12 laps)
- Late Model feature transfer hot laps
- Modified B-main (8 laps)
- Late Model S&S Showdown Non-Qualifiers' Race (16 laps)
- Modified B-mains (8 laps)
- Late Model driver introductions/track prep
- Modified feature (22 laps)
- Silver Dollar Nationals (80 laps)