Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Knoxville Raceway
September 25, 2014
_______________________________________
Davenport Dominates Opening Night of the Knoxville Late Model Nationals 
LOLMDS PR
KNOXVILLE, IA (September 25) - Jonathan Davenport led from start to finish in dominating fashion during Thursday Night's Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals opener. Davenport started second and survived a close battle early on with Brian Birkhofer to score his first-ever win at Knoxville Raceway in the 25-lap preliminary feature event.
Darrell Lanigan slipped by Birkhofer on lap nine for second place but never got close enough to challenge Davenport. Birkhofer came home third, followed by Earl Pearson Jr., and 22nd-starting Brandon Sheppard rounding out the top five.
"It feels great to win at such a prestigious place as Knoxville Raceway. I have to thank Kevin and Leroy Rumley. What a car we had tonight! I felt so comfortable out there. This Longhorn Chassis has been fast all year. Hopefully we can get three wins here this weekend," said the winner in Lucas Oil Victory Lane.
Davenport sprinted to the lead at the drop of the green flag and was challenged by Birkhofer for just a few laps before pulling away for his 21st win overall in 2014. "This track fits my driving style. It's wide-open, no doubt! I just kept it glued to the top for most of the race. I want to thank Steve Cooke of AES Racing, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, VP, CV Products, and JRi Shocks. Leroy Rumley builds a heck of an engine. What a great start to the weekend!"
Lanigan, the defending winner of the event, followed up his big victory a year ago with a runner-up finish on the opening night this year. "We had a good car tonight. We had a really good battle with Brian [Birkhofer] there for a while. Once we got by him, he [Davenport] was so far out in front and with only 25 laps tonight, I wasn't going to be able to catch him. It's a good start for the weekend. We will make some adjustments and come out Friday Night ready to go," said the driver of the Keyser MFG, Gotta Race, Cornett Racing Engines-powered, Club 29 Chevrolet.
Birkhofer started the weekend off on a positive note after a disappointing run in 2013. "After last year, this is just tremendous to be to come out tonight and get a podium finish. We just got this Vic Hill Racing Engine this week and it gives us a confidence boost heading into Friday and Saturday Night. It looked like a really good crowd tonight and I hope we put on a good show for everyone."
Completing the top ten were Kent Robinson, Scott Bloomquist, Eddie Carrier Jr., Frank Heckenast Jr., and Tim McCreadie.
In preliminary action, Dale McDowell set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 79 entrants, with a lap of 17.635 seconds. Eddie Carrier Jr. set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 17.836 seconds. Brady Smith, John Blankenship, Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, Rick Eckert won their respective heat races. Chris Simpson won the D-Main; Terry Phillips won the C-Main and Chad Simpson won the B-Main.
A-Main
1 2 6 Jonathan Davenport Mount Airy, NC 7,000
2 6 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 4,000
3 4 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA 3,000
4 5 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC 2,000
5 22 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL 1,500
6 1 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN 1,000
7 12 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 900
8 8 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV 800
9 10 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL 700
10 24 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY 600
11 7 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 580
12 21 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 560
13 13 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI 540
14 16 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN 520
15 18 1 Rick Eckert York, PA 500
16 14 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI 490
17 17 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO 480
18 20 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 470
19 3 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 460
20 23 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA 450
21 15 32C Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY 440
22 9 5X Brandon Overton Appling, GA 430
23 19 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA 420
24 11 18C Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS 410

B-Main
1 2 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA*
2 4 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR*
3 3 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY*
4 12 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL*
5 9 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA*
6 21 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY*
7 5 1W Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR
8 1 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
9 11 91P Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
10 7 00s Jesse Stovall Billings, MO
11 15 22 Greg Satterlee Indiana, PA
12 13 14M Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
13 20 83 Scott James Harrison, IL
14 10 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
15 17 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL
16 22 15X Donny Schatz Fargo, ND
17 16 85D Mark Dotson Cameron, MO
18 6 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
19 14 25Z Mason Zeigler Chalk Hill, PA
20 18 58 Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL
21 19 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
22 8 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
C-Main
1 2 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO*
2 4 83 Scott James Harrison, IL*
3 8 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY*
4 1 15X Donny Schatz Fargo, ND*
5 22 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
6 9 81 Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
7 12 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA
8 7 15R Brian Harris Davenport, IA
9 6 20S Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
10 21 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
11 11 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
12 5 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
13 14 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
14 16 22CC Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA
15 10 20X Jake Meier Tipton, IA
16 19 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA
17 20 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA
18 3 58E Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
19 18 77 Jordan Yaggy Rochester, MN
20 13 5D John Duty Happy Valley, OR
21 15 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL
22 17 9 Lyle Zanker Rockford, IL
D-Main
1 6 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA*
2 2 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA*
3 1 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL*
4 9 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA*
5 3 1M Rob Moss Iowa City, IA
6 8 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH
7 12 15D Justin Duty Happy Valley, OR
8 5 3X Skip Frey Swisher, IA
9 11 5M Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
10 7 25L Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
11 10 82 Roger Brickler Springfield, IL
12 4 21F Todd Frank Montrose, IA
13 13 14W Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
dns 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
dns 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
dns 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
dns 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
dns 25F Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
dns 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
dns 15C Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
dns 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
dns 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE
dns 6H Al Humphrey Giltner, NE
dns 29X Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
dns 38 Jordan Heiman Sioux Falls, SD
Heat #1 (Group A)
1 2 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI*
2 6 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN*
3 8 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA*
4 7 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
5 5 00s Jesse Stovall Billings, MO
6 3 91P Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
7 1 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA
8 9 15R Brian Harris Davenport, IA
9 10 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL
10 11 3X Skip Frey Swisher, IA
11 4 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL
12 12 15C Curt Schroeder Ames, IA
dns 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR
dns 38 Jordan Heiman Sioux Falls, SD
Heat #2 (Group A)
1 7 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV*
2 9 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO*
3 4 18C Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS*
4 8 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL
5 2 22 Greg Satterlee Indiana, PA
6 1 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL
7 10 5D John Duty Happy Valley, OR
8 11 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL
9 12 9 Lyle Zanker Rockford, IL
10 6 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
11 3 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA
12 5 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA
dns 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE
Heat #3 (Group A)
1 6 5X Brandon Overton Appling, GA*
2 8 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC*
3 1 32C Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY*
4 3 14M Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
5 7 1W Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR
6 4 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA
7 9 81 Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
8 5 15X Donny Schatz Fargo, ND
9 2 58E Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
10 10 1M Rob Moss Iowa City, IA
11 11 25L Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL
12 12 82 Roger Brickler Springfield, IL
13 13 29X Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
Heat #1 (Group B)
1 6 6 Jonathan Davenport Mount Airy, NC*
2 3 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI*
3 8 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV*
4 2 85D Mark Dotson Cameron, MO
5 5 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
6 4 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR
7 7 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
8 11 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
9 9 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
10 10 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA
11 1 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA
12 13 6H Al Humphrey Giltner, NE
13 12 5M Mike Fryer Freeport, IL
Heat #2 (Group B)
1 2 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN*
2 7 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA*
3 6 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL*
4 5 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
5 4 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA
6 8 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA
7 1 20S Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
8 3 83 Scott James Harrison, IL
9 13 77 Jordan Yaggy Rochester, MN
10 9 21F Todd Frank Montrose, IA
11 12 15D Justin Duty Happy Valley, OR
12 10 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH
13 11 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
Heat #3 (Group B)
1 1 1 Rick Eckert York, PA*
2 6 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN*
3 8 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY*
4 3 25Z Mason Zeigler Chalk Hill, PA
5 4 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
6 12 58 Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL
7 9 20X Jake Meier Tipton, IA
8 11 22CC Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA
9 10 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA
10 13 14W Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO
11 5 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
12 2 25F Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
13 7 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK
Group A Qualifying
1 17M Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 17.635
2 28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville, IL 17.845
3 44 Earl Pearson Jr. Trinity, NC 17.884
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 17.885
5 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 17.902
6 1W Wendell Wallace Batesville, AR 17.912
7 7R Kent Robinson Bloomington, IN 17.926
8 28M Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI 17.953
9 5X Brandon Overton Appling, GA 18.077
10 0 Jesse Stovall Billings, MO 18.101
11 16 Tyler Bruening Decorah, IA 18.112
12 15X Donny Schatz Fargo, ND 18.148
13 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL 18.152
14 18C Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS 18.161
15 98 Jason Rauen Farley, IA 18.211
16 91P Jason Papich Nipomo, CA 18.259
17 56E Andy Eckrich Iowa City, IA 18.318
18 14M Morgan Bagley Longview, TX 18.319
19 2 Brady Smith Solon Springs, WI 18.373
20 22 Greg Satterlee Indiana, PA 18.380
21 58E Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA 18.392
22 93 Jay Johnson West Burlington, IA 18.462
23 48 Tim Lance Brimfield, IL 18.590
24 32C Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY 18.635
25 15R Brian Harris Davenport, IA 18.655
26 1V Will Vaught Crane, MO 18.674
27 81 Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 18.728
28 21B Rich Bell Sheffield, IL 18.828
29 5D John Duty Happy Valley, OR 18.985
30 1M Rob Moss Iowa City, IA 19.035
31 3X Skip Frey Swisher, IA 19.039
32 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, IL 19.052
33 25L Steve Lance Jr. Cuba, IL 19.205
34 15C Curt Schroeder Ames, IA 19.720
35 9 Lyle Zanker Rockford, IL 19.910
36 82 Roger Brickler Springfield, IL 20.669
37 21 Billy Moyer Batesville, AR No Time
38 10 Junior Coover Norfolk, NE No Time
39 29X Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA No Time
40 38 Jordan Heiman Sioux Falls, SD No Time
Group B Qualifying
1 28 Eddie Carrier Jr. Salt Rock, WV 17.836
2 25 Chad Simpson Mount Vernon, IA 17.842
3 29 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 17.922
4 75 Terry Phillips Springfield, MO 17.925
5 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA 17.945
6 12 Jason Hughes Watts, OK 17.991
7 6 Jonathan Davenport Mount Airy, NC 18.022
8 99JR Frank Heckenast Jr. Frankfurt, IL 18.022
9 O Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 18.077
10 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 18.083
11 5 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN 18.089
12 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 18.102
13 21JR Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville, AR 18.160
14 50 Denny Eckrich Oxford, IA 18.172
15 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL 18.203
16 58D AJ Diemel Elk Mound, WI 18.215
17 83 Scott James Harrison, IL 18.219
18 25Z Mason Zeigler Chalk Hill, PA 18.226
19 85D Mark Dotson Cameron, MO 18.227
20 157 Mike Marlar Winfield, TN 18.323
21 25F Jason Feger Bloomington, IL 18.384
22 22B Jonathan Brauns Muscatine, IA 18.386
23 20S Rodney Sanders Happy, TX 18.462
24 1 Rick Eckert York, PA 18.508
25 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY 18.651
26 21F Todd Frank Montrose, IA 18.654
27 20X Jake Meier Tipton, IA 18.682
28 32 Chris Simpson Marion, IA 18.759
29 51 Matt Furman Columbus, OH 18.930
30 56 Chris Spieker Massena, IA 18.961
31 31 Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA 19.016
32 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA 19.024
33 22CC Charlie McKenna Clear Lake, IA 19.029
34 5M Mike Fryer Freeport, IL 19.222
35 15D Justin Duty Happy Valley, OR 19.255
36 58 Ray Guss Jr. East Moline, IL 19.302
37 6H Al Humphrey Giltner, NE 19.371
38 77 Jordan Yaggy Rochester, MN 19.492
39 14W Dustin Walker Peculiar, MO 19.668
- unofficial results