Dirt on Dirt - O'Neal makes it 2-for-2 in Eldora semifeatures

September 6

Eldora Speedway,

Rossburg, OH

Sanction: DIRTcar Supers (World 100 second Friday semifeature) - $12,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, Kyle McFadden and track reports (last updated September 7, 6:00 am)

O'Neal makes it 2-for-2 in Eldora semifeatures

World 100 second Friday semifeature

Hudson O'Neal
Cory Hedgecock
Josh Rice
Jimmy Owens
Shane Clanton
Jason Jameson
Garrett Alberson
Dale McDowell
Zack Dohm
Brandon Overton
Gregg Satterlee
Michael Norris
Kyle Bronson
Timothy Culp
Ethan Dotson
Jared Landers
Daulton Wilson
Tyler Millwood
Joseph Joiner
Jensen Ford
Gavin Cowan
Adam Stricker
Rusty Ballenger
Steven Roberts
Clay Stuckey
Ben Watkins

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Zach Yost

Hudson O'Neal climbs atop to celebrate for the second straight night.

What won the race: Leading all the way from his pole position, Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., won his second Eldora Speedway semifeature in as many nights for another $12,000 payday heading toward Saturday's World 100. O'Neal pulled away from an early duel with third-starting Cory Hedgecock, then fought off a late challenge from the runner-up to win by 1.073 seconds.

Quotable: "I really thought we were gonna win it around the top and I seen that Cory just kept keeping up with me through that middle and finally I moved down and I got the rolling pretty good," O'Neal said. "I felt really good. I felt really balanced. That's probably the best I felt all week. I'm so excited tonight because I think our balance is good enough to maybe win another globe. Everything's gotta go right tomorrow through these heat races and things and hopefully we'll be standing back up here again with another globe."

Key notes: O'Neal dedicated the victory to sponsor Bob Burton, who died earlier in the afternoon. ... Last year's World 100 winner notched his 11th victory of the season and fourth since a mid-season switch to SSI Motorsports. ... O'Neal won 24 hours after winning another 25-lapper on his 24th birthday. ... The lone caution fell on the 16th lap when Ethan Dotson spun exiting turn two. ... Brandon Moore, Bryant Dickinson and Jeff Robertson each scratched from time trials. ... Hot laps started nearly an hour late following a brief rain storm. ... Driver points earned Thursday and Friday set heat lineups for Saturday’s finale, which follows Eldora's traditional format of six heats and two consolations preceding the feature that pays $57,000-to-win. ... A celebration of life service for 12-time Eldora crown jewel winner Scott Bloomquist is noon-1 p.m. Saturday with free admission and will be live-streamed on FloRacing. … Watch live on FloRacing.

On the move: Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., started 10th and finished fifth.

Winner's sponsors: O’Neal’s SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Wheeler Metals, Professional Concrete, Dyno One, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Big River Steel, O'Neal's Salvage & Recycling, Merrill Bonding, Bob & Tammy Burton, Bobcat of Batesville, Indiana USSSA Fastpitch, West Side Tractor Sales, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels and Midwest Sheet Metal.

Points chase: World 100 points after Friday: 1. Tim McCreadie (781); 2. Ryan Gustin (768); 3. Jonathan Davenport (766); 4. Bobby Pierce (759); 5. Hudson O’Neal (758); 6. Dale McDowell (755); 7. Kyle Strickler (742); 8. Devin Moran (735); 9. Ethan Dotson (732); 10. Garrett Smith (721).

Current weather: Overcast, 66°F

Car count: 108

Fast qualifier: Dale McDowell

Time: 14.986 seconds

Polesitter: Hudson O'Neal

Heat race winners: Hudson O'Neal, Josh Rice, Cory Hedgecock

Provisional starters: Steven Roberts, Gavin Cowan

Next series race: September 7, Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH) $57,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

ROSSBURG, Ohio — Updates and results from Friday’s World 100 preliminary night featuring twin 25-lap, $12,000-to-win semifeatures for DIRTcar Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Semifeature

Leading all the way from his pole position, Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., won his second Eldora Speedway semifeature in as many nights for another $12,000 payday heading toward Saturday's World 100. O'Neal pulled away from an early duel with third-starting Cory Hedgecock, then fought off a late challenge from the runner-up to win by 1.073 seconds.

Semifeature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Hudson O'Neal, Josh Rice
Row 2: Cory Hedgecock, Jimmy Owens
Row 3: Michael Norris, Jared Landers
Row 4: Jason Jameson, Tyler Millwood
Row 5: Gregg Satterlee, Shane Clanton
Row 6: Timothy Culp, Ben Watkins
Row 7: Garrett Alberson, Ethan Dotson
Row 8: Zack Dohm, Dale McDowell
Row 9: Daulton Wilson, Jensen Ford
Row 10: Kyle Bronson, Clay Stuckey
Row 11: Joseph Joiner, Brandon Overton
Row 12: Rusty Ballenger, Adam Stricker
Row 13: Steven Roberts, Gavin Cowan

Shootout recap

Second-starting Hudson O’Neal dominated the first shootout, leading all 12 laps and winning by 1.332 seconds over pole-starting Jimmy Owens. Brandon Overton advanced five positions to finish eighth, grabbing the final transfer spot into Friday’s second 25-lap semifeature. … Third-starting Josh Rice fended off early-race challenges from Daulton Wilson and led the entire distance to win the second shootout by 1.488 seconds over fourth-starting Michael Norris. Wilson faded to sixth. Tyler Millwood and Timothy Culp each gained seven spots, finishing third and fourth. Second-starting Rusty Ballenger held on for the eighth and final transfer position. The race was slowed by three cautions, the first coming when Jason Riggs and Gavin Cowan made contact on lap two, sending Riggs into the wall, ripping the entire right-rear assembly and axle out. The second stoppage came on lap 3 when Steven Roberts spun from third in the turn-four cushion. He did not continue, but was able to rely on a provisional starting position. Chase Frohnapfel spun from 13th on lap five and pulled off. … Third-starting Cory Hedgecock took the lead on a lap-two restart and never looked back, winning the third and final shootout by 0.916 of a second over second-starting Jared Landers. Tenth-starting Gregg Satterlee took third on a lap-11 restart and completed the podium. Ben Watkins slipped to fourth after leading the opening lap from the pole aboard the Hatcher Motorsports Longhorn. Fifth-starting Adam Stricker overcame an early wall scrape to claim the eighth and final transfer position. Terry Wolfenbarger spun on lap two to draw the race's first caution. He did not continue. Jon Hodkiss slowed and pulled off, bringing out the second and final stoppage.

Shootout results

(12 laps; top eight transfer)

First shootout: Hudson O'Neal, Jimmy Owens, Jason Jameson, Shane Clanton, Garrett Alberson, Dale McDowell, Kyle Bronson, Brandon Overton, Tyler Erb, Spencer Hughes, Kaede Loudy, Frank Heckenast Jr., Shannon Thornsberry, Mike Benedum, Mike Provenzano, Nick Cox, Matt Dooley., Scratched: Brandon Moore.

Second shootout: Josh Rice, Michael Norris, Tyler Millwood, Timothy Culp, Ethan Dotson, Daulton Wilson, Clay Stuckey, Rusty Ballenger, Gavin Cowan, Casey Noonan, Clinton Keeton, Steve Lance Jr., Luke Anstett, Chase Frohnapfel, Steven Roberts, Jason Riggs, Stacy Boles. Scratched: Bryant Dickinson.

Third shootout: Cory Hedgecock, Jared Landers, Gregg Satterlee, Ben Watkins, Zack Dohm, Jensen Ford, Joseph Joiner, Adam Stricker, Brandon Sheppard, Tristan Chamberlain, Doug Drown, Mike Spatola, Jackson Lovelady, Tyler Collins, Jeff Robertson, Jon Hodgkiss, Kenneth Howell, Terry Wolfenbarger.

Shootout lineups

(12 laps; top eight transfer)

Fourth Shootout
Row 1: Jimmy Owens, Hudson O’Neal
Row 2: Jason Jameson, Shane Clanton
Row 3: Garrett Alberson, Dale McDowell
Row 4: Kyle Bronson, Spencer Hughes
Row 5: Tyler Erb, Matt Dooley
Row 6: Kaede Loud, Shannon Thornsberry
Row 7: Brandon Overton, Mike Provenzano
Row 8: Frank Heckenast Jr., Mike Benedum
Row 9: Nick Cox, Brandon Moore
Fifth Shootout
Row 1: Steven Roberts, Rusty Ballenger
Row 2: Josh Rice, Michael Norris
Row 3: Daulton Wilson, Ethan Dotson
Row 4: Gavin Cowan, Clinton Keeton
Row 5: Clayton Stuckey, Tyler Millwood
Row 6: Timothy Cup, Jason Riggs
Row 7: Stacy Boles, Steve Lance Jr.
Row 8: Casey Noonan, Chase Frohnapfel
Row 9: Luke Anstett, Bryant Dickinson
Sixth Shootout
Row 1: Ben Watkins, Jared Landers
Row 2: Cory Hedgecock, Jensen Ford
Row 3: Adam Stricker, Joseph Joiner
Row 4: Zack Dohm, Doug Drown
Row 5: Brandon Sheppard, Gregg Satterlee
Row 6: Mike Spatola, Jon Hodgkiss
Row 7: Jackson Loveday, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 8: Kenneth Howell, Tyler Collins
Row 9: Terry Wolfenbarger, Jeff Robertson

Time trials

Group B
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 14.986
2. Ethan Dotson (74x), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.036
3. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 15.171
4. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.184
5. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.222
6. Adam Stricker (68), Batavia, Ohio, 15.243
7. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 15.275
8. Michael Norris (72), Sarver, Pa., 15.279
9. Jensen Ford (83), Johnson City, Tenn., 15.290
10. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 15.302
11. Josh Rice (11R), Verona, Ky., 15.332
12. Cory Hedgecock (23v), Loudon, Tenn., 15.343
13. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.369
14. Rusty Ballenger (1B), Seymour, Tenn., 15.388
15. Jared Landers (777), Batesville, Ark., 15.412
16. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.414
17. Steven Roberts (91), Sylvester, Ga., 15.422
18. Ben Watkins (6w), Rock Hill, S.C., 15.436
19. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.440
20. Gavin Cowan (219), Rincon, Ga., 15.461
21. Zack Dohm (17D), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 15.519
22. Spencer Hughes (19m), Meridian, Miss., 15.521
23. Clinton Keeton (29), Warsaw, Mo., 15.543
24. Doug Drown (12D), Wooster, Ohio, 15.636
25. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 15.664
26. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 15.668
27. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 15.706
28. Matt Dooley (18m), Fayetteville, Ga., 15.717
29. Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 15.733
30. Gregg Satterlee (22s), Indiana, Pa., 15.751
31. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn., 15.757
32. Timothy Culp (c8), West Monroe, La., 15.787
33. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 15.807
34. Shannon Thornsberry (17), Martin, Ky., 15.815
35. Jason Riggs (103), College Grove, Tenn., 15.871
36. Jon Hodgkiss (69), Pittsburgh, Pa., 15.926
37. Brandon Overton (11), Evans, Ga., 15.984
38. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 15.986
39. Jackson Lovelady (117), Christchurch, New Zealand, 16.010
40. Mike Provenzano (m27), Marseilles, Ill., 16.032
41. Steve Lance Jr. (25L), Peoria, Ill., 16.073
42. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 16.080
43. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 16.185
44. Casey Noonan (1n), Sylvania, Ohio, 16.331
45. Kenneth Howell (21H), Inez, Ky., 16.397
46. Mike Benedum (25B), Salem, W.Va., 16.401
47. Chase Frohnapfel (145), Canal Winchester, Ohio, 16.419
48. Tyler Collins (11c), North Vernon, Ind., 16.571
49. Nick Cox (7c), Mansfield, Ohio, 16.598
50. Luke Anstett (64), Greenville, Mich., 16.862
51. Terry Wolfenbarger (14w), Powell, Tenn., 16.948
52. Brandon Moore (39), Pioneer, Ohio, no time
53. Bryant Dickinson (5D), Ionia, Mich., no time
54. Jeff Robertson (P3), Definance, Ohio, no time

Friday’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) 
Dirty Grass Soul concert (fan zone)