OCALA, Fla. — Jonathan Davenport regained the lead from Dennis Erb Jr. on lap 29 and led the last 12 laps to win Monday night’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Bubba Raceway Park.
It was Davenport’s 66th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph.
Ashton Winger made a late-race charge to come home in second followed by Erb. The remainder of the top five were Tyler Erb and Devin Moran.
Davenport took the lead at the start of the race as Winger, who started from the pole, moved into second behind his fellow Georgia racer. Those two ran first and second until Erb was able to get by Winger for second with 20 laps complete.
Erb tracked down Davenport and coming off turn number four for to complete lap 26 he was able to get underneath Davenport to take over the lead. Erb led two more circuits as Davenport went to the outside of the track off turn two to regain the top spot on lap 29.
Davenport then had to contend with the tail-end of the field when a caution flew with 37 laps scored. On the restart Winger found some speed on the outside of Erb exiting turn two as he moved back into second.
Winger then was making a bid on Davenport for the lead when the caution came out for Ricky Thornton Jr. with one lap to go.
With the green and white flag waving simultaneously, Davenport held his line and went on to become the fourth different winner in the first five Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events this season.
“I was thinking I screwed up there off turn four. It was getting slick there off of the corner,” said Davenport. “I left the bottom open. He [Erb Jr.] raced me clean. I had a pick there with Bronson, so I just drove it hard to try and get back by him [Erb Jr.] for the lead. On the last restart I knew somebody was going to throw a Hail-Mary around the top there. I didn’t know exactly how good it was.”
Jonathan Davenport in victory lane at Bubba Raceway Park. (Matt Butcosk photo)
Winger, in his first series race of the season on Sunday night finished third, finished one spot better with his Monday night performance.
“There is nothing to be angry about. JD just outdrove me there,” Winger said. “I had two shots probably at the start and that last restart where I was able to find that middle down there in one and two and roll it for a corner and I just didn’t really get turned enough down here to catch the brown down the straightaway and I let Dennis [Erb Jr.] get back up beside me and it was all I could do to hang onto second. We ran well and this is awesome. But I expect a lot out of myself. We had a good run and didn’t tear anything up.”
Erb completed the podium.
“We got up there and probably should have moved around a little bit. Our car was working well. We just had a little problem over in three and four we just couldn’t get off the corner good over there. All-in-all after last night having a good finish here tonight really helps.”
The finish:
Jonathan Davenport, Ashton Winger, Dennis Erb Jr., Devin Moran, Tim McCreadie, Chase Junghans, Brandon Overton, Max Blair, Earl Pearson Jr., Brian Shirley, Tanner English, Daulton Wilson, Brandon Sheppard, Garrett Smith, Garrett Alberson, Hudson O’Neal, Matt Cosner, Ricky Thornton Jr., Tyler Bruening, Kyle Bronson, Ross Robinson, Spencer Hughes, Blair Nothdurft, Logan Roberson, Wil Herrington, Kyle Larson.
Keyword: Davenport Delivers In Lucas LM Run