East Alabama Motor Speedway
Davenport captures Alabama State Championship
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (Sept. 27) — Inheriting the lead when hometown driver William Thomas had flat tire just past the halfway point, polesitter Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., led the remainder of the 75-lap Alabama State Championship for a Super Late Model victory worth $7,000.
Davenport fought off challenges from Randle Chupp of Troutman, N.C., several laps, then turned back a final charge by Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga., over the last 10 laps for the unsanctioned victory. Roberts took the second spot from Chupp following a late caution and pulled alongside Davenport but couldn't complete the pass.
Roberts settled for second with Chupp in third. Jake Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., was fourth and Ed Basey of Evans, Ga., gave the Peach State four of the top five finishers. Robert Gant of Flat Rock, Ala., was the top home-state driver while Thomas, who started outside the front row and dominated the first half of the race, recovered from his flat tire to finish eighth.
Notes: Davenport's Barry Wright Race Cars house car is sponsored by En Compass Solutions, Nichols Plumbing, Elite Concrete and Mega Plumbing. ... Davenport's 13.83-second lap was a new daytime record at EAMS. ... The event drew more than 350 race cars overall in nine divisions. ... In the sportsman division, polesitter Bobby Thomas won over William Thomas and Ronnie Johnson. ... Outside front-row starter William Thomas won the Crate Late Model feature over Terrance Nowell and Johnson. ... Wrapping up the season at East Alabama is the National 100 on Nov. 5-8. The Super Late Model feature pays $20,000 to the winner.
Alabama State Championship: (1) Jonathan Davenport, (2) Casey Roberts, (3) Randle Chupp, (4) Jake Knowles, (5) Ed Basey, (6) Todd Morrow, (7) Robert Gant, (8) William Thomas, (9) Ricky Williams, (10) Craig Scott, (11) Dennis Hale, (12) Steven Endicott, (13) Devin Jones, (14) Ivedent Lloyd Jr., (15) Riley Hickman, (16) Dewayne Johnson, (17) Dana Eiland, (18) Montana Dudley, (19) Ryan Law, (20) Lavon Sparks, (21) Glenn Brewer, (22) Jordy Nipper, (23) Chad Smith, (24) Travis Pennington. Fast qualifier (among 32 cars): Davenport, 13.77 seconds.
