GAFFNEY, SC (July 7, 2017) – Brandon Overton came from the seventh starting spot to pass race leader Jonathan Davenport on lap 41 and then went on to win his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature event of the season on Friday night at Cherokee Speedway.
Overton’s Chip Stone and Randy Weaver-owned, Longhorn Chassis rallied in the last 15 laps of the race to get the win. Overton overcame a side-by-side duel with Scott Bloomquist and then he passed four cars in front of him on his way to victory lane.
Josh Richards; in his first-ever appearance at Cherokee Speedway; came home in second in the Best Performance Motorsports, Durham-powered Rocket Chassis. With his runner-up finish, Richards maintains the championship points lead over Scott Bloomquist and Tim McCreadie heading into the series’ next race on Saturday night at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tennessee.
Jimmy Owens was third in the Ramirez Motorsports, E3 Spark Plugs, Durham Racing Engines, Rocket. Bloomquist; who ran as high as second; crossed the line in fourth, with Ross Bailes completing the top five.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane, Overton was grateful for the chance to drive for the Stone/Weaver Team. “Chip Stone was coming down tonight, but he had a flat tire and Randy [Weaver] stayed at home tonight. So, it was ironic we got to victory lane and our left rear tire was flat. Man, that was an exciting race. We went with a harder compound on the right rear than most. A lot of them went softer and for those that did it kind of brought them back to me in the last ten laps or so,” said the 26-year-old in Victory Lane.
Overton’s SWR Racing entry is sponsored by A.F. Stone Professional Medical Services, Crossfit by Overton, Henderson Motorsports, Mission Transport, Outlaw Racing Southeast, VP Fuels, and Ted Brown’s Quality Paint and Body Shop.
Davenport led the first 40 laps of the race before being overtaken by Overton. Davenport’s night then ended a few laps later up against the turn one wall. Richards then picked up the challenge for the lead, but fell just short of his sixth series win of the season.
“We had a really good car,” said Richards. “For this being our first-time here that’s pretty good. Just seeing this place on video doesn’t do it justice. It is a lot bigger than you think. You must learn where to let off the accelerator and get back on the gas here. It took us a while, but I think we adapted well. It was a good points night. Congratulations to Brandon on the win.”
Owens was glad to be in the hunt for the win in the final ten laps. “Our car was good all night, we tried our best to hang in there, those two in front of me were just a little bit better than us. The track was in really good shape, we have run here enough, but Overton picked the right tire obviously and that’s why he won the race.”
Completing the top ten were Don O’Neal, Earl Pearson Jr., Steve Francis, Michael Brown, and Tim McCreadie.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, July 7th, 2017
19th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial
Cherokee Speedway – Gaffney, SC
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Scott Bloomquist / 15.328 seconds
Miller Welders Fast Time Group B: Brandon Overton / 15.408 seconds
Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Josh Richards, Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Tim McCreadie, Gregg Satterlee, Johnny Pursley, Doug Sanders
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Chris Ferguson, Ross Bailes, Earl Pearson, Jr., Dennis Erb, Jr., Tyler Millwood, Hudson O’Neal, Anthony Sanders
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Overton, Michael Brown, Brent Dixon, Darrell Lanigan, Dennis Franklin, Josh Langley
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Boom Briggs, Donald Bradsher, GR Smith, Casey Roberts, Kyle Pierce, Ryan Crane
Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): Tim McCreadie, Darrell Lanigan, Casey Roberts, Tyler Millwood, Dennis Franklin, Gregg Satterlee, Johnny Pursley, Josh Langley, Ryan Crane, Anthony Sanders, Hudson O’Neal, Kyle Pierce, Doug Sanders-DNS
Feature Finish (50 Laps):
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | EARNINGS |
| 1 | 6 | 116 | Brandon Overton | Evans, GA | $10,000 |
| 2 | 5 | 1R | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $6,300 |
| 3 | 4 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $4,300 |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | $3,850 |
| 5 | 7 | 87 | Ross Bailes | Clover, SC | $2,250 |
| 6 | 9 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $2,600 |
| 7 | 11 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $2,300 |
| 8 | 13 | 15 | Steve Francis | Bowling Green, KY | $2,000 |
| 9 | 10 | 24d | Michael Brown | Pageland, SC | $1,200 |
| 10 | 17 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $1,800 |
| 11 | 14 | 1d | Brent Dixon | Elberton, GA | $1,075 |
| 12 | 15 | 28E | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | $1,750 |
| 13 | 22 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Rochester Mills, PA | $1,825 |
| 14 | 8 | 99B | Boom Briggs | Bear Lake, PA | $1,700 |
| 15 | 16 | 22* | GR Smith | Statesville, NC | $950 |
| 16 | 23 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $1,625 |
| 17 | 12 | 93 | Donald Bradsher | Burlington, NC | $900 |
| 18 | 2 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Williamson, SC | $975 |
| 19 | 3 | 22F | Chris Ferguson | Mount Holly, NC | $850 |
| 20 | 20 | 31T | Tyler Millwood | Kingston, GA | $825 |
| 21 | 24 | 9 | Johnny Pursley | Clover, SC | $800 |
| 22 | 18 | 14 | Darrell Lanigan | Union, KY | $1,500 |
| 23 | 19 | 101 | Casey Roberts | Toccoa, GA | $800 |
| 24 | 21 | 2F | Dennis Franklin | Gaffney, SC | $800 |
Race Statistics
Entrants: 29
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Laps 1 – 40); Brandon Overton (Laps 41 – 50)
Cautions: Darrell Lanigan (Lap 3); Chris Ferguson (Lap 19); Jonathan Davenport (Lap 46)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Hudson O’Neal
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisional: Johnny Pursley
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Wrisco Feature Winner: Brandon Overton
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Gregg Satterlee (Started: 22nd; Finished: 13th; Advanced 9 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Josh Richards
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Scott Bloomquist
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Josh Richards
Hot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: Gregg Satterlee
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Randall Edwards (Josh Richards)
Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Lap #3 – 16.4806 seconds)
Safecraft Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Scott Bloomquist
Time of Race: 25 minutes 25 seconds