Dirt on Dirt - O'Neal wins again, eyes sweep at Show-Me 100

May 23

Lucas Oil Speedway,

Wheatland, MO

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Don & Billie Gibson Tribute) - $10,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated May 24, 8:55 pm)

O'Neal wins again, eyes sweep at Show-Me 100

Don & Billie Gibson Tribute

Hudson O'Neal
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Jonathan Davenport
Brandon Overton
Devin Moran
Brandon Sheppard
Tyler Stevens
Justin Wells
Tyler Bruening
Bobby Pierce
Carson Ferguson
Daniel Hilsabeck
Cade Dillard
Donald McIntosh
Clay Harris
Daulton Wilson
Dillon McCowan
Tyler Kuykendall
Spencer Hughes
Dan Ebert
Chris Jones
Aaron Marrant
Kyle Bronson
Garrett Alberson

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Todd Boyd/photosbyboyd.smugmug.com

Crew chief Jason Durham (right) congratulates SSI Motorsports driver Hudson O'Neal.

What won the race: Winning for the second straight night at Lucas Oil Speedway and the fourth time this season, sixth-starting Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., stamped himself as the favorite to capture Saturday's Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 with another $10,000 prelim victory Friday on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. O'Neal overtook surprising polesitter Justin Wells on the 23rd lap and led the rest of the 40-lapper to clinch the pole position for Saturday's race-record $75,000-to-win finale.

Key notes: O'Neal notched his 28th career full-field Lucas Oil Series victory. ... Besides two victories this week, he won twice in Wheatland on April 11-12, earning $27,000 with a pair of unsanctioned victories. ... Friday's polesitter Justin Wells led the first 22 laps, his first-ever laps led on the Lucas Oil circuit (the two-time Lucas Oil Speedway champ was a fourth-place finisher in the Show-Me 100 at West Plains, Mo., in 2006). He finished eighth. ... The 40-lapper was slowed by a single caution, a serious one with Garrett Alberson blew a right-front tire and crunched the turn-two wall on the fifth lap in a single-car wreck; he was OK but the right side of the car suffered significant damage. ... Kyle Bronson missed time trials after breaking an engine in hot laps; he retired early from the main event. ... Gordy Gundaker missed his heat race because of suspension issues. ... Friday's Don & Billie Gibson Tribute honored the race founders and former owners of West Plains (Mo.) Motor Speedway. ... The 18 highest points earners from Thursday and Friday lock into Saturday's 100-lapper.

On the move: Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, started ninth and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: O’Neal’s SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Wheeler Metals, Professional Concrete, Dyno One, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Big River Steel, O'Neal's Salvage & Recycling, Merrill Bonding, Bob & Tammy Burton, Bobcat of Batesville, Indiana USSSA Fastpitch, West Side Tractor Sales, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels and Midwest Sheet Metal.

Points chase: After Wheatland Friday: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4,040); 2. Jonathan Davenport (3,990); 3. Devin Moran (3,870); 4. Hudson O’Neal (3,655); 5. Garrett Alberson (3,565); 6. Brandon Overton (3,460); 7. Brandon Sheppard (3,455); 8. Daulton Wilson (3,170); 9. Carson Ferguson (3,050); 10. Donald McIntosh (2,865).

Current weather: Overcast, 61°F

Car count: 47

Fast qualifier: Brandon Overton

Time: 15.361 seconds

Polesitter: Justin Wells

Heat race winners: Justin Wells, Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Alberson, Ricky Thornton Jr.

Consolation race winners: Tyler Kuykendall, Dillon McCowan

Provisional starters: Donald McIntosh, Spencer Hughes

Next series race: May 24, Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) $75,000

Editor's note: Corrects winner's engine builder.

From staff reports

WHEATLAND, Mo. — Live updates from Friday’s Tribute to Don and Billie Gibson, featuring a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win main event for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Winning for the second straight night at Lucas Oil Speedway and the fourth time this season, sixth-starting Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., stamped himself as the favorite to capture Saturday's Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 with another $10,000 prelim victory Friday on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. O'Neal overtook surprising polesitter Justin Wells on the 23rd lap and led the rest of the 40-lapper to clinch the pole position for Saturday's race-record $75,000-to-win finale.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Justin Wells, Garrett Alberson
Row 2: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal
Row 4: Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Bruening
Row 5: Devin Moran, Carson Ferguson
Row 6: Tyler Stevens, Bobby Pierce
Row 7: Clay Harris, Daulton Wilson
Row 8: Daniel Hilsabeck, Cade Dillard
Row 9: Tyler Kuykendall, Dillon McCowan
Row 10: Aaron Marrant, Dan Ebert
Row 11: Kyle Bronson, Chris Jones
Row 12: Donald McIntosh, Spencer Hughes

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Tyler Kuykendall, Aaron Marrant, Kyle Bronson, Donald McIntosh, Mike Marlar, Chris Wilhite Jr., Cory Lawler, Cole Henson, Kayden Clatt, Ryan Johnson, Dalon Helm, Jace Parmley, Shannon Parker, Richard Kimberling, Robert Hough.

Second consolation: Dillon McCowan, Dan Ebert, Chris Jones, Mason Oberkramer, Spencer Hughes, Gordy Gundaker, Clay Stuckey, Cole Wells, Bryan Glaze, Jim Vanzandt, Jaxon Ertel, Joey Smith, Jon Binning, Dalton Imhoff, Chris Hawkins, Jeremy Shaw.

Heat race recap

Multi-time track champion Justin Wells slipped by Brandon Overton on the third lap and led the rest of the first heat race, winning by 1.565 seconds over Overton. Fifth-starting Devin Moran and seventh-starting Clay Harris finished third and fourth, punching their ticket into Friday’s $10,000-to-win main event. The race’s lone caution flew on the second lap when Kayden Clatt over-rotated in turn three, spinning from third and required a tow back to the pits. … Jonathan Davenport commanded all eight laps to win the second heat by 1.619 seconds over third-starting Brandon Sheppard. Tyler Stevens and Daniel Hilsabeck each took advantage of Mike Marlar’s slip and rounded out the top-four finishers. The lone stoppage came on the third lap after the third-running Marlar drifted too high in turn two, hopping the cushion and making light contact with the wall. He continued, but could only recover to eighth. … Garrett Alberson cruised to win the third heat, leading the entire distance and taking the checkers 1.663 seconds ahead of second-starting Hudson O’Neal. Fifth-starting Carson Ferguson and sixth-starting Daulton Wilson each improved a couple of spots, grabbing the final two transfer positions into Friday’s 40 lap feature. … Ricky Thornton Jr. dominated the fourth and final heat, leading all eight laps and beating Tyler Bruening to the line by 2.784 seconds. Fifth-starting Bobby Pierce finished third, with Cade Dillard hanging on for the fourth and final transfer spot.

Heat results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Justin Wells, Brandon Overton, Devin Moran, Clay Harris, Kyle Bronson, Tyler Kuykendall, Aaron Marrant, Cole Henson, Ryan Johnson, Dalon Helm, Richard Kimberling, Kayden Clatt.

Second heat: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Stevens, Daniel Hilsabeck, Cory Lawler, Donald McIntosh, Chris Wilhite Jr., Mike Marlar, Jace Parmley, Shannon Parker, Robert Hough.

Third heat: Garrett Alberson, Hudson O'Neal, Carson Ferguson, Daulton Wilson, Dillon McCowan, Dan Ebert, Spencer Hughes, Mason Oberkramer, Chris Jones, Jim Vanzandt, Dalton Imhoff, Jon Binning.

Fourth heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Tyler Bruening, Bobby Pierce, Cade Dillard, Cole Wells, Jeremy Shaw, Clay Stuckey, Jaxon Ertel, Bryan Glaze, Joey Smith, Chris Hawkins. Scratched: Gordy Gundaker.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.361
2. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.541
3. Kayden Clatt (50), Edina, Mo., 15.547
4. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.598
5. Justin Wells (98), Aurora, Mo., 15.624
6. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 15.643
7. Tyler Kuykendall (8k), Warsaw, Mo., 15.826
8. Tyler Stevens (2T), Searcy, Ark., 15.836
9. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.837
10. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 15.891
11. Aaron Marrant (1xm), Richmond, Mo., 15.898
12. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 15.995
13. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 15.999
14. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.397
15. Cole Henson (31c), Russellville, Mo., 16.401
16. Chris Wilhite Jr. (21), Meeker, Okla., 16.427
17. Ryan Johnson (7J), Aurora, Mo., 16.433
18. Jace Parmley (82), Neosho, Mo., 16.446
19. Dalon Helm (4x), Lahoma, Okla., 16.468
20. Shannon Parker (18p), Ashdown, Ark., 16.547
21. Richard Kimberling (1k), Slater, Mo., 17.214
22. Robert Hough (805), South Coffeyville, Okla.
23. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., no time
Group B
1. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.704
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.744
3. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.815
4. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.860
5. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 15.942
6. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.997
7. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 15.998
8. Jeremy Shaw (1s), Millport, Ala., 16.101
9. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 16.130
10. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 16.144
11. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 16.210
12. Cole Wells (7), Aurora, Mo., 16.217
13. Chris Jones (91), Neelyville, Mo., 16.266
14. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 16.270
15. Mason Oberkramer (93m), Broseley, Mo., 16.277
16. Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 16.307
17. Dalton Imhoff (96), Jamestown, Mo., 16.481
18. Bryan Glaze (1G), Little Rock, Ark., 16.597
19. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 16.627
20. Jaxon Ertel (1/4J), Neosho, Mo., 16.828
21. Jon Binning (65), Warrensburg, Mo., 17.264
22. Joey Smith (s3), West Plains, Mo., 17.409
23. Jim Vanzandt (67), Pleasant Hope, Mo., 17.490
24. Chris Hawkins (usa1), Neosho, Mo., 17.541

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
2:45 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
3:30 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
4 p.m. - All gates open
5:45 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Late Model feature (40 laps)