What won the race: Going back-to-back on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., led all but two early circuits en route to winning Friday night’s NAPA Know How 50 at Tri-City Speedway. The 21-year-old talent turned back a late threat from Tim McCreadie to take the $12,000 top prize by 0.588 of a second over the national tour’s current points leader.

Quotable: “This is awesome,” O’Neal said. “To go back-to-back with the year we’ve had, it’s pretty cool. We’ll see if we can’t make it 3-for-3 tomorrow at Wheatland (Missouri’s Lucas Oil Speedway).”

Key notes: O’Neal shot to the lead on the opening lap before ceding the top spot to Spencer Hughes on lap four, but by the sixth circuit O’Neal was back in front and never was headed. … O’Neal’s 16th career Lucas Oil Series triumph was his third this season, all coming in the last nine days. He broke through on July 6 at Davenport, Iowa, and also won Thursday’s feature at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Mo. … McCreadie slipped past Tyler Erb for second on lap 37 and closed to O’Neal’s rear bumper two circuits later, but he couldn’t mount a serious challenge because the 3/8-mile oval’s inside lane locked down. … Jimmy Owens finished third after overtaking Erb on lap 40. … Hughes faded to a seventh-place finish after starting from the outside pole and leading laps 4-5 while polesitter Earl Pearson Jr. was never a factor in finishing eighth. … The race’s only caution flag flew on lap 12 when Stormy Scott slowed. … Modified ace Nick Hoffman finished 20th driving Shannon Babb's second car. ... Payton Freeman started the feature with a fast-time provisional after going to a backup car due to a heat incident. ... The Kevin and Tammy Gundaker-owned track hosted the series for the 23rd time.

On the move: Rusty Griffaw of Festus, Mo., started 25th and finished 17th.

Winner's sponsors: O’Neal’s Double Down Motorsports Rocket Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Lazydays RV, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, 2150 Enterprises, WR1 Sim Chassis, Smoky Mountain Speedway, VP Racing Fuels, Tarpy Trucking, Integra Racing Shocks, Matco Tools, Midwest Sheet Metal, FK Rod Ends and Lucas Oil.

Points chase: After Tri-City: 1. Tim McCreadie (4,780); 2. Brandon Sheppard (4,660); 3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4,550); 4. Tyler Erb (4,430); 5. Hudson O’Neal (4,400); 6. Earl Pearson Jr. (4,210); 7. Garrett Alberson (3,930); 8. Daulton Wilson (3,730); 9. Spencer Hughes (3,620); 10. Ross Robinson (3,460).

Current weather: Clear, 79°F

Car count: 33

Fast qualifier: Earl Pearson Jr.

Time: 15.018 seconds

Polesitter: Earl Pearson Jr.

Heat race winners: Earl Pearson Jr., Hudson O'Neal, Spencer Hughes, Tim McCreadie

Consolation race winners: Ross Robinson, Brian Shirley

Provisional starters: Payton Freeman, Jeff Herzog, Rusty Griffaw

Next series race: July 16, Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) $15,000