Late Model fans in Georgia are definitely getting their money's worth no matter which of the two venues they choose as the 2015 Speedweeks kick off at both Screven and Golden Isles Speedways. Saturday night's Georgia Boot Super Bowl of racing weekend at Golden Isles saw plenty of action throughout as Jonathan Davenport prevailed for the $10,000 victory.
It was the third straight night for Davenport to lead the feature race at the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series event, but after two DNF's you could bet that "Superman" was hearing every little rattle and feeling each vibration throughout the 50-lap event. Davenport started from the pole and went unchallenged until a lap twenty restart allowed Jared Landers to driver under him in turns one and two. Davenport kept pace though and ten laps later when the left rear wheel came off of Landers car and flew high in the air over the turn four fence Davenport was there the assume the lead on the restart.
Steve Francis in the Georgia Boot sponsored #15 was doing the event sponsor proud by racing into the top three before overheating took him out of the event and soon after Scott Bloomquist got a little hot under the collar when Ross Bailes rode him up into the wall while racing for the third spot. Davenport would survive a final lap restart to hold back last night's winner Earl Pearson Jr, for the victory. Brandon Sheppard finished third for the second night in a row and Bloomquist made a point of passing Bailes late to claim the fourth position.
After the first two point events for the Lucas Oil series it is just like old times with four-time champion Earl Pearson Jr. and the Dunn Benson Ford Team on top of the standings as the series now heads south to East Bay Raceway for a full week of action beginning Monday night. Bloomquist, Donald McIntosh, Davenport and Stormy Scott make up the rest of the top five.
When you think of drivers who would be racing for the lead at a World of Outlaws Late Model series event you probably don't think of Steve Casebolt and Brandon Overton, yet those two drivers were the top contenders for the second night in a row at the Screven Motor Speedway. One of the stalwarts of the Outlaws, Tim McCreadie started from the pole position in the 50-lap finale but he was no match for Casebolt who raced to the lead at the drop of the green with Overton quickly moving to second.
Using a slider at the exit of turn four Overton picked up the top spot on lap five, but as he approached lapped traffic for the first time on lap eleven, Casebolt regained the lead in turn one. Others would close in as the the leaders picked their way through traffic until the caution waved on lap forty-one when Casey Roberts delivered as promised. Back on Thursday night Roberts had patiently worked on Josh Richards for several laps before he was able to get by him exiting turn two for the lead only to have the former World of Outlaws champion charge back and drive under him into turn three creating contact and forcing Roberts high up the track in four. Richards would go on to win while Roberts faded to third and the Georgia driver vowed to return the favor at some point. He did it with nine laps to go and with Richards running sixth, spinning "Kid Rocket" in turn three.
Following the restart Casebolt looked like he would repeat his victory from the night before as Overton had his hands full with Outlaws veteran Shane Clanton as the two raced side-by-side for second. Clanton finally cleared Overton on lap forty-eight and as the white flag waved Clanton drove deep into turn one and put the slider on Casebolt in turn two to take the lead and then a popular victory with his home state crowd. It would be Clanton's first series win over a 66-race span with his last Outlaws win coming in June of 2013. Casebolt would have to settle for second tonight just ahead of Overton while Bill Moyer and Casey Roberts completed the top five, while Josh Richards managed to climb back up to 15th at the checkers.
The Outlaws and their unlikely point leader Steve Casebolt now take the week off before a Saturday/Sunday doubleheader at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala.
After making a final lap pass for the win on Friday night, Kerry Madsen went flag-to-flag to score the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car victory at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala Saturday night. Dale Blaney, Steve Kinser, Danny Holtgraver and Wayne Johnson filled out the top five. Twelve-year-old Tyler Clem, the son of the track owner Bubba "The Love Sponge" Clem finished 15th. The youngster splits time between driving a Late Model and a Sprint Car at the speedway and can definitely hold his own with the grown ups.
UMP sanctioned Late Models have a $5,000-to-win show at the North Florida speedway Sunday night and it is always interesting to see who pops in for this event. Last year Darrell Lanigan edged out Florida Limited Late Model star Mark Whitener to take the win.
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