ROSSBURG, Ohio — Driving his Joker-themed No. 32, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., got the last laugh Friday evening at Eldora Speedway.

Winning a wild four-car duel in the final laps, Pierce went from fourth to first between laps 19-21, diving under Devin Moran to take command in turn one and pull away for a $10,000 victory in a preliminary feature during the 46th annual World 100 weekend.

Pierce, whose broken fan blade in a Thursday heat race gave him a bad start to the weekend, enjoyed a much better result Friday in outdueling Moran, Jimmy Mars and Don O’Neal in a dramatic late-race showdown.

Pierce had to rally from outside the fifth row, but he was in perfect position to come out on top in the race’s waning moments.

“I didn’t know about the invert (that required him to start 10th) until after the heat race,” Pierce said. “I was like ‘Man, that sucks. But after last night, we need all the points we can get for tomorrow.’

“I’ve just got to give a big hand to my crew and my dad and everyone that works on the car. I think they kind of won the race for me with the choices they made for the feature. Me and Devin racing for the lead like that is always fun. We had an amazing race for the lead with all four of those cars out there.”

Pierce, last year’s World 100 runner-up, hopes to carry some momentum into Saturday’s 100-lapper at the historic half-mile oval owned by Tony Stewart.

“After tonight, I feel a lot better than we did yesterday,” Pierce said. “Hopefully we can be in victory lane again tomorrow.”

Moran, who started alongside Pierce on the fifth row, led only the 20th lap after Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., got into the turn-four wall after leading laps 2-19. His time out front was brief as Pierce carried more momentum into turn one and quickly dropped Moran back to second.

Moran credited Pierce, his second-generation racing buddy, with a solid performance.

“When no one else can get up there on the wall, (Pierce) gets up there and gets it done, so congrats to him, Moran said. “But man, can I not just get my first win here?!

“The car, it was really good, but I know some stuff that we’ve got to do to it to make it that much better. … We’ve got a couple of adjustments that we’ve got to do to get it a little better for tomorrow. But we’ve got to get into the (100-lap feature) first, so that’s what we’re going to focus on.”

Moran was glad to get in the mix despite starting mid-pack.

“I just got going and got up through there,” he said. “Great racing with Jimmy and Don and Bobby. Just clean racing … it was a lot of fun.”

Mars ran a softer right-rear tire than his fellow competitors, and it was starting to fade late in the race, he said.

“We had a little bit too soft of a right-rear on, but we didn’t know what to expect here,” Mars said. “Starting on the outside poll, I didn’t want to be the one gambling on that.

“Congrats to both Bobby and Devin there. They both did a great job. I was just thinking about it, both them together, I’m still older than them. It’s a new generation coming up and it’s pretty cool.”

The lone caution appeared on the ninth lap when Scott James pulled up lame at the end of the backstretch.

Drivers points accrued in Thursday and Friday’s prelims will be added and used to set six heat race lineups in Saturday’s program. Saturday’s 100-lapper pays $49,000-to-win.

Notes: Fourth-finishing Don O’Neal dove low in lap 20 in turn one in a bid for the lead, but he ended up slipping back to fourth and allowing Pierce to grab third. … Twenty of 24 starters finished on the lead lap and all but Scott James were running at the finish. … Polesitter Jon Henry of Ada, Ohio, led the first lap and stayed in the top five the first half of the race before fading to finish 11th.

Preliminary notes and results:

Consolation finishes

First consolation (two transfer): Tim McCreadie, Frank Heckenast Jr., Michael Norris, Chris Simpson, Jason Jameson, Jason Feger, Josh Putnam, Dylan Ames, Gordy Gundaker, Jay Johnson, Lamar Haygood, Tanner Kellick, Gavin Landers, Brad Wade, Kody Evans, Adam Bowman, Robby Hensley.

Second consolation (two transfer): Alex Ferree, Riley Hickman, Timothy Culp, Garrett Alberson, Jason Hiett, Mike Mataragas, Mike Spatola, Jared Hawkins, Jackie Boggs, Blake Spencer, Zach McMillan, Shane Unger, Rob Anderzack, Rusty Schlenk, Larry Greer, Craig Vosbergen.

Odd heat race notes

After winning the first heat with a dramatic final-lap pass of Tyler Carpenter rounding turns three and four, Bobby Pierce crossed the scales and quickly headed back to his trailer because his car’s engine was overheating. … Devin Moran was glad to capture the second heat, but he felt his car still needed some work — and he wasn’t sure if runner-up Josh Richards had showed all his speed. “I don’t think that the 1 car was showing everything he had because we have an invert (for the feature),” he said. … Duane Chamberlain had to pull out of June’s Dream action due to neck problems; after winning the third heat, he was feeling much better. “You just gotta be smooth and keep it straight up on the cushion right now,” he said. … Billy Moyer’s crew quickly moved to pour water in his car’s overheating engine after he crossed the scales following his win in the fourth heat. … Brian Ruhlman logged the 98th-fastest lap in time trials, but he rebounded well by coming from seventh to win the fifth heat. “We can’t qualify to save our life,” he said, “but we can race around this place.”

Consolation lineups

(12 laps; top two transfer)
First consolation
Row 1: Frank Heckenast Jr., Tim McCreadie
Row 2: Michael Norris, Jason Jameson
Row 3: Chris Simpson, Gordy Gundaker
Row 4: Josh Putnam, Robby Hensley
Row 5: Dylan Ames, Jason Feger
Row 6: Gavin Landers, Jay Johnson
Row 7: Adam Bowman, Kody Evans
Row 8: Brad Wade, Tanner Kellick
Row 9: Lamar Haygood
Second consolation
Row 1: Alex Ferree, Garrett Alberson
Row 2: Riley Hickman, Timothy Culp
Row 3: Jason Hiett, Zach McMillan
Row 4: Jackie Boggs, Craig Vosbergen
Row 5: Mike Mataragas, Mike Spatola
Row 6: Larry Greer, Rusty Schlenk
Row 7: Rob Anderzack, Blake Spencer
Row 8: Shane Unger, Jared Hawkins
Row 9: Samuel Tolley

Fifth heat

In a battle of former Eldora track champions, seventh-starting Brian Ruhlman used the low grooe to take the lead from outside front-row starter Jon Henry on the eighth lap and edged away for a victory. Eldora rookie Michael Page charged from eighth to finish third, slipping under polesitter Scott James late. James ended up fourth.

Finish (top four transfer): Brian Ruhlman, Jon Henry, Michael Page, Scott James, Michael Norris, Jason Hiett, Robby Hensley, Mike Spatola, Adam Bowman, Shane Ungar.

Fourth heat

After a brief ran shower, the 10-lapper got rolling with Jimmy Mars roaring into the lead from outside the front row, but Billy Moyer slid ahead on the eighth lap to grab the lead and the victory. Tail-starting Curtis Roberts rallying to finish third after engine woes prevented him from time-trialing. Ninth-starting Vic Hill edged polesitter Garrett Alberson for the final transfer spot while Chris Simpson, who ran third most of the way, faded to finish sixth.

Finish (top four transfer): Billy Moyer, Jimmy Mars, Curtis Roberts, Vic Hill, Garrett Alberson, Chris Simpson, Jackie Boggs, Jason Feger, Rusty Schlenk, Brad Wade, Samuel Tolley.

Third heat

Outside front-row starter Duane Chamberlain edged away from a side-by-side duel with fellow front-row starter Dale McDowell for a 10-lap victory. Chamberlain ran the high side all the way and McDowell joined him up there briefly at halfway, but failed to track him down. Sixth-starting Zack Dohm charged in the low groove to a solid third-place finish with Wendell Wallace getting the final transfer spot after a spotty start in the caution-free heat.

Finish (top four transfer): Duane Chamberlain, Dale McDowell, Zack Dohm, Wendell Wallace, Tim McCreadie, Timothy Culp, Josh Putnam, Mike Mataragas, Jay Johnson, Blake Spencer, Lamar Haygood.

Second heat

Driving his a car with his father's throwback Big Johnson theme, third-starting Devin Moran stormed to the front and grabbed a 10-lap victory over Josh Richards. Cody Mahoney and Billy Moyer Jr. — taking a spot from seventh-starting Alex Ferree with two laps remaining — got the other two transfer spots in the caution-free prelim. Polesitter Dylan Ames got a poor start and faded to finish eighth.

Finish (top four transfer): Devin Moran, Josh Richards, Cody Mahoney, Billy Moyer Jr., Alex Ferree, Jason Jameson, Zach McMillan, Dylan Ames, Larry Greer, Kody Evans. Scratched: Jared Hawkins.

First heat

Bobby Pierce's second slide job on Tyler Carpenter stuck as he took the lead for good in the final corner for a 10-lap victory over the polesitter. Carpenter had several brushes with the wall — including two on the backstretch that allowed Pierce to dive past in turn three — and settled for second after leading all but the last lap. Overall fast qualifier Don O'Neal was third with Rob Toland rallying from ninth for the final transfer spot.

Finish (top four transfer): Bobby Pierce, Tyler Carpenter, Don O'Neal, Rob Toland, Frank Heckenast Jr., Riley Hickman, Gordy Gundaker, Craig Vosbergen, Gavin Landers, Rob Anderzack, Tanner Kellick.

Odd qualifying notes

Don O’Neal just wouldn’t let his upstart son, Hudson, earn the evening’s qualifying glory. After his 16-year-old boy sat atop the speed chart from virtually the start of time trials, the elder O’Neal roared around the half-mile late in the session to steal fast-time honors. The O’Neals did share the post-qualifying stage, however, with Hudson hanging on to time second-fastest. “For his third night in a Super Late Model, and to do what he’s doing, I’m very proud of him,” Don said of his son. … Michigan’s Curtis Roberts was the lone entered driver who didn’t log a qualifying lap. He was credited with 107th in the rundown after falling just short of repairing a broken engine push-rod in time to make his spot at the end of time trials. … Mike Mataragas, who finished fifth in a Thursday-night feature, has an uphill battle after struggling to the 95th-fastest qualifying lap. … Jared Hawkins had right-side body and suspension damage to repair after slapping the turn-one wall in his Eric Hudkins-owned car. He timed 73rd-fastest. … Word began circulating through the pit area that Brandon Sheppard, who is not competing in the World 100 activities because he’s suspended (along with four other drivers) from WoO and UMP DIRTcar competition until Sunday due to his failed tire-test after June’s Dream, has taken himself out of the lawsuit that the penalized drivers recently filed against the World Racing Group and Eldora Speedway in protest of the Dream infractions.

Odd heat lineups

(10 laps; top four transfer)
First heat
Row 1: Tyler Carpenter, Riley Hickman
Row 2: Bobby Pierce, Don O'Neal
Row 3: Frank Heckenast Jr., Gavin Landers
Row 4: Gordy Gundaker, Craig Vosbergen
Row 5: Rob Toland, Tanner Kellick
Row 6: Rob Anderzack
Second heat
Row 1: Dylan Ames, Cody Mahoney
Row 2: Devin Moran, Josh Richards
Row 3: Billy Moyer Jr., Jason Jameson
Row 4: Alex Ferree, Jared Hawkins
Row 5: Zach McMillan, Kody Evans
Row 6: Larry Greer
Third heat
Row 1: Dale McDowell, Duane Chamberlain
Row 2: Tim McCreadie, Wendell Wallace
Row 3: Timothy Culp, Zack Dohm
Row 4: Josh Putnam, Jay Johnson
Row 5: Lamar Haygood, Mike Mataragas
Row 6: Blake Spencer
Fourth heat
Row 1: Garrett Alberson, Jimmy Mars
Row 2: Billy Moyer, Chris Simpson
Row 3: Jackie Boggs, Jason Feger
Row 4: Rusty Schlenk, Brad Wade
Row 5: Vic Hill, Samuel Tolley
Row 6: Curtis Roberts
Fifth heat
Row 1: Scott James, Jon Henry
Row 2: Robby Hensley, Jason Hiett
Row 3: Mike Spatola, Michael Norris
Row 4: Brian Ruhlman, Michael Page
Row 5: Adam Bowman, Shane Unger

Qualifying

Edging his son for fast time, Thursday preliminary winner Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., was quickest in Friday’s preliminary qualifying over more than 100 qualifiers at Eldora’s half-mile oval.

The 52-year-old O’Neal tripped the clock at 15.727 seconds to knock his 16-year-old son Hudson O’Neal off the top spot he held most of the qualifying session.

The younger O’Neal posted a 15.779-second lap with Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., at 15.852 seconds as only three drivers cracked the 16-second mark in dry-slick conditions.

All three will be among drivers starting outside the second row in heat races after a four-car inversion as the field will be split into odd-even groups for two complete racing programs.

Pre-race notes

World 100 attendees took notice Thursday of the new black-colored catch fence that was installed around the outside and inside of the speedway since the Dream. A longer stretch of chain-link fence was also installed along the inside of turn four to create a lane for cars to file through the scales. … Also new are the pair of orange cones stuck in the catch fence on the outside of turn four to mark off the restart box in which the leader must step on the gas when the green flag flies. … Following Thursday night’s action teams reported no problems with the new World 100 tire rule, which bans bans all grooving, siping, pinning or needling of tires and requires teams to use Hoosier LM-20s on three corners with the option of an LM-20 or LM-40 on the right-rear wheel. The softer LM-20s were the overwhelming tire of choice for the right-rear on Thursday night and by all accounts tire wear was almost non-existent. … The only driver who opted to try a harder LM-40 tire on the right-rear in one of Thursday night’s features was teenager Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., who quickly realized that the decision was a mistake. He spun in turn four on the first lap and was involved in a tangle with Joey Coulter of Charlotte, N.C., on the second circuit. … Steve Francis of Bowling Green, Ky., will head out for Friday night’s action following an afternoon engine change in his Chad Stapleton-owned machine.

Pre-race setup

The second day of Eldora’s 46th annual World 100 weekend includes split-field programs with $10,000 going to the night’s feature winners.

Each of more than 100 entrants get two time trial laps before odd-even heat races, consolation races and 25-lap main events.

Thursday and Friday’s qualifying, heat, consolation and feature performances accrue points for drivers set up Saturday’s heat race lineups. Matt Miller of Whitehouse, Ohio, and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., won Thursday’s 25-lap prelims.

Pre-race notes

Weather forecasts are somewhat more promising for the weekend racing schedule after a delay of more than three hours in Thursday’s programs pushed feature action past 2 a.m. … Eldora rookie Michael Norris of Sarver, Pa., was Thursday’s fastest qualifier. … Paul Stubber of Bunbury, Australia, had mechanical problems Thursday that forced him to scratch for the weekend.

Time trials (unofficial)

Driver (car no.), hometown
Don O’Neal (5), Martinsville, Ind., 15.727
Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.779
Josh Richards (1), Shinnston, W.Va., 15.852
Matt Miller (3), Whitehouse, Ohio, 16.033
Wendell Wallace (6m), Batesville, Ark., 16.072
Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 16.073
Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa, 16.075
Steve Francis (14), Bowling Green, Ky., 16.088
Jason Hiett (1), Oxford, Ala., 16.093
Austin Smith (11), Cedartown, Ga., 16.095
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 16.114
Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz., 16.131
Devin Moran (99m), Dresden, Ohio, 16.138
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 16.172
Casey Roberts (101), Toccoa, Ga., 16.178
Steve Casebolt (c9), Richmond, Ind., 16.183
Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 16.194
Ricky Weiss (7w), Headingley, Manitoba, 16.202
Robby Hensley (21H), Walton, Ky., 16.216
Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 16.220
Riley Hickman (R1), Ooltewah, Tenn., 16.232
Dustin Linville (D8), Bryantsville, Ky., 16.236
Cody Mahoney (4), Madison, Ind., 16.249
Earl Pearson Jr. (1), Jacksonville, Fla., 16.254
Duane Chamberlain (20c), Richmond, Ind., 16.260
Darrell Lanigan (29), Union, Ky., 16.264
Jimmy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 16.265
Chad Simpson (25), Mount Vernon, Iowa, 16.275
Jon Henry (15), Ada, Ohio, 16.284
Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va., 16.312
Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 16.321
Dylan Ames (77), Harvest, Ala., 16.324
Jeep Van Wormer (55), Pinconning, Mich., 16.332
Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 16.332
Jonathan Davenport (6), Blairsville, Ga., 16.341
Garrett Alberson (F5), Las Cruces, N.M., 16.342
Nick Hoffman (2), Mooresville, N.C., 16.358
Scott James (15), Bright, Ind., 16.380
Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.385
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 16.389
Devin Gilpin (1G), Columbus, Ind., 16.404
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 16.431
Billy Moyer Jr. (21jr), Batesville, Ark., 16.446
Andrew Reaume (88), Blenheim, Ontario, 16.464
Timothy Culp (c8), Prattsville, Ark., 16.492
Joey Moriarty (51), Phoenix, Ariz., 16.494
Jackie Boggs (4B), Grayson, Ky., 16.502
Tyler Erb (91), New Waverly, Texas, 16.502
Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 16.520
Josh Rice (11), Verona, Ky., 16.530
Gavin Landers (77), Batesville, Ark., 16.533
Nick Latham (31), Winchester, Ohio, 16.545
Jason Jameson (16), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 16.583
R.J. Conley (71), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 16.597
Zack Dohm (17), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 16.600
Morgan Bagley (14m), Longview, Texas, 16.601
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 16.601
Shanon Buckingham (20), Morristown, Tenn., 16.635
Michael Norris (72), Sarver, Pa., 16.660
Casey Noonan (1N), Sylvania, Ohio, 16.669
Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 16.672
Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 16.681
Alex Ferree (10), Saxonburg, Pa., 16.725
Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.768
Josh Putnam (212), Florence, Ala., 16.800
Devin Friese (12), Chambersburg, Pa., 16.806
Rusty Schlenk (91), McClure, Ohio, 16.835
Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 16.838
Brian Ruhlman (49), Clarklake, Mich., 16.838
Ryan King (1G), Seymour, Tenn., 16.861
Craig Vosbergen (8), Perth, Australia, 16.872
Kent Robinson (7R), Bloomington, Ind., 16.874
Jared Hawkins (1), Fairmont, W.Va., 16.883
Delmas Conley (71), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 16.912
Jay Johnson (93), West Burlington, Iowa, 16.917
Dustin Nobbe (5N), Batesville, Ind., 16.943
Brad Wade (23w), Dundee, Mich., 16.962
Joey Coulter (2), Miami Springs, Fla., 16.978
Michael Page (18x), Douglasville, Ga., 17.028
Tim Lance (48), Brimfield, Ill., 17.033
Rob Toland (39), Hinsdale, Ill., 17.169
Donald Bradsher (93), Burlington, N.C., 17.234
Zach McMillan (14z), Gladewater, Texas, 17.255
Jerry Bowersock (95j), Wapakoneta, Ohio, 17.260
Lamar Haygood (17), Douglasville, Ga., 17.285
Vic Hill (1), Mosheim, Tenn., 17.391
Mark Whitener (6w), Middleburg, Fla., 17.427
Adam Bowman (77), Seymour, Ind., 17.432
Jon Hodgkiss (69), Kennedy Township, Pa., 17.470
Jesse Lay (33), Walton, Ky., 17.498
Tanner Kellick (3K), Mer Rouge, La., 17.502
Tom Krankel (TK0), St. Louis, Mo., 17.510
Kody Evans (4G), Camden, Ohio, 17.540
Kevin Reeve (4x), Hanover, Mich., 17.639
Mike Mataragas (1m), DeKalb, Ill., 17.669
Brian Gray (3G), Hamilton, Ohio, 17.932
Samuel Tolley (8jr), Butler, Ind., 17.936
Kyle Pierce (281), Statesville, N.C., 17.988
Shane Unger (79), Rossburg, Ohio, 18.004
Chase Porter (34), DuQuoin, Ill., 18.034
Rob Anderzack (8a), Swanton, Ohio, 18.116
Jeff Robertson (P3), Defiance, Ohio, 18.198
Larry Greer (9G), Bowling Green, Ky., 18.203
Bryant Dickinson (5*), Ionia, Mich., 18.328
Blake Spencer (6s), St. Augustine, Fla., 18.350
Doug Drown (240), Wooster, Ohio, no time
Curtis Roberts (9R), Coleman, Mich., no time

Friday’s racing schedule

5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m.: Hot laps
7 p.m. Time trials (two laps each three cars at a time)
8 p.m.: Racing begins
- Alternating odd-even heat races (10 laps; top four transfer)
- Odd consolation races (12 laps; top two transfer)
- Even consolation races (12 laps; top two transfer)
- Odd feature race (10-car inversion; 25 laps)
- Even feature race (10-car inversion; 25 laps)

Friday’s facility schedule

6 a.m.: Showers open (close 6 p.m.)
7 a.m.: Breakfast at turn four concessions (closes 11 a.m.)
10 a.m.: Turn three race registration opens (pit passes and media credential sign-in)
10 a.m.: Main gate ticket office opens (tickets, pit passes and will call)
10 a.m.: Turn four ticket office opens (tickets and pit passes)
11 a.m.: All ADA Parking opens (permit required)
11 a.m.: Grandstand cleared and secured for grand opening
Noon: Turn three pit gate opens
Noon: All admission gates (including suites) open
Noon: All concessions open
Noon: Technical inspection for Late Models (closes 4:30 p.m.)
12:15 p.m.: Cornhole tournament registration at Fan Zone barn (begins 1 p.m.)
5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m.: Hot laps
8 p.m.: Heat races