Dirt on Dirt - Alberson outruns Moran in first Florence prelim

August 7

Florence Speedway,

Union, KY

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (North-South 100 Thursday first semifeature) - $6,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated August 8, 8:44 am)

Alberson outruns Moran in first Florence prelim

North-South 100 Thursday first semifeature

Garrett Alberson
Devin Moran
Mike Marlar
Cory Hedgecock
Hudson O'Neal
Jimmy Owens
Max Blair
Donald McIntosh
Carson Ferguson
Tripp Gerrald
Nick Hoffman
Jason Jameson
Michael Chilton
Blake Creech
Ryan Montgomery
Cory Lawler
Chad Stapleton
Brad Rickels
Josh Vinyard
Kyle Bronson
Donnie Jeschke
Roger Williams
Daniel Hilsabeck
Devin Gilpin
Calvin Carlton
Billy Green

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Garrett Alberson takes the checkers at Florence Speedway.

What won the race: Sliding by race-long leader Devin Moran entering turn three on lap 21, third-starting Garrett Alberson of Las Cruces, N.M., led the final five laps to win Thursday's first 25-lap Sunoco North-South 100 semifeature at Florence Speedway. Alberson beat Moran by 1.2 seconds to earn $6,000 and his fifth overall win of the 2025 season.

Quotable: “I was a little afraid after that early incident in (turn) one (with Max Blair), I didn’t know if the whole left front was knocked out of the thing, or not. I don’t know, (the incident) kinda got me all riled up and I’m just like ‘I’m gonna go for it,' ” Alberson said. “Devin was making a lot of speed up high, but he started kinda like falling into the exit a little bit and I could just run right through the crumbs and make up a lot of time.”

Key notes: Although not a full-field feature, Alberson notched his second Lucas Oil Series victory this season. ... He won a full-field event July 10 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. ... Devin Moran led the opening 20 laps from the pole before losing the lead to Alberson as he was mired in lapped traffic in the closing stages. ... Alberson overcame contact with Max Blair as they battled for third in the opening laps. Blair held fourth until Cory Hedgecock passed him on lap 12, then eventually slipped to finish seventh. ... Mike Marlar reported he finished third with two deflating tires. ... Ninth-starting Hudson O'Neal passed Jimmy Owens for fifth on the final lap, relegating Owens to sixth. Owens enters the weekend with the longest active streak in starting North-South 100 finales (20). ... Donald McIntosh battled Blair for fourth in the early going before fading to eighth. ... Carson Ferguson overcame a flat tire in his heat race to finish ninth. ... Daniel Hilsabeck retired from 11th on lap 10. ... The night's first semifeature went green-to-checkered and lasted seven minutes, with 14 starters completing 25 laps. ... Another double-semifeature program is on tap Friday with Saturday's $75,000-to-win finale program setting heat lineups by preliminary night performances.

On the move: Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., started 17th and finished ninth.

Winner's sponsors: Alberson's Roberts Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Mesilla Valley Transportation, Low Voltage Solutions, Done Right TV, Bill's Sport Shop, Roemer Machine & Welding, Sims Family Racing, Capitol Screen Company, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Mitchell Ranch, J. Craig's Tile, Arbor Autoworks, McGinley Construction, Browning Auto Parts, American Document Services, Sunoco Race Fuels, Fastshafts, Swift Springs, Bilstein Shocks and Midwest Sheet Metal.

Points chase: Before Florence: 1. Jonathan Davenport (6,355); 2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (6,340); 3. Hudson O’Neal (6,065); 4. Devin Moran (5,960); 5. Garrett Alberson (5,810); 6. Brandon Sheppard (5,785); 7. Brandon Overton (5,505); 8. Daulton Wilson (5,150); 9. Carson Ferguson (4,840); 10. Donald McIntosh (4,765).

Current weather: Broken Clouds, 77°F

Car count: 51

Fast qualifier: Devin Moran

Time: 15.707 seconds

Polesitter: Devin Moran

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Mike Marlar, Garrett Alberson

Next series race: August 8, Florence Speedway (Union, KY) $6,000

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

From staff reports

UNION, Ky. — Updates from Thursday’s 43rd annual North-South 100 first preliminary night, highlighted by two 25-lap, $6,000-to-win split-field semifeatures for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Semifeature

Sliding by race-long leader Devin Moran as they entered turn three on lap 21, third-starting Garrett Alberson of Las Cruces, N.M., led the final five laps to win Thursday night's first 25-lap North-South 100 prelim at Florence Speedway. Alberson beat Moran by 1.2 seconds for the $6,000 semifeature victory, his fifth overall win of the 2025 season.

Semifeature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Devin Moran, Mike Marlar
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Max Blair
Row 3: Jason Jameson, Donald McIntosh
Row 4: Cory Hedgecock, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 5: Hudson O'Neal, Ryan Montgomery
Row 6: Kyle Bronson, Michael Chilton
Row 7: Jimmy Owens, Cory Lawler
Row 8: Nick Hoffman, Tripp Gerrald
Row 9: Carson Ferguson, Chad Stapleton
Row 10: Devin Gilpin, Blake Creech
Row 11: Calvin Carlton, Brad Rickels
Row 12: Donnie Jeschke, Billy Green
Row 13: Josh Vinyard, Roger Williams

Heat race results

(Eight laps; all transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Max Blair, Cory Hedgecock, Ryan Montgomery, Jimmy Owens, Tripp Gerrald, Devin Gilpin, Brad Rickels, Josh Vinyard.

Second heat: Mike Marlar, Jason Jameson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Kyle Bronson, Cory Lawler, Carson Ferguson, Blake Creech, Donnie Jeschke, Roger Williams.

Third heat: Garrett Alberson, Donald McIntosh, Hudson O'Neal, Michael Chilton, Nick Hoffman, Chad Stapleton, Calvin Carlton, Billy Green.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.707
2. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.754
3. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.805
4. Cory Hedgecock (23v), Loudon, Tenn., 15.889
5. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 15.920
6. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.994
7. Tripp Gerrald (4), Versailles, Ky., 16.003
8. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 16.034
9. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 16.064
10. Ryan Montgomery (12m), Fairmont, W.Va., 16.079
11. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 16.104
12. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.134
13. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 16.187
14. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.201
15. Michael Chilton (6m), Salvisa, Ky., 16.213
16. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 16.226
17. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 16.276
18. Chad Stapleton (32), Edinburgh, Ind., 16.278
19. Devin Gilpin (1G), Columbus, Ind., 16.477
20. Blake Creech (317), Richmond, Ind., 16.571
21. Billy Green (49G), Walton, Ky., 16.739
22. Brad Rickels (15R), Verona, Ky., 16.805
23. Donnie Jeschke (99J), Dayton, Ohio, 16.959
24. Calvin Carlton (c6), Lawrenceburg, Ky., 17.638
25. Josh Vinyard (96), Danville, Ky., 18.074
26. Roger Williams (15w), Florence, Ky., 18.150

Thursday’s schedule 

(All times local)
2:30 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
3 p.m. - Pits reopen (Hall of Fame building opens)
3:15 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
5:30 p.m. - Grandstands closed and cleared
6 p.m. - Grandstands reopen
6:15 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity (Hall of Fame building closes)
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model Group A time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model first semifeature (25 laps)
- Late Model second semifeature (25 laps)