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SASE Media
GAFFNEY, S.C. (March 8) - Jonathan Davenport can mark one off of his list. The driver who hails from Blairsville, Georgia originally says he has had Cherokee Speedway on his list of places he wanted to win since he moved to the Carolinas a few years back. Mission accomplished. Davenport, who took over the seat of Kevin and Leroy Rumley's potent Rocket ride this year, held of the charges of Chris Madden and Clint Smith to claim his first career O'Reilly Southern All Stars East career win.
Twenty-seven cars signed in on a beautiful sunny Gaffney, South Carolina afternoon. Because of concern over the ever-changing track conditions, O'Reilly Southern All Stars East Officials opted to utilize group qualifying for time trials. Madden claimed the overall fastest time with a lap of 15.219 seconds (94.618 MPH). Jimmy Owens was fastest in group two while Eric Jacobsen was quickest in group three as was Travis Pennington in group four.
The four heat races proved to be wild and wooly. Madden and Smith went door to door into turn one on the first lap of Heat One which resulted in contact between the two. Smith slipped up and nearly got the wall but peddled it back down the track. Dennis Franklin contacted Smith as he came back down the banking and went for a spin. The contact resulted in Smith suffering damage to his left front suspension. Smith jumped ahead on the next start but Madden motored back by just two laps in. Smith was able to hold on to second even with his damage.
Heat two saw Davenport and Owens battle it out for the point early on. But Davenport was able to put distance on the defending event winner by the races end. Owens was second followed by Dale McDowell and Jeff Cooke. Heat three had Randy Weaver take the win over Jacobsen, Ryan Gifford (who was making his first career super late model start) and sixteen year old Austin Hubbard. Heat four another RCR machine take the win. Jared Landers scored the win over Travis Pennington, Tony Knowles and defending O'Reilly Southern All Stars East Champion Casey Roberts.
In B-Main action young dirt late model pilot Ethan Hunter grabbed the win ahead of veteran racer and Cherokee Speedway and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Freddy Smith. Blue-Gray 100 winner Randle Chupp was third followed by Colorado's Kelly Boen, Petey Ivey and former Series Rookie of the Year Monk Gulledge as the final drivers transferring to the feature event. Series provisional starts were earned by Brent Dixon and Anthony Sanders.
The feature event rolled off after some track grooming at 7:08 PM. Davenport launched to the lead at the drop of the green flag. Madden gave chase but had to deal Weaver in the early going. Davenport clicked off lap after lap and set a torrid pace, reaching lappers just ten laps into the event. The first caution flew on lap ten when the third-running Randy Weaver slowed to a stop in turn three. Weaver's day was done as he took his GRT machine pitside.
Davenport once again was on the loud pedal and reached lap traffic again in fewer than ten laps. Davenport worked the traffic well but he had to pick and choose his time to pass. This allowed Madden to draw to his rear deck. As Davenport and Madden bypassed Austin Hubbard they caught Monk Gulledge. Davenport sailed his machine off in to turn three to make the pass on Gulledge. When he did, Madden powered down low and pulled ahead of Davenport. But Madden's momentum carried him up the banking exiting turn four. Davenport battled back on the outside and he and Madden made contact. Madden spun to the top the front straightaway.
Madden rejoined the field on the tail in eighteenth. Davenport was able to continue as the leader with only minor left rear sheet metal damage. Davenport now had to contend with Clint Smith. Smith mirrored Davenport over the waning laps waiting for an opportunity to open up. With just five laps remaining, Smith caught Davenport and began to work the low groove. One lap later Smith pulled even with the leader as they exited turn four and Smith stuck a nose out ahead off of turn two. But Davenport's momentum carried him back past Smith for good.
As Davenport headed to the checkers, a pair of lap cars tangled at the exit of turn four. The lappers righted themselves and kept going but were markedly slower than Davenport. With the checkers in sight, Davenport had to take the extreme high line on the front straightaway to avoid the lapped machines. Davenport crossed the line to take the win but when he got to turn one his nose hung on the cushion and prevented him from steering his mount. Davenport slammed into the outside wall and rode the top of it before slamming back down on the surface where several drivers had to take evasive action to avoid the wreckage.
"Man I know why these cars are called Rockets now. My car was just so good. I hate what happened after the flagstand there. Kevin and Leroy have given me such a great opportunity to drive their cars. I am glad we are in victory lane but I sure hate they had to tow the car into it. We have had an unbelievable weekend after the win in our crate car last night and another big one here in the Rumley's car. It has been just awesome. I just wish my Dad was here to see it. We are gonna get out and travel some this year. Maybe run some of the northern tracks and try to get use to them." Davenport said after his win.
March Madness VII - Complete Results
Heat 1
44 Madden 44 Smith
2 Franklin 1 Dixon
00 Smith 42 Casey
12 Zach Cox
Finish: 44m, 44s, 2f, 42, 00, 12 and 1
Heat 2
20 Owens 6 Davenport
17m McDowell 101 Hunter
99 Cooke 421 Sanders
Finish: 6, 20, 17m, 99, 101h and 421
Heat 3
5 Jacobsen 116 Weaver
75 Ivey 11 Hubbard
07 Boen 29 Gifford
F1 Thompson
Finish: 116, 5, 29, 11, 07, F1 and 75
Heat 4
01 Pennington 2 Landers
101 Roberts 26 Knowles
22 Chupp 104 Gulledge
M31 Akeson
Finish: 2L, 01, 26, 101r, 22, 104 and M31
B-Main
00 Smith 101 Hunter
07 Boen 22 Chupp
1 Dixon 421 Sanders
F1 Thompson 104 Gulledge
12 Cox 75 Ivey
M31 Akeson
Finish: 101h, 00, 22, 07, 75, 104, 421, 12, F1, M31 and 1 (DNS)
Provisonal Starts to: 1 Dixon and 421 Sanders
Feature
44 Madden 6 Davenport
116 Weaver 2 Landers
44 Smith 20 Owens
5 Jacobsen 01 Pennington
2 Franklin 17m McDowell
29 Gifford 26 Knowles
42 Casey 99 Cooke
11 Hubbard 101 Roberts
101 Hunter 00 Smith
22 Chupp 07 Boen
75 Ivey 104 Gulledge
1 Dixon 421 Sanders
Official Finish
1 - 6 Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA
2 - 44 Clint Smith - Senoia, GA
3 - 17m Dale McDowel - Chickamauga, GA
4 - 00 Freddy Smith - Seymour, TN
5 - 20 Jimmy Owens - Newport, TN
6 - 2 Dennis Franklin - Gaffney, SC
7 - 5 Eric Jacobsen - Seacliff Beach, CA
8 - 44 Chris Madden - Gray Court, SC
9 - 26 Tony Knowles - Tyrone, GA
10 - 29 Ryan Gifford - Winchester, TN
11 - 75 Petey Ivey - Union, SC
12 - 2 Jared Landers - Batesville, AR
13 - 07 Kelly Boen - Henderson, CO
14 - 101 Ethan Hunter - Tiger, GA
15 - 11 Austin Hubbard - Seaford, DE
16 - 104 Monk Gulledge - Batesburg, SC
17 - 421 Anthony Sanders - Spartanburg, SC
18 - 01 Travis Pennington - Winston, GA
19 - 42 Terry Casey - New London, WI
20 - 101 Casey Roberts - Toccoa, GA
21 - 22 Randle Chupp - Troutman, NC
22 - 99 Jeff Cooke - Spartanburg, SC
23 - 1 Brent Dixon - Elberton, GA
24 - 116 Randy Weaver - Crossville, TN
DNS: F1 Billy Thompson - Gastonia, NC; M31 Michael Akeson - Augusta, GA and 12 Zach Cox - Lumberton, NC
Cruise With the Champions Rookie of the Race: Anthony Sanders
PPM Racing Products Hard Charger: Freddy Smith
NASCAR Technical Institute Top Crew Chief Award: Jamie "Cotton" Owens (Madden)
Lap Leaders: Davenport (1-60)
Lead Changes: 0
Caution flags: 5
Red Flags: 1
Time of race: 28 minutes 37 seconds
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