CHILLICOTHE, OH (March 24, 2024) – Jonathan Davenport was the driver to beat on Sunday night at Atomic Speedway as he made a clean sweep of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series program.

Davenport set the overall fastest time in Allstar Performance Time Trials, won his heat race to earn the Victory Fuel pole, and topped it off by winning the Buckeye Spring 50 to earn the $12,000 top prize.

Davenport’s second win of the season broke a streak of 10 straight Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races that saw 10 different winners. The three-time champion earned his 76th win with the series.

Mike Marlar was the only other driver to lead laps in the main event as he held the point for laps 15 and 16 after taking over the lead from Davenport, who had led the first 13 circuits of the race. But Marlar’s top spot was short-lived as Davenport made a daring move coming off turn two on lap 17 to retake the lead which he held to the finish.

Marlar came home in second with Devin Moran, the previous night’s winner at Brownstown coming from the 11th starting spot to round out the Big River Steel Podium in third. Jimmy Owens, who holds the late model track record at Atomic was fourth, with Bobby Pierce completing the top five drivers.

Davenport picked a fine time to turn around his weekend after finishing 15th at Brownstown on Saturday night. “Anytime you can set fast time, win your heat, and win the feature you know it just caps off the whole night. Mikey [Marlar], he run me pretty hard through lapped traffic and man there was one time when lapped cars got together and I had to squeeze between them and the wall; man, that was really close right there, but it was a lot of fun,” said the Blairsville, Georgia driver.

“There were some timely cautions for sure. I didn’t know to be down on this end [turn four] early. I thought through the middle would be best, but I kept trying to move my line and I could never really get off the throttle like I needed to. I was moving around a little bit in one and two, but not much because there is so much banking down there, but I started coming off of it earlier and that helped me,” Davenport added.

Marlar, coming off a third-place finish at Brownstown the night before, improved one spot in the finishing order at Atomic. “When I got the lead, when Davenport got bunched up there in traffic and slid up a little bit and I got him and when he entered down here in one I thought I could enter below the lapped car and just be half on him on exit nobody was going to go around me. I went in there and got free and I let Jonathan have enough room behind that lapped car to come back in front of me. That was a big mistake on my end, but you know it’s hard racing and it’s fun and me and him had a heck of a race.”

Moran, who picked up his first series win of the season the night before, was looking for a clean sweep of the weekend but came up short in doing so in his home state despite a valiant effort from the inside of row number six.

“This place you just can’t pass a car one lap it takes a couple of laps to maneuver around someone. Charlie Vest [Atomic promoter] and them guys done a great job with the track. I thought we were going to be in trouble when they went out and watered it a little bit, but it really made a good race out of it. I just needed to qualify better tonight. We were pretty limited on tire selection tonight, so everyone was pretty much on the same stuff. I wish we could have started a little further up front. If that caution hadn’t come out in the heat and I beat Ricky [Thornton Jr.] we might have had a chance in the feature.” 

The winner’s Lance and Darla Landers, Double L Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions, Dyna Gro Seed, Lucas Oil Products, Bilstein Shocks, ASC Warranty, Mark Martin Automotive, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, and VP Fuels.

Completing the top ten were Tim McCreadie, Nick Hoffman, Ricky Thornton Jr., Max Blair, and Garrett Alberson.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 
Race Summary 
Buckeye Spring 50
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Atomic Speedway – Chillicothe, OH

Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Jonathan Davenport | 13.054 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Jimmy Owens | 13.120 seconds

Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 9-Nick Hoffman[2]; 3. 1T-Tyler Erb[7]; 4. 19M-Spencer Hughes[3]; 5. 111-Max Blair[5]; 6. 93F-Carson Ferguson[4]; 7. 7-Ross Robinson[8]; 8. 58-Garrett Alberson[6]; 9. 17SS-Brenden Smith[9]; 10. 2*-Logan Hitt[10]; 11. 43-Dustin Sprouse[11]

Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 32P-Bobby Pierce[1]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 3. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 4. B5-Brandon Sheppard[5]; 5. 25-Tony Jackson Jr[4]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 7. 75-Daniel Adam[6]; 8. S21-Seth Daniels[8]; 9. 43S-Derrick Stewart[10]; 10. 00-Justin Cooper[9]

Earnhardt Technologies Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20-Jimmy Owens[1]; 2. 1-Tim McCreadie[2]; 3. 10-Garrett Smith[4]; 4. 11R-Josh Rice[5]; 5. 28C-Tyler Carpenter[6]; 6. 7T-Drake Troutman[3]; 7. 99B-Boom Briggs[11]; 8. 8-Dillon McCowan[7]; 9. 47W-Brandon Weigle[9]; 10. 4T-Tripp Gerrald[8]; 11. (DNS) C4-Freddie Carpenter

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[2]; 2. 71-Hudson O'Neal[1]; 3. 18D-Daulton Wilson[4]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 5. 68-Adam Stricker[3]; 6. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[6]; 7. 71C-RJ Conley[9]; 8. 93-Cory Lawler[8]; 9. 57-Caiden Black[7]; 10. 43M-Mike Sprouse[10]

Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 111-Max Blair[1]; 2. 93F-Carson Ferguson[3]; 3. 25-Tony Jackson Jr[2]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[7]; 5. 7-Ross Robinson[5]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[4]; 7. 17SS-Brenden Smith[9]; 8. 43S-Derrick Stewart[10]; 9. 75-Daniel Adam[6]; 10. S21-Seth Daniels[8]; 11. 00-Justin Cooper[12]; 12. (DNS) 2*-Logan Hitt; 13. (DNS) 43-Dustin Sprouse

UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 7T-Drake Troutman[3]; 2. 68-Adam Stricker[2]; 3. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[4]; 4. 71C-RJ Conley[6]; 5. 99B-Boom Briggs[5]; 6. 8-Dillon McCowan[7]; 7. 57-Caiden Black[10]; 8. 93-Cory Lawler[8]; 9. 47W-Brandon Weigle[9]; 10. 28C-Tyler Carpenter[1]; 11. (DNS) 4T-Tripp Gerrald; 12. (DNS) 43M-Mike Sprouse; 13. (DNS) C4-Freddie Carpenter

Buckeye Spring 50 Feature Finish (50 Laps):

Race Statistics  
Entrants: 42
Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Jonathan Davenport
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1-14); Mike Marlar (Laps 15-16); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 17-50)
Wieland Feature Winner: Jonathan Davenport
Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Feature Winner: n/a
Brandon Ford TV Challenge Feature Winner: n/a
Margin of Victory: 0.620 seconds 
Dave Warren Powersports Cautions: Dennis Erb, Jr. (Lap 3); Drake Troutman (Lap 7); Boom Briggs (Lap 17); Josh Rice (Lap 21); Josh Rice (Lap 30)
Series Provisionals: Garrett Alberson; Ross Robinson
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Series Emergency Provisionals: Boom Briggs; Brenden Smith; Cory Lawler; Daniel Adam
Track Provisional: RJ Conley
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, Devin Moran
Penske Shocks Top 5: Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar, Devin Moran, Jimmy Owens, Bobby Pierce
Todd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race: Garrett Alberson (Advanced 13 Positions) 
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Nick Hoffman
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Tyler Erb
MD3 Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (48 Laps) 
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a 
Coltman Farms Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Lap 2  – 14.137 seconds) 
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
Miller Welders Hard Luck Award: Drake Troutman
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Cory Fostvedt (Jonathan Davenport)
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Jonathan Davenport (12.9381 seconds)
Time of Race: 28 minutes 46 seconds 

BROWNSTOWN, IN (March 23, 2024) – After 10 years of trying to make it to Brownstown Speedway Victory Lane, Devin Moran was finally able to breakthrough – winning the 27th Annual Indiana Icebreaker on Saturday night at the Jackson County Fairgrounds quarter-mile oval.

With the win, Moran becomes the tenth different winner in the last 10 series races. The fans saw six lead changes among three drivers during the 50-lap race. Bobby Pierce, who led the most laps, with 19, finished second followed by Mike Marlar, Max Blair, and Ricky Thornton Jr.

Brandon Sheppard took the lead at the start of the race as the Illini driver was looking for his third straight win in the event. Sheppard led the first 14 laps until Moran, who started from the pole, seized the top spot. His lead lasted just one lap before Pierce, who started fifth, took his first lead of the race.

But like Moran, Pierce’s turn as the race leader lasted one lap and Sheppard moved back to the point. Sheppard led the next four circuits until Moran regained the lead with 21 laps complete. A back-and-forth battle ensued between Moran and Pierce as Pierce claimed the top spot for the second time in the race on lap 23. 

Pierce appeared to seize control of the race through heavy traffic as he was trying to extend his lead, but Moran and Marlar were quickly closing ground on the former Jackson 100 winner. Moran was able to grab the lead from Pierce right before the final caution flag of the race flew with 13 laps to go.

Moran led the final 13 circuits, but Pierce tried several different lines to retake the lead in the closing stages. However, Moran held on for his first ever win at Brownstown by just 0.532 seconds over Pierce.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane, for the first time in 2024, Moran breathed a sigh of relief for finally getting the monkey off his back at Brownstown. “It’s about time man. I love coming to this place, Jim Price [Brownstown promoter] does a great job with the track. It’s a great track, it has awesome fans, you have awesome support in the pits. I have been waiting for about 10 years to come do this. I have always run good here. I know it’s cold out here, but I was sweating bullets out there. When I moved to the top, I could make hay in three and four. After that last caution I was just trying hang on to the end.”

Pierce, who won twice last year at Brownstown, came close to going back to Victory Lane. “That was an awesome race tonight. I didn’t really expect the track to be that good. I didn’t expect him [Moran] to roll the top like he did. It was a fun race and we’re glad to finish second tonight.” 

Marlar, who captured the C.J. Rayburn Memorial race last September was one of the fastest cars on the track during the mid-part of the race. “Me and Devin were on harder tires than Sheppy and Bobby and I was like we just need to race here without any cautions. The track was unbelievable again; it’s always awesome here. It was a fun night.”

The winner’s Roger Sellers-owned, Double Down Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Lazydays RV, Big River Steel, C&W Trucking, Bilstein Shocks, McHugh Chrysler Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, CarSource, Haulin Haskell’s, Red Oak Pub, and Smoky Mountain Speedway.

Completing the top ten were Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Josh Rice, Nick Hoffman, and Daulton Wilson.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 
Race Summary 
27th Annual Indiana Icebreaker
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Brownstown Speedway – Brownstown, IN

Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Michael Chilton | 13.315 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Brandon Sheppard | 13.478 seconds

Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 2. 32P-Bobby Pierce[2]; 3. 97C-Michael Chilton[1]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[4]; 5. 99B-Boom Briggs[8]; 6. 17SS-Brenden Smith[5]; 7. 1G-Devin Gilpin[6]; 8. 24-Jared Bailey[9]; 9. 4-Cody Mahoney[10]; 10. 75-Daniel Adam[7]; 11. 81J-Jack Riggs[11]; 12. 43-Derrick Stewart[12]

Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Tim McCreadie[2]; 2. 93F-Carson Ferguson[4]; 3. 1T-Tyler Erb[3]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 5. 76-Shelby Miles[6]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[12]; 7. 4T-Tripp Gerrald[1]; 8. 23-Cory Hedgecock[8]; 9. 12-Jason Jameson[9]; 10. 4G-Bob Gardner[10]; 11. 19M-Spencer Hughes[7]; 12. 25W-Allen Weisser[11]

Earnhardt Technologies Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. B5-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[7]; 3. 9-Nick Hoffman[2]; 4. 111-Max Blair[3]; 5. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[4]; 6. 68-Adam Stricker[5]; 7. 8-Dillon McCowan[8]; 8. 97-Cody Overton[10]; 9. 25-Tony Jackson Jr[6]; 10. 32-Chad Stapleton[11]; 11. 93-Cory Lawler[9]; 12. 29J-Jordan Wever[12]

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[3]; 2. 18D-Daulton Wilson[1]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[2]; 4. 71-Hudson O'Neal[7]; 5. 20-Jimmy Owens[4]; 6. 11R-Josh Rice[9]; 7. 96-Tanner English[8]; 8. 93K-Kent Robinson[6]; 9. 7T-Drake Troutman[5]; 10. 7-Ross Robinson[10]; 11. S21-Seth Daniels[12]; 12. 11-Tyler Collins[11]

Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1G-Devin Gilpin[5]; 2. 99B-Boom Briggs[1]; 3. 12-Jason Jameson[10]; 4. 25W-Allen Weisser[16]; 5. 4-Cody Mahoney[9]; 6. 4T-Tripp Gerrald[6]; 7. 17SS-Brenden Smith[3]; 8. 19M-Spencer Hughes[14]; 9. 75-Daniel Adam[11]; 10. 43-Derrick Stewart[15]; 11. 24-Jared Bailey[7]; 12. 6-Clay Harris[4]; 13. 81J-Jack Riggs[13]; 14. 76-Shelby Miles[2]; 15. 23-Cory Hedgecock[8]; 16. (DNS) 4G-Bob Gardner

UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 11R-Josh Rice[4]; 2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[1]; 3. 96-Tanner English[6]; 4. 20-Jimmy Owens[2]; 5. 68-Adam Stricker[3]; 6. 97-Cody Overton[7]; 7. 25-Tony Jackson Jr[9]; 8. 93K-Kent Robinson[8]; 9. 32-Chad Stapleton[11]; 10. 11-Tyler Collins[16]; 11. 29J-Jordan Wever[15]; 12. 8-Dillon McCowan[5]; 13. 7-Ross Robinson[12]; 14. S21-Seth Daniels[14]; 15. 7T-Drake Troutman[10]; 16. (DNS) 93-Cory Lawler

Indiana Icebreaker Feature Finish (50 Laps):

Race Statistics  
Entrants: 48
Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Devin Moran
Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Laps 1-14); Devin Moran (Lap 15); Bobby Pierce (Laps 16-20); Devin Moran (Laps 21-22); Bobby Pierce (Laps 23-36); Devin Moran (Laps 37-50)
Wieland Feature Winner: Devin Moran
Arizona Sport Shirts Crown Jewel Cup Feature Winner: n/a
Brandon Ford TV Challenge Feature Winner: n/a
Margin of Victory: 0.532 seconds 
Dave Warren Powersports Cautions: Jason Jameson (Lap 2); Tony Jackson, Jr. (Lap 37)
Series Provisionals: Drake Troutman; Ross Robinson
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Series Emergency Provisionals: Tony Jackson, Jr.; Brenden Smith; Daniel Adam; Cory Lawler
Track Provisional: Shelby Miles
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Devin Moran, Bobby Pierce, Mike Marlar
Penske Shocks Top 5: Devin Moran, Bobby Pierce, Mike Marlar, Max Blair, Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Todd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race: Max Blair (Advanced 10 Positions) 
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Brandon Sheppard
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Tanner English
MD3 Most Laps Led: Bobby Pierce (19 Laps) 
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a 
Coltman Farms Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard (Lap 1 – 14.620 seconds) 
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Devin Moran
Miller Welders Hard Luck Award: Clay Harris
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Chuck Kimble (Devin Moran)
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brandon Sheppard (13.180 seconds)
Time of Race: 18 minutes 33 seconds 

Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings: