Jonathan Davenport Claims First Career Firecracker 100
SARVER, PA (June 21, 2025) – Jonathan Davenport checked off another bucket list win by capturing his first career Firecracker 100 presented by Experience Butler County on Saturday at Lernerville Speedway.
Davenport became the 13th different driver to win the crown jewel event since its inception in 2007, capturing his 88th career victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, worth $50,000.
Davenport led 98 of the 100 laps but had to reclaim the lead from Ricky Thornton Jr. on lap 86 after a chaotic restart on lap 85. Once Davenport regained the lead, he went on to win the race, finishing ahead of Thornton, Max Blair, Garrett Alberson, and Mason Zeigler.
Thornton, who last year became the first driver to win the race in back-to-back years, got off to a good start by leading the first circuit. However, that was short-lived as Davenport, who started third, charged into the lead on the second lap.
Davenport and Thornton then ran one-two for 72 laps until Blair was able to pass Thornton for second place on the 73rd lap. Blair then stayed within shouting distance of Davenport until the sixth and final caution of the race was called with 84 laps completed.
On the restart, Blair got a run on Davenport as the two made contact in turn four. Thornton slipped by both of them to take the lead for one lap (lap 85), but that was short-lived as Davenport regained the lead for good on lap 86 and went on to win.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the fifth time in 2025, Davenport now trails Thornton by just five points as they head into the series’ next two events at Atomic and Muskingum County on July 4th and 5th.
“Check that one off, I have had this one circled for a while. Thanks to all of you fans for coming out here, that was awesome. My car was really good there, and I don’t know what happened on that one restart. I got hit by two different people there. I had been running the same line for a long time. I don’t know what went on, it knocked the left front off of it and the steering rack is all messed up I couldn’t hardly turn it and so the steering wheel was turning like a quarter turn after that it was all gas and brake and trying not to spin the tires,” said the Blairsville, Georgia native.
“I just couldn’t steer at all down on that end anymore, and then I couldn’t turn down in this hole like I needed to anymore. Anyway, thank goodness we held on, it was a little closer than I wanted it to be there at the end. I didn’t really know what to do with those two lapped cars there, but I figured if I could stay just behind them and keep my speed up, and maybe someone couldn’t slide in there.”
“I really felt like I got rolling there a couple of times, up through lapped traffic, once you get by the first two or three there, and then they kind of spread out and then run one line instead of all over the place. I knew the top was good, but I didn’t know how good it was. There was just enough lip there so somebody could throw a Hail Mary for a couple of laps and get a good run on me, luckily that didn’t happen, it was just an awesome race track.”
Thornton, who was looking to win the Firecracker for the third year in a row, was the only other leader of the race, leading two laps, and took home $20,000 for second place.
“I went down in turn three and just caught the hole wrong and destroyed the left side of his (Davenport’s) car. That’s not how I wanted to pass him I had to slow down there going into one and let him get back in front of me. We race together too much to go in there and destroy a guy for the win. I felt like I needed to get a little bit better. Overall, it was a really good weekend for us. Congrats to JD, his stuff was really good, so I felt like if we could play in traffic a little bit long, but I didn’t want to destroy two cars and each other and cause a bunch of yellows.”
Blair, who fell back as far as 11th in the running order, climbed to second after battling with Thornton for several laps, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third after falling back a spot in the frantic lap 85 restart, and collected $10,000 for third.
“I don’t know what really happened. I thought JD was entering a little higher, and I had a good run down the backstretch and charged it, and it didn’t work out, and Ricky got back by. If that yellow didn’t come out when I got to second, I think I may have had a shot at it, who knows how it would have played out in lapped traffic, but to run third to these two we will take that every day.”
The winner’s Double Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions, DynaGro Seed, ASC Warranty, Mark Martinn Automotive, Midwest Sheet Metal, and Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas.
Completing the top ten were Hudson O’Neal, Gregg Satterlee, Chub Frank, Carson Ferguson, and Donald McIntosh.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
19th Annual Firecracker 100 presented by Experience Butler County
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Lernerville Speedway – Sarver, PA
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Ricky Thornton Jr. | 17.018 seconds (Overall)
Fast Time Group B: Devin Moran | 17.182 seconds
Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[4]; 3. 60-Dan Ebert[2]; 4. 7-Ross Robinson[5]; 5. 6-Clay Harris[3]; 6. 1Z-Logan Zarin[7]; 7. 66-Justin Kann[6]; 8. 14-Dan Angelicchio[8]; 9. 22T-Ethan Thompson[9]
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[5]; 2. 48-Colton Flinner[7]; 3. 22G-Gregg Satterlee[2]; 4. 18D-Daulton Wilson[3]; 5. 2-Dan Stone[8]; 6. 15K-Wil Herrington[4]; 7. EZ1-Ron Fink[9]; 8. 555-Brock Pinkerous[1]; 9. 1C-Alex Ferree[6]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 72-Michael Norris[1]; 2. 1-Brandon Sheppard[2]; 3. 11R-Josh Rice[3]; 4. 19M-Spencer Hughes[4]; 5. 27-Michael Lake[5]; 6. 4-Gary Stuhler[6]; 7. 11-Trevor Collins[7]; 8. 4S-Danny Snyder[8]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[2]; 3. 79-Donald McIntosh[4]; 4. 9-Breyton Santee[3]; 5. 12-Ryan Montgomery[5]; 6. 57-Charlie Sandercock[7]; 7. B22-Bump Hedman[8]; 8. 8-Matt Sponaugle[6]; 9. 6M-Matt Martin[9]
Lucas Oil Products Heat Race #5 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 2. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 3. 25Z-Mason Zeigler[5]; 4. 1*-Chub Frank[4]; 5. 29-Ken Schaltenbrand[6]; 6. 9Y-Levi Yetter[3]; 7. 01-Matt Glanden[8]; 8. 10L-Gary Lyle[7]; 9. 10-Ryan Christoff[9]
Lucas Oil Products Heat Race #6 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 2. 93-Carson Ferguson[2]; 3. 10M-Jared Miley[4]; 4. 77-Tyler Dietz[6]; 5. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 6. J4-John Garvin Jr[7]; 7. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[9]; 8. 2T-Rich Wicker[8]; 9. 55-Chris Schneider[5]
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 18D-Daulton Wilson[2]; 2. 6-Clay Harris[3]; 3. 1Z-Logan Zarin[5]; 4. 15K-Wil Herrington[6]; 5. 1C-Alex Ferree[12]; 6. 7-Ross Robinson[1]; 7. 14-Dan Angelicchio[9]; 8. 66-Justin Kann[7]; 9. 2-Dan Stone[4]; 10. EZ1-Ron Fink[8]; 11. 22T-Ethan Thompson[11]; 12. (DNS) 555-Brock Pinkerous
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 19M-Spencer Hughes[1]; 2. 4-Gary Stuhler[5]; 3. 12-Ryan Montgomery[4]; 4. 57-Charlie Sandercock[6]; 5. 9-Breyton Santee[2]; 6. B22-Bump Hedman[8]; 7. 11-Trevor Collins[7]; 8. 8-Matt Sponaugle[10]; 9. 4S-Danny Snyder[9]; 10. 6M-Matt Martin[11]; 11. (DNS) 27-Michael Lake
MyRacePass B-Main Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 77-Tyler Dietz[2]; 2. 1*-Chub Frank[1]; 3. 29-Ken Schaltenbrand[3]; 4. 9Y-Levi Yetter[5]; 5. J4-John Garvin Jr[6]; 6. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[8]; 7. 55-Chris Schneider[12]; 8. 93L-Cory Lawler[4]; 9. 2T-Rich Wicker[10]; 10. 10L-Gary Lyle[9]; 11. 01-Matt Glanden[7]; 12. 10-Ryan Christoff[11]
19th Annual Firecracker 100 presented by Experience Butler County Feature Finish (100 Laps):
Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Pay
1 – 3 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $51,200
2 – 1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $21,200
3 – 8 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $10,000
4 – 4 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $8,700
5 – 16 – 25Z – Mason Zeigler – Chalk Hill, PA – $7,000
6 – 10 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $6,800
7 – 15 – 22G – Gregg Satterlee – Indiana, PA – $4,500
8 – 24 – 1* – Chub Frank – Bear Lake, PA – $4,000
9 – 12 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $4,500
10 – 14 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – $4,400
11 – 2 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $4,400
12 – 7 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $3,900
13 – 25 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $3,700
14 – 11 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $3,200
15 – 6 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $2,400
16 – 22 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $3,000
17 – 19 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $2,900
18 – 17 – 11R – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,100
19 – 13 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $2,700
20 – 26 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $2,700
21 – 27 – 29 – Ken Schaltenbrand – Sarver, PA – $2,000
22 – 9 – 48 – Colton Flinner – Allison Park, PA – $2,000
23 – 5 – 72 – Michael Norris – Sarver, PA – $2,000
24 – 21 – 77 – Tyler Dietz – Saxonburg, PA – $2,000
25 – 23 – 4 – Gary Stuhler – Greencastle, PA – $2,000
26 – 18 – 10M – Jared Miley – Pittsburgh, PA – $2,000
27 – 20 – 19M – Spencer Hughes – Meridian, MS – $2,700
Race Statistics
Entrants: 53
Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton Jr.
MD3 Lap Leaders: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 1); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 2-84); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 85); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 86-100)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Wieland Feature Winner: Jonathan Davenport
Margin of Victory: 0.848 seconds
Coltman Farms Racing Cautions:
Series Provisionals: Daniel Hilsabeck, Cory Lawler
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisional: n/a
Track Provisional: Ken Schaltenbrand
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max Blair
Penske Shocks Top 5: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max Blair, Garrett Alberson, Mason Zeigler
PEM 4th Place Feature: Garrett Alberson
DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Mason Zeigler
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Gregg Satterlee
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Devin Moran
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Daniel Hilsabeck
MD3 24th Place Feature: Tyler Dietz
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Chub Frank (Advanced 16 Positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (98 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton Jr.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Donald McIntosh
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Jonathan Davenport | Lap 3 | 17.279 seconds
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Spencer Hughes
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Cory Fostvedt
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: WEl errington (15.598 seconds)
Time of Race: 52 minutes 13 seconds
Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:
Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Pay
1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 4475 – $256,450
2 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 4470 – $236,300
3 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 4265 – $178,949
4 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 4075 – $107,075
5 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 3935 – $81,650
6 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 3820 – $85,300
7 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 3800 – $85,000
8 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – 3520 – $66,325
9 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 3435 – $57,425
10 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – 3225 – $42,100
11 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 3175 – $40,025
12 – 19M – Spencer Hughes – Meridian, MS – 2955 – $39,825
13 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 2880 – $31,800
14 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 2745 – $31,750
15 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – 2595 – $34,000
16 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 2525 – $23,025