Dirt on Dirt - O'Neal holds off Terbo, wins $12,000 at Volusia

January 23

Volusia Speedway Park,

Barberville, FL

Sanction: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals) - $12,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated January 23, 10:27 pm)

O'Neal holds off Terbo, wins $12,000 at Volusia

DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals

Hudson O'Neal
Tyler Erb
Tim McCreadie
Brandon Sheppard
Nick Hoffman
Max Blair
Kyle Strickler
Dale McDowell
Ryan Gustin
Bobby Pierce
Drake Troutman
Cody Overton
Brandon Overton
Dennis Erb Jr.
Tristan Chamberlain
Ethan Dotson
Josh Rice
Logan Zarin
Daulton Wilson
Jake Timm
Brent Larson
Trey Mills
Jordan Koehler
Blair Nothdurft
Dustin Sorensen
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Chris Madden
Eli Johnson

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Hudson O'Neal waves the checkers in Volusia Speedway's victory lane.

What won the race: Nearly hopping the turn-two cushion on the final lap and giving up the lead, second-starting Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., held off Tyler Erb to win Friday's DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals second round at Volusia Speedway Park. O'Neal led all 35 laps and beat Erb to the line by a scant 0.128 of a second for the $12,000 payday, his fourth career World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory and first since last Nov. 6's World Finals opener at Charlotte.

Quotable: “I about gave it away down here getting into (turn) one. I got little bit too high, got my left rear in the rough and it kinda jumped my right front up,” O’Neal said. “Whenever I seen (Tyler Erb) leaving (turn) two, I was like ‘Oh no,’ so I knew I got a better run than him and I just tried my best not to miss the bottom. I wasn’t for sure where he was at.”

Key notes: O'Neal now has three victories on the young season, all of them coming aboard Kevin Rumley's No. 6 Rumley Engineering Longhorn. ... Fourth-starting Tyler Erb grabbed second from Brandon Sheppard on a lap-23 restart and trailed O'Neal the rest of the way, pressuring him in the final laps. ... Sheppard settled for fourth after 11th-starting Tim McCreadie made a late charge to take third with three laps to go; McCreadie advanced from sixth-to-third between laps 29-32. ... Max Blair worked his way as high as fourth before slipping to sixth at the line. ... Bobby Pierce rallied to finish 10th after utilizing a series provisional when he suffered right-front damage following contact with Cory Hedgecock and failed to transfer out of the night's first consolation. ... Cody Overton, who lost two engines in Wednesday's practice night, finished 12th after scratching from Thursday's opener. ... Polesitter Brandon Overton faded from third after a lap-19 restart and settled for 13th at the checkers. ... The race was slowed by three cautions, the first came on lap 19 when Chris Madden, winner of Thursday's $12,000 season opener, slowed while battling the elder Overton for second; Madden was pushed to the pits and credited with 27th. ... Jordan Koehler spun in turn four on lap 23 for the race's second slowdown; he continued and placed 23rd. ... Ricky Thornton Jr. slowed and retired on lap 31. ... The 35-lapper lasted 18 minutes with 24 starters completing the distance.

On the move: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., started 23rd and finished 10th.

Winner's sponsors: O’Neal’s K&L Rumley Enterprises Longhorn Chassis carries sponsorship from D&E Marine, Senior Life Insurance Company, Rumley Engineering, Mesilla Valley Transportation, American Racing Wheels, Professional Concrete, Mark Martin Automotive, O’Neal’s Salvage & Recycling, Indiana USSSA Fastpitch, Sunoco Race Fuels, Ohlins by Longhorn Dynamics and Wheeler Metals.

Points chase: After Volusia Friday: 1. Nick Hoffman (287); 2. Brandon Sheppard (286); 3. Tyler Erb (281); 4. Max Blair (274); T5. Tim McCreadie (266); T5. Kyle Strickler (266); 7. Dennis Erb Jr. (264); T8. Dale McDowell (262); T8. Bobby Pierce (262); 10. Chris Madden (254).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 64°F

Car count: 44

Fast qualifier: Chris Madden

Time: 15.816 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Overton

Heat race winners: Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal, Chris Madden, Tyler Erb

Consolation race winners: Cody Overton, Dennis Erb Jr.

Provisional starters: Bobby Pierce, Jake Timm, Daulton Wilson, Logan Zarin, Trey Mills, Eli Johnson

Next series race: January 24, Volusia Speedway Park (Barberville, FL) $20,000

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

From staff reports

BARBERVILLE, Fla. — Updates from Friday’s seventh annual DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals second round, featuring a 35-lap, $12,000-to-win main event for World of Outlaws Late Model Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Nearly hopping the turn-two cushion on the final lap and giving up the lead, second-starting Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., held off Tyler Erb to win Friday's DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals second round at Volusia Speedway Park. O'Neal led all 35 laps and beat Erb to the line by a scant 0.128 of a second for the $12,000 payday, his fourth career World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory and first since last Nov. 6's World Finals opener at Charlotte.

Feature lineup

(35 laps)

Row 1: Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal
Row 2: Chris Madden, Tyler Erb
Row 3: Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 4: Max Blair, Nick Hoffman
Row 5: Kyle Strickler, Ethan Dotson
Row 6: Tim McCreadie, Ryan Gustin
Row 7: Blair Nothdurft, Drake Troutman
Row 8: Dale McDowell, Brent Larson
Row 9: Cody Overton, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 10: Jordan Koehler, Josh Rice
Row 11: Dustin Sorensen, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 12: Bobby Pierce, Jake Timm
Row 13: Daulton Wilson, Logan Zarin
Row 14: Trey Mills, Eli Johnson

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Cody Overton, Jordan Koehler, Dustin Sorensen, Tyler Wyant, Bobby Pierce, Michael Leach, Clay Stuckey, Daulton Wilson, Jake Timm, Donald McIntosh, Glenn Styres, Todd Morrow, Eli Johnson, Cory Hedgecock.

Second consolation: Dennis Erb Jr., Josh Rice, Tristan Chamberlain, Mark Whitener, Jackson Hise, Kyle Bronson, Logan Zarin, Beckham Malone, Trey Mills, Matthew Larson, Jason Riggs, Stacy Boles, Allen Styck. Scratched: Boom Briggs.

Heat race recap

Brandon Overton earned a flag-to-flag victory in the night’s first heat race, leading all eight laps and winning by 0.664 of a second over Nick Hoffman, who took the runner-up spot from Kyle Strickler on the second lap. Strickler settled for third, while Blair Nothdurft started and finished fourth, earning a starting spot in the $12,000-to-win main event. … Second-starting Hudson O’Neal led the entire distance in winning the second heat by 2.283 seconds over polesitter Ricky Thornton Jr., who trailed O’Neal all eight laps. Fourth-starting Tim McCreadie slipped by Dale McDowell for third on the second lap, relegating McDowell to fourth, with both joining O’Neal and Thornton in punching their ticket into the night’s 35-lap feature. … Polesitter Chris Madden held off third-starting Max Blair in dominating the third heat race, taking the checkers 0.247 of a second ahead of Blair. Fifth-starting Ethan Dotson finished third while Drake Troutman held on for the fourth and final transfer spot. … Tyler Erb led all eight laps from the pole to win the fourth and final heat race by 1.366 seconds over Brandon Sheppard, who trailed Erb the entire distance. Ryan Gustin and Brent Larson held serve in rounding out the top-four finishers. … All four prelims were completed without incident and combined to last slightly more than 10 minutes of on-track time.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Brandon Overton, Nick Hoffman, Kyle Strickler, Blair Nothdurft, Cody Overton, Cory Hedgecock, Clay Stuckey, Jordan Koehler, Jake Timm, Michael Leach, Eli Johnson.

Second heat: Hudson O'Neal, Ricky Thornton Jr., Tim McCreadie, Dale McDowell, Bobby Pierce, Dustin Sorensen, Tyler Wyant, Daulton Wilson, Donald McIntosh, Todd Morrow, Glenn Styres.

Third heat: Chris Madden, Max Blair, Ethan Dotson, Drake Troutman, Dennis Erb Jr., Mark Whitener, Beckham Malone, Kyle Bronson, Logan Zarin, Jason Riggs, Trey Mills.

Fourth heat: Tyler Erb, Brandon Sheppard, Ryan Gustin, Brent Larson, Josh Rice, Tristan Chamberlain, Jackson Hise, Allen Styck, Boom Briggs, Matthew Larson, Stacy Boles.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 16.131
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 16.157
3. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 16.266
4. Hudson O’Neal (6), Martinsville, Ind., 16.292
5. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 16.313
6. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 16.333
7. Blair Nothdurft (76n), Renner, S.D., 16.333
8. Tim McCreadie (9m), Watertown, N.Y., 16.345
9. Cory Hedgecock (79), Loudon, Tenn., 16.444
10. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 16.454
11. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 16.474
12. Donald McIntosh (7m), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.499
13. Cody Overton (97), Evans, Ga., 16.502
14. Dustin Sorensen (19), Rochester, Minn., 16.515
15. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 16.634
16. Daulton Wilson (58v), Fayetteville, N.C., 16.641
17. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 16.864
18. Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 16.912
19. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 17.070
20. Todd Morrow (T1), Penton, Ala., 17.516
21. Eli Johnson (55E), Clewiston, Fla., 17.684
22. Glenn Styres (0), Ohsweken, Ontario, 18.017
Group B
1. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 15.816
2. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.929
3. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 16.123
4. Brandon Sheppard (1s), New Berlin, Ill., 16.267
5. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 16.427
6. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 16.430
7. Mark Whitener (5), Middleburg, Fla., 16.434
8. Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 16.464
9. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 16.470
10. Allen Styck (11s), Americus, Ga., 16.476
11. Trey Mills (14), St. Augustine, Fla., 16.647
12. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 16.653
13. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.668
14. Josh Rice (11R), Crittenden, Ky., 16.674
15. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.687
16. Jackson Hise (388), Ocala, Fla., 16.696
17. Beckham Malone (23), Rock Hill, S.C., 16.735
18. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.748
19. Logan Zarin (1z), Moon Township, Pa., 16.829
20. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 16.886
21. Jason Riggs (81), College Grove, Tenn., 17.134
22. Matthew Larson (8L), Lake Elmo, Minn., 17.483

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - Pits open
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
4 p.m. - On-track activity
- Super Late Model hot laps
- 604 Crate group qualifying
- Super Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- 602 Crate group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Super Late Model heats (8 laps)
- 604 Crate first semifeature (20 laps)
WoO redraw
- Super Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- 604 Crate second semifeature (20 laps)
- Super Late Model feature (35 laps)
- 602 Crate first semifeature (15 laps)
- 602 Crate second semifeature (15 laps)
- 602 Crate third semifeature (15 laps)
- 604 Crate third semifeature (20 laps)
- 604 Crate fourth semifeature (20 laps)