WAYNESVILLE, GA (March 6, 2026) – Jonathan Davenport made Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing history on Friday night, scoring the 95th win of his career by capturing the 50-lap, $12,000-to-win Wieland Winter Nationals feature at Golden Isles Speedway. With the victory, Davenport becomes the all-time winningest driver in series history, breaking a tie with the late Scott Bloomquist. Tyler Erb rallied from the outside of the seventh row to finish second, followed by Ricky Thornton Jr., Max Blair, and Ethan Dotson rounding out the top five. Blair earned the Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race award after passing 22 cars en route to his fourth-place finish. Brandon Overton raced to the early lead, pulling away with Brian Shirley and Davenport in the opening 10 laps until the first caution flew with 11 laps complete. Overton led the first 14 laps before Davenport cleared him for the top spot on lap 15. Current Midwest Sheet Metal points leader Hudson O’Neal was on the move during the first half of the race, advancing from his 17th starting position to take second on lap 33. A pair of caution flags kept the field tightly bunched, and Erb capitalized by slipping past O’Neal on the bottom groove on lap 41. The final caution waved with 41 of the 50 laps complete, setting up a dash to the finish. With Davenport committed to the high side of the racetrack, Erb searched for speed on the bottom in turns three and four, briefly closing the gap. However, Davenport maintained control to secure his third straight win of the week at Golden Isles and his series-record 95th career victory. Davenport will now attempt a weekend sweep on Saturday night in the $25,000-to-win Wieland Winter Nationals finale. “It was fun for sure tonight. There were a couple of times I had to hit the brake pedal,” Davenport said. “I saw him (Brandon Overton) coming, and I got turned back under him. We were just sliding back and forth, and that was definitely a lot of fun. Turns three and four were just a little bit different tonight. I felt like the shelf was more aggressive, and it was starting to rubber right against it. There were a couple of times when I hit it just right that I could roll around there pretty good without being all the way up on it.” “One time I went through there really fast and about knocked the wall down. I thought I had a flat because it started vibrating, but I think my stuff was just worn out. Tyler (Erb) must have been really good to get up there. I could see him down there, but after running the top so many laps and hitting my marks, I didn’t think he could get a run to the flag stand coming to the white or the checkered and try to slide me.” Erb, who started 14th and worked primarily the bottom groove, finished just 0.992 seconds behind Davenport. “I didn’t think I was going to catch him following him through three and four, and I felt like one and two were faster around the top,” Erb said. “I just committed to running that line. I really didn’t want that last caution. I got ahead of Hudson but just didn’t have quite enough. Starting 14th and finishing second is pretty good. We’ll try again tomorrow. It was a good race.” Thornton, who started eighth, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. “With 15 to go, I thought if I just finish here it’s going to be a good night, and it turned out to be a good night for us,” said the 2024 series champion. “I qualified well again. I was really good in the heat race, and overall we just put ourselves in a solid position.” Davenport’s Double L Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Ace Doran Hauling and Rigging, Nutrien Ag Solutions, ASC Warranty, Mark Martin Automotive, and Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas. Completing the top 10 were Hudson O’Neal, Garrett Alberson, Kyle Bronson, Dillon McCowan, and Garrett Smith. The 15-lap 604 Late Model feature went to veteran racer Ross Bailes of Clover, South Carolina, who drove the Pursley Racing entry to the $1,500 victory. Bailes led all but the opening lap. Griffin Smith, winner of Thursday night’s 602 Late Model feature, finished second, followed by Adam Yarbrough, Michael Brown, and Trent Ivey. The $2,000-to-win Crown Vic feature concluded with Hunter Thigpen of Lyons, Georgia, in Victory Lane after Daniel Starner made contact with race leader Johnny Collins on the final lap, sending Collins spinning. Starner was disqualified from the event. Brody Collins was credited with second, followed by Tony Bromley, Adam Chambers, and Daniel Baldwin. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Wieland Winter NationalsFriday, March 6, 2026Golden Isles Speedway | Waynesville, GA Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Michael Leach | 15.140 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B:Kyle Bronson | 15.257 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 3S-Brian Shirley[3]; 2. 09-Michael Leach[1]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 4. 14-Trey Mills[2]; 5. 88-Trent Ivey[5]; 6. 99-Devin Moran[6]; 7. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[8]; 8. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[11]; 9. 388-Jackson Hise[7]; 10. 79-Donald McIntosh[9]; 11. 93L-Cory Lawler[10] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 3. 74X-Ethan Dotson[7]; 4. 10-Garrett Smith[4]; 5. 71-Hudson O’Neal[6]; 6. 111-Max Blair[10]; 7. 60-Dan Ebert[11]; 8. C4-Freddie Carpenter[5]; 9. 8-Dillon McCowan[8]; 10. 555-Brock Pinkerous[9]; 11. 81F-Jadon Frame[3]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 2. 16-Cody Overton[3]; 3. 40B-Kyle Bronson[1]; 4. 1T-Tyler Erb[4]; 5. 13-Dallon Murty[8]; 6. 19M-Brenden Smith[5]; 7. 16S-Sam Seawright[9]; 8. 15K-Cory Hedgecock[6]; 9. 16B-Ross Bailes[10]; 10. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[7]; 11. (DNS) 35-Christian Augspurger
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 5-Mark Whitener[2]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[5]; 4. 6-Clay Harris[6]; 5. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[7]; 6. 7-Ross Robinson[3]; 7. 55-Benji Hicks[8]; 8. 93J-Donovan Jackson[10]; 9. 77-Preston Luckman[9]; 10. 11-Josh Rice[4] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[2]; 2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[5]; 3. 88-Trent Ivey[1]; 4. 111-Max Blair[4]; 5. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[6]; 7. 8-Dillon McCowan[10]; 8. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[7]; 9. 555-Brock Pinkerous[12]; 10. C4-Freddie Carpenter[8]; 11. 93L-Cory Lawler[13]; 12. 79-Donald McIntosh[11]; 13. 388-Jackson Hise[9]; 14. (DNS) 81F-Jadon Frame
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 2. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[2]; 3. 16S-Sam Seawright[5]; 4. 19M-Brenden Smith[3]; 5. 7-Ross Robinson[4]; 6. 15K-Cory Hedgecock[7]; 7. 93J-Donovan Jackson[8]; 8. 16B-Ross Bailes[9]; 9. 55-Benji Hicks[6]; 10. 11-Josh Rice[12]; 11. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[11]; 12. 77-Preston Luckman[10]; 13. 35-Christian Augspurger[13] Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 3 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $12,0002 – 14 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $6,0003 – 8 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $3,5004 – 26 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $1,9005 – 11 – 74X – Ethan Dotson – Bakersfield, CA – $2,5006 – 17 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $2,4007 – 7 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $2,2008 – 10 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $2,1009 – 27 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $1,15010 – 15 – 10 – Garrett Smith – Madison, GA – $2,00011 – 16 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $1,60012 – 1 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $1,40013 – 2 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $1,20014 – 23 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $1,10015 – 20 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,05016 – 24 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $1,00017 – 12 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $1,00018 – 18 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $1,00019 – 25 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $10020 – 9 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $1,00021 – 19 – 28 – Dennis Erb Jr – Carpentersville, IL – $1,00022 – 13 – 14 – Trey Mills – St. Augustine, FL – $1,00023 – 22 – 16S – Sam Seawright – Fort Payne, AL – $1,00024 – 28 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – $10025 – 4 – 5 – Mark Whitener – Middleburg, FL – $1,00026 – 21 – 88 – Trent Ivey – Union, SC – $1,00027 – 6 – 16 – Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – $1,00028 – 5 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – $1,000 Race Statistics Entrants: 43Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Brian ShirleyMD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Overton (Laps 1-12); Jonathan Davenport (Lap 13); Brandon Overton (Lap 14); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 15-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Jonathan DavenportWieland Feature Winner: Jonathan DavenportMargin of Victory: 0.992 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Michael Leach (Lap 11); Cody Overton, Freddie Carpenter (Lap 11 restart); Freddie Carpenter (Lap 29); Sam Seawright (Lap 37); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 41); Trey Mills (Lap 41 restart)MyRacePass Series Provisionals: Devin Moran; Dan EbertFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: Cory Lawler; Max Blair; Dillon McCowan; Freddie CarpenterTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton, Jr.Penske Shocks Top 5: Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max Blair, Ethan DotsonBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton, Jr.PEM 4th Place Feature: Max BlairDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Ethan DotsonWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Clay HarrisVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Brandon OvertonXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Daniel HilsabeckHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Max Blair (Advanced 22 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (36 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Hudson O’NealO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport | Lap 40 | 15.736 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Cody OvertonVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Ricky Thornton Jr.Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Cory FostvedtARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Mark Whitener | 15.4932 secondsTime of Race: 34 minutes 39 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1210 – $74,7002 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1135 – $51,5003 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 1110 – $27,2504 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 1020 – $18,9505 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 1015 – $25,2006 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 975 – $13,6757 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 970 – $15,4008 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 955 – $33,5009 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 905 – $15,35010 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 905 – $16,80011 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 880 – $14,00012 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 865 – $13,87513 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 840 – $10,62514 – 79 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 795 – $8,90015 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 785 – $6,97516 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 745 – $9,00017 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 740 – $9,42518 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – 690 – $4,82519 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – 670 – $5,55020 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – 670 – $4,70021 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – 665 – $6,35022 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 640 – $6,92523 – 77 – Preston Luckman – Coos Bay, OR – 610 – $3,22524 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 575 – $1,000 |
