What won the race: Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., wrestled the lead away from pole-starting Jonathan Davenport on lap two and never looked back to take opening night of the 12th annual Spring Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway. O'Neal, who led 39 of 40 laps and topped Davenport by 2.074 seconds, pocketed $7,000 for the win.

Quotable: "It's been a rocky start to the year, but being able to hire Jason Durham, Todd Burns and everybody have done a great job," O'Neal said in victory lane. "The crew I have behind me, they work their tails off. Even when we didn't show the most speed during Speedweeks, they just keep plugging away and plugging away. Man, I just appreciate all my guys."

Key notes: Hudson O'Neal notched his second win of 2025 and first at SSI Motorsports with new crew chief Jason Durham. The 23-year-old O’Neal won Jan. 28’s Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series non-points $10,000-to-win event at Needmore (Ga.) Speedway aboard Kevin Rumley’s No. 6 Longhorn. It's also O'Neal's first win at Wheatland since the 2019 Show-Me 100. ... Jonathan Davenport was in position for would-be ninth win at the Wheatland 3/8-mile oval over his last 13 starts, leading the opening lap until O’Neal went around him using the bottom on lap two. He still has a chance to win a third straight Spring Nationals finale Saturday. … Only two cautions slowed the 40-lap feature that lasted a quick 16 minutes: Billy Moyer on the opening lap when he spun out of 23rd and lap 28 when Scott Crigler slowed out of 12th in turn two. By then, seven drivers had retired from the running, including Logan Martin (lap 21), Billy Moyer (lap 12) and Tony Jackson Jr. (lap 10). ... Chad Simpson scratched after suffering mechanical issues in the opening heat.

On the move: Mason Oberkraker of Broseley, Mo., started 10th and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: O’Neal’s SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Sub Surface of Indiana, Inc., Merrill Bonding Company, Wheeler Metals, Professional Concrete, Big River Steel, O'Neal's Salvage, Indiana USSSA, Dyno One, Bob & Tammy Burton, West Side Tractor Sales, Bobcat of Batesville, Bilstein, Sunoco, High Performance Lubricants, Longhorn Chassis and Kevin Rumley Engineering.

Current weather: Clear, 48°F

Car count: 43

Fast qualifier: Hudson O'Neal

Time: 15.434 seconds

Polesitter: Jonathan Davenport

Heat race winners: Jonathan Davenport, Cade Dillard, Hudson O'Neal, Jeff Herzog

Consolation race winners: Scott Crigler, Logan Martin