Key notes: Volunteer Speedway concludes its inaugural Gauntlet event with Saturday’s 60-lap, $30,000-to-win finale. … The four-day program began when Jonathan Davenport led all 30 laps of Tuesday’s $7,500 opener. Davenport, of Blairsville, Ga., is a two-time FloRacing Series winner at Volunteer, earning more than $30,000, and enters fresh off a sweep of April 10-11’s MLRA Spring Nationals in Wheatland, Mo. … Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., led all 40 laps in winning Wednesday’s $10,000 second round. … Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., took advantage when Davenport suffered a flat tire in Friday’s third round, leading the final 21 laps for the $20,000 payday. Madden now has five feature wins since 2020 at Volunteer, earning more than $56,000 over that span. … Davenport, Overton and Madden remain eligible for a $100,000 bonus should they win Saturday’s $30,000 finale. … Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., seeks his second Volunteer victory this season after winning March 13’s $12,000 WoO-sanctioned Rocky Top Rumble. Marlar also swept 2024’s Spring Thaw, worth more than $42,000 on the now-defunct XR Super Series. … Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., is a four-time Volunteer winner since July of 2022, including 2024’s Volunteer 50, earning more than $72,000 over that span. … Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., is back aboard a No. 20 CVR Race Car owned by track promoter Vic Hill. … Sportsman Late Models are on the undercard. … Pits open at 3 p.m. and grandstands open at 4 with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. (moved up a half-hour with rain threatening late). … Watch live on The Thrill TV.
Who to watch: Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., seeks his second victory of the week at Volunteer and a $100,000 bonus.
Expected entrants: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Overton, Chris Madden, Mike Marlar, Dale McDowell, Ricky Thornton Jr., Devin Moran, Zack Mitchell, Ethan Dotson, Cory Hedgecock, Garrett Smith, Carson Ferguson, Jimmy Owens, Chris Ferguson, Jeremy Steele, Jake O'Neil, Camaron Marlar, Kyle Strickler, Kaede Loudy, Michael Leach, Benji Hicks, Pierce McCarter, Forrest Trent, Jordon Horton and more.
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):
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 consolation (12 laps)
Feature events
- Sportsman (20 laps)
- Super Late Models (60 laps)
