FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CHILLICOTHE, OH (March 18, 2016) - Jonathan Davenport successfully defended his Buckeye Spring 50 at Atomic Speedway on Friday Night. Davenport withstood an early race battle with Brian Shirley to take his fifth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season, in front of a packed house.

Davenport and Shirley battled for the first 18 laps of the 50 lap race until Davenport pulled ahead. Shirley then held off Jimmy Owens to finish second. Owens came home third, followed by Mike Marlar, and Darrell Lanigan.

"We had a great car tonight. We had some trouble in traffic, but overall we did well tonight. I can't thank Kevin and Lee Roy Rumley enough for this opportunity to drive their car. Brian [Shirley] and I had a really good race for a long time. I threw that slider on him on the opening lap, but I give him credit, he fought back and got the lead back."

"We haven't raced since Speedweeks last month, so It feels good to be back behind the wheel of this car. Brian and I were running side-by-side there when we got up to traffic. I knew that I needed to get by him before traffic got too heavy. This is a new motor Lee Roy had in the car and I can't say enough about how well it ran."

"I would also like to thank Baird Transport, Elite Concrete, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Mac Trailer Sales, and everybody else on the car. We are off to another great start and I am looking to getting back here in May for the $50,000 to win race."

Shirley kept a slight advantage over Davenport until lap 18 when Davenport forged ahead for good. Shirley tried to stay with Davenport through heavy lap traffic for the rest of the caution-free main event.

Shirley could not get close enough to challenge Davenport in the final ten laps as he was being pressured by Owens for third.

"We are really happy to run second against these guys. Davenport is the best in the business right now. He slid by me on that first lap, but I came right back and got back around him. Not too many people in the last couple of years can say they've passed him lately."

"This Longhorn car fits my driving style really well. The track was good tonight. We started off the season so well. I would like to thank Arnie Ranta, Bob Cullen, Thomason Express, and everybody on my crew. Hopefully we will have a really good season," said Shirley.

Driving with a new team this season, Owens, in the R&W Racing machine was extremely happy with his third place finish. "When we won that heat race it was like winning the World 100. The guys at R&W Racing have really stepped up. We had nothing right before we went to Georgia and Florida. We just announced this partnership before the new year."

"We are taking baby steps. I would like to give a big thank you to Barry and Lance Wright, Custom Race Engines, E3 Spark Plugs, Red Line Oil, and everybody else who helps. We are looking forward to Boyd's and East Alabama in a couple of weeks."

Completing the top ten were Dustin Linville, Jeep Van Wormer, Duane Chamberlain, Scott Bloomquist, and Devin Moran.

In preliminary action, Jared Landers set the overall Miller Welders Fast Time (Group A) amongst the 50 entrants, with a lap of 13.786 seconds. Mike Marlar set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 14.040 seconds. Brian Shirley, Jimmy Owens, Darrell Lanigan, Mike Marlar, Jared Landers and Devin Moran won their respective heat races. Nick Latham and Jackie Boggs won their respective B-Mains.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, including the latest series standings, 2016 tour schedule, driver information, and more visit the official website at: www.lucasdirt.com.  

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, March 18th, 2016
"Buckeye Spring 50"
Atomic Speedway - Chillicothe, OH

Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Jared Landers / 13.786 seconds  
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Mike Marlar / 14.040 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Brian Shirley, Jeep VanWormer, James Rice, Chris Simpson, Jared Landers, JP Roberts, Vince Toler, Reid Millard, Josh Richards

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson, Jr., Mason Zeigler, Steve Casebolt, Mathew Chapman, Matt Irey, Billy Staker, Don O'Neal

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Darrell Lanigan, Tim McCreadie, Steve Francis, Nick Latham, Michael Lake, Chris Hackett, Daniel Williams, Chris Shelton

QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Mike Marlar, Brandon Sheppard, Rod Conley, Jackie Boggs, Delmas Conley, Allen Murray, John Volpe, Colton Flinner, Shannon Thornsberry

ASi Racewear Heat Race #5 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jonathan Davenport, Duane Chamberlain, Eddie Carrier, Jr., RJ Conley, Dennis Erb, Jr., Steve Prince, Chris Shannon, Dylan Stewart

Bad Boy Mowers Heat Race #6 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Devin Moran, Dustin Linville, Scott Bloomquist, Jason Montgomery, Freddie Carpenter, Josh Rice, JT Conley, Austyn Mills

Fast Shafts B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Nick Latham, Chris Simpson, Don O'Neal, Steve Casebolt , Mathew Chapman, Michael Lake, Matt Irey, Billy Staker, Daniel Williams, Chris Shelton, Vince Toler, Reid Millard, Chris Hackett, JP Roberts, Jared Landers-DNS, Josh Richards-DNS

Keyser MFG B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Jackie Boggs, RJ Conley, Dennis Erb, Jr., Freddie Carpenter, Jason Montgomery , Allen Murray, Josh Rice, Steve Prince, JT Conley, Chris Shannon, Colton Flinner, Austyn Mills, Dylan Stewart, Shannon Thornsberry, Delmas Conley, John Volpe

Feature Finish (50 Laps):

Race Statistics  
Entrants: 50
Lap Leaders: Brian Shirley (Laps 1 - 17); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 18 - 50)
Cautions: none
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jared Landers, Dennis Erb Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: Don O'Neal, Colton Flinner
Wrisco Feature Winner: Jonathan Davenport
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Don O'Neal (Started: 25th; Finished: 11th; Advanced 14 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Dustin Linville
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jonathan Davenport
Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: Colton Flinner
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Pro Power Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Kevin Rumley (Jonathan Davenport)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Lap #3 - 15.8612 seconds)
Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (33 Laps)
PFC Brakes Tough Break Award: Jared Landers
Time of Race: 13 minutes 40 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings: