Jonathan Davenport
The Spring Nationals mini-series ended its 2016 run on Sunday night at the Rome Speedway in Rome, GA with a well known driver taking the win although he did not drive his regular car. Jonathan Davenport completely dominated the event as he served in a relief role for Randy Weaver as that driver recovers from injuries suffered in a crash earlier this season.
Donald McIntosh claimed his second consecutive Spring Nationals title with a ninth place effort in the series finale.
The night began with Casey Roberts setting fast time in Group A qualifying when he laid down a lap of 14.375 seconds around ‘The World’s Fastest Half-mile’ clay oval. Jason Croft earned a position in the dash race that would set the starting lineup for the first two rows in the feature race by turning the second fastest lap in the group.
Davenport was fastest in Group B time-trials and overall when he posted a time of 14.366 seconds. Ashton Winger also made his way to the dash race out of that group as he came closest to Davenport’s time.
Davenport scored the pole for the main event by winning the dash ahead of Roberts, Croft and Winger.
Dale Thurman and Clint ‘Cat Daddy’ Smith won the two heat races used to set the remainder of the starting grid for the feature attraction.
The initial attempt at a start resulted in disaster for several drivers as a pileup on the front stretch just as the field was about to complete the first lap of competition. Mike Marlar, who had won the two most recent Spring Nationals races at Boyd’s Speedway and Dixie Speedway, was collected in the mishap along with Vic Hill, Tyler Millwood, David Payne and Billy Ogle, Jr. were among those suffering damage. Marlar, Hill and Millwood were unable to continue after the incident.
On the next attempt at a start, Davenport immediately surged out to a big lead with Roberts, Croft, Winger, Thurman and Dale McDowell trailing. By lap 5, the No. 116 machine had already built an advantage of over a straightaway on the big track. Meanwhile, Roberts and Croft separated themselves from the rest of the pack as they engaged in a battle for the runner-up spot.
A lap 13 caution for the stalled car of Thurman allowed the field to catch back up to Davenport briefly. However, the Blairsville, GA driver shot back out to a big lead once the green flag was displayed. McDowell and Chris Madden used the restart to their advantage as those two drivers worked their way passed Clint Smith to move into the fifth and sixth positions respectively.
The race pace was once again slowed on lap 22 as Winger spun while engaged in a tight battle with Madden for fifth.
Jonathan Davenport drove Randy Weaver’s car to victory in Rome
On the lap 22 restart, Madden looked to put himself in contention for the win when he made a big outside move that placed third in the running order and right on the tail of Roberts in second. Those two drivers fought over the runner-up spot for several laps until Madden emerged with the position on lap 29.
The race’s final yellow flag waved on lap 42 when Derek Ellis slammed the backstretch wall. As the cars circled the track under caution, Madden had a tire go flat on his machine and opted to retire for the night. That handed the second spot back to Roberts.
Davenport drove away over the course of the final eight laps to claim the $6,000 first prize.
Feature Finish: 1. Jonathan Davenport, 2. Casey Roberts, 3. Jason Croft, 4. Dale McDowell, 5. Jason Hiett, 6. Clint Smith, 7. Jake Knowles, 8. Austin Horton, 9. Donald McIntosh, 10. Ashton Winger, 11. Stacy Boles, 12. Zach Leonhardi, 13. Billy Ogle, Jr., 14. Chris Madden, 15. Derek Ellis, 16. Dale Thurman, 17. T.J. Reaid, 18. David Payne, 19. Ivedent Lloyd, Jr., 20. Mike Marlar, 21. Vic Hill, 22. Tyler Millwood
