Dirt on Dirt - Davenport doubles up at Ocala, banks $10,000

February 6

Ocala Speedway,

Ocala, FL

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Wieland Winter Nationals) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated February 6, 11:42 pm)

Davenport doubles up at Ocala, banks $10,000

Wieland Winter Nationals

Jonathan Davenport
Brandon Overton
Kyle Bronson
Brandon Sheppard
Devin Moran
Spencer Hughes
Ross Robinson
Tyler Bruening
Tanner English
Dillon McCowan
Max Blair
Daniel Hilsabeck
Tyler Erb
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Blair Nothdurft
Hudson O'Neal
Donald McIntosh
Carson Ferguson
Daulton Wilson
Garrett Alberson
Wil Herrington
Brian Shirley
Mark Whitener
Dan Ebert
Drake Troutman
Tim McCreadie
Brenden Smith

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Jonathan Davenport takes the checkers for a $10,000 payday.

What won the race: Repelling a mid-race challenge from Brandon Sheppard, then a last-lap gasp by Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., led all 40 laps to win Thursday's $10,000 Wieland Winter Nationals third round at Ocala Speedway. Davenport beat Overton to the line by 0.538 of a second for his second straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory and his 79th career full-field triumph.

Quotable: “(Brandon Overton) made me may more worried than I thought I should’ve been there, I didn’t know he was coming like that at the very end,” Davenport said. “It was kinda slimy around the bottom, so I just kept chasing that down and blowing it out (across the track) … man that’s definitely awesome, I would’ve never thought I’d be on any kind of history list no less with huge names like that, it just shows I'm getting old I guess,” Davenport added on tying Jack Boggs on the Speedweeks all-time wins list.

Key notes: Jonathan Davenport notched his 20th career Georgia-Florida Speedweeks victory, tying Hall of Famer Jack Boggs of Grayson, Ky., for seventh on the all-time wins list. ... The win was Davenport's fifth at Ocala during Speedweeks action, the most of any driver. ... Fourth-starting Brandon Overton nearly nipped Davenport at the line coming to take the white, only to fade in the final set of corners. ... Kyle Bronson regained third on lap 33 and finished third. ... Brandon Sheppard, who ran second early, took Devin Moran for fourth on the final lap. ... Ross Robinson's seventh-place effort gives him back-to-back top 10s. ... The race's fifth and final caution came on lap 33 when Ricky Thornton Jr., Garrett Alberson, Brian Shirley, Daulton Wilson and Mark Whitener all tangled while lapping Dan Ebert. Damage eliminated Shirley, Whitener and Ebert. ... Hudson O'Neal finished 16th after tagging in his backup car following engine issues in his heat race. ... Wil Herrington slowed from ninth as he came to take the white flag aboard Bruce Kane's No. 15k Rocket. ... Drake Troutman spun from ninth to trigger the first slowdown on the third lap. ... Tim McCreadie slowed from 11th for the fourth yellow flag on lap 19 and retired a few laps later. ... Brenden Smith, in a backup car, retired on the 13th lap. ... The 40-lapper lasted 26 minutes. ... Ocala action continues with Friday's 50-lap, $12,000-to-win fourth round.

On the move: Tyler Bruening of Decorah, Iowa, started 18th and finished eighth.

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: After Ocala Thursday: 1. Devin Moran (1,090); 2. Jonathan Davenport (1,045); 3. Brandon Overton (980); T4. Daulton Wilson (965); T4. Tyler Erb (965); 6. Branedon Sheppard (945); 7. Ricky Thornton Jr. (940); 8. Max Blair (935); 9. Tyler Bruening (895); 10. Spencer Hughes (870).

Current weather: Clear, 68°F

Car count: 45

Fast qualifier: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Time: 14.181 seconds

Polesitter: Jonathan Davenport

Heat race winners: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Bronson, Brandon Overton

Consolation race winners: Mark Whitener, Blair Nothdurft

Provisional starters: Daulton Wilson, Max Blair, Dan Ebert, Brenden Smith, Carson Ferguson

Next series race: February 7, Ocala Speedway (Ocala, FL) $12,000

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

From staff reports

OCALA, Fla. — Updates from Thursday’s Wieland Winter Nationals third round at Ocala Speedway, featuring a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win main event for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Repelling a mid-race challenge from Brandon Sheppard, then a last-lap gasp by Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., led all 40 laps to win Thursday's $10,000 Wieland Winter Nationals third round at Ocala Speedway. Davenport beat Overton to the line by 0.538 of a second for his second straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory and his 79th career full-field triumph.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Jonathan Davenport, Kyle Bronson
Row 2: Brandon Sheppard, Brandon Overton
Row 3: Spencer Hughes, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 4: Devin Moran, Brian Shirley
Row 5: Drake Troutman, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 6: Garrett Alberson, Dillon McCowan
Row 7: Tanner English, Tim McCreadie
Row 8: Ross Robinson, Mark Whitener
Row 9: Blair Nothdurft, Tyler Bruening
Row 10: Donald McIntosh, Wil Herrington
Row 11: Tyler Erb, Daulton Wilson
Row 12: Max Blair, Dan Ebert
Row 13: Hudson O'Neal. Brenden Smith
Row 14: Carson Ferguson

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Mark Whitener, Tyler Bruening, Wil Herrington, Dan Ebert, Austin Smith, Freddie Carpenter, Chad Mahder, Chase Junghans, Dennis Erb Jr., Daulton Wilson, Brenden Smith, Carson Ferguson, Tyler Wyant. Scratched: Carson Brown, Jason Riggs.

Second consolation: Blair Nothdurft, Donald McIntosh, Tyler Erb, Boom Briggs, Max Blair, Clay Harris, Cory Lawler, Jimmy Owens, Matt Tifft, Seth Zacharias, Jason Jack, Matt Nailor, Michael Leach. Scratched: Jack Riggs.

Heat race recap

Pole-starting Jonathan Davenport took advantage when race-long leader Spencer Hughes jumped the cushion and scraped the wall to lead the final three laps, winning by 1.085 seconds over Hughes. Drake Troutman and Tanner English held serve in finishing third and fourth, earning the final transfer spots into Thursday’s 40-lap feature. The lone caution came when Carson Brown and Jason Riggs tangled on the opening start, ending their race. … Second-starting Brandon Sheppard controlled all eight laps and won the second heat by 0.875 of a second over third-starting Devin Moran. Pole-starting Garrett Alberson slipped to third, while Ross Robinson started and finished fourth, claiming the final transfer position into the $10,000-to-win main event. The race’s lone caution came when Freddie Carpenter spun on the second lap. He continued and finished 10th. … Kyle Bronson fired off from the outside front row and earned a flag-to-flag victory in the third heat, taking the checkers 1.562 seconds ahead of pole-starting Ricky Thornton Jr., while Daniel Hilsabeck held off a last-lap challenge from sixth-starting Tim McCreadie, who took fourth. … Second-starting Brandon Overton held off a late-race charge from polesitter Brian Shirley, crossing the line 0.740 of a second ahead of Shirley as he exploded a right-rear tire. Dillon McCowan and Hudson O’Neal each improved a position, finishing third and fourth. O'Neal is going to a backup car after engine issues.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Jonathan Davenport, Spencer Hughes, Drake Troutman, Tanner English, Mark Whitener, Dennis Erb Jr., Daulton Wilson, Carson Ferguson, Dan Ebert, Chad Mahder, Carson Brown, Jason Riggs.

Second heat: Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, Garrett Alberson, Ross Robinson, Tyler Bruening, Austin Smith, Brenden Smith, Wil Herrington, Tyler Wyant, Freddie Carpenter, Chase Junghans.

Third heat: Kyle Bronson, Ricky Thornton Jr., Daniel Hilsabeck, Tim McCreadie, Donald McIntosh, Boom Briggs, Tyler Erb, Jack Riggs, Matt Tifft, Michael Leach, Matt Nailor.

Fourth heat: Brandon Overton, Brian Shirley, Dillon McCowan, Hudson O'Neal, Blair Nothdurft, Max Blair, Clay Harris, Jimmy Owens, Cory Lawler, Jason Jack. Scratched: Seth Zacharias.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.246
2. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 14.263
3. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 14.294
4. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 14.316
5. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 14.397
6. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 14.420
7. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 14.465
8. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 14.514
9. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 14.523
10. Austin Smith (11), Cedartown, Ga., 14.572
11. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 14.592
12. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 14.629
13. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.641
14. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 14.659
15. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 14.682
16. Wil Herrington (15k), Hawkinsville, Ga., 14.712
17. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 14.775
18. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 14.822
19. Jason Riggs (81), College Grove, Tenn., 14.884
20. Freddie Carpenter (c4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 14.890
21. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.996
22. Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 15.266
23. Chad Mahder (55c), Bloomer, Wis., 15.400
Group B
1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.181
2. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.320
3. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.423
4. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 14.433
5. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 14.439
6. Blair Nothdurft (76n), Renner, S.D., 14.521
7. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 14.525
8. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 14.547
9. Boom Briggs, (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 14.575
10. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.623
11. Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., 14.637
12. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.658
13. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 14.672
14. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 14.675
15. Jack Riggs (81J), Nolensville, Tenn., 14.718
16. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.737
17. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 14.830
18. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 15.199
19. Matt Tifft (57), Cleveland, Ohio, 15.352
20. Jason Jack (32J), Tampa, Fla., 15.430
21. Matt Nailor (000), Shermansdale, Pa., 15.830
22. Seth Zacharias (17z), Vestal, N.Y., 17.204

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
2 p.m. - Pits open
2:30 p.m. - Registration and tech opens
5 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:15 p.m. - Registration and tech closes
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model feature (40 laps)