Chris Madden(44) and Tim McCreadie(39) are among those drivers who earn big paychecks
This past Saturday night, to the surprise of no one, Jonathan Davenport won another lucrative feature race. This time, it was the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series-sanctioned USA Nationals at the Cedar Lake Speedway. The driver known as ‘Superman’ walked away from the New Richmond, Wisconsin track with a $50,000 first prize making it the fifth time this season in which the Blairsville, Georgia native had been the first to the checkered flag in a race paying more than $25,000.
Of course, Davenport won the Eldora Million earlier this season.
The reason why no one was surprised by a Davenport victory in that race is because there is a very small pool of drivers who actually win those types of events and he is one of those competitors within that small pool.
So far this year, there have been 24 races that have offered payouts of $25,000 or more to the winner. Only six drivers have accounted for 18 of those wins. Again, it’s a small pool of drivers who win the biggest races.
No less surprising that Davenport won at Cedar Lake was that he was chased to the finish line by Chris Madden. The Gray Court, South Carolina star is the other driver who has tallied five paydays valued at $25,000 or more so far in 2022. Four others, Mike Marlar, Chris Ferguson, Tim McCreadie and Brandon Sheppard have won multiple big checks during the current campaign.
While it’s popular to think that any entrant can take home the trophy from Dirt Late Model racing’s biggest events, the statistics show that it’s only a select few who actually do. Yes, there are those rare instances when a surprise winner happens, but for every one of those, there are many instances in which a driver who was completely expected to win actually wins.
Consider too that even those not among the six multiple-time winners are not exactly surprises. The names of those who have won one of the features paying more than $25,000 this year reads like a who’s who of the Dirt Late Model world. Dale McDowell, Brandon Overton, Ricky Weiss, Bobby Pierce, Shane Clanton and NASCAR champion Kyle Larson have experience at collecting big paychecks.
Ricky Weiss(7) and Brandon Sheppard(1) have each won features that pay more than $25,000
And this isn’t a new trend. In previous seasons drivers such as Brandon Overton, Jimmy Owens, Scott Bloomquist along with those mentioned above have dominated the biggest shows.
A walk through a Dirt Late Model pit area reveals very few chassis brands among the top challengers and an equally low number of engine suppliers. In other words, the top contenders are driving the same three or four brands of cars powered by the same three or four brands of engines.
So what makes some more likely to win the biggest races than others?
Of course, talent and experience play a major role in deciding who will and who won’t contend for wins and podiums in the major races. Those who have been there and done that know how to get the most out of hot laps, qualifying and heat races leading into the feature. And once that main event gets underway, it is vital to know when is the time to save and when is the time to drop the hammer. And obviously, the talent level of those who always seem to be in contention is high.
Another obvious factor involved in running at the front of the field in big races is that of having good teams with knowledgeable crew members. Simply having the ability to turn wrenches isn’t enough. Knowing which bolts to tighten or loosen at the right times doesn’t just happen. Those crew members who have set a car up for the rigors of a 100-lap crown jewel race have that experience to draw from.
And once a team has all of the elements needed, those other resources such as the proper tools of the trade come into play.
It’s an elite club that win the sport’s biggest races. And naturally, those who are in that club are working very hard to keep the club as exclusive as possible. It’s difficult to break into the club, but once there, there is a good chance that driver and team will stay there for a while.
There is a reason why so few drivers break the bank in the crown jewel type events. They are part of teams that have all of the essential elements in place.
This weekend will feature another race that will offer a monster payment. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned North-South 100 at Florence(KY) Speedway will dole out $75,000 to its winner. Don’t be surprised at all if it is one from that relatively small pool of names mentioned above who pulls into victory lane at the end of the night on Saturday.
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