Davenport Makes History with 95th Career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Victory
2026-03-07 17:55
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WAYNESVILLE, GA (March 6, 2026) - Jonathan Davenport made Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing history on Friday night, scoring the 95th win of his career by capturing the 50-lap, $12,000-to-win Wieland Winter Nationals feature at Golden Isles Speedway.
With the victory, Davenport becomes the all-time winningest driver in series history, breaking a tie with the late Scott Bloomquist.
Tyler Erb rallied from the outside of the seventh row to finish second, followed by Ricky Thornton Jr., Max Blair, and Ethan Dotson rounding out the top five. Blair earned the Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race award after passing 22 cars en route to his fourth-place finish.
Brandon Overton raced to the early lead, pulling away with Brian Shirley and Davenport in the opening 10 laps until the first caution flew with 11 laps complete.
Overton led the first 14 laps before Davenport cleared him for the top spot on lap 15. Current Midwest Sheet Metal points leader Hudson O'Neal was on the move during the first half of the race, advancing from his 17th starting position to take second on lap 33.
A pair of caution flags kept the field tightly bunched, and Erb capitalized by slipping past O'Neal on the bottom groove on lap 41. The final caution waved with 41 of the 50 laps complete, setting up a dash to the finish.
With Davenport committed to the high side of the racetrack, Erb searched for speed on the bottom in turns three and four, briefly closing the gap. However, Davenport maintained control to secure his third straight win of the week at Golden Isles and his series-record 95th career victory.
Davenport will now attempt a weekend sweep on Saturday night in the $25,000-to-win Wieland Winter Nationals finale.
"It was fun for sure tonight. There were a couple of times I had to hit the brake pedal," Davenport said. "I saw him (Brandon Overton) coming, and I got turned back under him. We were just sliding back and forth, and that was definitely a lot of fun. Turns three and four were just a little bit different tonight. I felt like the shelf was more aggressive, and it was starting to rubber right against it. There were a couple of times when I hit it just right that I could roll around there pretty good without being all the way up on it."
"One time I went through there really fast and about knocked the wall down. I thought I had a flat because it started vibrating, but I think my stuff was just worn out. Tyler (Erb) must have been really good to get up there. I could see him down there, but after running the top so many laps and hitting my marks, I didn't think he could get a run to the flag stand coming to the white or the checkered and try to slide me."
Erb, who started 14th and worked primarily the bottom groove, finished just 0.992 seconds behind Davenport.
"I didn't think I was going to catch him following him through three and four, and I felt like one and two were faster around the top," Erb said. "I just committed to running that line. I really didn't want that last caution. I got ahead of Hudson but just didn't have quite enough. Starting 14th and finishing second is pretty good. We'll try again tomorrow. It was a good race."
Thornton, who started eighth, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third.
"With 15 to go, I thought if I just finish here it's going to be a good night, and it turned out to be a good night for us," said the 2024 series champion. "I qualified well again. I was really good in the heat race, and overall we just put ourselves in a solid position."
Davenport's Double L Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Ace Doran Hauling and Rigging, Nutrien Ag Solutions, ASC Warranty, Mark Martin Automotive, and Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas.
Completing the top 10 were Hudson O'Neal, Garrett Alberson, Kyle Bronson, Dillon McCowan, and Garrett Smith.
The 15-lap 604 Late Model feature went to veteran racer Ross Bailes of Clover, South Carolina, who drove the Pursley Racing entry to the $1,500 victory. Bailes led all but the opening lap.
Griffin Smith, winner of Thursday night's 602 Late Model feature, finished second, followed by Adam Yarbrough, Michael Brown, and Trent Ivey.
The $2,000-to-win Crown Vic feature concluded with Hunter Thigpen of Lyons, Georgia, in Victory Lane after Daniel Starner made contact with race leader Johnny Collins on the final lap, sending Collins spinning. Starner was disqualified from the event.
Brody Collins was credited with second, followed by Tony Bromley, Adam Chambers, and Daniel Baldwin.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Wieland Winter Nationals
Friday, March 6, 2026
Golden Isles Speedway | Waynesville, GA
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Michael Leach | 15.140 seconds (Overall)
Fast Time Group B:Kyle Bronson | 15.257 seconds
Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 3S-Brian Shirley[3]; 2. 09-Michael Leach[1]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 4. 14-Trey Mills[2]; 5. 88-Trent Ivey[5]; 6. 99-Devin Moran[6]; 7. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[8]; 8. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[11]; 9. 388-Jackson Hise[7]; 10. 79-Donald McIntosh[9]; 11. 93L-Cory Lawler[10]
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 3. 74X-Ethan Dotson[7]; 4. 10-Garrett Smith[4]; 5. 71-Hudson O'Neal[6]; 6. 111-Max Blair[10]; 7. 60-Dan Ebert[11]; 8. C4-Freddie Carpenter[5]; 9. 8-Dillon McCowan[8]; 10. 555-Brock Pinkerous[9]; 11. 81F-Jadon Frame[3]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 2. 16-Cody Overton[3]; 3. 40B-Kyle Bronson[1]; 4. 1T-Tyler Erb[4]; 5. 13-Dallon Murty[8]; 6. 19M-Brenden Smith[5]; 7. 16S-Sam Seawright[9]; 8. 15K-Cory Hedgecock[6]; 9. 16B-Ross Bailes[10]; 10. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[7]; 11. (DNS) 35-Christian Augspurger
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 5-Mark Whitener[2]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[5]; 4. 6-Clay Harris[6]; 5. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[7]; 6. 7-Ross Robinson[3]; 7. 55-Benji Hicks[8]; 8. 93J-Donovan Jackson[10]; 9. 77-Preston Luckman[9]; 10. 11-Josh Rice[4]
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O'Neal[2]; 2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 3. 88-Trent Ivey[1]; 4. 111-Max Blair[4]; 5. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[6]; 7. 8-Dillon McCowan[10]; 8. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[7]; 9. 555-Brock Pinkerous[12]; 10. C4-Freddie Carpenter[8]; 11. 93L-Cory Lawler[13]; 12. 79-Donald McIntosh[11]; 13. 388-Jackson Hise[9]; 14. (DNS) 81F-Jadon Frame
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 2. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[2]; 3. 16S-Sam Seawright[5]; 4. 19M-Brenden Smith[3]; 5. 7-Ross Robinson[4]; 6. 15K-Cory Hedgecock[7]; 7. 93J-Donovan Jackson[8]; 8. 16B-Ross Bailes[9]; 9. 55-Benji Hicks[6]; 10. 11-Josh Rice[12]; 11. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[11]; 12. 77-Preston Luckman[10]; 13. 35-Christian Augspurger[13]
Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (50 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Earnings
1 - 3 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - $12,000
2 - 14 - 1T - Tyler Erb - New Waverly, TX - $6,000
3 - 8 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - $3,500
4 - 26 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - $1,900
5 - 11 - 74X - Ethan Dotson - Bakersfield, CA - $2,500
6 - 17 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $2,400
7 - 7 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $2,200
8 - 10 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - $2,100
9 - 27 - 8 - Dillon McCowan - Urbana, MO - $1,150
10 - 15 - 10 - Garrett Smith - Madison, GA - $2,000
11 - 16 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $1,600
12 - 1 - 3S - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - $1,400
13 - 2 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $1,200
14 - 23 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $1,100
15 - 20 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $1,050
16 - 24 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $1,000
17 - 12 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $1,000
18 - 18 - 13 - Dallon Murty - Chelsea, IA - $1,000
19 - 25 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - $100
20 - 9 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $1,000
21 - 19 - 28 - Dennis Erb Jr - Carpentersville, IL - $1,000
22 - 13 - 14 - Trey Mills - St. Augustine, FL - $1,000
23 - 22 - 16S - Sam Seawright - Fort Payne, AL - $1,000
24 - 28 - C4 - Freddie Carpenter - Parkersburg, WV - $100
25 - 4 - 5 - Mark Whitener - Middleburg, FL - $1,000
26 - 21 - 88 - Trent Ivey - Union, SC - $1,000
27 - 6 - 16 - Cody Overton - Thomson, GA - $1,000
28 - 5 - 9 - Michael Leach - Sun River, MT - $1,000
Race Statistics
Entrants: 43
Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Brian Shirley
MD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Overton (Laps 1-12); Jonathan Davenport (Lap 13); Brandon Overton (Lap 14); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 15-50)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Wieland Feature Winner: Jonathan Davenport
Margin of Victory: 0.992 seconds
Hellraizer Jacks Cautions: Michael Leach (Lap 11); Cody Overton, Freddie Carpenter (Lap 11 restart); Freddie Carpenter (Lap 29); Sam Seawright (Lap 37); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 41); Trey Mills (Lap 41 restart)
MyRacePass Series Provisionals: Devin Moran; Dan Ebert
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisionals: Cory Lawler; Max Blair; Dillon McCowan; Freddie Carpenter
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Penske Shocks Top 5: Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max Blair, Ethan Dotson
Behrent's One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton, Jr.
PEM 4th Place Feature: Max Blair
Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Ethan Dotson
Wilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Garrett Alberson
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Clay Harris
Velocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Brandon Overton
XS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Daniel Hilsabeck
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Max Blair (Advanced 22 positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (36 Laps)
Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Hudson O'Neal
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport | Lap 40 | 15.736 seconds
FK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Cody Overton
Victory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Cory Fostvedt
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Race Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Mark Whitener | 15.4932 seconds
Time of Race: 34 minutes 39 seconds
Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:
Pos - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Points - Earnings
1 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - 1210 - $74,700
2 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - 1135 - $51,500
3 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - 1110 - $27,250
4 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - 1020 - $18,950
5 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - 1015 - $25,200
6 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - 975 - $13,675
7 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - 970 - $15,400
8 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - 955 - $33,500
9 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - 905 - $15,350
10 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - 905 - $16,800
11 - 3s - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - 880 - $14,000
12 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - 865 - $13,875
13 - 11 - Josh Rice - Crittenden, KY - 840 - $10,625
14 - 79 - Cory Hedgecock - Loudon, TN - 795 - $8,900
15 - 8 - Dillon McCowan - Urbana, MO - 785 - $6,975
16 - 19M - Brenden Smith - Dade City, FL - 745 - $9,000
17 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - 740 - $9,425
18 - 7 - Ross Robinson - Georgetown, DE - 690 - $4,825
19 - 76N - Blair Nothdurft - Renner, SD - 670 - $5,550
20 - 9 - Michael Leach - Sun River, MT - 670 - $4,700
21 - 13 - Dallon Murty - Chelsea, IA - 665 - $6,350
22 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - 640 - $6,925
23 - 77 - Preston Luckman - Coos Bay, OR - 610 - $3,225
24 - C4 - Freddie Carpenter - Parkersburg, WV - 575 - $1,000
Official Marketing Partners
Associate Marketing Partners
Advanced Powder Coating, All Makes Collision Center, Arizona Sport Shirts, Behrent's Performance Warehouse, Black Diamond Chassis, Bilstein Shocks, Boyd Bilt Fabrication, Brodix, Capital Race Cars, Clements Racing Engines, Cornett Racing Engines, Dave Warren Powersports, Denago Powersports, Diversified Machine Inc, Fast Shafts, Fire Suppression Engineering, FOX Shocks, Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Heath Lawson Photography, Hellraizer Jacks, Hoker Trucking, Jackson County Tourism, Keyser Manufacturing, Longacre Scales, Longhorn Chassis, The Massengill Company, MD3, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Midwest Sheet Metal, MSD, Ohlins Shocks, Outerwears, PEM - Performance Engineering Mfg, Penske Racing Shocks, ProFabrication Headers, Pro Power Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis, Schoenfeld Headers, Shocker Hitch, Simpson Race Products, Slicker Graphics, Strange Oval, Swift Springs, Thermo-Tec Automotive Products, Velocity Manufacturing, Victory Fuel, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood, Xceldyne, XS Power Batteries, and 5150 Race Trailers.