Photo Credit - Ryan Roberts Photography
One thing about Jonathan Davenport whenever the winner's money goes up so does the chances of seeing "Superman" in victory lane. Last night the winner's share went up to $12,000 to win and the consistent JD broke through to pick up first win in 2024. He has been on the podium every night at East Bay except for Monday's postponed program where he started and parked.
Blair Nothdurft would start the night off picking up Group A and overall fastest qualifier by .003 over Group B top qualifier Davenport. Mark Whitener would pick up the heat race win for the right to start on the pole for the 50 lap feature. Tyler Erb , Jimmy Owens , JD , Ross Robinson , and Garrett Smith would all also win their respective heat races. All of these drivers along with Hudson O'Neal all have been familiar names all week long for the final Speedweek at East Bay. B Main winners were Ashton Winger , Jensen Ford , and Mike Marlar.
At the drop of the green for the feature Davenport would use the high side to lead lap 1 over pole sitter Whitener , Erb , Robinson , and Smith. Right around lap 7 we seen bad luck strike two top five runners. Mark Whitener who lost a LR the night before lost a drive shaft. Just seconds later 3rd place runner Garrett Smith went up in flames in turn 2 quickly shutting it down as safety crews were on the scene to extinguish the fire out. Your new top 5 running order was JD , Terbo , Owens , Wilson , and O'Neal.
Tyler Erb took the lead on lap 13 after Davenport slipped up turn 2 and caught a piece of the wall. The yellow would wave on lap 15 for the Barry Wright driver Wil Herrington. Then waved again a lap later for Ross Robinson. Robinson has had Late Model Hall of Fame driver Rick Eckert helping out the team all week. Top 5 at this time was Terbo , JD , O'Neal , Owens , and Wilson.
Erb contines to lead at the halfway point of the race as Garrett Alberson and Ashton Winger joined the top 5 replacing Owens and Wilson. Davenport starting to close the gap on leader Erb on lap 27 then the lead duo made contact at the flagstone on lap 28. Erb immediately started showing smoke in the RF as his suspension broke ending his night. The win was Davenport's 74th Lucas Oil Series win.
Tonight will be the final Speedweek race at "The Clay at The Bay" setting up what could be an exciting night for the right to say they were the last driver to win at East Bay for The Winternationals. The series will visit in October for "The Grand Finale" before we all say goodbye to the historic 1/3rd mile track.
FRIDAY FINISH
JONATHAN DAVENPORT
O'Neal
Wilson
Alberson
Winger
Thornton Jr.
Sheppard
Harris
Owens
Erb Jr.
Marlar
McCreadie
Troutman
Shirley
Moran
Briggs
Nothdurft
Gardner
Hughes
Pearson Jr
Blair
Jackson Jr.
Hitt
Erb
Matthews
Robinson
Herrington
Ford
Smith
Whitener
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