Hudson O’Neal Wins Rain-Shortened Lucas Oil LM Ralph Latham Memorial

Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – UNION, KY – Hudson O’Neal picked up his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season on Wednesday night in the 32nd Annual Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway.

O’Neal took control on lap six from Kyle Bronson and held the point until rain started to fall just a few laps shy of the halfway mark. Competitors were sent to their pits under a weather delay, returning shortly thereafter to complete the shortened race’s final three circuits.

When the race resumed O’Neal outran Tyler Erb to score the $12,000 victory. Gregg Satterlee, Bobby Pierce, and Josh Richards complete the top five.

“Man, I kept waiting on the rain and for it to end. I didn’t know we were only going to run three laps when we came back out. It would have been nice for the fans to get all 50 laps in, but we’ll take this win for sure,” said O’Neal.

O’Neal, who is competing in his final weekend of the season, added: “I need to get the shoulder taken care of, so I can come back strong next February. I want to thank Todd and Vickie Burns for giving me this opportunity to drive their car. I hate it for my crew guys and everyone. I feel like I have let them down for the rest of the season. But I will be back stronger and better next year.”

“It was getting a little slick there those last few laps. I felt like I was just hanging on. It was a great relief when I saw the checkered flag,” said O’Neal.

Tyler Erb, who started seventh in the First-Class Septic, Rocket came home in second. “To finish second to Hudson, I’ll take it. I really wanted to get the win. Our car was good all night. When you run up front with these guys that says something. We will come back tomorrow night and give it another try.”

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

Completing the top ten were Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Tim McCreadie, Earl Pearson Jr., and Nick Hoffman.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
32nd Annual Ralph Latham Memorial
Florence Speedway – Union, KY

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Nick Hoffman / 15.546 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Austyn Mills / 15.703 seconds

Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Nick Hoffman, Tyler Erb, Jonathan Davenport, Earl Pearson, Jr., Jimmy Mars, Josh Rice, Rob Mayea, Billy Green, Trevor Landrum

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Hudson O’Neal, Bobby Pierce, Michael Page, Austin Rettig, Michael Chilton, Kenneth Howell, Jeremy Conaway, Tim McCreadie, Steve Casebolt

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Donald McIntosh, Zack Dohm, Jared Hawkins, Don O’Neal, Dale McDowell, Jesse Lay, Rob Anderzack, Kent Robinson, Robby Hensley

QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Kyle Bronson, Mike Marlar, Doug Drown, Jason Miller, Jason Jameson, Scott Bloomquist, Nick Latham, Shanon Buckingham, Austyn Mills

Sunoco Race Fuels Heat Race #5 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Gregg Satterlee, Mason Zeigler, Darrell Lanigan, Duane Chamberlain, Craig Vosbergen, Devin Gilpin, Chris Shannon, Joey Moriarty, Scott James

Lucas Oil Products Heat Race #6 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Brandon Overton, Dennis Erb, Jr., Josh Richards, Jimmy Owens, Ricky Weiss, Kody Evans, Austin Burns, Chad Stapleton, James Rice

Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Don O’Neal, Dale McDowell, Austin Rettig, Michael Chilton, Jeremy Conaway, Jesse Lay, Rob Anderzack, Tim McCreadie, Kenneth Howell, Josh Rice, Robby Hensley, Rob Mayea, Trevor Landrum, Billy Green, Jimmy Mars-DNS, Kent Robinson-DNS, Steve Casebolt-DNS

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Jimmy Owens, Ricky Weiss, Jason Miller, Devin Gilpin, Chris Shannon, Chad Stapleton, Austin Burns, Duane Chamberlain, Nick Latham, Joey Moriarty, Kody Evans, James Rice, Jason Jameson-DNS, Craig Vosbergen-DNS, Scott Bloomquist-DNS, Shanon Buckingham-DNS, Austyn Mills-DNS, Scott James-DNS

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (25 Laps):

FINISH	START	CAR #	DRIVER NAME	HOMETOWN	EARNINGS
1	3	71	Hudson O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$12,000
2	7	91	Tyler Erb	New Waverly, TX	$5,500
3	4	22	Gregg Satterlee	Indiana, PA	$3,500
4	9	32	Bobby Pierce	Oakwood, IL	$2,750
5	18	1R	Josh Richards	Shinnston, WV	$2,250
6	20	20	Jimmy Owens	Newport, TN	$1,800
7	21	5	Don O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$1,500
8	24	39	Tim McCreadie	Watertown, NY	$1,300
9	19	1	Earl Pearson, Jr.	Jacksonville, FL	$1,200
10	1	2H	Nick Hoffman	Mooresville, NC	$1,100
11	16	14	Darrell Lanigan	Union, KY	$1,075
12	2	40B	Kyle Bronson ®	Brandon, FL	$1,150
13	12	28	Dennis Erb, Jr.	Carpentersville, IL	$1,025
14	23	0	Scott Bloomquist	Mooresburg, TN	$1,000
15	17	11H	Jared Hawkins	Fairmont, WV	$1,000
16	13	49	Jonathan Davenport	Blairsville, GA	$1,100
17	6	76	Brandon Overton	Evans, GA	$1,000
18	25	33	Jesse Lay	Walton, KY	$1,000
19	8	157	Mike Marlar	Winfield, TN	$1,000
20	15	18x	Michael Page	Villa Rica, GA	$1,000
21	5	58	Donald McIntosh	Dawsonville, GA	$1,000
22	11	17d	Zack Dohm	Cross Lanes, WV	$1,000
23	14	12d	Doug Drown	Wooster, OH	$1,000
24	10	25Z	Mason Zeigler ®	Chalk Hill, PA	$1,000
25	22	7w	Ricky Weiss	Headingley, MB	$1,000