ROSSBURG, Ohio — The opening night of Hudson O’Neal’s big week at Eldora Speedway ended with a crumpled race car. The 22-year-old Martinsville, Ind., driver’s fortunes took a decided turn for the better Thursday at the historic half-mile oval with his night ending in victory lane, holding a trophy for his $12,000 World 100 preliminary victory for the Double Down Motorsports team.
O’Neal’s turnaround had him thinking about the possibility of being the first Indiana-based driver to capture Dirt Late Model racing’s most prestigious event with $55,000 on the line for Saturday’s 52nd annual World 100.
"It'd be special. You know, I've came to Eldora and I’ve had good runs — and I've had some real bad runs, too,” O’Neal said. "I’m happy that we came back this time and we got a good piece underneath of us and, who knows? Maybe we can have (another) good showing tomorrow night and get a good starting spot in (Saturday’s) heat races where we can put ourselves in contention.”
In Thursday’s caution-free 25-lapper, O’Neal led all but the first lap and kept fellow front-row starter and first-lap leader Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., in check the entire distance, winning by a 1.455-second margin. Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C. — whose Wednesday night also ended in a wreck in the conclusion of the rain-postponed Dream XXVIII — was third with Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and upstart Garrett Smith of Eatonton, Ga., rounding out the top five.
O’Neal and Clanton ran door-to-door the first lap but O’Neal slipped ahead on the second circuit and was never headed.
"I got off to a really good start there and I knew I just needed to get the lead and get out in clean air as fast as I could,” said O’Neal, who got a bear hug from his father and retired Hall of Fame racer Don O’Neal in victory lane. “It looked like that first (preliminary feature won by Jonathan Davenport) went caution-free, so I figured the second one probably would, too. I just knew I needed to try and get out in clear air as fast as I could and try — I didn’t know if I was good enough to — but get away from (Clanton) a little bit so that way when I got the lapped traffic I’d have a little bit of a cushion.
“The air plays such a big factor here, man. I swear it felt like I'd slow down two seconds whenever I caught lapped traffic, but we had a phenomenal race car. There's been a lot of people that helped us this week. And you know, I just can't thank all of them enough. We're finally starting to start to come around and maybe we will be able to contend for my first World 100.”
O’Neal, who last week accepted the Rocket Chassis house car ride to replace the departing Brandon Sheppard, thanked Double Down car owner Roger Sellers and his crew in victory lane for his 24-hour turnaround.
“It was a late night last night for sure,” O’Neal said of his Dream demise. “It was just unfortunate. You know, we were going to come out of there probably right around the top five, fifth or sixth, and it was just unfortunate, wrong place at the wrong time. It just looked like a mechanical failure (that caused Devin Moran to get out of shape and trigger the wreck). So it's a good bounce back, a great way to start the weekend.”
Clanton’s only answer to how he could’ve won? “Just don’t let him pass me there,” he wisecracked in his postrace interview. “Our car’s good, we had a good starting spot. Hopefully we can do it again tomorrow, but the Capital Race Cars pretty good right now. Hopefully we can keep it up.
“The fuel pressure is just a little bit too high and it’s stumbling there in the middle of the corners. We know what we've got to do to fix that, so hopefully that makes the final adjustments.”
Ferguson went to his backup car after wrecking on the first lap of Wednesday’s Dream action, which resumed on the 15th lap following June’s rainout.
"I just want to give a special thanks to my crew for all the hard work,” Ferguson said. “The car was really good. I could just kind of hang with Shane and Hudson (but) couldn't really get the momentum going like we needed to. But (I’m) tickled to death. This is the first time I've raced this car here since 2018, so hats off to Team Zero Race Cars.”
The driver with five World 100 starts, including a fifth-place finish last season, is confident he’s got a shot Saturday.
"I think we got the race car to do it. Just got to make some good decisions Friday and then Saturday and the heat races, but I feel like we're in the show. We've got a shot at it. And you know, that's all you can ask for,” Ferguson said. “This team has really, we're hitting really good at these big races, so maybe we can knock another one down.”
Feature lineup
(25 laps)
Row 1: Shane Clanton, Hudson O’Neal
Row 2: Tim McCreadie, Chris Ferguson
Row 3: Kyle Bronson, Ricky Weiss
Row 4: Wil Herrington, Garrett Smith
Row 5: Devin Moran, Bobby Pierce
Row 6: Stormy Scott, Michael Chilton
Row 7: Zack Dohm, Shannon Babb
Row 8: Josh Rice, Cory Hedgecock
Row 9: Chase Junghans, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 10: Mason Zeigler, Zack Mitchell
Row 11: Billy Moyer, Steve Casebolt
Row 12: Tyler Bruening, Austin Kirkpatrick
Consolation race results
(12 laps; top two transfer)
First consolation: Billy Moyer, Tyler Bruening, Brian Shirley, Jeep Van Wormer, James Rice, Dennis Erb Jr., Scott Bloomquist, Gordy Gundaker, Forrest Trent, Victor Lee, Chase Frohnapfel, Duane Chamberlain, Brenden Smith, Josh Robertson, Nick Fenner, Jon Hodgkiss. Scratched: Drew Smith.
Second consolation: Steve Casebolt, Austin Kirkpatrick, Andrew Reaume, Jadon Frame, Robby Hensley, Mike Provenzano, Bob Gardner, Devin Gilpin, Kenny Collins, Casey Noonan, Clint Keenan, Bryan Dickinson, Terry Rushlow, Chris Nash. Scratched: Ashton Winger, Kody Evans.
Consolation race lineups
(12 laps; top two transfer)
First consolation
Row 1: Tyler Bruening, Billy Moyer
Row 2: James Rice, Brian Shirley
Row 3: Jeep Van Wormer, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 4: Jon Hodgkiss, Gordy Gundaker
Row 5: Forrest Trent, Scott Bloomquist
Row 6: Brenden Smith, Victor Lee
Row 7: Josh Robertson, Duane Chamberlain
Row 8: Chase Frohnapfel, Nick Fenner
Row 9: Drew Smith
Second consolation
Row 1: Steve Casebolt, Austin Kirkpatrick
Row 2: Mike Provenzano, Jadon Frame
Row 3: Andrew Reaume, Robby Hensley
Row 4: Casey Noonan, Bob Gardner
Row 5: Kenny Collins, Clint Keenan
Row 6: Devin Gilpin, Ashton Winger
Row 7: Terry Rushlow, Bryant Dickinson
Row 8: Chris Nash, Kody Evans
Heat race notes
Rebounding from a Wednesday Dream crash that forced him to pull out his second car — albeit the same machine that he drove to an Eldora Million preliminary win in June — Chris Ferguson ducked underneath teenager Garrett Smith entering turn three on the final lap to snatch a dramatic victory in the first heat. … Hudson O’Neal pulled a slider on Kyle Bronson to grab the lead heading to the two-to-go signal in the second heat and then threaded the needle between Bronson and the outside wall off turn two to emerge victorious. “Even with the deck knocked out of it we were still so, so good,” O’Neal said. … While noting that “it’s pretty treacherous running that top there,” Shane Clanton rolled to victory in the third heat. He left behind a close three-car battle for second that saw Ricky Weiss secure the runner-up spot ahead of Stormy Scott and Josh Rice. … Tim McCreadie’s fortunes changed dramatically on the seventh lap of Heat 4. Running third behind battling youngsters Ashton Winger and Wil Herrington, the veteran McCreadie watched Winger smack the turn-two wall and then ducked underneath Herrington in turn three to take command. After a final-circuit caution for Winger’s car stopping on the inside of turn four, McCreadie beat Herrington to the finish line by 1.002 seconds.
Heat race results
(10 laps; top five transfer)
First heat: Chris Ferguson, Garrett Smith, Devin Moran, Zack Dohm, Chase Junghans, Tyler Bruening, James Rice, Jeep Van Wormer, Jon Hodgkiss, Forrest Frent, Brenden Smith, Josh Robertson, Chase Frohnapfel. Scratched: Drew Smith.
Second heat: Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, Bobby Pierce, Shannon Babb, Earl Pearson Jr., Billy Moyer, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Gordy Gundaker, Scott Bloomquist, Victor Lee, Duane Chamberlain, Nick Fenner.
Third heat: Shane Clanton, Ricky Weiss, Stormy Scott, Josh Rice, Mason Zeigler, Steve Casebolt, Mike Provenzano, Andrew Reaume, Casey Noonan, Kenny Collins, Devin Gilpin, Terry Rushlow. Scratched: Chris Nash.
Fourth heat: Tim McCreadie, Wil Herrington, Michael Chilton, Cory Hedgecock, Zack Mitchell, Austin Kirkpatrick, Jason Frame, Robby Hensley, Bob Gardner, Clint Keenan, Ahston Winger, Bryant Dickinson. Scratched: Kody Evans.
Heat race lineups
(10 laps; top five transfer)
First heat
Row 1: Chase Junghans, Zack Dohm
Row 2: Garrett Smith, Chris Ferguson
Row 3: James Rice, Devin Moran
Row 4: Chase Frohnapfel, Tyler Bruening
Row 5: Jeep Van Wormer, Forrest Trent
Row 6: Jon Hodgkiss, Brenden Smith
Row 7: Josh Robertson, Drew Smith
Second heat
Row 1: Kyle Bronson, Hudson O'Neal
Row 2: Bobby Pierce, Shannon Babb
Row 3: Earl Pearson Jr., Billy Moyer
Row 4: Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 5: Gordy Gundaker, Victor Lee
Row 6: Scott Bloomquist, Duane Chamberlain
Row 7: Nick Fenner
Third heat
Row 1: Shane Clanton, Stormy Scott
Row 2: Josh Rice, Ricky Weiss
Row 3: Steve Casebolt, Mason Zeigler
Row 4: Casey Noonan, Andrew Reaume
Row 5: Kenny Collins, Devin Gilpin
Row 6: Mike Provenzano, Terry Rushlow
Row 7: Chris Nash
Fourth heat
Row 1: Cory Hedgecock, Ashton Winger
Row 2: Tim McCreadie, Wil Herrington
Row 3: Austin Kirkpatrick, Zack Mitchell
Row 4: Robby Hensley, Jadon Frame
Row 5: Michael Chilton, Bob Gardner
Row 6: Clint Keenan, Bryant Dickinson
Row 7: Kody Evans
Pre-race notes
With memories of June’s rain-plagued Eldora Million and Dream still fresh in everyone’s mind, a second straight day of gorgeous weather — sunny skies with afternoon temperatures in the high 70s — for the first of two World 100 preliminary programs is a welcomed development. … Big news was made Thursday afternoon when Hoosier Racing Tire officials conducted a press conference in Eldora’s media center to announce the details of the National Late Model Tire that will debut for the 2023 season with the goal of reducing and streamlining tire choices for Super Late Model teams. Hoosier representatives were joined by World of Outlaws COO Brian Carter, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series director Rick Schwallie and Eldora owner Tony Stewart. … The 107-car roster is the first World 100 field to top the century mark since 104 cars were signed in for the 2018 event. Last year’s double World 100s drew 80 and 79 cars, respectively. … Jeremy Shaw of Millport, Ala., was forced to scratch from World 100 action due to terminal engine woes that struck his car during one of Wednesday’s Chasing the Dream features. … Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, has switched to his second car — the Longhorn machine in which he enjoyed so much success during Georgia-Florida Speedweeks earlier this year — because his primary car was heavily damaged in a late-race Dream crash Wednesday after a blown right-front tire sent him into Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., between turns one and two. … Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., was swept up in the Moran-O’Neal accident — he couldn’t avoid slamming into Moran’s car — and also sustained week-ending damage to his primary mount. He pulled the motor and put it in his backup car, which also now sports the Ricky Bobby/Talladega Nights-themed bodywork that was on the vehicle he drove on Wednesday. … North Carolina-based cousins Chris and Carson Ferguson are in their second cars after experiencing trouble during Wednesday’s Dream feature. Chris was turned backward into the turn-one wall by contact with Kyle Strickler of Mooresville, N.C., and was left with a bent rear clip and fuel cell, forcing him to pull out his other Team Zero machine; Carson was knocked from the 100-lapper by terminal engine and will switch to a Longhorn car that his friend, Chris Hargett, drove up from Ferguson’s shop this morning and unloaded in the Eldora pit area just before noon. ... Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., blew an engine during his Chase the Dream feature on Wednesday. The team outfitted Mitchell’s Longhorn with a new Vic Hill powerplant on Thursday. … Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., made an engine change Thursday afternoon, bolting in his bigger powerplant that he would have preferred to run in Wednesday’s Dream but couldn’t because its delivery by freight shipment from Jay Dickens’s Mississippi shop was delayed until Wednesday. Rice, who ran as high as third in the 100-lapper before sliding back to an eighth-place finish, considered leaving his smaller powerplant in his car for the remainder of the week until he drained the oil and discovered metal shavings that were concerning.
Time trials
Driver (car no.), hometown
- Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 15.434
- Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 15.603
- Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 15.628
- Wil Herrington (19M), Cochran, Ga., 15.628
- Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 15.633
- Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.673
- Josh Rice (11), Verona, Ky., 15.714
- Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.735
- Zack Dohm (17), Cross Lanes, W.Va., 15.742
- Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.762
- Stormy Scott (2s), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.764
- Ashton Winger (58w), Hampton, Ga., 15.777
- Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 15.802
- Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 15.813
- Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 15.819
- Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 15.846
- Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla., 15.863
- Steve Casebolt (C9), Richmond, Ind., 15.881
- Austin Kirkpatrick (11K), Harrisburg, N.C., 15.886
- Devin Moran (9), Dresden, Ohio, 15.888
- Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 15.915
- Mason Zeigler (9z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 15.922
- Zack Mitchell (57), Enoree, S.C., 15.929
- Chase Frohnapfel (145), Canal Winchester, Ohio, 15.933
- Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 15.939
- Casey Noonan (1N), Sylvania, Ohio, 15.961
- Robby Hensley (21H), Walton, Ky., 15.970
- Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 15.983
- Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.009
- Andrew Reaume (88), Blenheim, Ontario, 16.033
- Jadon Frame (J8), Decherd, Tenn., 16.070
- Jeep Van Wormer (55), Pinconning, Mich., 16.089
- Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 16.140
- Kenny Collins (1c), Colbert, Ga., 16.176
- Michael Chilton (97), Salvisa, Ky., 16.248
- Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn., 16.250
- Victor Lee (6), Danville, Ky., 16.262
- Devin Gilpin (1G), Columbus, Ind., 16.282
- Bob Gardner (4G), East Peoria, Ill., 16.372
- Jon Hodgkiss (69), Kennedy Township, Pa., 16.388
- Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 16.412
- Mike Provenzano (M27), Marseilles, Ill., 16.418
- Clint Keenan (29K), Pataskala, Ohio, 16.596
- Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.632
- Duane Chamberlain (20c), Richmond, Ind., 16.692
- Terry Rushlow (63), Delta, Ohio, 16.744
- Bryant Dickinson (5X), Ionia, Mich., 17.250
- Josh Robertson (P33), Defiance, Ohio, 17.502
- Nick Fenner (22f), Morenci, Mich., 17.959
- Chris Nash (354), Vicksburg, Mich., 18.139
- Drew Smith (71DS), Sylvania, Ohio, no time
- Kody Evans (4G), Camden, Ohio, no time
Thursday's schedule
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/suites/concessions open
Noon-4:30 p.m.: Technical inspection for Late Models
3 p.m. - Hoosier Tire press conference
5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m.: Hot laps
- Time trials
8 p.m.: Opening ceremonies followed by on-track competition
- Heat races
- Consolation races
- Twin 25-lap features
