CONCORD, N.C. – Jonathan Davenport wouldn’t claim this season as his finest Saturday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, but it’s certainly high on the pecking order.
Davenport led the final 20 of 40 laps and became the second driver in World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series history to sweep the World Finals. Jimmy Owens won both late model features at the four-tenths-mile play oval in 2012.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular fought off upstart Garrett Smith, a super late model rookie who gave Davenport all he could handle.
Smith, the 18-year-old from Eatonton, Ga., led eight laps and finished second, 1.490 seconds behind Davenport.
“This season is probably number one or two,” Davenport said. “We won a lot of races. We won a lot of big races. 2015 was probably my number one season, this would have to be number two.”
Davenport, one night removed from outrunning four-time series champion Brandon Sheppard for Friday’s top prize, picked up where he left off Saturday with another fast-qualifier award.
Sheppard one-upped Davenport in the eight-lap heat, though, and Davenport would start sixth in the main event because of it.
The opening eight laps belonged to Sheppard, but the Rocket Racing driver got shuffled to third on lap nine as Smith and Davenport ratcheted up the pressure.
Davenport went sixth to third on the opening lap and heavily leaned on the top groove in turns one and two for an edge throughout the race. On lap 12, Davenport slung past Smith, the inexperienced racer trying to make a name on the big stage.
“Leading a couple of laps right there felt amazing,” Smith said.
“It feels really good to come up here all weekend and have speed all weekend,” Smith added. “It’s fun racing with these guys and seeing how they race you and learn from them.”
Smith regrouped and worked by Davenport on lap 16. He led the following three laps until tight racing between Tyler Erb and Chris Ferguson sent Ferguson out of control and into the turn one wall.
“From then, I just had to get up on the wheel and make something happen,” Davenport said on the restart with 21 laps to go. “I just found a little bit through [turns] one and two where I could get a run.”
One lap into the restart, Davenport generated a huge run off the top side of turns one and two to set up the go-ahead pass on the other end of the track. Smith, meanwhile, ran smoothly through the bottom-middle of the slick surface.
“I knew I had to do something different,” Davenport said. “That’s the only plan I had and luckily it worked out.”
Sheppard, Tim McCreadie and Tyler Erb completed the top five.
Dennis Erb Jr., Brandon Overton, Rickey Weiss, John Blankenship and Austin Kirkpatrick rounded out the top 10.
The finish:
Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Smith, Brandon Sheppard, Tim McCreadie, Chris Madden, Tyler Erb, Dennis Erb Jr., Brandon Overton, Ricky Weiss, John Blankenship, Austin Kirkpatrick, Boom Briggs, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Ashton Winger, Ross Robinson, Ryan Gustin, Josh Richards, Tyler Bruening, Jason Covert, Bryan Bernheisel, Kyle Strickler, Max Blair, Chris Ferguson, Nick Hoffman
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November 07, 2021 at 12:32PM
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Davenport Overpowers Smith For World Finals Sweep - SPEED SPORT - SPEED SPORT
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