Hudson O’Neal Earns First Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Win

Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – COLUMBUS, MS – Hudson O’Neal took the lead from defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Josh Richards with seven laps to go and held off a hard-charging Bobby Pierce to score the $20,000 victory in the Country Pleasin’ “Clash at the Mag” at Magnolia Motor Speedway.

The 17-year-old, third generation driver battled amongst the top five for most of the race before beginning his charge to the front. O’Neal moved around Tim McCreadie to take second and then tracked down race-leader Josh Richards, who had been in control for much of the race. O’Neal dove to the inside of Richards coming off of turn with seven circuits remaining to take the top spot. He then had to contend with Pierce, who had pitted earlier in the race and charged all the way through the field to give O’Neal a challenge in the closing laps.

Pierce finished in second with Josh Richards, Scott Bloomquist and Tim McCreadie completing the top ten.

In earning his first-career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory, O’Neal, son of former series champion Don O’Neal (who finished seventh in the race), received several congratulatory wishes from his father, his crew, and other competitors as he gave an emotional victory lane speech.

“I can’t believe it,” said the driver who had posted seven consecutive top ten finishes in LOLMDS competition before making only his second-career start at Magnolia. “I just saved my stuff there early on. That was a great race. I just wanted to keep the tires under me and not abuse them. I stayed down there on the bottom where there was enough moisture to catch Josh.”

“Josh and I had a good battle there for a few laps. He raced me clean and I can’t thank him enough. I hope the fans who watched this enjoyed it, because I sure did. I have to thank my car owners Todd and Vickie Burns, my crew chief Taylon Center and the entire team. Both Josh and Bobby ran a great race, it was a lot of fun.”

Pierce, who pitted around lap 20 charged to a runner-up finish. “I thought I had a shot on the last lap. There was a lapped car there, I drove around the outside, but came up just short. I banged the wall a few times. I hope I didn’t mess up anything on the car. Congrats to Hud on the win. That was so cool to see him win,” said the driver of the Dunn-Benson Ford, Campbell University, Rocket.

Richards, who led several laps during the 100-lap event was looking for his first LOLMDS since February. “When Timmy [McCreadie] got into me a little bit I think it cut my tire. I was hanging on and here comes Hudson on the bottom. I am happy for him to get the win. He’s a good kid,” said the driver of the Best Performance Motorsports, Colt Firearms, Rocket.

The winner’s Club 29 Race Cars entry is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by: Dyno One, Peak Antifreeze and Coolant, Sub Surface of Indiana, Mark Martin Automotive, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, Burns Farms and Tarpy Trucking.

Completing the top ten were Earl Pearson Jr., Don O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Mason Zeigler and Spencer Hughes.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday, June 16th, 2018
Clash at the Mag
Magnolia Motor Speedway – Columbus, MS

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Earl Pearson Jr. / 14.664 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Jimmy Owens / 14.759 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Kyle Bronson, Jonathan Davenport, Gregg Satterlee, Darrell Lanigan, Zach McMillan, Chad Thrash, Jamie Tollison, Gavin Landers

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Tim McCreadie, Mason Zeigler, Bobby Pierce, Jack Sullivan, Rick Rickman, Spencer Hughes, Mike Palasini, Jr., Shay Knight

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): Josh Richards, Hudson O’Neal, Scott Bloomquist, Don O’Neal, Neil Baggett, Dennis Erb, Jr., Chris Wall, Brian Rickman, Dwight Falcon Jr.

Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Chad Thrash, Chris Wall, Brian Rickman, Mike Palasini, Jr., Gavin Landers, Spencer Hughes, Clay Fisher, Shay Knight, Jamie Tollison, Dwight Falcon Jr.-DNS

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (100 Laps):

FINISH	START	CAR #	DRIVER NAME	HOMETOWN	EARNINGS
1	6	71	Hudson O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$20,700
2	11	32	Bobby Pierce	Oakwood, IL	$10,700
3	3	1R	Josh Richards	Shinnston, WV	$7,000
4	9	0	Scott Bloomquist	Mooresburg, TN	$4,800
5	5	39	Tim McCreadie	Watertown, NY	$4,200
6	1	1	Earl Pearson, Jr.	Jacksonville, FL	$3,400
7	12	5	Don O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$2,900
8	7	49	Jonathan Davenport	Blairsville, GA	$2,900
9	8	25Z	Mason Zeigler ®	Chalk Hill, PA	$1,900
10	23	10	Spencer Hughes	Meridian, MS	$1,750
11	13	14	Darrell Lanigan	Union, KY	$2,350
12	18	28	Dennis Erb, Jr.	Carpentersville, IL	$1,600
13	10	22	Gregg Satterlee	Indiana, PA	$2,250
14	14	18X	Jack Sullivan	Greenbrier, AR	$1,500
15	16	14z	Zach McMillan	Gladewater, TX	$1,450
16	24	77	Gavin Landers	Batesville, AR	$1,400
17	15	21xxx	Neil Baggett	Columbus, MS	$1,350
18	2	20	Jimmy Owens	Newport, TN	$2,100
19	20	71w	Chris Wall	Springfield, LA	$1,250
20	21	90	Brian Rickman	Columbus, MS	$1,200
21	22	d8	Mike Palasini, Jr.	Leland, MS	$1,200
22	4	40B	Kyle Bronson ®	Brandon, FL	$1,900
23	19	1C	Chad Thrash	Meridian, MS	$1,200
24	17	86	Rick Rickman	Columbus, MS	$1,200