Kyle Larson in the No. 6 K&L Rumley Chassis
The word “great” is used far to often in our society today but it would certainly serve as a fitting description of Thursday night’s Kyle Larson Late Model Challenge event at Volunteer Speedway. Kyle Larson emerged from a slide job swapping affair with Jonathan Davenport then survived a last lap flat tire after contact with Kyle Busch to score a thrilling victory in his self-promoted event.
The Longhorn Chassis driver from Elk Grove, CA earned $20,000 for his win on the track located in Bulls Gap, Tennessee.
A total of 44 cars were signed in for competition
Qualifying Results:
Group A Results- 1. Jonathan Davenport (12.580), 2. Hudson O’Neal, 3. Dale McDowell, 4. Jimmy Owens, 5. Ricky Weiss, 6. Chris Madden, 7. Tanner English, 8. Rusty Ballenger, 9. Ricky Thornton Jr., 10. Benji Hicks
Group B Results- 1. Kyle Larson (12.820), 2. Jensen Ford, 3. Michael Brown, 4. Mike Marlar, 5. Brandon Overton, 6. Daulton Wilson, 7. Forrest Trent, 8. Sam Seawright, 9. Jadon Frame, 10. Tyler Erb
Heat 1 Results: 1. Jonathan Davenport, 2. Dale McDowell, 3. Ricky Weiss, 4. Camaron Marlar
Heat 2 Results: 1. Hudson O’Neal, 2. Jimmy Owens, 3. Chris Madden, 4. Ross Bailes
Heat 3 Results: 1. Kyle Larson, 2. Michael Brown, 3. Forrest Trent, 4. Brandon Overton
Heat 4 Results: 1. Mike Marlar, 2. Jensen Ford, 3. Daulton Wilson, 4. Tyler Erb
B-main 1 Finish: 1. Tanner English, 2. Benji Hicks, 3. Ricky Thornton Jr.
B-main 2 Finish: 1. Sam Seawright, 2. Tyler Millwood, 3. Eli Beets
Feature Re-cap: The 50-lap feature got underway with Davenport leading Larson, Marlar, O’Neal and Brown. The first few laps of the main event were relatively benign as drivers settled into a rhythm in a race that would ultimately run caution free.
In the early going, the front runners roared around the track in groups of two with Davenport and Larson showing the way ahead of Marlar and O’Neal then came McDowell and Brown. But it was when slower traffic became a factor that the intensity level began to pick up.
Larson got by Davenport in heavy traffic on lap 8, while further back, McDowell slipped by Marlar two laps later.
Larson led the next several laps, slicing through and around slower cars with Davenport laying in wait just a few car lengths behind. On lap 18, Larson brushed the outside wall for what would be one of several times over the remainder of the event. The right side of his rear spoiler was left to flap in the breeze over during the second half of the show.
Davenport regained the lead on lap 26, maneuvering through lapped cars to get by Larson. McDowell continued to move forward at the same time by getting around O’Neal for third.
Between laps 32 and 35, Larson and Davenport would engage in a slide job trading exhibition that would see them trade the lead on each end of the track. Finally on lap 36, Larson would take the top spot for the final time and begin to put distance between himself and Davenport.
McDowell would eventually get around Davenport to take the runner-up position. But the drama at the front of the field wasn’t over just yet. As Larson roared down the backstretch for the final time, he came in contact with Busch as he put his fellow NASCAR competitor a lap down. The contact cut Larson’s left rear tire but the No. 6 machine was still able to hold the lead to the checkered flag.
Kyle Larson in victory lane
Feature Results: 1. Kyle Larson, 2. Dale McDowell, 3. Jonathan Davenport, 4. Mike Marlar, 5. Chris Madden, 6. Hudson O’Neal, 7. Ricky Weiss, 8. Jensen Ford, 9. Michael Brown, 10. Brandon Overton, 11. Ross Bailes, 12. Camaron Marlar, 13. Tanner English, 14. Benji Hicks, 15. Tyler Millwood, 16. Kyle Busch, 17. Daulton Wilson, 18. Chase Briscoe, 19. Forrest Trent, 20. Eli Beets, 21. Tyler Erb, 22. Jimmy Owens, 23. Sam Seawright, 24. Ricky Thornton Jr.
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