Ryan Roberts Photo
The 2021 NASCAR Champion didn't grow up racing dirt late models but the driver with an open wheel background sure has fun winning in a dirt late model. Kyle Larson and Jonathan Davenport exchanged slide jobs while bouncing off the guardrail while negotiating lapped traffic in a 50 lap caution free war.
Ryan Roberts Photo
44 cars entered the special Thursday night event as NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe joined Larson to battle the big fast high banked Volunteer Speedway located in Bulls Gap ,Tennessee. Davenport would take top qualifier honors as Larson would take Group B qualifying. With both drivers winning their heat races they would share the front row for the main event which would end up being one of the most exciting races at the speedway.
Ryan Roberts Photo
Davenport would jump out to the early race lead from his pole position starting spot and lead the first 8 laps. That's when the war would begin with his front row starting partner. Larson would take the Rumley owned Longhorn Chassis deep into turn 2 sliding in front of JD's white and blue 49.
Officially Davenport led laps 1-8 and 26 - 36 but that was only at the line as the duo swapped the lead several times down the straightaways setting up clean slide jobs.
Davenport would eventually lose touch with the leader allowing the veteran Dale McDowell take. the runner up spot. The "Professor" as he always does ran a clean smooth race not burning his tires up but just didn't have enough to chase down the eventual winner.
On the final lap Larson made contact with his fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Busch causing Larson's left rear tire to go flat. Who knows if Larson could have hung on if there was another lap or two left.
Kyle Larson Late Model Challenge Results
1) Larson
2) McDowell
3) Davenport
4) Marlar
5) Madden
6) O'Neal
7) Weiss
8) Ford
9) Brown
10) Overton
11). Bailes
12) C. Marlar
13) English
14) Hicks
15) Millwood
16) Busch
17) Wilson
18) Briscoe
19) Trent
20) Beets
21) Erb
22) Owens
23) Seawright
24) Owens
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