ROSSBURG, Ohio — Live updates from the 44th annual Dirt Track World Championship, highlighted by a 100-lap, $100,000-to-win season finale for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):
Feature lineup
(100 laps)
Row 1: Tim McCreadie, Mason Zeigler
Row 2: Ricky Thornton Jr., Jordan Koehler
Row 3: Jonathan Davenport, Mike Marlar
Row 4: Daulton Wilson, Dale McDowell
Row 5: Carson Ferguson, Drake Troutman
Row 6: Josh Rice, Brian Shirley
Row 7: Max Blair, Bobby Pierce
Row 8: James Rice, Ryan Gustin
Row 9: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran
Row 10: Consolation transfers
Row 11: Consolation transfers
Row 12: Consolation transfers
Row 13: Provisional starters
Consolation lineups
(12 laps; top two transfer)
First consolation
Row 1: Brandon Overton, Clay Harris
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Kyle Bronson
Row 3: Tanner English, Kody Evans
Row 4: Daniel Hilsabeck, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 5: Jason Jameson, Jerry Bowersock
Row 6: Cory Lawler, Jeff Babcock
Row 7: Donnie Jeschke, Rich Bell
Row 8: Clint Keenan
Second consolation
Row 1: Ross Robinson, Tristan Chamberlain
Row 2: Nick Hoffman, Zack Dohm
Row 3: Mike Spatola, Brenden Smith
Row 4: Devin Shiels, Evan Koehler
Row 5: Jon Hodgkiss, Rob Anderzack
Row 6: Brandon Moore, Carson Brown
Row 7: Ethan Dotson, Zack Mitchell
Third consolation
Row 1: Wil Herrington, Jimmy Owens
Row 2: Boom Briggs, Freddie Carpenter
Row 3: Brandon Sheppard, Shannon Babb
Row 4: Tyler Carpenter, Garrett Smith
Row 5: David Breazeale, Tyler Erb
Row 6: Chad Green, Brian Ruhlman
Row 7: Cory Hedgecock, Cory Workman
Heat race recap
Tim McCreadie overcame a mid-race restart and led all 10 laps to win the first heat race by 1.771 seconds over fourth-starting Daulton Wilson, who trailed McCradie the entire way. Fifth-starting Max Blair grabbed third on lap six and claimed the final transfer position into Saturday’s 44th annual Dirt Track World Championship; McCreadie will lead the field to green for the 100-lap feature. The race’s lone caution flew on lap four when sixth-running Jason Jameson shredded a right-rear tire at the exit of turn four. Jameson continued to finish eighth after changing the flat. … Ricky Thornton Jr. rolled to win heat two from the pole, winning by 4.023 seconds over Carson Ferguson, who pursued Thornton all 10 laps. Fourth-starting James Rice held off Clay Harris for the third and final transfer spot. … Jonathan Davenport used a lap-four restart to take control from Ethan Dotson and paced the final seven laps to win heat three by 2.382 seconds over Josh Rice. Davenport thought he won with a flat left-front tire, but it was failed power steering. Fifth-starting Hudson O’Neal finished third after taking the spot from Ross Robinson on lap six; Robinson settled for fourth, the first driver on the outside of a transfer spot. Third-starting Nick Hoffman faded to eighth after brushing the turn-four wall on the opening lap; he rebounded to finish fifth. The race’s first caution flew on lap four when Brandon Moore spun at the exit of turn two. Moore continued and placed ninth. The second stoppage came on lap six when Dotson slowed from fifth after the right-side body skirt and door supports were ripped free of the door, allowing them to get underneath his right-front tire. He was unable to continue and credited with 10th after leading the opening three laps. … Mason Zeigler staved off a turn-four charge by Dale McDowell, beating him to the checkers by a scant 0.025 of a second in a photo finish. Fourth-starting Bobby Pierce held third the entire way, grabbing the final transfer. Zeigler led all 10 circuits after his turn-three slider swept across Zack Mitchell’s nose on the opening lap, sending Mitchell spinning as they battled for the lead. Mitchell did not continue and was credited with 10th. … Jordan Koehler scored a flag-to-flag victory in heat five, winning by 0.975 of a second over fourth-starting Drake Troutman, who grabbed the runner-up spot on the lap-seven restart. Second-starting Ryan Gustin held on for third over a charging Wil Herrington. The race’s lone stoppage came on lap seven when Cory Hegecock slowed with a failed right-rear hub. He pulled straight to his trailer and called it a night. … Mike Marlar dominated the sixth and final heat race, leading all 10 laps from the pole and winning by 2.156 seconds over second-starting Brian Shirley, who reclaimed the runner-up spot from Devin Moran on lap four. Moran settled for third and will start 18th in Saturday’s main event.
Heat race results
(10 laps; top three transfer)
First heat: Tim McCreadie, Daulton Wilson, Max Blair, Brandon Overton, Garrett Alberson, Tanner English, Daniel Hilsabeck, Jason Jameson, Cory Lawler, Donnie Jeschke. Scratched: Clint Keenan.
Second heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Carson Ferguson, James Rice, Clay Harris, Kyle Bronson, Kody Evans, Dennis Erb Jr., Jerry Bowersock, Jeff Babcock, Rich Bell.
Third heat: Jonathan Davenport, Josh Rice, Hudson O'Neal, Ross Robinson, Nick Hoffman, Mike Spatola, Devin Shiels, Jon Hodgkiss, Brandon Moore, Ethan Dotson.
Fourth heat: Mason Zeigler, Dale McDowell, Bobby Pierce, Tristan Chamberlain, Zack Dohm, Brenden Smith, Evan Koehler, Rob Anderzack, Carson Brown, Zack Mitchell.
Fifth heat: Jordan Koehler, Drake Troutman, Ryan Gustin, Wil Herrington, Boom Briggs, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Carpenter, David Breazeale, Chad Green, Cory Hedgecock.
Sixth heat: Mike Marlar, Brian Shirley, Devin Moran, Jimmy Owens, Freddie Carpenter, Shannon Babb, Garrett Smith, Tyler Erb, Brian Ruhlman, Cory Workman.
Post-qualifying notes
After last year’s Dirt Track World Championship debut at Eldora was plagued by rainy weather — Friday’s action was called out, only time trials were run on Saturday and the heats, B-mains and 100-lap feature were pushed to Sunday — and brutal track conditions, this year’s weekend opened with spectacularly sunny skies and afternoon temperatures in the mid-60s. … The 61-car field is down one entry from last year’s turnout. … Wil Herrington of Hawkinsville, Ga., is behind the wheel of Maryland team owner Bruce Kane’s Rocket No. 15K, a car that Tennessee’s Jensen Ford drove to start the season and Maryland’s Jamie Lathroum has been piloting in recent months. Herrington is also running Kane’s Steel Block Late Model in the support division’s program. … Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., has entered the same Infinity Chassis he debuted with a third-place finish at last month’s World 100 but he’s replaced its throwback No. 11 wrap with his familiar No. 76. … Championship contender Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, has a new look for his Double Down Motorsports machine with red colors dominating his scheme. … James Rice of Verona, Ky., is joining his younger brother Josh as a weekend competitor. The elder Rice, who is driving the Starrett Racing Rocket he’s campaigned throughout the season, has never entered a DTWC weekend but has attempted Eldora’s World 100 five times (most recently in 2022) and Dream on three occasions (not since ’15) without ever transferring to the main event. … David Breazeale of Four Corners, Miss., is making his first Eldora appearance since failing to qualify for the 2014 World 100, one of his three career starts at the half-mile oval. A first-time DTWC entrant, Breazeale will have to start at the rear of a heat race after losing his qualifying time because he failed to report to the scales. … Garrett Smith of Eatonton, Ga., who won the 2022 DTWC at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park, slapped the turn-three wall and didn’t log a qualifying lap. … With his fast time in the first qualifying group, Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., earned a 10-point bonus that improves his outside shot at overcoming Jonathan Davenport and Devin Moran to finish second in the Lucas Oil Series standings. If McCreadie wins the DTWC, he can grab the runner-up points spot with Davenport and Moran finishing 18th or worse. … Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., who was the fastest qualifier in the second group of time trials driving his Coltman Farms Racing machine, is making his first-ever attempt at the DTWC. He’s competed just twice previously at Eldora, failing to qualify for the 2022 and ’24 World 100s.
Heat race lineups
(10 laps; top three transfer)
First heat
Row 1: Tim McCreadie, Brandon Overton
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Daulton Wilson
Row 3: Max Blair, Jason Jameson
Row 4: Tanner English, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 5: Donnie Jeschke, Cory Lawler
Row 6: Clint Keenan
Second heat
Row 1: Ricky Thornton Jr., Carson Ferguson
Row 2: Kyle Bronson, James Rice
Row 3: Kody Evans, Clay Harris
Row 4: Jeff Babcock, Jerry Bowersock
Row 5: Dennis Erb Jr., Rich Bell
Third heat
Row 1: Ethan Dotson, Josh Rice
Row 2: Nick Hoffman, Jonathan Davenport
Row 3: Hudson O’Neal, Ross Robinson
Row 4: Mike Spatola, Devin Shiels
Row 5: Jon Hodgkiss, Brandon Moore
Fourth heat
Row 1: Zack Mitchell, Mason Zeigler
Row 2: Dale McDowell, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Tristan Chamberlain, Zack Dohm
Row 4: Carson Brown, Brenden Smith
Row 5: Evan Koehler, Rob Anderzack
Fifth heat
Row 1: Jordan Koehler, Ryan Gustin
Row 2: Cory Hedgecock, Drake Troutman
Row 3: Boom Briggs, Brandon Sheppard
Row 4: Tyler Carpenter, Wil Herrington
Row 5: Chad Green, David Breazeale
Sixth heat
Row 1: Mike Marlar, Brian Shirley
Row 2: Devin Moran, Jimmy Owens
Row 3: Tyler Erb, Freddie Carpenter
Row 4: Shannon Babb, Brian Ruhlman
Row 5: Cory Workman, Garrett Smith
Time trials
Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Tim McCreadie (1), Watertown, N.Y., 15.522
2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.577
3. Ethan Dotson (74), Bakersfield, Calif., 15.598
4. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.645
5. Carson Ferguson (93F), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.704
6. Josh Rice (11R), Verona, Ky., 15.730
7. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.743
8. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.754
9. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.771
10. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.826
11. James Rice (11J), Verona, Ky., 15.872
12. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.908
13. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.931
14. Kody Evans (4G), Camden, Ohio, 15.965
15. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.977
16. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 16.006
17. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 16.031
18. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 16.034
19. Tanner English (96), Benton, Ky., 16.035
20. Jeff Babcock (7B), Wayne, Ohio, 16.073
21. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 16.075
22. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 16.121
23. Jerry Bowersock (95J), Wapakoneta, Ohio, 16.284
24. Devin Shiels (51), Britton, Mich., 16.355
25. Donnie Jeschke (99J), Dayton, Ohio, 16.561
26. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.597
27. Jon Hodgkiss (69), Pittsburgh, Pa., 16.628
28. Cory Lawler (93), Hanover, Pa., 16.658
29. Rich Bell (21B), Sheffield, Ill., 16.759
30. Brandon Moore (39), Fostoria, Ohio, 17.192
31. Clint Keenan (29), Pataskala, Ohio, no time
Group B
1. Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 15.559
2. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.613
3. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.629
4. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 15.678
5. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.719
6. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.752
7. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.824
8. Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 15.840
9. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.863
10. Bobby Pierce (32P), Oakwood, Ill., 15.899
11. Drake Troutman (7T), Hyndman, Pa., 15.919
12. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.937
13. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind., 15.943
14. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 15.947
15. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 15.962
16. Zack Dohm (17D), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 15.973
17. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 15.989
18. Freddie Carpenter (c4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 16.086
19. Carson Brown (28B), New London, N.C., 16.206
20. Tyler Carpenter (28c), Parkersburg, W.Va., 16.239
21. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 16.252
22. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.253
23. Wil Herrington (15x), Hawkinsville, Ga., 16.300
24. Brian Ruhlman (49x), Clark Lake, Mich., 16.597
25. Evan Koehler (11k), Mount Airy, N.C., 16.776
26. Chad Green (88), Flemington, W.Va., 17.031
27. Cory Workman (w1), Gratiot, Ohio, 17.160
28. Rob Anderzack (8), Swanton, Ohio, 17.307
29. David Breazeale (54), Four Corners, Miss., disqualified
30. Garrett Smith (10s), Eatonton, Ga., no time
Friday’s schedule
7-11 a.m. - Breakfast (turn four concession building)
9 a.m. - Ticket office opens, racer registration opens
10 a.m. - Pits open
11 a.m. - Late Model and Limited Late Model technical inspection
2 p.m. - Grandstands open
4:15 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
5 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Limited Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modified hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Limited Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified feature (30 laps)
- Limited Late Model consolations (if necessary)
Saturday’s schedule
7-11 a.m. - Breakfast (turn four concession building)
11 a.m. - Ticket office opens, racer registration opens
Noon - All gates open
3 p.m. - Outreach service (fan zone barn)
4 p.m. - Driver autograph session (fan zone barn)
5:15 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting (victory stage)
6 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Late Model (B-main locked-in) hot laps
- Limited Late Model (A-main locked-in) hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Late Model (A-main locked-in) hot laps
- Late Model non-qualifier (25 laps)
- 44th annual Dirt Track World Championship (100 laps)
Postrace ceremonies
- Limited Late Model feature (25 laps)
