Dirt on Dirt - J.D. rim-rides to second straight Golden Isles win

March 5

Golden Isles Speedway,

Brunswick, GA

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Wieland Winternationals) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated March 6, 11:48 am)

J.D. rim-rides to second straight Golden Isles win

Wieland Winternationals

Jonathan Davenport
Hudson O'Neal
Brandon Overton
Clay Harris
Max Blair
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Dennis Erb Jr.
Devin Moran
Dillon McCowan
Mark Whitener
Garrett Alberson
Ross Robinson
Tyler Erb
Trey Mills
Dan Ebert
Brandon Sheppard
Brenden Smith
Kyle Bronson
Garrett Smith
Cory Lawler
Daniel Hilsabeck
Carson Ferguson
Cody Overton
Ross Bailes
Josh Rice
Trent Ivey
Brian Shirley
Donald McIntosh

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Jonathan Davenport (49) outran Hudson O'Neal (71) for the second straight night.

What won the race: Mastering the high side around the 4/10-mile Golden Isles Speedway, pole-starting Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., wired Thursday's 40-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Wieland Winternationals feature. The home-state driver survived an early scrape with Tyler Erb and repelled a mid-race challenge from Hudson O'Neal to collect $10,000 in his second consecutive Lucas Oil victory.

Quotable: “I wish (Scott Bloomquist) was here, so we could talk about (tying him in Lucas Oil Series victories)," Davenport said. "He taught me a lot, Scott did, and believe it or not, me and him talked not all the time, but we was acquaintances, we wasn’t just rivals. At one point we was. I had a tremendous amount of respect for him and I think I gained his respect throughout the years, too.”

Key notes: A night removed from winning Wednesday's 30-lap opener, Davenport recorded his 86th career full-field triumph in Lucas Oil competition. ... Runner-up Hudson O'Neal pressured J.D. for the lead on multiple occasions, leading briefly with first corner slide jobs on laps 19 and 20 before relinquishing command back to Davenport and never officially leading a lap. ... Brandon Overton started and finished third. ... Clay Harris came from 13th to finish fourth. ... Ricky Thornton Jr. settled for sixth after running as high as second. ... Tyler Erb salvaged 13th following a solo spin from slight contact with Davenport's left rear on the eighth circuit. ... Cody Overton and Ross Bailes tangled to bring out the fifth and final stoppage on lap 31. Overton subbed in the Skyline Motorsports No. 16 for Tyler Bruening, whose neck remains sore following a wreck last week in Ocala, Fla. … Josh Rice was unable to continue after getting together with Daniel Hilsabeck on lap 29. ... Brian Shirley slowed and retired with mechanical issues on the seventh lap. ... Donald McIntosh was the race's first retiree aboard the Billy Hicks Racing No. 79 Longhorn after Cory Hedgecock's quick departure from the ride (Hedgecock shifted to Bruce Kane's No. 15k for the rest of the weekend). ... The 40-lapper lasted 30 minutes with 22 starters running at the finish. ... The four-night event continues with Friday’s 50-lap, $12,000-to-win third round before concluding with Saturday’s 50-lap, $25,000-to-win finale.

On the move: Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., started 22nd and finished seventh.

Winner's sponsors: Davenport’s Double L Motorsports Longhorn Chassis carries sponsorship from Ace Doran, Nutrien Ag Solutions, ASC Warranty, Mark Martin Automotive, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Mount Airy Polaris, Bilstein Shocks, VP Racing Fuels, Dyer’s Top Rods, Go Lithium Batteries and Midwest Sheet Metal

Points chase: After Golden Isles Thursday: 1. Hudson O’Neal (1,210); 2. Devin Moran (1,135); 3. Brandon Overton (1,110); 4. Clay Harris (1,005); 5. Ricky Thornton Jr. (960); 6. Brandon Sheppard (955); T7. Max Blair (920); T7. Kyle Bronson (920); 9. Carson Ferguson (905); 10. Dan Ebert (865).

Current weather: Clear Mist, 63°F

Car count: 40

Fast qualifier: Ricky Thornton Jr.

Time: 14.931 seconds

Polesitter: Jonathan Davenport

Heat race winners: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Overton, Tyler Erb, Hudson O'Neal

Consolation race winners: Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran

Provisional starters: Daniel Hilsabeck, Cory Lawler, Josh Rice, Donald McIntosh, Brenden Smith, Ross Robinson

Next series race: March 6, Golden Isles Speedway (Brunswick, GA) $12,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Updates from Thursday’s Wieland Winternationals second round at Golden Isles Speedway, highlighted by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Mastering the high side around the 4/10-mile Golden Isles Speedway, pole-starting Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., wired Thursday's 40-lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Wieland Winternationals feature. The home-state driver survived an early scrape with Tyler Erb and repelled a mid-race challenge from Hudson O'Neal to collect $10,000 in his second consecutive Lucas Oil victory.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb
Row 2: Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal
Row 3: Ricky Thornton Jr., Carson Ferguson
Row 4: Mark Whitener, Trey Mills
Row 5: Trent Ivey, Dan Ebert
Row 6: Max Blair, Dillon McCowan
Row 7: Clay Harris, Garrett Alberson
Row 8: Cody Overton, Brian Shirley
Row 9: Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran
Row 10: Ross Bailes, Kyle Bronson
Row 11: Garrett Smith, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 12: Daniel Hilsabeck, Cory Lawler
Row 13: Josh Rice, Donald McIntosh
Row 14: Brenden Smith, Ross Robinson

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Brandon Sheppard, Ross Bailes, Garrett Smith, Michael Leach, Ethan Dotson, Brenden Smith, Dallon Murty, Ross Robinson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Brock Pinkerous, Josh Rice. Scratched: Cory Hedgecock.

Second consolation: Devin Moran, Kyle Bronson, Dennis Erb Jr., Jackson Hise, Benji Hicks, Jadon Frame, Cory Lawler, Tripp Gerrald, Blair Nothdurft, Donald McIntosh, Preston Luckman, Freddie Carpenter.

Heat race recap

Third-starting Jonathan Davenport wired the opening heat race, taking the checkers 0.889ths of a second ahead of pole-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. to earn the pole for the second consecutive night. Thornton Jr. overtook Trent Ivey for the runner-up spot on the third lap after falling from first-to-third on the opening circuit. Clay Harris nabbed fourth from Ross Bailes, who nearly spun after making slight contact with Harris while battling for the final transfer spot. ... Brandon Overton led all eight circuits from the pole to win the second heat race 0.928ths of a second ahead of Mark Whitener. Max Blair and Cody Overton also advanced into the feature, shuffling Michael Leach back from third-to-fifth following a pair of consecutive slidejobs. Brock Pinkerous retired on the fifth circuit. ... Overcoming a one-row penalty for jumping the inital start, second-starting Tyler Erb rallied from fourth to win the third heat race, taking command from pole-starting Carson Ferguson with three laps remaining. Garrett Alberson repeled defending Lucas Oil champ Devin Moran for the fourth and final transfer spot. ... Second-starting Hudson O'Neal overtook Trey Mills on the opening circuit and pulled away to win the final heat race by 2.612 seconds. Dillon McCowan and Brian Shirley retained their starting positions to also punch their tickets into the 40-lap feature.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr., Trent Ivey, Clay Harris, Ross Bailes, Brandon Sheppard, Garrett Smith, Daniel Hilsabeck, Josh Rice, Cory Hedgecock.

Second heat: Brandon Overton, Mark Whitener, Max Blair, Cody Overton, Michael Leach, Ethan Dotson, Brenden Smith, Ross Robinson, Dallon Murty, Brock Pinkerous.

Third heat: Tyler Erb, Carson Ferguson, Dan Ebert, Garrett Alberson, Devin Moran, Jadon Frame, Dennis Erb Jr., Benji Hicks, Blair Nothdurft, Donald McIntosh.

Fourth heat: Hudson O'Neal, Trey Mills, Dillon McCowan, Brian Shirley, Jackson Hise, Kyle Bronson, Cory Lawler, Preston Luckman, Tripp Gerrald, Freddie Carpenter.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.931
2. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.264
3. Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 15.283
4. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 15.307
5. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.312
6. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 15.370
7. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 15.403
8. Brenden Smith (19m), Dade City, Fla., 15.410
9. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 15.526
10. Cody Overton (16), Evans, Ga., 15.545
11. Ross Bailes (16B), Clover, S.C., 15.554
12. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.617
13. Garrett Smith (10), Madison, Ga., 15.619
14. Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, 15.687
15. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 15.705
16. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 15.714
17. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 15.726
18. Ethan Dotson (74X), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.732
19. Cory Hedgecock (15K), Loudon, Tenn., 15.789
20. Brock Pinkerous (555), Ellenville, N.Y., 15.971
Group B
1. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.294
2. Trey Mills (14), St. Augustine, Fla., 15.339
3. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 15.340
4. Hudson O'Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.359
5. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.421
6. Dillon McGowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 15.422
7. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.430
8. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.445
9. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 15.473
10. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.480
11. Jadon Frame (81F), Winchester, Tenn., 15.489
12. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 15.515
13. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 15.542
14. Freddie Carpenter (c4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 15.724
15. Blair Nothdurft (76n), Renner, S.D., 15.756
16. Preston Luckman (77), Coos Bay, Ore., 15.844
17. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.880
18. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 15.892
19. Dennis Erb Jr. (28) Carpentersville, Ill., 15.962
20. Tripp Gerrald (4G), Versailles, Ky., 16.268

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
1:30 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
2 p.m. - Pits reopen
2 p.m. - Tech and registration open
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
4:45 p.m. - Tech and registration close
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
5:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- 602 Crate group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Crown Vic group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- 602 Crate consolations (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Crown Vic heats (8 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (40 laps)
- 602 Crates (20 laps)
- Crown Vics (15 laps)