Davenport Tops Moyer Jr. In Late Battle At Cedar Lake Speedway To Win Thursday’s USA Nationals Opening Night Feature
Georgia Driver Leads Final Two Laps To Earn $6,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Victory, Takes Aim at $50,000 Payday In Saturday’s USA Nationals Finale
By Joshua Joiner, WoO LMS PR
NEW RICHMOND, Wis. – July 30, 2015 – Less than a week after winning Fairbury American Legion Speedway’s Prairie Dirt Classic with a final-lap pass, Jonathan Davenport used more late-race heroics to make another visit to victory lane Thursday night at Cedar Lake Speedway.
Kicking off the 28th annual USA Nationals weekend in thrilling fashion, Davenport, 31, of Blairsville, Ga., chased down Billy Moyer Jr. of Batesville, Ark., late in Thursday’s 40-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series feature at Cedar Lake and outdueled Moyer Jr. in a dramatic close battle at the 3/8-mile oval.
After catching Moyer Jr. with less than five laps remaining, the sixth-starting Davenport edged ahead as the two leaders took the white flag and pulled out front over the final circuit. Davenport crossed the finish line 0.678 seconds ahead of Moyer Jr. to earn a $6,000 payday in an event that served as a tune-up for Cedar Lake’s $50,000-to-win USA Nationals that will be contested on Friday and Saturday.
“This car was just phenomenal again tonight,” Davenport said of his Lee Roy and Kevin Rumley-owned Sundance Services Longhorn Chassis. “This is definitely good for us. It’s a good momentum builder for the weekend. Now we just need a good qualifying lap tomorrow and a good heat race run and see if we can’t start near the front on Saturday.”
Moyer Jr., who twice led the race for a total of 31 laps, settled for second with his father Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., taking third after himself leading laps 11 through 17 Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., was fourth in the caution-free race with Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., rounding out the top five.
Much like he did on his way to topping Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., in Fairbury’s Prairie Dirt Classic on July 25, Davenport again charged around the high line in the closing laps Thursday night at Cedar Lake. Although the top groove was tricky, Davenport expertly rode the cushion to the fourth WoO LMS victory his career.
“The cushion was right up next to the wall and I kept thinking I was actually hitting the wall,” said Davenport, who currently leads the points standings on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. “It wasn’t easy because you had to be right up there on it, but being up there was what let us get around (Moyer Jr.) there when we got back to him.”
After pulling ahead of second-starting Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., on the start, Moyer Jr. controlled the race’s early portions until a bout with the cushion in turns one and two allowed both his father and Davenport to charge by him. But Moyer Jr. battled back and used a three-wide pass to overtake both Moyer and Davenport and move back into the lead on lap 18.
Moyer Jr. opened a sizeable gap through the race’s middle portions, but the late-charging Davenport and his own struggles with lapped traffic prevented Moyer Jr. from claiming what would’ve been the first WoO LMS victory of his career.
“I knew Davenport was coming,” Moyer Jr. said. “I just got beat. I didn’t judge lapped traffic right.
“We had a real strong run. The car is awesome, but I just gotta do a better job and get through traffic better.”
Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., advanced from the 12th starting spot to finish sixth, with 10th-starting Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., taking seventh. Frank faded to eighth at the finish, with Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., rounding out the top 10.
The event drew 48 entries on Night 1 of the three-night USA Nationals weekend. The elder Moyer posted fast time in qualifying with a lap of 13.902 seconds. Heat races were won by the two Moyers, Davenport, Bloomquist, McCreadie, and Frank. Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., WoO LMS points leader Shane Clanton of Zeublon, Ga., and Mitch McGrath of Waukesha, Wis., won the night’s Last-Chance Showdowns.
Action continues at Cedar Lake on Friday with USA Nationals preliminary racing. The night will feature WoO LMS time trials, heat races and a dash, along with a complete program for the local Late Model division. For more USA Nationals information, visit the Cedar Lake Speedway website at www.cedarlakespeedway.com.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com. Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and Facebook at Facebook.com/WorldofOutlawsLateModelSeries.
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series USA Nationals Opening Night Feature at Cedar Lake Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (6) Jonathan Davenport/40 $6,000
2. (1) Billy Moyer Jr./40 $3,550
3. (4) Billy Moyer/40 $2,200
4. (5) Scott Bloomquist/40 $1,850
5. (7) Jimmy Owens/40 $1,500
6. (12) Jason Feger/40 $1,550
7. (10) Brandon Sheppard/40 $1,300
8. (2) Chub Frank/40 $1,250
9. (8) Darrell Lanigan/40 $1,250
10. (3) Tim McCreadie/40 $1,150
11. (14) Bobby Pierce/40 $900
12. (18) Jimmy Mars/40 $850
13. (11) A.J. Diemel/40 $900
14. (16) Josh Richards/40 $925
15. (20) Shane Clanton/40 $750
16. (19) Earl Pearson Jr./40 $700
17. (13) Mike Marlar/40 $660
18. (23) Kent Robinson/40 $640
19. (24) Frank Heckenast Jr./40 $620
20. (9) Mason Zeigler/40 $600
21. (26) Rick Eckert/40 $700
22. (28) Chase Junghans/39 $110
23. (17) Boom Briggs/39 $600
24. (21) Mitch McGrath/39 $625
25 (27) Eric Wells/39 $110
26. (29) Brandon Overton/39 $360
27. (25) Morgan Bagley/39 $600
28. (15) Shannon Babb/13 $600
29. (22) Jesse Stovall/11 $600
Time of Race: 10 Mins., 44 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.678 Secs.
Yellow Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Moyer Jr. (1-10; 18-38); Moyer Sr. (11-17), Davenport (39-40)
Provisional Starters: Bagley, Eckert, Wells (emergency), Junghans (emergency), Overton (emergency)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Moyer Jr. ($500)
WoO LMS ‘Rookie of the Race’ Winner: Overton ($250)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
Group A
1. 21-Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark., 13.902
2. 6-Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga., 13.970
3. 18B-Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill., 14.052
4. 20-Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn., 14.058
5. 32-Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill., 14.061
6. 7R-Kent Robinson, Bloomington, Ind., 14.142
7. 157-Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn., 14.165
8. 14x-Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky., 14.183
9. 7k-Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, 14.191
10. 1P-Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 14.216
11. 15-Nick Anvelink, Bonduel, Wis., 14.251
12. 25z-Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa., 14.255
13. 18-Eric Wells, Hazard, Ky., 14.347
14. 00-Jesse Stovall, Billings, Mo., 14.470
15. 0-Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn., 14.490
16. 29-Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 14.491
17. 6w-R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz., 14.535
18. 77-Jordan Yaggy, Rochester, Minn., 14.538
19. 7d-Austin Theiss, Hockley, Texas, 14.653
20. 28-Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill., 14.702
21. 27-Justin Hirt, Tigerton, Wis., 14.940
22. 57-Chad Williamson, Watertown, S.D., 15.407
23. 6-Nick Herrick, West Concord, Minn., no time
24. 316-Shawn Polonski, Thunder Bay, Ont., no time
Group B
1. 39-Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y., 14.120
2. 74-Mitch McGrath, Waukesha, Wis., 14.141
3. 25F-Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill., 14.296
4. 1-Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va., 14.315
5. 1*-Chub Frank, Bear Lake, Pa., 14.317
6. 28m-Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis., 14.324
7. B5-Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill., 14.396
8. 98-Jason Rauen, Farley, Iowa, 14.409
9. 21JR-Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark., 14.413
10. 25-Shane Clanton, Zebulon, Ga., 14.425
11. 58-A.J. Diemel, Elk Mound, Wis., 14.440
12. 8-Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill., 14.468
13. 7v-Rick Eckert, York, Pa., 14.495
14. 99B-Boom Briggs, Bear Lake, Pa., 14.508
15. 99jr-Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfort, Ill., 14.562
16. 25s-Chad Simpson, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, 14.565
17. 18c-Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., 14.586
18. 14m-Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas, 14.598
19. 22-Gregg Satterlee, Rochester Mills, Pa., 14.602
20. 33x-Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga., 14.684
21. 32s-Chris Simpson, Oxford, Iowa, 14.697
22. 90-Lance Matthees, Winona, Minn., 14.882
23. 1d-Doug Blashe, Marion, Wis., 15.015
24. 10-Paul Parker, Depore, Wis., 15.060
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Moyer Sr., Owens, Marlar, Pearson, Wells, Diercks, Williamson, Theiss.
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Davenport, Lanigan, Pierce, Stovall, Whitwell, Erb, Anvelink. DNS: Herrick.
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Bloomquist, Zeigler, Babb, Sanders, Robinson, Hirt, Yaggy, Polonoski.
Heat No. 4 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): McCreadie, Sheppard, Richards, Clanton, Eckert, Chad Simpson, Satterlee, Matthees.
Heat No. 5 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Frank, Diemel, Briggs, McGrath, Junghans, Overton, Rauen, Blashe.
Heat No. 6 (10 laps – Top 3 Transfer): Moyer Jr., Feger, Mars, Shirley, Heckenast, Bagley, Chris Simpson, Parker.
Last-Chance Showdown No. 1 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Pearson, Stovall, Whitwell, Wells, Erb, Anvelink, Theiss, Williamson, Diercks. DNS: Herrick.
Last-Chance Showdown No. 2 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): Clanton, Robinson, Sanders, Eckert, Chad Simpson, Satterlee, Hirt, Matthees, Yaggy, Polonoski.
Last-Chance Showdown No. 3 (10 laps – Top 2 Transfer): McGrath, Heckenast, Shirley, Junghans, Bagley, Chris Simpson, Overton, Rauen, Blashe,
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal):
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Moyer
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Moyer Jr.
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Moyer Jr.
Quartermaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner): Moyer Jr.
Wrisco (three sheets of aluminum/certificate to A-Main winner): Davenport
Mobil 1 ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Feger
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Feger
Lincoln Welders ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Feger
VP Racing Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Frank
Edelbrock ($50 cash to 9th-place finisher in A-Main): Bagley
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): McCreadie
Cometic ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Diemel
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Diemel
Superflow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Richards
Quartermaster ($25 certificate to 15th-place finisher in A-Main): Clanton
JE Pistons (one set of rings certificate to 16th-place finisher in A-Main): Pearson
Quartermaster ($50 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Junghans
Mobil 1 (20 percent certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Eckert
JE Pistons (one set of rings certificate to 21st-place finisher in A-Main): Eckert
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): McGrath
QA1 ($50 to driver with fastest lap of the night): Moyer
Arizona Sports Shirts ($100 certificate to highest-finishing non-WoO driver): Davenport
2015 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 30 – 28 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Shane Clanton 4024
2. Josh Richards 3850 (-174)
3. Chub Frank 3784 (-240)
4. Tim McCreadie 3690 (-334)
5. Morgan Bagley 3654 (-370)
6. Rick Eckert 3622 (-402)
7. Frank Heckenast Jr. 3592 (-432)
8. Chase Junghans 3550 (-474)
9. Eric Wells 3536 (-488)
10. Darrell Lanigan 3414 (-610)
11. Brandon Overton 3372 (-652)*
12. Boom Briggs 3264 (-760)
13. Jordan Yaggy 2980 (-1044)*
*WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contender
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), Lincoln Welder (Official Welder), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Mobil 1, MSD, Ohlins Shocks, QA1, QuarterMaster, Superflow Dynos and Wrisco Aluminum; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Club 29 Chassis, Integra Shocks, Impact Racing Products, Intercomp, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, and TNT Rescue.