DAVENPORT, Iowa —– Jonathan Davenport raced to victory in Tuesday night’s 40-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event sponsored by C&J Trucking and HD Equipment at Davenport Speedway.
It was Davenport’s first career win the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds oval.
Devin Moran made it close at the end, finishing .680 seconds behind Davenport. Ricky Thornton Jr. was third, followed by Hudson O’Neal and Brian Shirley, who started 16th.
Davenport, who led 35 of the 40 laps, earned his 70th career win in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, which ranks third all-time in series history.
“When in doubt throttle out is what my crew chief told me last week. I had used all the lip up down here in four that you could, and I used a little bit too much that lap,” Davenport said. “I knew if I hit the brake pedal, I was going to turn right, and it would be even worse, so I just kept my foot in it. The thing about this team is we are never going to give up. We are continuously working. That’s how this sport goes somebody hits on a set-up and things start going their way. Ricky’s [Thornton] done an awesome job and Hudson [O’Neal] as well, every now and then we will stumble onto something and hopefully its in the right direction.”
Moran, who started on the pole and led laps 6-10 was second at the line.
“I just needed to get in front of him [Davenport] at the start of the race,” Moran said. “I probably should have slid him into one and then I tried in three and four and got into him a little bit. They did a really good job I guess I wasn’t the kryptonite tonight. The car finally cleaned up some and we could start really making some speed. I thought he was going to smoke the wall. I saw his whole left side up in the air. Thanks to my crew for giving me such as great race car.”
Thornton maintains the points lead heading into the next event at Tri-City Speedway on Friday night.
“After the last couple of nights, I was just hoping not to get a flat,” Thornton said. “A third-place is awesome. I thought the track was going to stay faster longer than it really did with about five to go I thought I was going to have a shot around the bottom. We are happy with third it was a good points night for us. The tire choice was huge tonight. I am glad they came out and worked the track. I looked at and I thought wrong about the tires.”
Andy Nezworski took home the top prize in the Petersen Plumbing & Heating IMCA Late Model feature. Matt Werner claimed the win in the Eriksen Chevrolet IMCA Modified feature.
The finish:
Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Brian Shirley, Garrett Alberson, Tim McCreadie, Brandon Overton, Drake Troutman, Max Blair, Ethan Dotson, Spencer Hughes, Daulton Wilson, Ross Robinson, Justin Duty, Earl Pearson Jr., Frank Heckenast Jr., Ryan Gustin, Matt Furman, Boom Briggs, Spencer Diercks, Chris Simpson, Tyler Erb, Tyler Bruening.