| WALTON, KY (August 8, 2024) – Jonathan Davenport and Ricky Thornton Jr. won the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series preliminary main events on Thursday night at Florence Speedway. Davenport won his 79th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event, pocketing $6,000 for the first 25-lap race leading the entire distance over Devin Moran, Drake Troutman, Tyler Erb, and Josh Rice. Thornton went to Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Victory Lane for the 12th time in 2024 as he led the final 17 circuits to win the second 25-lap main event that also paid $6,000. Bobby Pierce tracked down Thornton late in the race to come home in second. Tim McCreadie was third followed by Hudson O’Neal, and Kyle Bronson. In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the fifth time in 2024 and for the first time since June 20 at Lernerville, Davenport was 2.417 seconds ahead of Moran at the finish. “It’s a big relief really. I have not liked my car lately in the features. It drove well there honestly; I wished I would have started further back where I could’ve seen where my car was better or worse at. We are just going have to go back and watch the video and see where was better or where we were worse at. I think we will see more of a transition in the race Saturday around I would say the mid-point of the race. We will just have to wait and see. The biggest takeaway is we are finally in victory lane. That’s huge for us and our race team.” Moran, who vaulted past Davenport in the championship points after winning the Silver Dollar Nationals at Huset’s battled with Davenport early on in the race as he held the second spot the entire 25-lap distance. “I was real good on that start. We had a little bit softer tire than he did. I don’t think we could have done anything tonight with him. He was really, really good. I tried moving up, but I couldn’t really run up top. I started to move around, but I couldn’t do a whole lot. We had a second place tonight so I really can’t complain.” Troutman earned the Todd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race as he came from 14th to round out the Big River Steel Podium in third in his Florence Speedway debut. “We took last weekend off and just went through this car really good. This is a new Jay Dickens engine under the hood. So, for the first time running here we gained some valuable experience that will hopefully help us the rest of the weekend.” The winner’s Lance and Darla Landers, Double L Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions, Dyna Gro Seed, Lucas Oil Products, BobCat of Batesville, Bilstein Shocks, ASC Warranty, Mark Martin Automotive, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, and VP Fuels. Completing the top ten in the Group (A) A-Main were Jimmy Owens, Ethan Dotson, Dale McDowell, Tanner English, and Ross Bailes. |
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| Thornton’s win was his first for Koehler Motorsports and their newly named crew chief, Chris Madden. “To come out the first night like we did; we had a lot of speed coming out of the box a few weeks ago. We didn’t have the finish we wanted at Huset’s, we came back home and put a new body on the car. I tore it up a little bit there. I felt like I was almost running too hard trying to get my tires to go. I know we went harder than most of them. I thought Nick [Hoffman] had a really good pace and then he really started to slow down going into three. I knew I needed to get a good run down the backstraightaway, and I was going to slide him and hopefully I could take off after I did that.” Pierce, who started ninth, made a late race charge at the end as he came up 2.080 seconds short of the win. “It was hard racing,” said of his battles during the race with Jason Jameson and Cory Hedgcock. “We have raced a lot here. I don’t know he [Jameson] knows how to smash the gas pedal I will give him that. He does a good job getting up there early, but we were just coming through, and I had the faster car, and I got under him and slid him. It just got tight up there. Me and Hedgecock had a little contact when we went three-wide, and I apologize for that. I got into his right front.” “We were trying to get back to the front, we were really fast, so I had to make the moves in 25 laps. There wasn’t a lot of time to get it done. I made a big screwup down there I hit that cushion so hard and man it just about finished our night off. I just about lost eight positions. So, it was fun trying to track RTJ back down. I would have loved to see a caution, but the racetrack was awesome.” McCreadie rounded out the Big River Steel Podium with his third-place finish. “It cost us a couple of spots there at the end when I got up in that cushion in four. I know it’s not victory lane where we all want to be, but we are definitely improving. It’s getting better every time we hit the track.” The winner’s Bobby and Jessica Koehler, Koehler Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Capital Waste, Traffic Control Safety Services, Ultimate Towing and Recovery, Ultimate Motorsports and RV Park. Rogers Realty and Auction Company, inc., Five-Star Metal Buildings, Coltman Farms, Hoker Trucking, and D&E Outside Services. Completing the top ten in the second A-Main was Cory Hedgecock, Brandon Overton, Nick Hoffman, Garrett Alberson, and Carson Ferguson. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 42nd Annual Sunoco North/South 100 – Presented by Lucas Oil – Prelim Night 1Thursday, August 8, 2024Florence Speedway – Union, KY Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Jonathan Davenport / 15.410 seconds (overall)Fast Time Group B: Jason Jameson / 15.609 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 – Group A Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 20-Jimmy Owens[3]; 3. 17D-Zack Dohm[2]; 4. 1T-Tyler Erb[5]; 5. D48-Derek Groomer[6]; 6. 18P-Gray Parton[4]; 7. 11T-Tyler Collins[7]; 8. 5N-Dustin Nobbe[8] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 – Group A Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[2]; 2. 74-Ethan Dotson[1]; 3. 87-Ross Bailes[3]; 4. 96-Tanner English[4]; 5. 1G-Devin Gilpin[5]; 6. 49B-Billy Green[7]; 7. 7R-Brad Rickels[6]; 8. 8-Curt Addison[8] Earnhardt Technologies Heat Race #3 – Group A Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 11R-Josh Rice[2]; 2. 17M-Dale McDowell[1]; 3. 99B-Boom Briggs[4]; 4. 7T-Drake Troutman[3]; 5. 17SS-Brenden Smith[6]; 6. 19M-Spencer Hughes[5]; 7. H22-Brandon Hardgrove[7]; 8. (DNS) 11-Calvin Carlton Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 – Group A Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 111-Max Blair[2]; 2. 79-Donald McIntosh[3]; 3. G4-Trent Ivey[1]; 4. 157-Mike Marlar[4]; 5. 38-Derek Fisher[5]; 6. 93-Cory Lawler[6]; 7. 90-Michael LeFevers[7] Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 – Group B Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 2. 12-Jason Jameson[1]; 3. 32P-Bobby Pierce[3]; 4. 97C-Michael Chilton[4]; 5. 93X-Zak Blackwood[5]; 6. D6-Dustin Linville[6]; 7. 21-Robby Hensley[7]; 8. 6-Clay Harris[8] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 – Group B Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 23-Cory Hedgecock[2]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[3]; 4. 4T-Tripp Gerrald[5]; 5. 7-Ross Robinson[6]; 6. 8M-Dillon McCowan[4]; 7. 18-Trevor Landrum[7] Earnhardt Technologies Heat Race #3 – Group B Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 9-Nick Hoffman[2]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 3. 18D-Daulton Wilson[3]; 4. 71C-RJ Conley[4]; 5. 2-Tyler Stevens[5]; 6. 29J-Jordan Wever[6]; 7. 29-Clint Keenan[7]; 8. 99J-Donnie Jeschke[8] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 – Group B Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 1-Tim McCreadie[1]; 2. 114-Jordan Koehler[2]; 3. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 4. 93F-Carson Ferguson[4]; 5. 17-Blake Creech[5]; 6. 63-Austin Lay[6]; 7. 3:16-Mike Bargo[7] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 – Group A Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 19M-Spencer Hughes[2]; 2. 11T-Tyler Collins[5]; 3. H22-Brandon Hardgrove[6]; 4. 5N-Dustin Nobbe[9]; 5. 7R-Brad Rickels[7]; 6. 49B-Billy Green[3]; 7. 18P-Gray Parton[1]; 8. 93-Cory Lawler[4]; 9. 8-Curt Addison[10]; 10. 90-Michael LeFevers[8]; 11. (DNS) 11-Calvin Carlton UNOH B-Main Race #1 – Group B Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 29J-Jordan Wever[2]; 2. D6-Dustin Linville[1]; 3. 21-Robby Hensley[5]; 4. 8M-Dillon McCowan[3]; 5. 18-Trevor Landrum[7]; 6. 29-Clint Keenan[6]; 7. 63-Austin Lay[4]; 8. 3:16-Mike Bargo[8]; 9. (DNS) 6-Clay Harris; 10. (DNS) 99J-Donnie Jeschke 42nd Annual Sunoco North/South 100 Prelim Night 1 Group A Feature Finish (25 Laps): Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Pay1 – 1 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $6,0002 – 3 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $3,0003 – 14 – 7T – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $2,0004 – 13 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $1,2505 – 2 – 11R – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $1,0006 – 5 – 20 – Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN – $9007 – 7 – 74 – Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – $8508 – 9 – 17D – Zack Dohm – Cross Lanes, WV – $8009 – 15 – 96 – Tanner English – Benton, KY – $75010 – 11 – 87 – Ross Bailes – Clover, SC – $70011 – 6 – 17M – Dale McDowell – Chickamauga, GA – $65012 – 19 – 1G – Devin Gilpin – Columbus, IN – $60013 – 12 – G4 – Trent Ivey – Union, SC – $55014 – 10 – 99B – Boom Briggs – Bear Lake, PA – $50015 – 17 – D48 – Derek Groomer – Bloomington, IN – $50016 – 20 – 38 – Derek Fisher – Olympia, KY – $50017 – 22 – 11T – Tyler Collins – North Vernon, IN – $50018 – 18 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $50019 – 23 – H22 – Brandon Hardgrove – Burnside, KY – $50020 – 21 – 19M – Spencer Hughes – Meridian, MS – $50021 – 24 – 5N – Dustin Nobbe – Batesville, IN – $50022 – 4 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $50023 – 8 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – $50024 – 16 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $500 42nd Annual Sunoco North/South 100 Prelim Night 1 Group B Feature Finish (25 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Pay1 – 1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton, Jr. – Martinsville, IN – $6,0002 – 9 – 32P – Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – $3,0003 – 4 – 1 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – $2,0004 – 11 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $1,2505 – 12 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $1,0006 – 7 – 23 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – $9007 – 3 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $8508 – 2 – 9 – Nick Hoffman – Mooresville, NC – $8009 – 6 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $75010 – 16 – 93F – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $70011 – 10 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $65012 – 15 – 4T – Tripp Gerrald – Versailles, KY – $60013 – 14 – 71C – RJ Conley – Wheelersburg, OH – $55014 – 22 – D6 – Dustin Linville – Lancaster, KY – $50015 – 18 – 2 – Tyler Stevens – Paragould, AR – $50016 – 24 – 8M – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $50017 – 19 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – $50018 – 23 – 21 – Robby Hensley – Walton, KY – $50019 – 8 – 114 – Jordan Koehler – Mount Airy, NC – $50020 – 20 – 17 – Blake Creech – Richmond, IN – $50021 – 17 – 93X – Zak Blackwood – Columbus, IN – $50022 – 21 – 29J – Jordan Wever – Bloomington, IN – $50023 – 13 – 97C – Michael Chilton – Salvisa, KY – $50024 – 5 – 12 – Jason Jameson – Lawrenceburg, IN – $500 Race Statistics Entrants: 61Group A Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Jonathan DavenportGroup B Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Group A Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1-25)Group B Lap Leaders: Nick Hoffman (Laps 1-9); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Laps 10-25)Group A Wieland Feature Winner: Jonathan DavenportGroup B Wieland Feature Winner: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Feature Winner: n/aBrandon Ford TV Challenge Feature Winner: n/aGroup A Margin of Victory: 2.417 seconds Group B Margin of Victory: 2.080 seconds Group A Dave Warren Powersports Cautions: Zack Dohm, Boom Briggs, Mike Marlar, Dustin Nobbe (Initial Start); Mike Marlar, Donald McIntosh (Lap 1); Max Blair, Dale McDowell (Lap 1 Restart); Spencer Hughes (Lap 12)Group B Dave Warren Powersports Cautions: Jason Jameson (Lap 8); Blake Creech, Zak Blackwood, Michael Chilton (Lap 8 Restart)Series Provisionals: n/aFast Time Provisional: n/aSeries Emergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aGroup A Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Drake TroutmanGroup B Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Bobby Pierce, Tim McCreadieGroup A Penske Shocks Top 5: Jonathan Davenport, Devin Moran, Drake Troutman, Tyler Erb, Josh RiceGroup B Penske Shocks Top 5: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Bobby Pierce, Tim McCreadie, Hudson O’Neal, Kyle BronsonGroup A Todd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race: Drake Troutman (Advanced 11 Positions) Group B Todd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race: Dustin Linville (Advanced 8 Positions) Group A PEM 4th Place Feature: Tyler ErbGroup B PEM 4th Place Feature: Hudson O’NealGroup A Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Ethan DotsonGroup B Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Brandon OvertonGroup A Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Trent IveyGroup B Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: RJ ConleyGroup A MD3 Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (25 Laps) Group B MD3 Most Laps Led: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (16 Laps) Group A Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Drake TroutmanGroup B Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aGroup A Coltman Farms Fastest Lap of the Race: Devin Moran (Lap 1 – 16.829 seconds) Group B Coltman Farms Fastest Lap of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 12 – 17.132 seconds) Group A Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Drake TroutmanGroup B Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Group A Miller Welders Hard Luck Award: Max BlairGroup B Miller Welders Hard Luck Award: Michael ChiltonGroup A Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Cory Fostvedt (Jonathan Davenport)Group A Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Chris Madden (Ricky Thornton, Jr.)Group A ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesGroup B ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesGroup A Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisGroup B Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Bobby Pierce (15.452 seconds)Group A Time of Race: 21 minutes 26 seconds Group B Time of Race: 15 minutes 55 seconds Sunoco North/South 100 Prelim Point Standings (After Night 1):Pos. – No. – Competitor – Thu 8/8 – Total – Fastest Lap from Qualifying1 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – 260 – 260 – 2 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton, Jr. – 250 – 250 – 3 – 99 – Devin Moran – 230 – 230 – 15.6563 – 32P – Bobby Pierce – 230 – 230 – 15.7865 – 1 – Tim McCreadie – 220 – 220 – 15.6935 – 7T – Drake Troutman – 220 – 220 – 16.0577 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – 210 – 210 – 15.8027 – 1T – Tyler Erb – 210 – 210 – 16.0829 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – 205 – 205 – 15.8649 – 11R – Josh Rice – 205 – 205 – 15.93111 – 23 – Cory Hedgecock – 200 – 200 – 15.75211 – 20 – Jimmy Owens – 200 – 200 – 15.75913 – 74 – Ethan Dotson – 195 – 195 – 15.51713 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – 195 – 195 – 15.65413 – 76 – Brandon Overton – 195 – 195 – 15.69516 – 17D – Zack Dohm – 190 – 190 – 15.64316 – 9 – Nick Hoffman – 190 – 190 – 15.71718 – 17M – Dale McDowell – 185 – 185 – 15.7118 – 96 – Tanner English – 185 – 185 – 16.00220 – 87 – Ross Bailes – 180 – 180 – 15.84720 – 93F – Carson Ferguson – 180 – 180 – 16.19922 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – 175 – 175 – 23 – 4T – Tripp Gerrald – 170 – 170 – 16.14823 – 1G – Devin Gilpin – 170 – 170 – 16.20925 – G4 – Trent Ivey – 165 – 165 – 15.90525 – 71C – RJ Conley – 165 – 165 – 16.01927 – 99B – Boom Briggs – 160 – 160 – 16.06927 – D6 – Dustin Linville – 160 – 160 – 16.15629 – 2 – Tyler Stevens – 155 – 155 – 16.20229 – D48 – Derek Groomer – 155 – 155 – 16.52631 – 8M – Dillon McCowan – 150 – 150 – 16.03331 – 38 – Derek Fisher – 150 – 150 – 16.25733 – 7 – Ross Robinson – 145 – 145 – 16.23133 – 11T – Tyler Collins – 145 – 145 – 16.64735 – 21 – Robby Hensley – 140 – 140 – 16.26435 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – 140 – 140 – 16.27937 – 12 – Jason Jameson – 135 – 135 – 15.60937 – 114 – Jordan Koehler – 135 – 135 – 15.73237 – H22 – Brandon Hardgrove – 135 – 135 – 16.57640 – 19M – Spencer Hughes – 130 – 130 – 16.11640 – 17 – Blake Creech – 130 – 130 – 16.23342 – 97C – Michael Chilton – 125 – 125 – 15.91942 – 111 – Max Blair – 125 – 125 – 15.96542 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – 125 – 125 – 16.05842 – 157 – Mike Marlar – 125 – 125 – 16.09742 – 93X – Zak Blackwood – 125 – 125 – 16.13742 – 29J – Jordan Wever – 125 – 125 – 16.29842 – 5N – Dustin Nobbe – 125 – 125 – 17.07849 – 18 – Trevor Landrum – 120 – 120 – 16.63249 – 7R – Brad Rickels – 120 – 120 – 16.6451 – 29 – Clint Keenan – 115 – 115 – 16.67351 – 49B – Billy Green – 115 – 115 – 16.82853 – 18P – Gray Parton – 110 – 110 – 15.86653 – 63 – Austin Lay – 110 – 110 – 16.55855 – 93 – Cory Lawler – 105 – 105 – 16.33255 – 3:16 – Mike Bargo – 105 – 105 – 16.76557 – 8 – Curt Addison – 100 – 100 – 58 – 90 – Michael LeFevers – 95 – 95 – 59 – 99J – Donnie Jeschke – 50 – 50 – 17.29859 – 11 – Calvin Carlton – 50 – 50 – 99.99859 – 6 – Clay Harris – 50 – 50 – 99.999 |