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Updates From Jonathan Davenport's NASCAR Saturday At Bristol

Updates From Jonathan Davenport's NASCAR Saturday At Bristol

Follow along with this blog-style notebook covering Jonathan Davenport's busy Saturday as a NASCAR driver at the dirt-covered Bristol half-mile.

Apr 8, 2023 by Kyle McFadden
Updates From Jonathan Davenport's NASCAR Saturday At Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Jonathan Davenport finds himself at the center of attention this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway as the worlds of NASCAR and dirt-track racing intermix at the clay-covered half-mile. Follow along with Saturday's blog-style notebook covering Davenport's call-up to NASCAR's big leagues. Watch live on FOX Sports 2:

10:00 p.m. | 14th In Truck Debut

Despite no practice time and having to start from the rear of the 150-lap race, Jonathan Davenport managed to finish 14th in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at the dirt-covered Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

9:07 p.m. | Stage 2 Recap

A steady second stage moves Davenport up to the 19th position through 90 of 150 laps. 

"It looks like you're learning every lap, you know," crew chief Kevin Manion tells Davenport.

8:27 p.m. | Stage 1 Recap

Wheeling from 32nd and narrowly missing a collision along the way, Davenport sits 21st at the end of stage one, which falls on lap 40 of 150.

8:00 p.m. | Truck Race Begins

Unapproved adjustments forced Jonathan Davenport, aboard the Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado, to start from the rear of the 150-lap Craftsman Truck race. Davenport made his way to 23rd by the race's first caution on lap 15.

7:30 p.m. | Successful Heat, First Cup Laps

Jonathan Davenport's first laps in a Cup car were a success on Saturday, as his fourth-place finish from the second-starting should start him 21st in Easter Sunday's 250-lap main event.

5:30 p.m. | Addressing The Media

Jonathan Davenport will start 25th in tonight's 150-lap Truck Series race after his eighth-to-seventh run in the qualifier.

Last year's top-ranked Dirt Late Model breaks down what went right and what went wrong in the 15-lap heat, among other topics surrounding his busy NASCAR weekend.

4:45 p.m. | Seventh In The Truck Heat

Jonathan Davenport started eighth and finished seventh in the first 15-lap Truck Series qualifier.

The effort gives him five total points — four for his finishing position and an extra point for advancing a spot — which will determine his starting position in tonight's Truck race.

Davenport ran as high as fifth in the qualifier until he lost two spots on a restart with four laps left. Upon the race's finish the Spire Motorsports team found a hole in the oil cooler, an issue that resulted from Davenport's car bottoming out one too many times in the heat. It should be repairable, however, before the evening's main event.

3:30 p.m. | Where Davenport Starts In The Heats

Last year's DirtonDirt.com Driver of the Year will fire off from the outside pole in the fourth and final Cup Series heat aboard Kaulig Racing's No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Davenport's 15-lap qualifier should begin at roughly 6:45 p.m., according to NASCAR's itinerary.

In the Truck Series, the 39-year-old will start eighth in the first heat, which begins Saturday's on-track activity. Friday's pair of practice sessions for both series were cancelled after heavy rainfall swept through Thunder Valley. 

In Cup, Davenport must qualify his way into Easter Sunday's 250-lap race. A passing points format for the qualifiers throws a wrench into Davenport's pursuit. A heat win is worth 10 points with a one-point deduction thereafter. Every position gained, however, is an extra point. Drivers aren't penalized for positions lost.

Point totals then determine the starting lineups for each main event.

RELATED: 5 Things To Know About Davenport Before NASCAR Bristol Dirt Race

The maximum points Davenport can earn in his Cup heat is 11. For the Truck, it's 17.

Heat lineups were determined via random draw by the order of team owner points. Caution laps do not count. Free-pass and wave-around procedures will be in effect. NASCAR overtime, meanwhile, will not be in effect.

Once all four heat races are complete, point totals determine the field’s starting lineup for the main event. The driver with the most points wins the Busch Light Pole Award. All ties are broken by team owner points.

2 p.m. | Fanfare For Superman 

10:30 a.m. | Cup Garage Opens

Saturday's busy day of events begins with the opening of the Cup garage as temperatures hover in the mid-40s. More importantly, the chance of rain has lowered to 20 percent from late morning through 7 p.m. Eastern.