Dirt on Dirt - Davenport dominates first $6,000 Florence prelim

August 8

Florence Speedway,

Union, KY

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (North-South 100 first Thursday semifeature) - $6,000

Information provided by: Todd Turner, series and track reports (last updated August 9, 7:23 pm)

Davenport dominates first $6,000 Florence prelim

North-South 100 first Thursday semifeature

Jonathan Davenport
Devin Moran
Drake Troutman
Tyler Erb
Josh Rice
Jimmy Owens
Ethan Dotson
Zack Dohm
Tanner English
Ross Bailes
Dale McDowell
Devin Gilpin
Trent Ivey
Boom Briggs
Derek Groomer
Derek Fisher
Tyler Collins
Brenden Smith
Brandon Hardgrove
Spencer Hughes
Dustin Nobbe
Max Blair
Donald McIntosh
Mike Marlar

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Jonathan Davenport led all 25 laps to win Thursday's first semifeature.

What won the race: Overcoming several early-race restarts, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., led all 25 laps from the pole to capture Thursday's first $6,000 semifeature in North-South 100 prelim action at Florence Speedway. Davenport notched his fifth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season and first in seven weeks.

Quotable: “It’s a big relief (to win) really, I have not liked my car lately in the features,” Davenport said. “It drove pretty well right there, honestly I wish I’d started further back where I coulda seen where my car was better and worse at. Once I got a little bit of a lead, (crew chief) Cory (Fostvedt) was showing me, I started moving around a little bit and seemed like he never did close the sticks up. We’ll just have to go back and watch the video and see where we was better at, where we was worse and what we can improve on.”

Key notes: It's Davenport's first win since a $5,000 Firecracker 100 semifeature on June 20 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. ... Devin Moran slipped to third on lap nine before regaining the runner-up spot and trailing Davenport the rest of the way, finishing 2.417 seconds back at the line. ... Josh Rice took second from Moran on the ninth circuit before fading to fifth in his debut aboard a new Longhorn Chassis. ... Fourteenth-starting Drake Troutman used a last-lap pass and nipped Tyler Erb at the line by 0.066 of a second to finish third. ... The first semifeature was slowed by four cautions, three coming in the opening two laps: Zack Dohm made contact with Boom Briggs at turn-one entrance, sending him spinning and pushing him into the middle of the track. Mike Marlar spun to avoid, making slight contact with Dohm, while Dustin Nobbe spun and completely avoided contact. All four continued, with Dohm rebounding to finish eighth. ... Donald McIntosh spun from 10th on lap two, leaving Marlar nowhere to go and piling in, ending both of their nights. ... The third yellow came on the ensuing restart when third-running Max Blair slowed suddnely at turn-four exit and pulled into the infield after his car shut off (battery). A fast-approaching Dale McDowell could not avoid Blair, sliding into his left-side as he began to pull in. McDowell recovered to 11th after pitting to repair right-side damage. ... The fourth and final stoppage came on lap 13 when Spencer Hughes slowed from 12th with a flat right-rear. Hughes continued after changing the tire and finished 20th, the final driver running at the finish. ... The race lasted 21 minutes.

On the move: Drake Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., started 14th and finished third.

Winner's sponsors: Davenport’s Lance Landers Motorsports Longhorn Chassis carries sponsorship from Nutrien Ag Solutions, ASC Warranty, Dynagro Seed, Mark Martin Automotive, Mega Plumbing & HVAC, Lucas Oil, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Bilstein and Midwest Sheet Metal.

Points chase: Before Florence: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4,795); 2. Devin Moran (4,535); 3. Jonathan Davenport (4,510); 4. Hudson O’Neal (4,135); 5. Tim McCreadie (4,115); 6. Garrett Alberson (3,950); 7. Mike Marlar (3,940); 8. Daulton Wilson (3,900); 9. Jimmy Owens (3,710); 10. Max Blair (3,500).

Current weather: Overcast, 79°F

Car count: 61

Fast qualifier: Jonathan Davenport

Time: 15.410 seconds

Polesitter: Jonathan Davenport

Heat race winners: Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Josh Rice, Max Blair

Consolation race winners: Spencer Hughes

Next series race: August 9, Florence Speedway (Union, KY) $6,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

UNION, Ky. — Updates from Thursday’s 42nd annual Sunoco North-South 100 first prelim night featuring twin 25-lap, $6,000-to-win semifeatures for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Semifeature

Overcoming several early-race restarts, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., led all 25 laps from the pole to win Thursday's first $6,000 semifeature in North-South 100 prelim action at Florence Speedway. Although not a full-field triumph, Davenport notched his fifth overall Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season. Devin Moran slipped to third on lap nine before regaining the runner-up spot and trailing Davenport the rest of the way, finishing 2.417 seconds back at the line.

Semifeature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Jonathan Davenport, Josh Rice
Row 2: Devin Moran, Max Blair
Row 3: Jimmy Owens, Dale McDowell
Row 4: Ethan Dotson, Donald McIntosh
Row 5: Zack Dohm, Boom Briggs
Row 6: Ross Bailes, Trent Ivey
Row 7: Tyler Erb, Drake Troutman
Row 8: Tanner English, Mike Marlar
Row 9: Derek Groomer, Brenden Smith
Row 10: Devin Gilpin, Derek Fisher
Row 11: Spencer Hughes, Tyler Collins
Row 12: Brandon Hardgrove, Dustin Nobbe

Consolation race

(10 laps; top four transfer)

Finish: Spencer Hughes, Tyler Collins, Brandon Hardgrove, Dustin Nobbe, Brad Rickels, Billy Green, Gray Parton, Cory Lawler, Curt Addison, Michael LeFevers. Scratched: Calvin Carlton.

Heat race recap

Pole-starting Jonathan Davenport led all eight laps to win the first heat race by 0.883 of a second over third-starting Jimmy Owens. Zack Dohm, fifth-starting Tyler Erb and Derek Groomer grabbed the fifth and final transfer spot into Thursday’s first 25-lap semifeature. … Second-starting Devin Moran dominated the second heat, leading the entire distance and winning by 1.187 seconds over pole-starting Ethan Dotson. Ross Bailes, Tanner English and Devin Gilpin all held serve in the top five, securing transfer positions into the first prelim. … Second-starting Josh Rice got the jump at the initial start and cruised to win the third heat by 0.533 of a second over pole-starting Dale McDowell. Boom Briggs finished third, with Drake Troutman in fourth and sixth-starting Brenden Smith rounding out the top five. … Second-starting Max Blair secured a flag-to-flag victory in the fourth and final heat race, leading all eight laps and winning by 1.363 seconds over third-starting Donald McIntosh. Trent Ivey, Mike Marlar and Derek Fisher completed the top five.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top five transfer)

First heat: Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens, Zack Dohm, Tyler Erb, Derek Groomer, Gray Parton, Tyler Collins, Dustin Nobbe.

Second heat: Devin Moran, Ethan Dotson, Ross Bailes, Tanner English, Devin Gilpin, Billy Green, Brad Rickels, Curt Addison.

Third heat: Josh Rice, Dale McDowell, Boom Briggs, Drake Troutman, Brenden Smith, Spencer Hughes, Brandon Hardgrove. Scratched: Calvin Carlton.

Fourth heat: Max Blair, Donald McIntosh, Trent Ivey, Mike Marlar, Derek Fisher, Cory Lawler, Michael LeFevers.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)

Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.410
Ethan Dotson (74), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.517
Zack Dohm (17D), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 15.643
Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.656
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.759
Ross Bailes (87), Clover, S.C., 15.847
Gray Parton (18p), Rutherfordton, N.C., 15.866
Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 16.002
Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 16.082
Devin Gilpin (1G), Columbus, Ind., 16.209
Derek Groomer (D48), Bloomington, Ind., 16.526
Brad Rickels (7R), Verona, Ky., 16.640
Tyler Collins (11T), North Vernon, Ind., 16.647
Billy Green (49B), Walton, Ky., 16.828
Dustin Nobbe (5n), Batesville, Ind., 17.078
Curt Addison (8), Florence, Ky., 18.731

Group B

Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.710
Trent Ivey (G4), Union, S.C., 15.905
Josh Rice (11R), Verona, Ky., 15.931
Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.965
Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 16.057
Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.058
Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.069
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 16.097
Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 16.116
Derek Fisher (38), Olympia, Ky., 16.257
Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.279
Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 16.332
Brandon Hardgrove (H22), Burnside, Ky., 16.576
Michael LeFevers (90), Cincinnati, Ohio, 17.427
Calvin Carlton (11), Lawrenceburg, Ky., no time

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits open
6 p.m. - Grandstands open
7 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model Group A time trials (2 laps)
- Late Model Group B time trials (2 laps)
- Modified time trials
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps; if necessary)
Intermission/track prep
- First Late Model semifeature (25 laps)
- Second Late Model semifeature (25 laps)