Dirt on Dirt - RaceWire

August 8

Florence Speedway,

Union, KY

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Sunoco North-South 100) - $75,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated August 9, 1:26 am)

Rice stuns J.D., sets off North-South celebration

Sunoco North-South 100

Josh Rice
Jonathan Davenport
Luke Morey
Devin Moran
Brandon Overton
Dallon Murty
Clay Harris
Carson Ferguson
Brian Shirley
Kyle Bronson
Hudson O'Neal
Daniel Hilsabeck
Cory Lawler
Max Blair
Garrett Alberson
Tyler Erb
Zack Dohm
Justin Rattliff
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Dillon McCowan
Drake Troutman
Dan Ebert
Brandon Sheppard
Mike Marlar
Bobby Pierce
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Shannon Babb

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Josh Rice celebrates his career-richest $75,000 victory.

What won the race: Winning a wild lead-swapping duel with Jonathan Davenport over the final two laps of a marathon feature, Florence Speedway's favorite son Josh Rice of Crittenden, Ky., led the final two laps Saturday to capture the $75,000 Sunoco North-South 100 that unleashed a joyous home-track celebration. Davenport, rebounding from a lap-51 wreck, wrestled the lead from Moran with 16 laps remaining but Rice, who had a flat tire at halfway among other pit stops, stormed into contention late for a dazzling victory in a race marred by a lap-11 frontstretch melee that involved more than half the field and eliminated contenders Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar and Bobby Pierce.

Quotable: "It's a team come true," Rice said in victory breaking down in tears. "I'm in shock really."

Key notes: Josh Rice, a winner of a Friday prelim, won his fourth full-field Lucas Oil Series victory. ... Rice, racing with a broken shock, lost the lead between turns three and four when he got into the wall on the final lap, but he drove back under Davenport to take the checkers. ... Rice climbed out of his car on the backstretch, standing atop his roof to salute the fans. ... He was the fifth of five leaders with a high-flying Kyle Bronson leading the most, 25-62. ... Dan Ebert led the first seven laps and Jonathan Davenport led laps 8-24 and then 83-84 and 86-98. ... Davenport and Bronson battling for the lead on the 51st lap, coming together exiting turn two and sending Davenport's car spinning into the inner backstretch wall; he pitted for repairs and rejoined the field. ... Third-running Ricky Thornton Jr. retired with battery issues on lap 41. ... The race was marred by a lap-11 restart crash when Dan Ebert's driveline broke exiting turn four, triggering a frontstretch melee involving about 15 cars with Brandon Sheppard's car atop Mike Marlar's machine and Max Blair's car atop Shannon Babb's machine among other carnage. The cleanup required 25 minutes. ... It also ended 21st-starting Bobby Pierce's bid for a fourth-straight North-South 100 victory. ... Hudson O'Neal's team changed a radiator during the cleanup. ... Besides the red flag for the frontstretch pileup, 13 cautions slowed the race, the first for Justin Rattliff's lap-11 flat tire. ... Second-running Tyler Erb slowed with a lap-21 flat. ... Daniel Hilsabeck spun in turn-three after the lap-21 restart. ... On the 42nd lap, Dillon McCowan spun in turn two after contact from Thornton. ... On the 50th lap, third-running Josh Rice slowed with a flat right-rear and a lap later was Davenport's tangle with Bronson. ... Max Blair slowed with a flat on the 61st lap and Garrett Alberson got into the wall on the restart (officials pulled the yellow flag for a red to provide medical assistance after Alberson suffered a laceration above an eye). ... Debris drew a lap-64 caution. ... On the 66th lap, Max Blair lost a driveshaft. ... Debris drew cautions on lap 64, 76 and 82. ... The 1 hour, 52 minute feature concluded at 11:46 p.m. ... Ebert won the $5,000-to-win Ron and Madeleine Jerger dash presented by Cincinnati Investment Advisors, earning the feature's pole. ... In heat action, Jason Jameson and Trevor Landrum tangled at the entrance of turn three on the third lap of the second heat race, sending both flipping wildly and landing on their roof; both drivers were reported as uninjured.

On the move: Luke Morey of Denver, N.C., started 19th and finished third despite spraining his right wrist in the early frontstretch melee.

Winner's sponsors: Rice’s JRR Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and sponsored by JRR Motor Sales, MGL Auto Sales, JRR Trucking, M.C. Tank Transport, Rice Excavating and Plumbing, Glenwood Electric Inc., Chain Locker USA, Keltner Contracting, BC Fluid Power of Florence, Berea Collision Center, Jessie Insurance Agency, Lonkard Construction, CK Trucking, Kleinholz Electric, Big Al’s Guns & Outdoors, Cheap Chevrolet, Interstate Motor Company, Sunoco Race Fuels, VG Performance and TopSide Marketing.

Points chase: Before Florence: 1. Brandon Sheppard (5,610); 2. Hudson O’Neal (5,475); 3. Devin Moran (5,380); 4. Brandon Overton (5,080); 5. Max Blair (5,055); 6. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4,975); 7. Garrett Alberson (4,840); 8. Brian Shirley (4,760); 9. Josh Rice (4,695); 10. Kyle Bronson (4,485).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 82°F

Car count: 59

Polesitter: Dan Ebert

Dash winner: Dan Ebert

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport, Dan Ebert, Brandon Sheppard, Garrett Alberson

Consolation race winners: Luke Morey, Shannon Babb, Bobby Pierce

Provisional starters: Max Blair, Brian Shirley, Clay Harris

Next series race: August 14, Batesville Motor Speedway (Locust Grove, AR) $5,000

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

From staff reports

UNION, Ky. — Live updates from Saturday’s 44th annual Sunoco North-South 100 at Florence Speedway, highlighted by a 100-lap, $75,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Winning a wild lead-swapping duel with Jonathan Davenport over the final two laps of a marathon feature, Florence Speedway's favorite son Josh Rice of Crittenden, Ky., led the final two laps Saturday to capture the $75,000 Sunoco North-South 100 that unleashed a joyous home-track celebration. Davenport, rebounding from a lap-51 wreck, wrestled the lead from Moran with 16 laps remaining but Rice, who had a flat tire at halfway among other pit stops, stormed into contention late for a dazzling victory in a race marred by a lap-11 frontstretch melee that involved more than half the field and eliminated contenders Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar and Bobby Pierce.

44th annual Sunoco North-South 100
Pos. Driver (car no.), hometown, chassis, earnings
1. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., Rocket, $75,000
2. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., Longhorn, $25,000
3. Luke Morey (49), Denver, N.C., Longhorn, $10,000
4. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, Longhorn, $9,000
5. Brandon Overton (76), Blairsville, Ga., Longhorn, $8,000
6. Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, AK, $7,000
7. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., Longhorn, $6,000
8. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., Longhorn, $5,000
9. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., Longhorn, $4,750
10. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., Longhorn, $4,500
11. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., Longhorn, $4,250
12. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, Capital, $4,000
13. Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., Longhorn, $3,750
14. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., Longhorn, $3,700
15. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., Longhorn, $3,650
16. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, Rocket, $3,600
17. Zack Dohm (17), Cross Lanes, W.Va., Longhorn, $3,550
18. Justin Rattliff (16), Campbellsville, Ky., Longhorn, $3,500
19. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., Longhorn, $3,500
20. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., Longhorn, $3,500
21. Drake Troutman (5), Hyndman, Pa., Longhorn, $3,500
22. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., Rocket, $3,500
23. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., Rocket, $3,500
24. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., Rocket, $3,500
25. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., Longhorn, $3,500
26. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., Longhorn, $3,500
27. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., Longhorn, $3,500
Lap leaders: Ebert 1-7; Davenport 8-24, 83-84, 86-98; Bronson 25-62; Moran 63-82, 85; Josh Rice 99-100
Heat race winners (among 59 cars): Moran, Overton, Davenport, Ebert, Sheppard, Alberson
Consolation race winners: Morey, Babb, Pierce
Provisional starters: Blair, Shirley, Harris
Non-qualifiers’ race winner: TBD
Aug. 6 semifeature winners: Sheppard, Marlar
Aug. 7 semifeature winners: Overton, Rice

Feature lineup

(100 laps)

Row 1: Dan Ebert, Brandon Overton
Row 2: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard
Row 3: Devin Moran, Garrett Alberson
Row 4: Kyle Bronson, Tyler Erb
Row 5: Josh Rice, Carson Ferguson
Row 6: Ricky Thornton Jr., Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 7: Mike Marlar, Cory Lawler
Row 8: Dillon McCowan, Hudson O'Neal
Row 9: Frank Heckenast Jr., Dallon Murty
Row 10: Luke Morey, Shannon Babb
Row 11: Bobby Pierce, Justin Rattliff
Row 12: Zack Dohm, Drake Troutman
Row 13: Max Blair, Brian Shirley
Row 14: Clay Harris

Non-qualifiers' race results

Results: Devin Gilpin, Ryan Montgomery, Jadon Frame, Michael Chilton, Dustin Nobbe, Josh Dietz, Brody Smith, Billy Green, Brenden Smith, Kaede Loudy, Kirk Phillips, Justin Smith. Scratched: Chris Ferguson, Adam Stricker, Donald McIntosh, Jimmy Owens.

Dash results

(Six laps; sets first three starting rows)

Results: Dan Ebert, Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, Garrett Alberson.

Consolation race results

(Various lap counts; top two transfer)

First consolation: Luke Morey, Justin Rattliff, Ryan Montgomery, Jadon Frame, Billy Green, Kirk Phillips, Justin Smith. Scratched: Jason Jameson, Trevor Landrum, Todd Morrow.

Second consolation: Shannon Babb, Zack Dohm, Max Blair, Chris Ferguson, Brian Shirley, Dustin Nobbe, Kaede Loudy. Scratched: Brenden Smith, Steve Banal.

Third consolation: Bobby Pierce, Drake Troutman, Michael Chilton, Devin Gilpin, Josh Dietz, Clay Harris, Adam Stricker, Donald McIntosh, Brody Smith, Jimmy Owens. Scratched: Kody Evans.

Heat race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Kyle Bronson, Mike Marlar, Luke Morey, Ryan Montgomery, Justin Rattliff, Kirk Phillips, Donald McIntosh. Scratched: Michael Leach, Quade Schoonover.

Second heat: Brandon Overton, Tyler Erb, Cory Lawler, Justin Smith, Billy Green, Jadon Frame, Jason Jameson, Trevor Landrum, Todd Morrow. Scratched: Brandon Hardgrove.

Third heat: Jonathan Davenport, Josh Rice, Dillon McCowan, Zack Dohm, Chris Ferguson, Kaede Loudy, Brenden Smith. Scratched: Blake Creech, Tyler Millwood, Glenn Hounshell.

Fourth heat: Dan Ebert, Carson Ferguson, Hudson O'Neal, Shannon Babb, Brian Shirley, Max Blair, Dustin Nobbe, Steve Banal. Scratched: Derek Groomer, Brad Rickels.

Fifth heat: Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton Jr., Frank Heckenast Jr., Clay Harris, Devin Gilpin, Adam Stricker, Kody Evans. Scratched: Jake O'Neil, Calvin Carlton, Josh Vineyard.

Sixth heat: Garrett Alberson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Dallon Murty, Drake Troutman, Bobby Pierce, Michael Chilton, Josh Dietz, Jimmy Owens, Brody Smith.

Heat race lineups

First heat
Row 1: Donald McIntosh, Kyle Bronson
Row 2: Devin Moran, Mike Marlar
Row 3: Ryan Montgomery, Justin Rattliff
Row 4: Michael Leach, Luke Morey
Row 5: Kirk Phillips, Quade Schoonover
Second heat
Row 1: Trevor Landrum, Jason Jameson
Row 2: Tyler Erb, Brandon Overton
Row 3: Jadon Frame, Todd Morrow
Row 4: Cory Lawler, Justin Smith
Row 5: Billy Green, Brandon Hardgrove
Third heat
Row 1: Dillon McCowan, Jonathan Davenport
Row 2: Zack Dohm, Josh Rice
Row 3: Chris Ferguson, Kaede Loudy
Row 4: Brenden Smith, Blake Creech
Row 5: Tyler Millwood, Glenn Hounshell
Fourth heat
Row 1: Dan Ebert, Shannon Babb
Row 2: Carson Ferguson, Hudson O’Neal
Row 3: Brian Shirley, Max Blair
Row 4: Derek Groomer, Dustin Nobbe
Row 5: Steve Banal, Brad Rickels
Fifth heat
Row 1: Clay Harris, Adam Stricker
Row 2: Ricky Thornton Jr., Brandon Sheppard
Row 3: Frank Heckenast Jr., Devin Gilpin
Row 4: Jake O’Neil, Kody Evans
Row 5: Calvin Carlton, Josh Vineyard
Sixth heat
Row 1: Drake Troutman, Jimmy Owens
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Daniel Hilsabeck, Dallon Murty
Row 4: Michael Chilton, Brody Smith
Row 5: Josh Dietz

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - Hall of Fame induction ceremony (closed to public)
2:30 p.m. - Pits, grandstands closed and cleared
2:30 p.m. - Drivers’ autograph session (Hall of Fame building opens to public)
3 p.m. - All gates open
3:15 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
5 p.m. - Church outreach service
5:45-6:30 p.m. - Driver autograph session
7 p.m. - On-track activity (Hall of Fame building closes)
- Late Model hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model consolations (12 laps)
- Late Model dash (6 laps)
Driver introductions
- 44th annual North-South 100 (100 laps)
- Late Model non-qualifiers’ race (25 laps)