Davenport Dominates Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Opener at Golden Isles

WAYNESVILLE, GA (February 7, 2014) – Former Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year Jonathan Davenport of Mt. Airy, NC dominated the season-opener Friday afternoon at Golden Isles Speedway. Davenport set a new track record in time trials, won his heat, and led all 25-laps of the first main event for the Georgia Boot Super Bowl of Racing. The win marked his third career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory. Davenport’s other LOLMDS victories were in the state of Virginia at Winchester Speedway and Virginia Motor Speedway both during the 2010 season.

“I can’t thank Kevin [Rumley], Leroy [Rumley], and Longhorn Chassis enough. This deal just came together at the end of last year, I have driven for them before but to come together so quick with this car, it says a lot about this team.”

Davenport was unchallenged for a majority of the $5000 to win event, which was the first LOLMDS race at Golden Isles Speedway since 2008. Last year’s series rookie of the year, Billy Moyer Jr. ran second for the first 11 laps until yielding to Brandon Sheppard. Moyer then lost another spot a few circuits later to Earl Pearson Jr., who took over the third spot.

A caution with five laps to go would set-up a five lap dash to the finish. But Davenport was just too strong as he fought off Sheppard’s challenges to take the win. “I have to thank AES Racing, JRi Shocks, Mega Plumbing, VP Fuels, and CV Products. The track was real racy for a day-time race, my hats off to the track crew in getting it ready after the rain last night. So now we will come back tonight and try to win two today.”

Sheppard, who is subbing for Josh Richards in the Mark Richards Racing, Rocket House Car crept to within a car-length in the final five-lap shootout, but Davenport pulled away in the closing laps. “We stayed with him on that last restart for a little bit, but he was too strong, congrats to them. This is a new car. We will go back make some adjustments for tonight and see what happens”, stated the winner of the series final event last year, the Dirt Track World Championship.

Sheppard was the only non-Longhorn Chassis driver to prevent a podium finish for Davenport, Pearson and Moyer Jr. Pearson was happy with his finish, but even more for the younger Moyer. “He drove a heck of race there running up top and I didn’t think I was going to get by him. He is going to have a good year and just a matter of time before he gets a series win.We were really good off the bottom today and it feels good to run well this close to home with all my family and friends here”.

Completing the top ten were Chris Madden, Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Dennis Franklin and Jimmy Owens.

In preliminary action, Jonathan Davenport set the overall Georgia Boot Fast Time (Group A) amongst the ­33 entrants, with a lap of 14.921 seconds. Billy Moyer Jr. set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 15.011 seconds. Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, Billy Moyer Jr., and Chris Madden won their respective heat races. Steve Shaver won the B-Main.

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary
Friday DAY, February 7th, 2014
Georgia Boot Super Bowl of Racing
Golden Isles Speedway – Waynesville, GA

Georgia Boot Fast Time Group A: Jonathan Davenport / 14.921 seconds
Georgia Boot Fast Time Group B: Billy Moyer Jr. / 15.011 seconds

Fast Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): Jonathan Davenport, Earl Pearson Jr., Ray Cook, Russell Brown, Jr., Jason Fitzgerald, Jason Papich, Steve Shaver, Eddie Carrier Jr.

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): Brandon Sheppard, Tim McCreadie, John Blankenship, Brady Smith, Randy Weaver, Jared Landers, Devin Moran, Ricky Weiss

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): Billy Moyer Jr., Jimmy Owens, Dennis Franklin, Gregg Satterlee, Vic Coffey, Casey Barrow, Dennis Erb Jr., Kenny PettyJohn, Albert Cosnahan

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): Chris Madden, Don O’Neal, Brian Shirley, Steve Francis, Chad Hollenbeck, Jason Riggs, Jason Hughes, Mike Stadel

JRi Shocks B-Main #1 (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Steve Shaver, Jared Landers, Devin Moran, Dennis Erb Jr., Jason Riggs, Casey Barrow, Eddie Carrier Jr., Jason Papich, Jason Hughes, Kenny PettyJohn-DNS, Ricky Weiss-DNS, Albert Cosnahan-DNS, Mike Stadel-DNS

Feature Finish (25 Laps):

Race Statistics
Entrants: 33
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1 – 25)
Caution Flags: Jason Fitzgerald (Lap 7); Brian Shirley, Vic Coffey, Greg Satterlee (Lap 11); Ray Cook (Lap 17); Debris (Lap 20)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: N/A
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: N/A
Golden Isles Track Provisional: N/A
Wrisco Feature Winner: Jonathan Davenport
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Devin Moran (started: 23rd; finished: 11th; advanced 12 positions)
Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: *Will begin after first series points event.
Allstar Performer of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: *Will begin after RoY registration deadline.
Midwest Sheet Metal Highest Finishing Rookie: *Will begin after RoY registration deadline.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Rumley Race Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Heath Grizzle (Billy Moyer Jr.)
HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Billy Moyer Jr. – Lap 6 – 15.987 seconds
Time of Race: 17 minutes 54 seconds