BARBERVILLE, Fla. — When a dirt track surface picks up a rubber strip that provides maximum traction, the typical move for drivers is to settle into line and ride single file.
Jonathan Davenport isn't your typical driver. Especially with big payday on the line. Especially the finale of Georgia-Florida Speedweeks at Volusia Speedway Park.
With polesitter Drake Troutman sticking with the black strip on the inside lane of the half-mile oval, the 12th-starting Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., gambled by staying on the much slicker high side, creating a thrilling side-by-side battle between laps 30-39.
Finally edging ahead in the back-and-forth battle, the 41-year-old Davenport took the lead for good on the 39th lap and settled into the low groove ahead of the 19-year-old Troutman, leading the rest of the way for a $20,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series payday in the last of six Federated DIRTcar Nationals events.
"It just worked out perfect," Davenport said in victory lane after his third career Volusia victory. "I ain't never raced side-by-side somebody in the rubber ... that's just crazy."
Gasping for air in victory lane, Davenport said he was "out of breath because I think I held my breath for those tires being so slick. Those last five laps, like I couldn't even go down the straightaway. So I was just trying to roll through the corner as fast as I could and mash the gas as least as possible."
He managed to take the checkers 1.260 seconds ahead of Troutman, who led 36 of 50 laps and fell just shy of his first World of Outlaws victory for his G.R. Smith-owned Team 22 Inc. Monday's winner Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., finished third with Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., and Friday's winner Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, rounding out the top five.
Sixth-place finisher Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., got a nice consolation price by wrapping up the week-long DIRTcar Nationals points as he collected the coveted Big Gator trophy.
Launching from his pole position, Troutman nearly ran away and hid in the early laps, building more than two-second lead over fellow front-row starter Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., in the first 15 laps. By the time the rallying Davenport — with a nifty fourth-to-second move — grabbed the second spot, Troutman's margin was more than four seconds.
It took a while to for Davenport to get his bearings while he was battling with Cade Dillard and Ryan Gustin mid-pack.
"Once they finally moved off the top, I just stuck with it and it's like everybody just started coming to me," Davenport said. "I kind of get lost. But started looking on the (score) board and after I passed Ricky, I'm like, 'Well damn, I gotta be close to the front,' and then I looked on the board and I was second and (Troutman) was leading. So I just started looking for Drake."
Near the halfway point, Davenport began chipping into Troutman lead, and by the 30th lap he was hot on his heels. By that point, the developing rubber strip had lured most drivers to the inside lane, but Davenport was undaunted in staying in the high groove, losing ground when Troutman used traction exiting the corners and gaining it back with momentum or when Troutman was held up by low-running slower cars.
Davenport admitted he was "probably I was the only person stupid enough to go up there" in the second half of the race. But once he cleared the leader, he jumped into the low groove, too, with 11 laps remaining.
"I hated to do that to Drake, but I cleared him just enough getting in turn one where I could turn back down into the rubber and then protect and from then," Davenport said. "I knew I'd really burnt my tires up trying to get there and so then it was just kinda just ride and save my tires as much as possible."
Troutman felt like he pushed his car too hard early and didn't have a tire hard enough for the distance.
"I went really hard there early because I wasn't really sure what to expect," he said. "We were up here around the top and I had a really good race car tonight, just went a little bit too hard early and then the track rubbered down on us and we went with soft tires tonight. We just used them all up. All in all it was a really good night."
He didn't let the defeat shake his confidence, despite struggling much of the week at Volusia.
"Me and G.R. talk about this every day about how it's gonna be a long-term deal, and we're really looking forward to it and I think we can hopefully build something pretty special," the teen said. "Congrats to J.D., man, he's a hell of a wheelman and it's tough to beat him on this kind of racetrack. He's really experienced and just really smart behind the wheel."
The feature was slowed three times over a six-lap stretch late in the race, first for Dustin Walker's flat tire, then a spin by Tanner English and finally a spin for Cody Overton, who drove the No. 81J Jack Riggs car.
Davenport said it was a victory "we're going to remember for a while," and he might not be the only one. Thornton was among those impressed by his bold charge.
"Honestly, it's kind of tough watching J.D. rip around the top and drive to the front right there and I really wanted to get up there and do it," Thornton said. "But I figured the smart thing — we tore up a lot of stuff this Speedweeks — so I just kind of keep rolling around the bottom and try to get our our championship here."
Added Hoffman: "J.D. just did Superman-type stuff there and got up on the horse, got around the top of all of us and made us look dumb there. His car was obviously really good to be able to do that.”
Notes: Jonathan Davenport led laps 34, 37, and 39-50. ... He also won a Wednesday semifeature at Volusia and has three career Late Model victories at the half-mile oval. ... Runner-up Drake Troutman matched his best-ever WoO finish of second Nov. 7, 2024, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. ... In prelims, Ethan Dotson grabbed the final transfer spot out of the second consolation when Boom Briggs hopped the turn-two cushion on the ninth lap. ... Nick Hoffman was quickest in time trials then nearly missed the backstretch infield entry, slamming into the tire barrier and requiring a push through tech and back to the pits. His team replaced the J-bar and driveshaft before repairing right-side damage and he won the first heat. ... Spencer Hughes piloted the Jack Riggs car during prelims.
Feature lineup
(50 laps)
Row 1: Drake Troutman, Bobby Pierce
Row 2: Devin Moran, Nick Hoffman
Row 3: Ryan Gustin, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 4: Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton
Row 5: Tim McCreadie, Cade Dillard
Row 6: Tyler Erb, Jonathan Davenport
Row 7: Max Blair, Jordan Koehler
Row 8: Brian Shirley, Garrett Alberson
Row 9: Tyler Bruening, Carson Ferguson
Row 10: Brandon Sheppard, Michael Leach
Row 11: Kyle Bronson, Dan Ebert
Row 12: Ethan Dotson, Dustin Sorensen
Row 13: Dennis Erb Jr., Brent Larson
Row 14: Cody Overton, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 15: Dustin Walker, Tanner English
Row 16: Daulton Wilson
Consolation race results
(10 laps; top two transfer)
First consolation: Brandon Sheppard, Dan Ebert, Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Strickler, Jake Timm, Blair Nothdurft, Daniel Adam, Matt Nailor, Tristan Chamberlain, Jason Garver, Tyler Wyant. Scratched: Stacy Boles.
Second consolation: Michael Leach, Ethan Dotson, Boom Briggs, Jimmy Owens, Austin Smith, Chase Junghans, Dennis Erb Jr., Chris Madden, Brent Larson. Scratched: Dustin Walker, Dillon McCowan.
Third consolation: Kyle Bronson, Dustin Sorensen, Daulton Wilson, Tanner English, Cody Overton, Spencer Hughes, Brenden Smith, Ashton Winger, Reid Millard, Frank Heckenast Jr., Zack Mitchell.
Heat race recap
Nick Hoffman led all eight laps from the pole to win the first heat race by 2.085 seconds over second-starting Mike Marlar, with fourth-starting Max Blair grabbing the third and final transfer spot into Saturday’s 50-lap DIRTcar Nationals finale. … Polesitter Ricky Thornton Jr. held off a charge from third-starting Tim McCreadie in the final laps of heat two, beating him to the line by 0.148 of a second, as second-starting Brian Shirley held on for third. … Drake Troutman cruised to win heat three from the pole, leading the entire distance and taking the checkers 2.099 seconds ahead of Tyler Erb, as Tyler Bruening started and finished third, claiming the third and final transfer position into the $20,000-to-win main event. … Ryan Gustin earned a flag-to-flag victory in the fourth heat, beating third-starting Brandon Overton to the line by 1.103 seconds, with second-starting Jordan Koehler rounding out the podium finishers. … Bobby Pierce dominated the fifth heat, flashing under the checkers 1.555 seconds ahead of third-starting Cade Dillard. Garrett Alberson rebounded to take third on the fifth lap after he was docked a starting row, when he was deemed to jump the race’s initial start. Daulton Wilson inherited the outside front-row starting spot, but faded to fifth. … Second-starting Devin Moran used a lap-two slider by Jonathan Davenport and led the final seven circuits to win the sixth and final heat race by 0.972 of a second over Davenport, with Carson Ferguson starting and finishing third. … The six heats were completed without major incident and combined to last 17 minutes.
Heat race results
(Eight laps; top three transfer)
First heat: Nick Hoffman, Mike Marlar, Max Blair, Dan Ebert, Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Strickler, Daniel Adam, Jason Garver, Stacy Boles.
Second heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Tim McCreadie, Brian Shirley, Brandon Sheppard, Tristan Chamberlain, Jake Timm, Blair Nothdurft, Matt Nailor, Tyler Wyant.
Third heat: Drake Troutman, Tyler Erb, Tyler Bruening, Michael Leach, Jimmy Owens, Chase Junghans, Dustin Walker, Dillon McCowan.
Fourth heat: Ryan Gustin, Brandon Overton, Jordan Koehler, Boom Briggs, Ethan Dotson, Austin Smith, Chris Madden, Dennis Erb Jr., Brent Larson.
Fifth heat: Bobby Pierce, Cade Dillard, Garrett Alberson, Kyle Bronson, Daulton Wilson, Brenden Smith, Spencer Hughes, Ashton Winger, Reid Millard.
Sixth heat: Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, Carson Ferguson, Dustin Sorensen, Zack Mitchell, Tanner English, Cody Overton, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Pre-race notes
The 54th DIRTcar Nationals reaches its climax Saturday night with a 50-lap, $20,000-to-win finale for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. A brief, light shower hit Volusia around mid-afternoon, but skies soon cleared to make way for a sunny, humid day that saw the high temperature reach the mid-80s. … Fifty-two cars are entered in Saturday’s action after several teams left the pit area following Friday’s program, including Mark Whitener, Michael Chilton and Derrick Stewart. … After breaking an engine while in a qualifying spot during a Friday heat, Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., ran his backup car in the feature. His crew took the motor from the backup machine and installed it in his primary mount for Saturday’s action. … Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., failed to qualify for Friday’s feature after breaking a driveshaft in his Rocket Chassis during a B-main. … Spencer Hughes of Meridian, Miss., is making a guest appearance behind the wheel of Jack Riggs’s No. 81J.
Time trials
Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.720
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.780
3. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.857
4. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.865
5. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.893
6. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 15.923
7. Daniel Adam (75), Peru, Ill., 15.924
8. Tim McCreadie (9m), Watertown, N.Y., 15.934
9. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.943
10. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.951
11. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 16.066
12. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 16.129
13. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 16.131
14. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 16.206
15. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 16.265
16. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 16.282
17. Blair Nothdurft (76n), Renner, S.D., 16.302
18. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 16.304
19. Kyle Strickler (8s), Mooresville, N.C., 16.345
20. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 16.508
21. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 16.555
22. Jason Garver (01), Starke, Fla., 16.565
23. Matt Nailor (000), Shermansdale, Pa., 16.606
24. Dustin Walker (14w), Polk, Mo., 16.786
25. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 16.883
26. Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 17.845
Group B
1. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.752
2. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.785
3. Jonathan Davenport (49D), Blairsville, Ga., 15.795
4. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.829
5. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.850
6. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.891
7. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.917
8. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.927
9. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.993
10. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 16.022
11. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 16.023
12. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 16.029
13. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.037
14. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.064
15. Zack Mitchell (57m), Enoree, S.C., 16.097
16. Austin Smith (11), Rome, Ga., 16.191
17. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.201
18. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 16.327
19. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.332
20. Ashton Winger (12), Hampton, Ga., 16.375
21. Cody Overton (2), Evans, Ga., 16.405
22. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 16.420
23. Spencer Hughes (81J), Merdian, Miss., 16.586
24. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 16.593
25. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.843
26. Reid Millard (14R), Jefferson City, Mo., 18.177
Saturday’s schedule
(All times local)
10 a.m. - Pits open (competitors only)
1 p.m. - Ticket and pit pass sales begins
3 p.m. - All gates open
4:45 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting (command center)
5:15 p.m. - On-track activity
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/redraw
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Modifieds (50 laps)
- Late Models (50 laps)
