Jonathan Davenport triumphed at Ponderosa
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series returned to action on Friday night following at Ponderosa Speedway kicking off a two-race weekend. Jonathan Davenport took the win at the Junction City, KY facility after completing a night in which he looked like the Jonathan Davenport of old. The Blairsville, GA driver earned $12,000 for his victory.
Jonathan Davenport led Group A qualifying with a lap of 13.969 seconds around the 3/8 mile clay oval to best Tyler Erb, Shane Clanton, Billy Moyer Jr., and Zack Dohm.
David Webb proved to be fastest in Group B time-trials with an effort of 13.743 seconds to top Kyle Strickler, Jimmy Owens, Hudson O’Neal, and Earl Pearson Jr.
Jonathan Davenport won the night’s first heat race ahead of Zack Dohm, Shane Clanton, and Dustin Linville while Billy Moyer Jr came away with the win in the second preliminary over Mike Marlar, Tyler Erb, and Jared Hawkins.
It was Jimmy Owens who took the third heat by outrunning David Webb, Tanner English, and Josh Richards then Kyle Strickler grabbed the checkered flag in the fourth and final heat of the night beating out Kyle Bronson, Tim McCreadie, and Hudson O’Neal.
Michael Chilton topped Cameron Marlar, Devin Moran, Devin Gilpin, Jason Jameson, and Earl Pearson Jr. in the lone B-main of the night.
When the green flag waved over the 50-lap main event it was Davenport who went to the early lead with Owens, Moyer, Webb and Strickler in his tire tracks. Dohm, however, was not content to ride as he wrested fifth away from Strickler with Marlar following along.
By lap 5 Davenport began to slip away from Owens, Moyer, Webb and Dohm. But a lap 14 caution would allow the field to catch up.
The running order was jumbled on the ensuing restart as Moyer went to second, Dohm to fourth, and McCreadie to fifth. However, Owens quickly set about the task of reclaiming his previous position and passed by Moyer to regain the runner-up spot on lap 18.
Further back, Marlar and McCreadie fought over the fifth position with Marlar eventually taking it on lap 23.
Just after the halfway mark Owens closed the gap on Davenport as the leaders worked among slower cars. At the same time, Moyer lead a pack that included Dohm, Marlar and McCreadie as they raced in positions 3-6.
Owens faded from contention for the win when multiple cars moved by the series points leader on a lap 38 restart. The field largely ran in single-file formation for the rest of the way with Davenport eventually leading them under the checkered flag.
Feature Finish: 1. Jonathan Davenport, 2. Billy Moyer Jr., 3. Mike Marlar, 4. Zack Dohm, 5. Tim McCreadie, 6. Tyler Erb, 7. Jimmy Owens, 8. Kyle Strickler, 9. Hudson O’Neal, 10. Kyle Bronson, 11. Tanner English, 12. Josh Richards, 13. Michael Chilton, 14. Jared Hawkins, 15. Devin Moran, 16. Tyler Bruening, 17. Jason Jameson, 18. Earl Pearson Jr., 19. Shane Clanton, 20. David Webb, 21. Dustin Linville, 22. Camaron Marlar, 23. Devin Gilpin, 24. Stormy Scott
