Dirt on Dirt - J.D. wins Gauntlet finale, grabs $100,000 bonus

April 18

Volunteer Speedway,

Bulls Gap, TN

Sanction: Unsanctioned Supers (The Gauntlet) - $30,000

Information provided by: Track reports (last updated April 18, 10:38 pm)

J.D. wins Gauntlet finale, grabs $100,000 bonus

The Gauntlet

Jonathan Davenport
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Mike Marlar
Brandon Overton
Chris Madden
Zack Mitchell
Devin Moran
Kyle Strickler
Carson Ferguson
Cory Hedgecock
Forrest Trent
Luke Morey
Michael Leach
Eli Johnson
Garrett Smith
Benji Hicks
Kaede Loudy
Alex Vance
Sam Seawright
Jake O'Neil
Chris Ferguson
Dale McDowell
Jeremy Steele
Jordon Horton
Jimmy Owens
Todd Morrow

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Jonathan Davenport celebrates his $130,000 victory in the Gauntlet finale.

What won the race: Overcoming a slide job attempt from Mike Marlar on a lap-35 restart, second-starting Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., led all 60 laps of Saturday's Gauntlet finale at Volunteer Speedway. Davenport raced largely unchallenged, beating Ricky Thornton Jr. by 2.512 seconds for his seventh overall feature win of the season and second victory this week at Volunteer, securing a $100,000 bonus offered by track promoter Vic Hill to go along with the feature's $30,000 top prize.

Quotable: “I feel like my pockets are gonna be a little heavier,” Davenport joked. “Thanks Vic (Hill) and his whole staff for putting this deal on. I know he took a huge gamble and I know he probably didn’t get the car turnout he wanted, but maybe it’ll improve for next year. I hope he does it again. I love this place from the first time I ever came here a long time ago.”

Key notes: Davenport, who earned fast qualifier honors each night of the four-day Gauntlet event, collected more than $137,500 on the week, including his victory in Tuesday's $7,500 opener. ... Fourth-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. prevailed to finish second after a back-and-forth battle with Mike Marlar, reclaiming the spot for good with a turn-two slide job on lap 53. ... The eighth-starting Marlar initially took second on a lap-35 restart and cleared Davenport for the lead with a turn-one slider, only for Davenport to turn back underneath and maintain control the rest of the way as Marlar settled for third. ... Tenth-starting Brandon Overton, winner of Wednesday's $10,000 second round, climbed six positions to finish fourth. ... Chris Madden, winner of Friday's $20,000 feature, ran as high as third on lap 27 before fading to fifth at the checkers. ... Zack Mitchell improved five spots to place sixth. ... The race was slowed by four cautions, the first coming on lap 25 when Jeremy Steele slowed from 15th and retired. ... Dale McDowell also retired under the lap-25 caution. ... Carson Ferguson pitted from 15th with a flat right-rear tire before rallying to finish ninth. ... Polesitter Chris Ferguson slowed from third with a flat right-rear on lap 28, triggering the second slowdown. He opted not to change the tire and was credited with 21st. ... The third yellow flag flew on lap 35 when Jake O'Neil and Sam Seawright tangled while battling for 10th, ending their races. ... The final caution appeared on lap 37 when Michael Leach slowed with a flat right-rear tire; he pitted and soldiered to a 13th-place finish. ... Jimmy Owens retired from 23rd on the 19th lap aboard Vic Hill's No. 20 CVR Race Car. ... The 60-lap Gauntlet finale lasted 32 minutes with 11 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., started 10th and finished fourth.

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.

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 79°F

Car count: 26

Fast qualifier: Jonathan Davenport

Time: 12.550 seconds

Polesitter: Chris Ferguson

Heat race winners: Chris Ferguson, Garrett Smith, Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr.

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

From staff reports

BULLS GAP, Tenn. — Updates and results from Saturday’s The Gauntlet finale at Volunteer Speedway, highlighted by a 60-lap, $30,000-to-win feature for unsanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Overcoming a slide job attempt from Mike Marlar on a lap-35 restart, second-starting Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., led all 60 laps of Saturday's Gauntlet finale at Volunteer Speedway. Davenport raced largely unchallenged, beating Ricky Thornton Jr. by 2.512 seconds for his seventh overall feature win of the season and second victory this week at Volunteer, securing a $100,000 bonus offered by track promoter Vic Hill to go along with the feature's $30,000 top prize.

Feature lineup

(60 laps)

Row 1: Chris Ferguson, Jonathan Davenport
Row 2: Garrett Smith, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Michael Leach, Chris Madden
Row 4: Devin Moran, Mike Marlar
Row 5: Carson Ferguson, Brandon Overton
Row 6: Zack Mitchell, Kyle Strickler
Row 7: Sam Seawright, Jake O'Neil
Row 8: Dale McDowell, Cory Hedgecock
Row 9: Benji Hicks, Forrest Trent
Row 10: Kaede Loudy, Jeremy Steele
Row 11: Alex Vance, Luke Morey
Row 12: Eli Johnson, Jordon Horton
Row 13: Todd Morrow, Jimmy Owens

Heat race recap

Chris Ferguson led all 10 laps from the pole in winning the night’s first heat race by 1.466 seconds over second-starting Michael Leach, who trailed Ferguson the entire way. … Second-starting Garrett Smith fired off from the outside front row and led all 10 laps to win the second heat by 1.345 seconds over Devin Moran. The pole-starting Moran slipped back by Dale McDowell on a lap-five restart, allowing Zack Mitchell to follow Moran by McDowell for third, relegating McDowell to finish fourth. The night’s lone caution flew on the fifth lap for debris after Eli Johnson made contact with the turn-four retaining wall; Johnson continued to finish sixth missing a part of his right-rear quarter panel and rear spoiler. … Jonathan Davenport dominated the third heat race, leading the entire distance and winning by 2.533 seconds over second-starting Chris Madden, who overcame earlier wall contact in time trials to finish second. … Polesitter Ricky Thornton Jr. cruised to win the fourth and final heat race, taking the checkers 2.998 seconds ahead of Mike Marlar, who overcame a three-wide battle on the opening lap and trailed Thornton all 10 laps.

Heat race results

(10 laps; all transfer)

First heat: Chris Ferguson, Michael Leach, Carson Ferguson, Sam Seawright, Benji Hicks, Alex Vance, Todd Morrow.

Second heat: Garrett Smith, Devin Moran, Zack Mitchell, Dale McDowell, Kaede Loudy, Eli Johnson.

Third heat: Jonathan Davenport, Chris Madden, Brandon Overton, Jake O'Neil, Forrest Trent, Luke Morey, Jimmy Owens.

Fourth heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Mike Marlar, Kyle Strickler, Cory Hedgecock, Jeremy Steele, Jordon Horton.

Time Trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 12.678
2. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 12.712
3. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 12.747
4. Garrett Smith (10), Madison, Ga., 12.780
5. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 12.789
6. Zack Mitchell (57m), Enoree, S.C., 12.791
7. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 12.820
8. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 12.852
9. Sam Seawright (16), Rainsville, Ala., 12.940
10. Eli Johnson (55e), Clewiston, Fla., 13.221
11. Todd Morrow (T1), Penton, Ala., 13.224
12. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 13.389
13. Alex Vance (95), Waynesville, N.C., 13.585
Group B
1. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 12.550
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 12.637
3. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 12.744
4. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 12.886
5. Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz., 12.902
6. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 12.905
7. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 12.933
8. Jeremy Steele (79), York, S.C., 12.992
9. Luke Morey (49m), Zeeland, Mich., 12.993
10. Cory Hedgecock (23v), Loudon, Tenn., 12.993
11. Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn., 13.020
12. Jordon Horton (27), Sneedville, Tenn., 13.086
13. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 13.125

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Super Late Model hot laps
- Sportsman group qualifying
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heats (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Super Late Model feature (60 laps)
- Sportsman feature (20 laps)