PixelatedRESULTS: Davidson Dominates Pro Late Model Season Opener in Pensacola

PENSACOLA, Florida (June 5, 2020) — It took the better part of two decades, but Texas driver Chris Davidson finally broke through to pick up a feature event win for the first time at Five Flags Speedway… doing so in dominating fashion.

“The car was really good all night,” said Davidson. “I’ve got to thank Ryan Paul for racing us clean right there. The car didn’t fire off of the restart, and he had every opportunity to turn me but didn’t. Most people won’t do that so I appreciate that. This car was great all night.”

More on that final restart in a bit, but first let’s take a look at how this race went down.

Davidson started third in the 100 lap Pro Late Model season opening event behind fast qualifier Kyle Plott and polesitter Ryan Paul.

Plott led at the start and continued to lead up to lap 85, where Davidson worked his way around and into the top spot after a slight side-by-side battle with Plott.

Davidson then set sail until the first of three caution flags on the night. Elliott Massey spun in turn two, coming to rest sideways on the backstretch creating quite the pucker moment after Jarrett Parker brought his machine down pit road the lap prior, presumably putting oil down on the racing surface. This led to the race’s only red flag of the night, all on lap 37.

During the race’s second caution period on lap 72 after Jordan McCallum spun in turn three, Kyle Plott dove into the pits from second place to receive service from his crew.

Plott’s night ended early with a mechanical failure with only 19 laps remaining after working his way back up to fifth.

All the while, Ryan Paul ran a smart, clean race, biding his time looking for an optimal moment to find a way around leader Davidson. That chance came on the restart following the race’s third and final yellow flag for a second spin by Elliott Massey.

With three laps to go, Paul was at the bumper of Davidson, and gave him a tap, even poked his nose under the leader’s car. It was all for not, as Davidson was able to pull away from Paul to win by a car length at the finish line.

PixelatedBITS:

• Colin Allman had an issue that prevented him from taking a qualifying lap, and almost cost him his chance to compete. Allman barely made the start of the race, and worked his way up from last (19th) to finish sixth, by far this race’s hard charger.
• Grant Thompson, a standout in the Pro Truck division, and winner at the most recent event in Cordele, Georgia, made his Pro Late Model debut driving for Grand American Race Cars owner Augie Grill. Thompson ran a clean race, and even had a hard fought battle early on with fellow young gun Jake Garcia, before settling into the middle of the top ten, finishing in seventh.
• Daniel Dye continues to quietly impress with solid runs as this young driver, coming off of top ten in the Rattler 250 at South Alabama, worked his way up from 10th to fourth by race’s end.

OUTLAWS: Derrick Griffin led wire-to-wire, winning by nearly three seconds over second place Kevin Chase and third place Bubba Winslow in a caution-free Outlaw Stock 35 lap feature.

PURE STOCK: Daryl McDonald III picked up another win, his second of the year, in the Pure Stocks, besting rival points standings contender, and season opener winner,  Jerry Goff Jr by just under a half second in the 20 lap feature event. Pensacola’s Caleb Burkett finished in third place.

Results: Allen Turner 100, Allen Turner Pro Late Models, Five Flags Speedway:

1.	14 – Chris Davidson
2.	18 – Ryan Paul
3.	35 – Jake Garcia
4.	43 – Daniel Dye
5.	12 – Christopher Tullis
6.	67 – Colin Allman
7.	112 – Grant Thompson
8.	11 – Jordan McCallum
9.	9 – Hudson Halder
10.	3 – Jim Webber
11.	4 – Elliott Massey
12.	12 – Brandon Brillant
13.	41 – Troy Grisaffi
14.	84 – Steven Chunn
15.	88 – Bobby Reuse
16.	4 – Kyle Plott
17.	62 – William Hale
18.	77 – Greg Fore
19.	46 – Jarrett Parker

– Daniel Vining, Twitter: @danielvining

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