Dirt on Dirt - Davenport repels Moran, wins Volusia semifeature

February 12

Volusia Speedway Park,

Barberville, FL

Sanction: DIRTcar Supers (Federated DIRTcar Nationals second semifeature) - $5,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac and DIRTcar reports (last updated February 13, 5:48 pm)

Davenport repels Moran, wins Volusia semifeature

Federated DIRTcar Nationals second semifeature

Jonathan Davenport
Devin Moran
Mike Marlar
Ethan Dotson
Brian Shirley
Tyler Erb
Bobby Pierce
Brandon Sheppard
Dustin Sorensen
Ryan Gustin
Chris Madden
Michael Leach
Tyler Bruening
Chase Junghans
Michael Chilton
Trey Mills
Dustin Walker
Daniel Adam
Jake Timm
Michael Norris

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Jonathan Davenport (49) makes the winning move on Ethan Dotson (74x).

What won the race: Overtaking polesitter Ethan Dotson in traffic and surviving Devin Moran's late charge, outside front-row starter Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., slipped underneath Dotson on the frontstretch on the 14th lap at Volusia Speedway Park to win the second of three Wednesday 20-lappers during the Federated DIRTcar Nationals. On a two-lap dash to the finish after a late caution, the fifth-starting Moran nearly pulled alongside Davenport on the backstretch and fell just 0.189 of a second short at the checkers for an exciting finish.

Quotable: "I think we made a mistake on the car. We tightened it up to run the hard tire and then I was too tight really for how fast it was and then we was on the wrong tire," Davenport said. "Two wrongs made a right on that deal, but just lapped traffic (played into) my hand. Ethan (Dotson) got a little loose off (turn) four and I had to run off the top. I just happened to go to the top that lap, so I timed it just right. That's 20 laps wide open there — it never did slow down at all."

Key notes: Davenport scored his second career Volusia victory and first since Feb. 12, 2018. ... The feature actually ran 21 laps because a caution on the white-flag lap required a green-white-checkered finish. ... Ethan Dotson, a former modified winner at Volusia, led the first 13 laps but settled for fourth behind Mike Marlar, who ran fourth until overtaking Dotson with two laps remaining. ... The lone caution appeared on the 20th lap when Jake Timm's smoking car rolled to a stop. ... The 20-lapper was the second of three semifeatures and 14 drivers completed the distance. ... The first of three nights of World of Outlaws Late Models action begins Thursday at Volusia. ... Watch live on DIRTVision.

On the move: Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., started 11th and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: Davenport’s Double L 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: DIRTcar Nationals after Wednesday: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (235); 2. Jonathan Davenport (215); 3. Brandon Overton (195); 4. Max Blair (186); 5. Cade Dillard (181); 6. Bobby Pierce (177); 7. Nick Hoffman (165); 8. Devin Moran (164); 9. Tyler Erb (163); 10. Mike Marlar (162).

Current weather: Few Clouds, 75°F

Car count: 61

Fast qualifier: Ethan Dotson

Time: 15.656 seconds

Polesitter: Ethan Dotson

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

From staff reports

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Updates from Wednesday’s 54th annual Federated DIRTcar Nationals third round, featuring three 20-lap, $5,000-to-win semifeatures for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Second semifeature

Overtaking polesitter Ethan Dotson in traffic and surviving Devin Moran's late charge, outside front-row starter Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., slipped underneath Dotson on the frontstretch on the 14th lap at Volusia Speedway Park to win the second of three Wednesday 20-lappers during the Federated DIRTcar Nationals. On a two-lap dash to the finish after a late caution, the fifth-starting Moran nearly pulled alongside Davenport on the backstretch and fell just 0.189 of a second short at the checkers for an exciting finish.

Second semifeature lineup

(20 laps)

Row 1: Ethan Dotson, Jonathan Davenport
Row 2: Mike Marlar, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Devin Moran, Ryan Gustin
Row 4: Tyler Erb, Michael Leach
Row 5: Brandon Sheppard, Chris Madden
Row 6: Brian Shirley, Tyler Bruening
Row 7: Dustin Sorensen, Daniel Adam
Row 8: Michael Chilton, Chase Junghans
Row 9: Jake Timm, Trey Mills
Row 10: Dustin Walker, Michael Norris

Time trials

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

Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.656
Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.674
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.680
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.698
Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.719
Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.724
Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.759
Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 15.799
Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 15.799
Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.830
Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.834
Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.894
Dustin Sorenson (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.939
Daniel Adam (75), Peru, Ill., 16.050
Michael Chilton (97), Salvisa, Ky., 16.067
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 16.136
Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 16.164
Trey Mills (59), St. Augustine, Fla., 16.392
Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 16.589
Michael Norris (57), Sarver, Pa., 16.758

Wednesday’s schedule

(All times local)
10 a.m. - Pits open
11 a.m. - Hauler parking
1 p.m. - Ticket and pit pass sales begins
3 p.m. - All gates open
4:45 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting (turn two grandstands)
5:15 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modified time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model first semifeature (20 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model second semifeature (20 laps)
Intermission/redraw
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
- Late Model third semifeature (20 laps)
- Modified feature (30 laps)