Davenport Decimates Buckeye Spring 50 at Atomic Speedway

CHILLICOTHE, OH (March 20, 2015) – Jonathan Davenport led every lap of a fast and furious Buckeye Spring 50 on Friday Night at Atomic Speedway. With the win, Davenport takes over the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points lead heading to Brownstown Speedway on Saturday Night.

Josh Richards briefly took the lead from Davenport on a restart, but Davenport quickly shot back around him re-taking the lead. Richards came home in second, followed by 17th starting Mason Zeigler, Chris Brown, and Jimmy Owens.

“The car was unbelievable all night long. We found a few things wrong after qualifying. We were just spot-on in the heat and feature. The track was extremely fast and hooked-up. It is a great feeling to have a car that handled like that for the entire race. The only thing we really tore up was the right front flair, but we will get that fixed and get ready for Brownstown tomorrow night.”

“I can’t thank Kevin and Le Roy Rumley enough for what they have done for me. I have very rarely won north of the Mason-Dixon Line, so to come here and win feels real good. When Josh went by me on that one restart, I just got up on the wheel and was able to get back under him.”

Davenport started on the pole and was into lapped traffic only five laps into the race as he set a blistering pace. At times; to show how dominant Davenport was; he was a full second faster than anyone else several times during the race.

“We have added some new sponsors this year in Sundance Services and Sundance Flowback Well Testing out of Texas. I want to thank TS Crane Service and Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas as well. It’s going to great to go to Brownstown tomorrow night sporting that Midwest Sheet Metal Orange Spoiler. That means we are leading the points, and that’s great.”

Richards was pleased with his second place finish, continuing a good start to the racing season. “Jonathan was so fast tonight. I lost track of him several times out there. Having not raced much last year, and to come here when it’s hooked up, I think I need to get back in the gym and work out some more. I want to thank Valvoline and Seubert Calf Ranches. We are coming to Brownstown tomorrow night, and will try and get the win there.”

Zeigler charged through the field to take third at the finish. He put on an impressive show for the huge crowd on hand. “Wow! What a racetrack and race that was tonight. We had only been here once, and it was rained out. I hoped the crowd enjoyed that one. We were just biding our time out there and then all of sudden we had some really great restarts and we were in the top five. To have Longhorn Chassis finish first and third in this stout field; that is something.”

Completing the top ten were Steve Francis, Devin Moran, Dennis Erb Jr., Don O’Neal, and Dustin Linville.

In preliminary action, Jimmy Owens set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 40 entrants, and set a new Atomic Speedway Track Record, with a lap of 12.748 seconds. Steve Francis set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 12.877 seconds. Jonathan Davenport, Josh Richards, Steve Francis, and Chris Brown won their respective heat races. Mason Zeigler and Scott Bloomquist won their respective B-Mains.

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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary
Friday, March 20th, 2015
Buckeye Spring 50
Atomic Speedway – Chillicothe, OH

Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Jimmy Owens / 12.748 seconds ***NEW TRACK RECORD***

Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Steve Francis / 12.877 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jonathan Davenport, Jimmy Owens, Steve Casebolt, Dustin Linville, Mason Zeigler, Bobby Pierce, Ryan Markham, JT Conley, Austin Rettig, Jake Keaton

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Josh Richards, Don O’Neal, Kent Robinson, Matt Westfall, Davey Johnson, Brandon Sheppard, Rod Conley, Dennis Erb, Jr., Mark Frazier, Rusty Yarger
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Steve Francis, Eddie Carrier, Jr., Jared Landers, Tim McCreadie, Scott Bloomquist, Mike Benedum, JP Roberts, Jeremy Berwanger, RJ Conley, Greg Oliver
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Chris Brown, Earl Pearson, Jr., Tim Dohm , Devin Moran, Duane Chamberlain, Billy Moyer, Jr., Freddie Carpenter, Chris Keller, Kyle Moore, Billy Staker

Fast Shafts B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Mason Zeigler, Davey Johnson, Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Rod Conley, Ryan Markham, JT Conley, Mark Frazier, Dennis Erb, Jr., Austin Rettig, Rusty Yarger, Jake Keaton-DNS

Keyser MFG B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Freddie Carpenter, Duane Chamberlain, Billy Moyer, Jr., Mike Benedum, Chris Keller, JP Roberts, Kyle Moore, Jeremy Berwanger, Greg Oliver, RJ Conley-DNS, Billy Staker-DNS

Feature Finish (50 Laps):

Race Statistics

Entrants: 40

Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1 – 50)
Cautions: Jared Landers (Lap 12); Scott Bloomquist, Jared Landers, Duane Chamberlain (Lap 14); Tim McCreadie (Lap 18); Greg Oliver (Lap 24); Billy Moyer Jr. (lap 31); Debris (Lap 39)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisional: Dennis Erb Jr.; Billy Moyer Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Jonathan Davenport
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Dennis Erb Jr. (Started: 23rd; Finished: 8th; Advanced 15 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Earl Pearson Jr.
Allstar Performer of the Race: Mason Zeigler

Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Josh Richards

Rookie of the Race: n/a
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines

Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis

Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Kevin Rumley (Jonathan Davenport)

CV Products Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Lap #4 – 13.280 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (50 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Break Award: Scott Bloomquist

Time of Race: 39 minutes 51 seconds
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*