FUEL525SERIES
05-04-2014, 07:39 PM
(Charlotte, NC) - After last week's epic battle and eventual runner-up finish to Ross Bailes at Friendship, Jonathan Davenport bested a highly competitive field last night at Wythe Raceway to score his first FUEL Racing Series victory. Davenport, who became FUEL's 3rd different winner in as many events this season, overtook early race leader Ross Bailes just past the halfway point in the race and never looked back as he soared to the victory and $3000 payday. Wythe Raceway would see 17 cars make the call for the first FUEL event at the Rural Retreat, Virginia venue. David Smith put his #71 on the pole in Klotz Synthetic Lubricants Time Trials with a lap of 17.313 followed by Davenport, Bailes, Ryan Atkins, and Matthew Turner. Bailes captured RE Suspension Heat Race 1 over Smith and Donald Bradsher while Davenport scored the win in KRC Power Steering Heat Race #2 over Atkins and Jason Pack. The customary Top 4 redraw results prior to the feature were as follows: Bailes - Davenport - Smith - Atkins. Bailes assumed the point at the drop of the green with Davenport in tow. Bailes was strong early as Davenport worked the high side of the speedway while the battle behind them for a top 5 spot ensued. While several drivers worked to maintain position, Billy Hicks mounted a charge from his 10th place starting spot. As Davenport grabbed the lead, Hicks worked his way into the Top 5. Though Bailes remained solid, it would be Davenport who lead the field to the checkered with Bailes, Hicks, Brett Hamm, and Ricky Weeks rounding out the Top 5 finishers. "We let one get away from us last week. We let him (Bailes) get back by us on a restart and this time we got by him on a restart." said Davenport. "Once we got rolling I knew the top would come in and the bottom would slow down so I just stayed up there." After a few weeks off, the FUEL Racing Series will return to action on June 14th at Harris Speedway (Rutherfordton, NC), with a 40 lap, $3000 to win feature event as some new faces are expected to appear thanks to the growing interest and popularity of the new series. For more information about FUEL Racing Series, visit our website (fuelracingseries.com), find us on Facebook (FUEL Racing Series), and follow us on Twitter (@FUEL525SERIES). Partners of the FUEL Racing Series include Chevrolet Performance, City Chevrolet Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, State Water Heaters, Klotz Synthetics, RE Suspension, KRC Power Steering, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, B&B Motorsports, Flag To Flag, Kenny Lamb Racing Engines, Heintz Brothers Performance, Performance Tees, D&E Marine, WP Racing Shocks, Renegade Race Fuels, JRi Shocks, Beyea Headers, Eibach Springs, The Joie of Seating, To The Point, Gale Force Suspensions, Roush Yates Performance Products, AR Bodies, Insane Racing Graphics, Velocita, Superior Trailers, Local Race Chat, and Thomas Clarke Performance. CITY CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE Feature Results Jonathan Davenport, Ross Bailes, Billy Hicks, Brett Hamm, Ricky Weeks, David Smith, Donald Bradsher, Noel Tucker, Clinton Cook, Ryan Atkins, Teddy Tate, Kenny Van Derveer, Greg Knight, Carson Ferguson, Jason Pack, Kenny Peeples Jr, Matthew Turner R.E. SUSPENSION Heat Race #1 Results Ross Bailes, David Smith, Donald Bradsher, Ricky Weeks, Noel Tucker, Greg Knight, Teddy Tate, Matthew Turner, Carson Ferguson KRC POWER STEERING Heat Race #2 Results Jonathan Davenport, Ryan Atkins, Jason Pack, Brett Hamm, Billy Hicks, Clinton Cook, Kenny Van Derveer, Kenny Peeples Jr KLOTZ SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS Time Trials David Smith 17.313, Jonathan Davenport 17.436, Ross Bailes 17.557, Ryan Atkins 17.579, Matthew Turner 17.685, Jason Pack 17.756, Donald Bradsher 17.797, Brett Hamm 17.817, Noel Tucker 17.892, Clinton Cook 17.916, Ricky Weeks 17.944, Billy Hicks 18.008, Greg Knight 18.033, Kenny Van Derveer 18.265, Carson Ferguson 18.300, Kenny Peeples Jr 18.448, Teddy Tate 18.580