Hudson O’Neal Rules 34 Raceway; Takes Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Win Thursday

Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – WEST BURLINGTON, IA – Hudson O’Neal passed Jonathan Davenport on lap 48 and went on to score his second win of the season on Thursday night at 34 Raceway.

O’Neal battled with his father Don for several laps after the 18-year-old charged from the 10th starting position. Then, a single file restart with three laps to go saw O’Neal pass Davenport to score a one-two finish for Longhorn Chassis.

Hudson O’Neal’s fourth career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory came over Davenport, Josh Richards, Kyle Bronson and Earl Pearson Jr.

Don O’Neal took the lead heading the down the backstretch on lap 38, but that lap was never completed as contact between Don O’Neal and Davenport caused the caution flag when O’Neal came to a halt with a left rear flat.

Davenport then went back in front with Hudson O’Neal in second. It was the fateful lap 47 that allowed Hudson O’Neal to saddle up behind Davenport. The 3-lap shootout was set, and Hudson O’Neal came out on top. Davenport then held off Richards by just half-a-car length for second.

“Oh my gosh I am out of breath,” said the winner in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. “The surface was bumpy, but it made for some good racing. I was all over this thing. It really widened out there at the end and it gave me a chance to make a move there on JD. We weren’t very good at the beginning, but we continually got better and better. I just put myself in a good position there at the end.”

“I hate what happened to my dad,” Hudson added. “We were battling hard. I thought for a moment I had a right rear flat under that one caution because it was lying low really bad. It scared me for a little bit. This car was on a rail tonight. We made the right adjustments to get it to the front. It’s good to be back in Victory Lane after not being very good for a couple of months.”

Davenport congratulated the young O’Neal in Victory Lane. “It was a heck of battle with the O’Neal’s and inside my own racecar. I am sure it was a heck of a show for the fans. I didn’t know where I was going there sometimes. I want to tell Don [O’Neal] I am sorry. You can’t see out of these things. As soon as he slid me, I ran over his left rear and I tried to get off of him.”

Richards’ in theClint Bowyer Racing No. 14 battled with his teammate Don O’Neal before settling for a third-place finish. “We had a good car early and we drove our way up to third after starting seventh. I had a good there with Don. I kept bottoming out on the restarts. We were way too tight for the conditions, but it was a lot of fun out there tonight. The crew has been working hard, and I thought we might be able to get both Bowyer cars in the top three, but we will take it and head the next one.”

The winner’s Todd and Vickie Burns-owned, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by: Dyno One, West Side Tractor Sales Company, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Tarpy Trucking, VP Fuels, and Crawford Outdoor.

Completing the top ten were Don O’Neal, Chase Junghans, Shanon Buckingham, Tyler Bruening, and Devin Moran.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Thursday, May 16, 2019
TruAcre 50
34 Raceway – West Burlington, Iowa

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Jonathan Davenport / 14.581 seconds
Fast Time Group B: Tim McCreadie / 14.466 seconds (overall)

Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Jonathan Davenport, Billy Moyer, Jr., Chase Junghans, Tyler Erb ®, Jason Jameson ®, Brian Shirley, Allen Murray, Allen Weisser, Joel Callahan

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Josh Richards, Devin Moran ®, Chris Simpson, Bobby Pierce, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Dave Eckrich, Spencer Diercks, Gavin Landers

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Tyler Bruening, Don O’Neal, Tim McCreadie, Kyle Bronson, Shanon Buckingham, Chad Simpson, Chad Holladay, Jay Johnson, James Wilson-DNS

Lucas Oil Products Penetrating Oil Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Billy Moyer, Hudson O’Neal, Shannon Babb, Jimmy Owens, Stormy Scott, Jonathan Brauns, Mike Fryer, Tim Simpson

Lucas Oil Products Red “N” Tacky Spray Grease B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Frank Heckenast, Jr., Bobby Pierce, Spencer Diercks, Allen Weisser, Brian Shirley, Joel Callahan, Jason Jameson ®, Allen Murray, Dave Eckrich, Gavin Landers

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Shanon Buckingham, Chad Simpson, Stormy Scott, Chad Holladay, Jay Johnson, Mike Fryer, Jonathan Brauns-DNS, Tim Simpson-DNS, James Wilson-DNS

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (50 Laps):

FINISH	START	CAR #	DRIVER NAME	HOMETOWN	EARNINGS
1	8	71	Hudson O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$10,700
2	1	49	Jonathan Davenport	Blairsville, GA	$6,600
3	7	14	Josh Richards	Shinnston, WV	$4,300
4	14	40B	Kyle Bronson	Brandon, FL	$3,450
5	3	1	Earl Pearson, Jr.	Jacksonville, FL	$3,050
6	6	5	Don O’Neal	Martinsville, IN	$2,700
7	9	18J	Chase Junghans	Manhattan, KS	$1,500
8	18	50	Shanon Buckingham	Morristown, TN	$1,300
9	2	16T	Tyler Bruening	Decorah, IA	$1,200
10	11	1M	Devin Moran ®	Dresden, OH	$1,900
11	5	21JR	Billy Moyer, Jr.	Batesville, AR	$1,775
12	16	20	Jimmy Owens	Newport, TN	$1,850
13	22	2s	Stormy Scott	Las Cruses, NM	$1,025
14	13	1T	Tyler Erb ®	New Waverly, TX	$1,700
15	23	12J	Jason Jameson ®	Lawrenceburg, IN	$1,650
16	4	21	Billy Moyer	Batesville, AR	$925
17	19	32P	Bobby Pierce	Oakwood, IL	$900
18	17	99JR	Frank Heckenast, Jr.	Frankfort, IL	$875
19	21	29d	Spencer Diercks	Davenport, IA	$850
20	10	39	Tim McCreadie	Watertown, NY	$1,525
21	20	1s	Chad Simpson	Mt. Vernon, IA	$800
22	12	18	Shannon Babb	Mowequa, IL	$800
23	15	32S	Chris Simpson	Oxford, IA	$800
24	24	2M	Allen Murray	San Antonio, TX	$800