ROSSBURG, Ohio — Updates and results from Thursday’s first World 100 preliminary night featuring twin 25-lap, $12,000-to-win semifeatures for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):
Semifeature
Overtaking race-long leader Joseph Joiner amid traffic on the 14th lap, polesitter and birthday boy Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., led the rest of the way Thursday at Eldora Speedway for a $12,000 victory in the second preliminary semifeature. Bobby Pierce finished 2.254 seconds behind O'Neal with 12th-starting Tim McCreadie third. Joiner, who slipped under O'Neal exiting turn four on the first lap and led 13 circuits, faded to fourth after the lap-18 restart.
Semifeature lineup
(25 laps)
Row 1: Hudson O'Neal, Joseph Joiner
Row 2: Jason Jameson, Kyle Bronson
Row 3: Kyle Strickler, Bobby Pierce
Row 4: Devin Moran, Carson Ferguson
Row 5: Ricky Thornton Jr., Garrett Smith
Row 6: Zack Dohm, Tim McCreadie
Row 7: Tyler Erb, Clay Stuckey
Row 8: Trent Ivey, Dale McDowell
Row 9: Timothy Culp, Matt Dooley
Row 10: Cory Hedgecock, Shane Clanton
Row 11: Donald McIntosh, Josh Rice
Row 12: Chris Ferguson, Jerry Bowersock
Row 13: Tyler Millwood, Jason Riggs
Shootout recap
Third-starting Hudson O’Neal used a turn-four slider by race-long leader Kyle Bronson as they were mired in lapped traffic, leading the final three laps to win the first shootout by 1.186 seconds over the pole-starting Bronson. Devin Moran held third the entire distance, while Garrett Smith finished fourth after passing Tyler Erb on lap three. The second-starting Erb faded to fifth, while Josh Rice improved two positions to finish eighth, grabbing the final transfer position into Thursday’s second 25-lap semifeature. … Joseph Joiner used an opening-lap, turn-four slider by Timothy Culp to lead all 12 laps of the second shootout, winning by 0.562 of a second over sixth-starting Kyle Strickler. Strickler passed Carson Ferguson in the late going, who settled for third. Culp faded to sixth. Shane Clanton and Chris Ferguson held serve, finishing seventh and eighth. The first caution came when Clay Stuckey was penalized a starting row for jumping the initial start. He soldiered on to finish fifth. The second stoppage came for a lap-two tangle involving Mike Bargo and Chase Frohnapfel. … Second-starting Jason Jameson led the entire way to win the third and final shootout, taking the checkers 0.582 of a second over fifth-starting Bobby Pierce, who nipped Ricky Thornton Jr. at the line by 0.033 of a second. Tim McCreadie and Trent Ivey each advanced two spots, finishing fourth and fifth, while 13th-starting Jerry Bowersock finished eighth to grab the final transfer spot.
Shootout results
(12 laps; top eight transfer)
First shootout: Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, Devin Moran, Garrett Smith, Tyler Erb, Dale McDowell, Cory Hedgecock, Josh Rice, Steven Roberts, Tyler Millwood, Mike Benedum, Austin Kirkpatrick, Stacy Boles, Seth Daniels, Tanner English. Scratched: Kenneth Howell, Nick Cox, Brandon Moore.
Second shootout: Joseph Joiner, Kyle Strickler, Carson Ferguson, Zack Dohm, Clay Stuckey, Timothy Culp, Shane Clanton, Chris Ferguson, Kaede Loudy, Carson Brown, Tim Lance, Casey Noonan, Clay Harris, Luke Morey, Rusty Ballenger, Mike Bargo, Tyler Collins, Chase Frohnapfel.
Third shootout: Jason Jameson, Bobby Pierce, Ricky Thornton Jr., Tim McCreadie, Trent Ivey, Matt Dooley, Donald McIntosh, Jerry Bowersock, Dennis Erb Jr., Jason Riggs, Doug Drown, Brenden Smith, Rob Anderzack, Ben Watkins, Terry Wolfenbarger, Luke Anstett, Jeff Robertson.
Shootout lineups
(12 laps; top eight transfer)
First shootout
Row 1: Kyle Bronson, Tyler Erb
Row 2: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran
Row 3: Garrett Smith, Dale McDowell
Row 4: Cory Hedgecock, Tyler Millwood
Row 5: Steven Roberts, Josh Rice
Row 6: Tanner English, Austin Kirkpatrick
Row 7: Mike Benedum, Stacy Boles
Row 8: Seth Daniels, Kenneth Howell
Row 9: Nick Cox, Brandon Moore
Second shootout
Row 1: Clayton Stuckey, Joseph Joiner
Row 2: Timothy Culp, Carson Ferguson
Row 3: Zack Dohm, Kyle Strickler
Row 4: Shane Clanton, Chris Ferguson
Row 5: Carson Brown, Kaede Loudy
Row 6: Tim Lance, Rusty Ballenger
Row 7: Casey Noonan, Clay Harris
Row 8: Chase Frohnapfel, Tyler Collins
Row 9: Mike Bargo, Luke Morey
Third shootout
Row 1: Matt Dooley, Jason Jameson
Row 2: Donald McIntosh, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Bobby Pierce, Tim McCreadie
Row 4: Trent Ivey, Jason Riggs
Row 5: Ben Watkins, Brenden Smith
Row 6: Doug Drown, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 7: Jerry Bowersock, Rob Anderzack
Row 8: Terry Wolfenbarger, Jeff Robertson
Row 9: Luke Anstett
Group B pre-race notes
The first of two World 100 preliminary programs has arrived with spectacular weather prevailing. Thursday’s high temperature reached the upper 80s under mostly sunny skies. … The 107-car field is up five entries from 2023’s World 100 and marks the third straight year that the turnout has broken the century mark. … Eldora’s new format for the prelims has the field split in half with each group time-trialing to align three 12-lap Showdown qualifiers (using a six-car invert). The top eight finishers in each race will transfer to their group’s 25-lap, $12,000-to-win semifeature, which will start straight-up from the Showdown results. B-mains have been eliminated from the preliminary cards. … Hoosier Tire rep Shanon Rush once again addressed teams during the drivers’ meeting, reminding them that Hoosier recommends a minimum of 14 PSI of air pressure in the right-front tire and a reduction in camber as a safety precaution. … Eldora announced during Thursday’s pre-race ceremonies that former USAC sprint and midget champion Levi Jones has been hired as the track’s general manager, taking over the post left vacant since Jerry Gappens passed away unexpectedly in late May. … Southeast standout Ben Watkins of Rock Hill, S.C., made his Eldora debut in Wednesday’s Castrol FloRacing Night in America event driving Danny Hatcher’s Longhorn Chassis. He jumped at the opportunity to turn his first laps at the famed half-mile oval when Hatcher made the offer late last week with Dustin Linville of Lancaster, Ky., who has been piloting Hatcher’s No. 6, unable to compete this weekend. … Kyle Strickler of Mooresville, N.C., is in action with his Longhorn No. 8 for the first time since late last year. His only previous Dirt Late Model start this season was a pick-up ride in late July at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway as he’s concentrated on open-wheel modified competition. … Timothy Culp of West Monroe, La., is making his first crown jewel appearance at Eldora since the 2018 Dream (didn’t qualify) and his first World 100 attempt since ’17 (also a DNQ). His lone start in a major event finale in five tries came in the 2016 World 100 with a 29th-place finish. … Trent Ivey of Union, Ky., is back in his family-owned No. 88 machine for the first time since January as he debuts a new Rocket Chassis. He’s spent the majority of 2024 driving a Rocket fielded by Gary Shurling of Ellabell, Ga., and will continue running for Shurling in selected well-paying Crate Late Model events.
Time trials
Group B
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.419
2. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C., 15.421
3. Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 15.474
4. Garrett Smith (10s), Eatonton, Ga., 15.503
5. Zack Dohm (17D), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 15.553
6. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.565
7. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.584
8. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.606
9. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.614
10. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.631
11. Timothy Culp (c8), West Monroe, La., 15.713
12. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 15.732
13. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 15.749
14. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 15.769
15. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 15.791
16. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.828
17. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 15.833
18. Matt Dooley (18m), Fayetteville, Ga., 15.849
19. Cory Hedgecock (23v), Loudon, Tenn., 15.863
20. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 15.902
21. Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 15.918
22. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 15.951
23. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 15.968
24. Jason Riggs (103), College Grove, Tenn., 15.985
25. Steven Roberts (91), Sylvester, Ga., 16.005
26. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 16.049
27. Ben Watkins (6w), Rock Hill, S.C., 16.081
28. Josh Rice (11R), Verona, Ky., 16.083
29. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 16.110
30. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.132
31. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 16.155
32. Tim Lance (48), Brimfield, Ill., 16.161
33. Doug Drown (12D), Wooster, Ohio, 16.177
34. Austin Kirkpatrick (11k), Charlotte, N.C., 16.251
35. Rusty Ballenger (1B), Seymour, Tenn., 16.259
36. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.315
37. Mike Benedum (25B), Salem, W.Va., 16.373
38. Casey Noonan (1n), Sylvania, Ohio, 16.386
39. Jerry Bowersock (95), Wapakoneta, Ohio, 16.519
40. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 16.530
41. Clay Harris (6H), Jupiter, Fla., 16.566
42. Rob Anderzack (8A), Swanton, Ohio, 16.630
43. Seth Daniels (s21), Jackson, Ohio, 16.688
44. Chase Frohnapfel (145), Canal Winchester, Ohio, 16.958
45. Terry Wolfenbarger (14w), Powell, Tenn., 17.068
46. Kenneth Howell (21H), Inez, Ky., 17.246
47. Tyler Collins (11c), North Vernon, Ind., 17.415
48. Jeff Robertson (P3), Defiance, Ohio, 17.893
49. Nick Cox (7c), Mansfield, Ohio, 17.934
50. Mike Bargo (316), Corbin, Ky., 17.952
51. Luke Anstett (64), Greenville, Mich., 18.330
52. Brandon Moore (39), Pioneer, Ohio, no time
53. Luke Morey (49m), Zeeland, Mich., 16.207, disqualified; didn't report to scales
Thursday’s schedule
(All times local)
7 a.m.-11 a.m. - Breakfast served (turn four concession building)
11 a.m. - Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
Noon - Pits open
1 p.m. - Grandstands cleared and secured
2 p.m. - All gates, suites and concessions open
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - Hot laps
8 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
Competition
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Late Model shootout races (12 laps)
- Late Model first semifeature (25 laps)
- Late Model second semifeature (25 laps)
Dukes of Country concert (fan zone)