Dirt on Dirt - Late restart can't deny Pierce $20,000 victory

June 4

Eldora Speedway,

Rossburg, OH

Sanction: FloRacing Night in America presented by Kubota - $20,000

Information provided by: Todd Turner, Aaron Clay, series and track reports (last updated June 5, 7:20 am)

Late restart can't deny Pierce $20,000 victory

Bobby Pierce
Hudson O'Neal
Dale McDowell
Nick Hoffman
Garrett Alberson
Josh Rice
Tim McCreadie
Kyle Bronson
Daulton Wilson
Tanner English
Carson Ferguson
Brandon Sheppard
Chris Madden
Jonathan Davenport
Mark Whitener
Ryan Gustin
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Zack Mitchell
Mike Marlar
Devin Moran
Chris Ferguson
Tyler Erb
Garrett Smith
Trent Ivey
Trey Mills
Mason Zeigler
Brandon Overton
Shane Clanton

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Bobby Pierce takes the checkers Wednesday for a $20,000 Eldora victory.

What won the race: Sliding by early leader Hudson O'Neal as he was mired in lapped traffic, sixth-starting Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., led the second half of Wednesday's 50-lap FloRacing Night in America Series main event at Eldora Speedway. Pierce beat O'Neal to the line by 0.863 of a second for the $20,000 payday, his ninth career series victory and 17th overall triumph this season.

Quotable: “You don’t expect that, you know and have all these victories at Eldora that we’ve had lately. We were good tonight,” Pierce said. “The car could really go middle, go top. I made a lot of moves through the middle in kinda them rutty spots. Don’t let it fool you, I can’t do that for 100 laps, but in 50 laps, you can kinda put the whip to it at an early point in the race.”

Key notes: Pierce now has three consecutive Eldora majors, including last fall's World 100 and Dirt Track World Championship. ... Second-starting Hudson O'Neal led the opening 25 laps before Pierce executed a perfect turn-one slider as they raced through lapped traffic; O'Neal and Pierce traded the lead on lap 23 before Pierce took control for good a couple laps later. ... Eighth-starting Dale McDowell rode the low line by Nick Hoffman for third on the 30th lap, but started outside O'Neal on the lap-48 restart and couldn't advance further. ... Fourth-running Devin Moran slowed on lap 48, triggering the race's second caution and setting up a three-lap dash to the finish. ... Moran lost oil pressure entering turn one and attempted to make the backstretch pit opening, but spun to a stop; he did not continue and will assess resulting damage with his Double Down Motorsports team. ... Hoffman finished fourth after reclaiming the spot following Moran's woes. ... Polesitter Carson Ferguson faded to 11th. ... The race's first yellow flag came on the 10th lap when Tyler Erb and Mason Zeigler tangled for the second time (they also made contact while battling the transfer spot in the night's second heat race). ... The 50-lap feature unofficially opened the week's Dream XXXI festivities at Eldora, with DIRTcar-sanctioned action beginning Thursday. ... The race lasted 23 minutes, with 11 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., started 16th and finished eighth; Daulton Wilson of Fayetteville, N.C., started 17th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Pierce’s Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Low Voltage Solutions, Rio Grande Waste Services, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Oakwood Tire Center, Churchill Transport, Collins Brothers Towing, K1, Carnaghi Towing & Repair, Toyota of Danville, Floyd’s Waste Systems, PureMax Racing Oil, A Plus Vacuum, Leka Tree Service, Bert Transmissions by Budda, Ted Brown’s Quality Paint & Body Shop, VP Race Fuels, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Dirt Car Lift and Performance Bodies.

Points chase: After Eldora: 1. Bobby Pierce (402); 2. Jonathan Davenport (324); 3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (294); 4. Brian Shirley (282); 5. Brandon Sheppard (276); 6. Nick Hoffman (273); T7. Devin Moran (270); T7. Ryan Gustin (270); 9. Hudson O’Neal (249); 10. Garrett Alberson (246).

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 81°F

Car count: 85

Fast qualifier: Carson Ferguson

Time: 15.147 seconds

Polesitter: Carson Ferguson

Heat race winners: Carson Ferguson, Garrett Alberson, Josh Rice, Hudson O'Neal, Tanner English, Bobby Pierce

Consolation race winners: Mike Marlar, Garrett Smith, Chris Ferguson

Provisional starters: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr., Ryan Gustin, Brandon Sheppard

Next series race: July 23, Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, IL) $20,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

ROSSBURG, Ohio — Updates and results from Wednesday’s 50-lap, $20,000-to-win FloRacing Night in America Series main event for Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Sliding by early leader Hudson O'Neal as he was mired in lapped traffic, sixth-starting Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., led the second half of Wednesday's 50-lap FloRacing Night in America Series main event at Eldora Speedway. Pierce beat O'Neal to the line by 0.863 of a second for the $20,000 payday, his ninth career series victory and 17th overall triumph this season.

Feature lineup

(50 laps)

Row 1: Carson Ferguson, Hudson O'Neal
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Tanner English
Row 3: Josh Rice, Bobby Pierce
Row 4: Chris Madden, Dale McDowell
Row 5: Devin Moran, Nick Hoffman
Row 6: Brandon Overton, Trent Ivey
Row 7: Tim McCreadie, Zack Mitchell
Row 8: Mason Zeigler, Kyle Bronson
Row 9: Daulton Wilson, Shane Clanton
Row 10: Mike Marlar, Garrett Smith
Row 11: Chris Ferguson, Tyler Erb
Row 12: Mark Whitener, Trey Mills
Row 13: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 14: Ryan Gustin, Brandon Sheppard

Pre-feature notes

Group A fast qualifier Carson Ferguson cruised in the first heat to earn the pole position for the 50-lap feature. … Jonathan Davenport and Ricky Thornton Jr. will rely on provisional starting spots. Thornton blew a right-rear tire in his heat race and Davenport elected to go to a backup car following his heat race retirement. … The top two finishers in Saturday’s Northern Allstars action at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway were among heat winners in Josh Rice and Tanner English, who looks strong in a new Longhorn Chassis. … “You’ve gotta charge this corner like you don’t even like life,” English said after his victory. … The Trey Mills team hurriedly swapped carburetors between time trials and heats and he made a daring slide-job pass of Cade Dillard to transfer through the third consolation and nearly overtook winner Chris Ferguson. … Freddie Carpenter got into the turn-three wall in the sixth heat. … Two expected Illinois drivers, Brian Shirley and Shannon Babb, were no-shows. Chatham’s Shirley, second in FloRacing tour points, was building a new car for Bob Cullen Racing in preparation for upcoming DIRTcar Summer Nationals and World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series action. Moweaqua’s Babb was a no-show after a cousin’s passing. … Eldora’s audio feed of the track announcers is available via MyRacePass for the first time.

Consolation race results

(12 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Mike Marlar, Tyler Erb, Brandon Sheppard, Drake Troutman, Spencer Hughes, Ross Bailes, Zack Dohm, Mike Spatola, Seth Daniels, Ricky Weiss, Jonathan Davenport, Jason Riggs, Montana Dudley, Frank Heckenast Jr., Jason Jameson, Clay Harris, Jerry Bowersock, Cory Lawler, Clayton Bryant, Brody Smith, Ryan Payne, Ben Sukup. Scratched: Eli Johnson.

Second consolation: Garrett Smith, Mark Whitener, Ethan Dotson, Jimmy Owens, Chris Simpson, Cody Overton, Joseph Joiner, Derrick Stewart, Tyler Bruening, Dan Ebert, Dennis Erb Jr., Tristan Chamberlain, Jason Feger, Dustin Sorensen, Forrest Trent, Brenden Smith, Justin Cooper, John Henderson, Dylan Thornton. Scratched: Jensen Ford, Oakley Johns, Evan Koehler.

Third consolation: Chris Ferguson, Trey Mills, Ryan Gustin, Cade Dillard, Chad Simpson, Wil Herrington, Justin Duty, Jordan Koehler, Max Blair, Jadon Frame, Michael Page, Allen Styck, Michael Leach, Carson Brown, Rod Conley, Kale Green, Ashton Winger, Austin Smith, Jackson Hise, Kody Evans. Scratched: Freddie Carpenter, Ricky Thornton Jr.

Heat results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Carson Ferguson, Chris Madden, Tim McCreadie, Mike Marlar, Brandon Sheppard, Spencer Hughes, Montana Dudley, Mike Spatola, Jonathan Davenport, Seth Daniels, Brody Smith, Ben Sukup, Jason Jameson, Ricky Weiss. Scratched: Clayton Bryant.

Second heat: Garrett Alberson, Devin Moran, Mason Zeigler, Drake Troutman, Tyler Erb, Zack Dohm, Ross Bailes, Jason Riggs, Cory Lawler, Frank Heckenast Jr., Clay Harris, Ryan Payne, Jerry Bowersock, Eli Johnson.

Third heat: Josh Rice, Brandon Overton, Daulton Wilson, Garrett Smith, Ethan Dotson, Mark Whitener, Joseph Joiner, Derrick Stewart, Tristan Chamberlain, Jensen Ford, Evan Koehler, Oakley Johns, Forrest Trent, Brenden Smith.

Fourth heat: Hudson O'Neal, Dale McDowell, Zack Mitchell, Jimmy Owens, Cody Overton, Tyler Bruening, Chris Simpson, Dustin Sorensen, Dan Ebert, Jason Feger, Dennis Erb Jr., Justin Cooper, John Henderson, Dylan Thornton.

Fifth heat: Tanner English, Nick Hoffman, Kyle Bronson, Chris Ferguson, Cade Dillard, Wil Herrington, Ryan Gustin, Justin Duty, Max Blair, Michael Page, Kody Evans, Ricky Thornton Jr., Allen Styck, Rod Conley.

Sixth heat: Bobby Pierce, Trent Ivey, Shane Clanton, Ashton Winger, Trey Mills, Austin Smith, Jordan Koehler, Chad Simpson, Jadon Frame, Michael Leach, Carson Brown, Kale Green, Jackson Hise, Freddie Carpenter.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.147
2. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.192
3. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.198
4. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.257
5. Zack Dohm (17), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 15.293
6. Josh Rice (11R), Crittenden, Ky., 15.305
7. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.315
8. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.343
9. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.344
10. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 15.398
11. Tyler Erb (01), New Waverly, Texas, 15.417
12. Garrett Smith (10s), Madison, Ga., 15.476
13. Tim McCreadie (9m), Watertown, N.Y., 15.489
14. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 15.496
15. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 15.504
16. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 15.506
17. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 15.508
18. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.513
19. Montana Dudley (7), Phenix City, Ala., 15.552
20. Ross Bailes (11B), Clover, S.C., 15.581
21. Jensen Ford (83), Johnson City, Tenn., 15.641
22. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.652
23. Ryan Payne (12R), Pennsboro, W.Va., 15.688
24. Evan Koehler (11), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.701
25. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 15.742
26. Jason Riggs (81), College Grove, Tenn., 15.775
27. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 15.807
28. Ricky Weiss (7w), Headingley, Manitoba, 15.871
29. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 15.871
30. Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, Iowa, 15.923
31. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 15.933
32. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 15.955
33. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 16.005
34. Seth Daniels (s21), Jackson, Ohio, 16.018
35. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 16.070
36. Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn., 16.081
37. Ben Sukup (07), Norfolk, Neb., 16.115
38. Jerry Bowersock (95), Wapakoneta, Ohio, 16.154
39. Oakley Johns (c6), Hohenwald, Tenn., 16.169
40. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 16.373
41. Eli Johnson (55e), Moore Haven, Fla., 16.373
42. Clayton Bryant (114B), Yoder, Ind., no time
43. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., no time
Group B
1. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.230
2. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 15.382
3. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.389
4. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.404
5. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.426
6. Austin Smith (11s), Cedartown, Ga., 15.440
7. Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 15.447
8. Nick Hoffman (9H), Mooresville, N.C., 15.448
9. Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 15.453
10. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.484
11. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 15.508
12. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.523
13. Chris Simpson (32s), Oxford, Iowa, 15.558
14. Justin Duty (15D), Molalla, Ore., 15.579
15. Ashton Winger (00w), Hampton, Ga., 15.594
16. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.598
17. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.612
18. Trey Mills (14jr), St. Augustine, Fla., 15.627
19. Dylan Thornton (13), Orcutt, Calif., 15.655
20. Wil Herrington (15k), Hawkinsville, Ga., 15.695
21. Shane Clanton (25c), Zebulon, Ga., 15.709
22. Cody Overton (2), Evans, Ga., 15.727
23. Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.739
24. Chad Simpson (25s), Mount Vernon, Iowa, 15.766
25. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 15.775
26. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.795
27. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 15.852
28. John Henderson (2x), North Augusta, S.C., 15.863
29. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.890
30. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 15.929
31. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 15.948
32. Michael Page (18x), Douglasville, Ga., 15.994
33. Jadon Frame (81F), Winchester, Tenn., 16.018
34. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.038
35. Allen Styck (11A), Americus, Ga., 16.052
36. Freddie Carpenter (c4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 16.052
37. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 16.123
38. Kody Evans (4G), Camden, Ohio, 16.214
39. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 16.305
40. Justin Cooper (00), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 16.311
41. Rod Conley (71R), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 16.426
42. Kale Green (4), Pelion, S.C., 17.830

Wednesday’s schedule

(All times local)
10 a.m. - Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
10 a.m. - Pits open
Noon - Technical inspection begins
1 p.m. - Grounds cleared and secured
2 p.m. - All gates, suites and concessions open
3 p.m. - Ballroom dinner buffet begins
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting (infield)
6 p.m. - Ballroom dinner buffet closes
6 p.m. - Hot laps
7:30 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
Competition
- Late Model time trials
- Late Model heats (10 laps)
- Late Model consolations (12 laps)
- Late Model feature (50 laps)