Post by LMR on 04/02/16 at 10:14pm
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
East Alabama Motor Speedway
April 2, 2016
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Davenport Surges Late to Win Bama Bash at East Alabama Motor Speedway
LOLMDS PR
PHENIX CITY, AL (April 2) - The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series' first ever visit to East Alabama Speedway will go down as being one of the most memorable track debuts on the series tour in recent history. Jonathan Davenport came from third to first in the final three laps to win the 19th Annual Bama Bash on Saturday Night.
Davenport passed both Scott Bloomquist and race leader Jared Landers in the waning laps for his sixth LOLMDS victory of the season. The defending series champion beat Landers, Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, and Darrell Lanigan to the finish line for the win in front of one of the biggest crowds in track history.
"I kept looking at the flagman and the starts I had tonight were terrible. Weaver [Randy] and I went with a harder tire than anyone else in the field. Once we got rolling; and with my experience here; I knew the top would come into play. I just kept being patient up there and waiting people to clean it off. Once it did, this Longhorn car really got rolling."
"There were a couple of times I went off the back straightaway. I got a little too close to the cushion up in one and two a few times. I was able to get by Scott and then was able to close on Jared. That had to be an exciting finish to watch!"
Landers led the first 57 laps of the race and appeared to be headed for his first series win of the season. Bloomquist closed on Landers in the final ten laps. Landers was able to negate any move Bloomquist made, that's when Davenport was able to get his rhythm going on the top of the track.
"I would like to thank Baird Transport for coming on board this year. Lee Roy Rumley couldn't be here tonight, so I want to tell him that I am thinking about him and we wish he was with us here in victory lane. I love coming here to race; it is one of my top five favorites to come to."
Landers improved his finishing position one spot from the night before at Boyd's where he was edged out for second by Randy Weaver. "I came up on a lapped car and he did nothing wrong, he holding his line and I was making bad decisions on places to pass. I kind of got out of rhythm. I knew Jonathan had a harder tire on, and the tire choice paid off for him."
Bloomquist had to go to a backup car after hot laps and fought his way from seventh to challenge for the lead. "It turned out to be an 'OK' night. We had the same thing happen to us that happened at Knoxville last year with the rear drive of the car. We were good in the heat race. I knew that couple of drivers had gone with harder compounds, and it paid off for them. Our tires started going away at the end. I caught Jared, but we just didn't have enough left to get the lead."
Completing the top ten were Earl Pearson Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Dennis Erb Jr., Don O'Neal and Tim McCreadie.
In preliminary action, Jared Landers set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time amongst the 27 entrants, with a lap of 14.386 seconds. Jared Landers, Brandon Sheppard and Darrell Lanigan won their respective heat races. Colton Flinner won the B-Main.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday, April 2nd, 2016
East Alabama Motor Speedway - Phenix City, AL
A-Main
1 5 6 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
2 1 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
3 7 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
4 16 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
5 3 15 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
6 4 1 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
7 2 b5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
8 14 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
9 15 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
10 9 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
11 18 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
12 13 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH
13 22 16 Austin Horton Newman, GA
14 10 11 Austin Smith Cedartown, GA
15 11 17m Dale McDowell Chickmauga, GA
16 8 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN
17 6 44 Chris Madden Gray Court, SC
18 20 21a Joey Armistead Senoia, GA
19 24 15m Mason Massey Douglasville, GA
20 12 44 Clint Smith Senoia, GA
21 19 75 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA
22 17 91 Tod Darda LaGrange, GA
23 23 18 Matt Dooley Brooks, GA
24 21 33 Brian Reese Sharpsburg, GA
B-Main
1 3 75 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA
2 1 21a Joey Armistead Senoia, GA
3 2 33 Brian Reese Sharpsburg, GA
4 4 16 Austin Horton Newman, GA
5 5 18 Matt Dooley Brooks, GA
6 6 A8 Austin Arnold Hattiesburg, MS
Heat #1
1 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
2 1 Earl Pearson Jr Jacksonville, FL
3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
4 11 Austin Smith Cedartown, GA
5 99m Devin Moran Dresden, OH
6 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
7 21a Joey Armistead Senoia, GA
8 16 Austin Horton Newman, GA
9 21 Ivedent Lloyd Jr Ocala, FL
Heat #2
1 b5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
2 6 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
3 116 Randy Weaver Crossville, TN
4 17m Dale McDowell Chickmauga, GA
5 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
6 91 Tod Darda LaGrange, GA
7 33 Brian Reese Sharpsburg, GA
8 18 Matt Dooley Brooks, GA
Heat #3
1 15 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY
2 44 Chris Madden Gray Court, SC
3 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
4 44 Clint Smith Senoia, GA
5 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
6 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
7 75 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA
8 A8 Austin Arnold Hattiesburg, MS
9 15m Mason Massey Douglasville, GA
For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, including the latest series standings, 2016 tour schedule, driver information, and more visit the official website at: www.lucasdirt.com.