ROSSBURG, Ohio (Sept. 8) — Bobby Pierce has been fast all season. Sometimes it helps to have a little luck as well. Taking advantage when fellow frontrunners Hudson O’Neal and Jonathan Davenport had tire problems, Pierce, of Oakwood, Ill., grabbed his second semifeature win of the weekend at Eldora Speedway.

Pierce led 18 laps of Friday’s first 25-lap semifeature for his second $12,000 triumph in as many days ahead of Saturday’s 53rd annual World 100 at Tony Stewart’s famed half-mile oval. But it took a bit of misfortune from Martinsville Ind.’s O’Neal for Pierce to secure his 29th victory of the season.

O’Neal wrestled the lead away from Pierce on lap seven and paced the next seven circuits, but with a 1.370-second lead as they completed lap 13, O’Neal suffered a right front flat tire as he drove into turn one. He managed to keep his Rocket Chassis house car out of the fence, buy he slowed to draw a caution, handing the lead back to Pierce on the restart. Two laps earlier, Davenport, the five-time World 100 winner from Blairsville, Ga., blew a right front tire in the same spot on the track while running third, just behind Pierce.

Pierce didn’t waste his own good fortune. He bolted ahead of Dresden, Ohio’s Devin Moran to lead the lap-14 restart and stayed out front the rest of the way, leading the final 12 laps to secure the victory and the overall points lead among 102 entries heading into Saturday’s $56,000-to-win finale.

“We were just a podium car tonight. I don't think we were the winning car, so we got lucky with that,” said Pierce. “But you know we kind of tried some stuff tonight and I didn't really like it as much as last night. So we’ll probably end up going back to that (Thursday’s setup). And you know (Hudson O’Neal) was really quick and it seemed like he was just getting through the corners a lot better than I was. And I know (Jonathan Davenport) was right there on us too for a little bit and hated to see it for him, but I knew that was probably the only chance I had because Hudson was pretty fast.”

Pierce, the World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series points leader, finished 1.347 seconds ahead of seventh-starting Chris Ferguson of Mt. Holly, N.C., who just nipped Moran at the finish. Moran settled for third after starting fifth, while 11th-starting Daulton Wilson of Fayetteville, N.C., improved seven spots to finish fourth. Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., the 2006 World 100 winner, completed the top five. O’Neal and Davenport finished 13th and 15th, respectively, after they each pitted for a fresh right front tire.

Pierce said after O’Neal muscled by him in turns one and two on lap seven, he’d all but conceded the victory. O’Neal got a great run down the front straightaway and dove under Pierce entering turn one. Pierce had to take evasive action as the two almost made contact, allowing O’Neal pull away ever so slightly.

“I just I was trying to get back up to the cushion as quick as I could, but the car's been picking up a little bit of a push today,” said Pierce of the near run-in. “I don't know where that came from, but I actually saw on the Jumbotron. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was trying to block (O’Neal). I saw him getting a good run, but I thought I was going to get to the bottom before him and he snuck in there and got it.

“After that, it was probably going to be lights out. But yeah, you know it was a little scary there, but I got back on it and you know salvaged, was going to salvage, a really good night and then it just ended up being a great night. So pretty lucky, like I said, and I can't thank all my crew enough for their hard work.”

Ferguson, who ran eighth in the early laps before slowly working his way forward, was pleased with the momentum his runner-up finish gives him heading into Saturday’s 100-lapper, especially after breaking a transmission on Thursday.

“I’m pumped. I'm super thankful to be up here,” Ferguson said. “Had a fun race with Devin (Moran). I hope the fans enjoyed that. (It) feels good to be back up here. It's been a couple bad runs here. I hope the fans hadn't forgot about me because I promise I want to put a show on for you guys.

“Bobby's definitely the best there is at railing the top and I felt like I could kind of hang with him running the middle. So if I can get in the show tomorrow, I feel like we can make some noise in the feature. You know Scott (Bloomquist is) here and it's cool to see his (Team Zero) cars still run good. This thing's from 2018, and it still gets it done.”

Ferguson beat Moran to the finish by a mere two-hundredths of a second, getting by him as they raced to the checkered flag.

“(I) felt like we were decent … got messed up on that restart when I started outside of Bobby and got me back a little bit,” said Moran. “But I felt like we improved from last night.”

Notes: Hudson O’Neal’s biggest lead was 1.6 seconds on lap eight. … The race was slowed by four cautions. … Steven Roberts got into the wall and stopped on lap 10; Davenport blew a right front tire, giving up third on lap 11; and O’Neal suffered a right front flat tire on lap 13. The final caution was for Spencer Hughes of Meridian, Miss., who had a right front flat on lap 20. … During the lap-13 caution, 2018 World 100 winner Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., pitted with his car trailing a lot of fluid. He gave up the seventh spot, didn’t return and was the first of the 24-car field to retire. … After starting on the back row, Tyler Erb and Dennis Erb Jr. (no relation) has solid runs. Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, rallied from 23rd to 10th, while Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., rallied from 24th to 12th. … Polesitter Mike Benedum of Salem, W.Va., was running third on the opening lap an slow faded through the field to finish 18th.

Semifeature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Mike Benedum, Bobby Pierce
Row 2: Jonathan Davenport, Hudson O’Neal
Row 3: Devin Moran, Shannon Babb
Row 4: Chris Ferguson, Jason Jameson
Row 5: Dale McDowell, Tim McCreadie
Row 6: Daulton Wilson, Steven Roberts
Row 7: Joseph Joiner, Matt Sheppard
Row 8: Earl Pearson Jr., Spencer Hughes
Row 9: Kody Evans, Garrett Alberson
Row 10: Austin Neely, Nick Hoffman
Row 11: Mason Zeigler, Gregg Satterlee
Row 12: Tyler Erb, Dennis Erb Jr.

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Nick Hoffman, Gregg Satterlee, Ricky Weiss, Josh Rice, Gordy Gundaker, Benji Hicks, Matt Cosner, Cory Hedgecock, Travis Stemler, G.R. Smith, Richie Stephens, Jason Riggs, Justin Cooper, Jeep Van Wormer. Scratched: Gilbert Hess, Jeff Robertson.

Second consolation: Mason Zeigler, Tyler Erb, Cody Overton, Jimmy Owens, R.J. Conley, Wil Herrington, Kye Blight, Dustin Nobbe, Jordan Koehler, Brenden Smith, Jerry Bowersock, Brian Ruhlman, Donnie Jeschke, Jake Timm. Scratched: Terry Wolfenbarger.

Consolation lineups

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation
Row 1: Gregg Satterlee, Ricky Weiss
Row 2: Nick Hoffman, Josh Rice
Row 3: G.R. Smith, Benji Hicks
Row 4: Travis Stemler, Matt Cosner
Row 5: Richie Stephens, Gordy Gundaker
Row 6: Jason Riggs, Cory Hedgecock
Row 7: Gilbert Hess, Justin Cooper
Row 8: Jeep Van Wormer, Jeff Robertson
Second consolation
Row 1: Cody Overton, Jimmy Owens
Row 2: Tyler Erb, R.J. Conley
Row 3: Wil Herrington, Mason Zeigler
Row 4: Dustin Nobbe, Kye Blight
Row 5: Jerry Bowersock, Brenden Smith
Row 6: Donnie Jeschke, Jordan Koehler
Row 7: Jake Timm, Brian Ruhlman
Row 8: Terry Wolfenbarger

Heat race notes

Thursday-night feature winner Hudson O’Neal continued his strong weekend, backing up his fast-time honors by advancing from fourth to grab the lead from Steven Roberts on lap two and march on to win the first heat. … Making his World 100 weekend debut, Tennessee’s Austin Neely finished fifth in Heat 1 to crack his first preliminary feature field. … Daulton Wilson drove his 2006 Earl Pearson Jr. throwback car to a flag-to-flag victory in Heat 2, beating Dale McDowell by 1.499 seconds. … Thursday feature winner Bobby Pierce made no headway in the second heat, starting and finishing fourth. … Devin Moran emerged triumphant in a dramatic ending to the third heat, which saw Dennis Erb Jr. grab the lead on on lap two and appear headed to victory until lap seven when his car hopped entering turn three, shot across the track and smacked the outside wall. Moran shot by Erb’s stricken car to steal the win; Jonathan Davenport placed second and Tim McCreadie was third with Erb limping his damaged car across the finish line in fourth place. … Joseph Joiner dominated the fourth heat from wire-to-wire en route to besting Jason Jameson by 1.683 seconds. “Last time we were on the pole here we smoked the wall in turn one so I’m glad we were able to take advantage of it this time,” Joiner said, recalling an accident he rode out during June’s Dream qualifying action.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top five transfer)

First heat: Hudson O’Neal, Steven Roberts, Shannon Babb, Earl Pearson Jr., Austin Neely, Gregg Satterlee, Nick Hoffman, G.R. Smith, Travis Stemler, Richie Stephens, Jason Riggs, Gilbert Hess, Jeep Van Wormer.

Second heat: Dalton Wilson, Dale McDowell, Chris Ferguson, Bobby Pierce, Spencer Hughes, Ricky Weiss, Josh Rice, Benji Hicks, Matt Cosner, Gordy Gundaker, Cory Hedgecock, Justin Cooper. Scratched: Jeff Robertson.

Third heat: Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, Tim McCreadie, Dennis Erb Jr., Kody Evans, Cody Overton, Tyler Erb, Wil Herrington, Duistin Nobbe, Jerry Bowersock, Donnie Jeschke, Jake Timm. Scratched: Terry Wolfenbager.

Fourth heat: Joseph Joiner, Jason Jameson, Mike Benedum, Matt Sheppard, Garrett Alberson, Jimmy Owens, R.J. Conley, Mason Ziegler, Kye Blight, Brenden Smith, Jordan Koehler, Brian Ruhlman.

Heat race lineups

(Eight laps; top five transfer)

First heat
Row 1: Steven Roberts, Richie Stephens
Row 2: Shannon Babb, Hudson O’Neal
Row 3: Earl Pearson Jr., Austin Neely
Row 4: Nick Hoffman, Gregg Satterlee
Row 5: Travis Stemler, G.R. Smith
Row 6: Jeep Van Wormer, Jason Riggs
Row 7: Gilbert Hess
Second heat
Row 1: Daulton Wilson, Dale McDowell
Row 2: Chris Ferguson, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Spencer Hughes, Josh Rice
Row 4: Benji Hicks, Ricky Weiss
Row 5: Gordy Gundaker, Matt Cosner
Row 6: Cory Hedgecock, Justin Cooper
Row 7: Jeff Robertson
Third heat
Row 1: Dennis Erb Jr., Tim McCreadie
Row 2: Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport
Row 3: Kody Evans, Dustin Nobbe
Row 4: Cody Overton, Wil Herrington
Row 5: Jerry Bowersock, Tyler Erb
Row 6: Donnie Jeschke, Jake Timm
Row 7: Terry Wolfenbarger
Fourth heat
Row 1: Joseph Joiner, Matt Sheppard
Row 2: Jason Jameson, Mike Benedum
Row 3: Garrett Alberson, Kye Blight
Row 4: Jordan Koehler, R.J. Conley
Row 5: Jimmy Owens, Mason Zeigler
Row 6: Brian Ruhlman, Brenden Smith

Pre-race notes

Friday’s second night of World 100 action is running under mostly cloudy skies after afternoon highs reached into the low 70s. … All entered drivers were called into the media center at 5 p.m. for a mandatory meeting — roll call was taken to ensure attendance — during which Eldora owner Tony Stewart spoke to remind competitors to treat event officials with respect and also clarify rules on crew signaling. Stewart told drivers that hand signals from crew members will be allowed only from a designated area inside the backstretch; some crew members were seen signaling while standing on the liftgates of trailers parked along the frontstretch but liability issues for the track led Stewart to ban teams from continuing the practice. … When Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., went sideways in turn one following a slight scrape with Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., on lap two of Thursday’s Group A preliminary feature, he felt fortunate that he was clipped by the passing Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn. The contact straightened Owens’s car, preventing him from potentially harder hits — he was battling for sixth at the time — and allowing him to restart 15th rather than last because he blended into the field. … Gateway Dirt Nationals promoter Cody Sommer, who serves as the crew chief of Northeast big-block modified star Matt Sheppard’s Dirt Late Model effort, said he’s extremely sore from the injuries he suffered when he fell off the team’s liftgate attempting to prevent Sheppard’s car from rolling off it. Sommer has bandages wrapped around his elbow and leg, is dealing with sharp pain in his bruised ribs and has a swollen left hand that might be fractured. … Matt Cosner of Ridgeley, W.Va., made his Eldora debut on Thursday but didn’t have a very enjoyable night. “We weren’t very good,” said Cosner, who sits 62nd in the weekend points standings after failing to qualify for a preliminary feature.

Time trials

Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)

1. Hudson O’Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind., 15.300
2. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.316
3. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.357
4. Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va., 15.487
5. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 15.511
6. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 15.524
7. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.525
8. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 15.561
9. Richie Stephens (00s), Phenix City, Ala., 15.563
10. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.565
11. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.602
12. Matt Sheppard (42), Waterloo, N.Y., 15.605
13. Steven Roberts (111), Sylvester, Ga., 15.607
14. Daulton Wilson (1w), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.623
15. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.634
16. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla., 15.651
17. Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla., 15.670
18. Spencer Hughes (11), Meridian, Miss., 15.708
19. Kody Evans (4G), Camden, Ohio, 15.717
20. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.752
21. Austin Neely (3), New Tazewell, Tenn., 15.754
22. Josh Rice (11), Verona, Ky., 15.757
23. Dustin Nobbe (5N), Batesville, Ind., 15.765
24. Kye Blight (31aus), Bunbury, W. Australia, 15.768
25. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.779
26. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.782
27. Cody Overton (15K), Evans, Ga., 15.811
28. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C., 15.813
29. Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa., 15.813
30. Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 15.859
31. Wil Herrington (19m), Hawkinsville, Ga., 15.883
32. R.J. Conley (71C), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 15.914
33. Travis Stemler (4s), Ionia, Mich., 15.931
34. Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 15.935
35. Jerry Bowersock (95), Wapakoneta, Ohio, 15.946
36. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.966
37. G.R. Smith (22x), Cornelius, N.C., 15.988
38. Matt Cosner (66), Ridgeley, W.Va., 16.024
39. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 16.045
40. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 16.102
41. Jeep Van Wormer (55), Pinconning, Mich., 16.124
42. Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 16.144
43. Donnie Jeschke (99J), Dayton, Ohio, 16.156
44. Brian Ruhlman (49), Clarklake, Mich., 16.189
45. Jason Riggs (81r), College Grove, Tenn., 16.327
46. Justin Cooper (00), Wheelersburg, Ohio, 16.389
47. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn., 16.470
48. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.775
49. Gilbert Hess (44H), Inwood, W.Va., 17.447
50. Jeff Robertson (P3), Defiance, Ohio, 17.510
51. Terry Wolfenbarger (14), Clinton, Tenn., no time

Prelim points after Thursday

Driver (car no.), hometown - points

1. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill. - 498
2. Hudson O’Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind. - 485
3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz. - 485
4. Chris Madden (87), Gray Court, S.C. - 485
5. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind. - 484
6. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill. - 478
7. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y. - 477
8. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill. - 476
9. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn. - 475
10. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill. - 475
11. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio - 465
12. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill. - 463
13. Spencer Hughes (11), Meridian, Miss. - 456
14. Daulton Wilson (1), Fayetteville, N.C. - 452
15. David McCoy (187), Franklin, N.C. - 452
16. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga. - 450
17. Michael Brown (24-D), Pageland, S.C. - 449
18. Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga. - 448
19. Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C. - 446
20. Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla. - 444
21. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn. - 438
22. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla. - 433
23. Josh Rice (11), Verona, Ky. - 432
24. Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa - 431
25. Brandon Overton (4), Evans, Ga. - 430
26. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa. - 429
27. Haiden Cowan (214), Rincon, Ga. - 426
28. Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla. - 422
29. Steven Roberts (111), Sylvester, Ga. - 421
30. Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa. - 417
31. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C. - 417
32. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M. - 412
33. Matt Sheppard (42), Waterloo, N.Y. - 409
34. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga. - 409
35. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas - 405
36. Tristan Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind. - 402
37. Cody Overton (15k), Evans, Ga. - 401
38. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill. - 400
39. Carson Ferguson (00), Lincolnton, N.C. - 394
40. Stormy Scott (2s), Las Cruces, N.M. - 392
41. Wil Herrington (19m), Hawkinsville, Ga. - 390
42. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga. - 388
43. G.R. Smith (22x), Cornelius, N.C. - 387
44. Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C. - 386
45. Kenny Collins (1c), Colbert, Ga. - 380
46. Richie Stephens (00), Phenix City, Ala. - 377
47. Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va. - 371
48. Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba - 371
49. Casey Noonan (1N), Sylvania, Ohio - 370
50. Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C. - 367
51. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga. - 367
52. Dustin Nobbe (5N), Batesville, Ind. - 363
53. Austin Kirkpatrick (11), Harrisburg, N.C. - 362
54. Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn. - 361
55. Tim Lance (48), Brimfield, Ill. - 354
56. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C. - 351
57. Tanner English (96v), Benton, Ky. - 348
58. R.J. Conley (71C), Wheelersburg, Ohio - 344
59. Ross Bailes (5B), Clover, S.C. - 344
60. Austin Neely (3), New Tazewell, Tenn. - 343
61. Will Roland (22), Jasper, Ga. - 342
62. Matt Cosner (66), Ridgeley, W.Va. - 341
63. Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo. - 340
64. Seth Daniels (s1), Jackson, Ohio - 337
65. Josh Dietz (9D), Hebron, Ky. - 332
66. Kye Blight (31aus), Bunbury, W. Australia - 331
67. Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn. - 330
68. Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C. - 330
69. Travis Stemler (4s), Ionia, Mich. - 323
70. Kody Evans (4G), Camden, Ohio - 321
71. Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn. - 315
72. Rod Conley (71R), Wheelersburg, Ohio - 311
73. Chase Osterhoff (130), Kankakee, Ill. - 311
74. Jerry Bowersock (95j), Wapakoneta, Ohio - 310
75. Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn. - 309
76. Jeep Van Wormer (55), Pinconning, Mich. - 308
77. Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va. - 305
78. Jason Riggs (81r), College Grove, Tenn. - 303
79. Jon Hodgkiss (69), Kennedy Township, Pa. - 303
80. Rob Anderzack (8), Swanton, Ohio - 303
81. Brad Dyer (0), Mohawk, Tenn. - 302
82. Tyler Nicely (6), Owensboro, Ky. - 302
83. Kent Robinson (7R), Bloomington, Ind. - 299
84. Kirk Phillips (21k), Ashland, Ky. - 297
85. Curtis Roberts (9r), Coleman, Mich. - 296
86. Freddie Carpenter (c4), Parkersburg, W.Va. - 294
87. Justin Cooper (00), Wheelersburg, Ohio - 292
88. Brian Ruhlman (49), Clarklake, Mich. - 292
89. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla. - 291
90. Terry Rushlow (63), Holland, Ohio - 290
91. Donnie Jeschke (99J), Dayton, Ohio - 289
92. Mike Bargo (316), Corbin, Ky. - 286
93. John Tweed (5), Greeneville, Tenn. - 284
94. Jeremy Cropper (7c), Ringgold, Ga. - 277
95. David Ellis (17), Defiance, Ohio - 277
96. Jeff Kohn (25), Sheridan, Mich. - 275
97. Bryant Dickinson (5*), Ionia, Mich. - 267
98. Jeff Robertson (P3), Defiance, Ohio - 266
99. Luke Anstett (64), Greenville, Mich. - 259
100. Terry Wolfenbarger (14), Powell, Tenn. - 82
101. Dona Marcoullier (6m), Houghton Lake, Mich. - 0
102. Gilbert Hess (44), Inwood, W.Va. - 0

Friday’s schedule

7-11 a.m. - Breakfast served (turn four concession building)
10 a.m. - Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
11 a.m. - Grounds cleared and secured
Noon - All gates, suites and concessions open
Noon-4:30 p.m. - Technical inspection
1 p.m. - Cornhole tournament (Eldora barn)
3:30-6:30 p.m. - Billy Chez Cheese concert (fan zone)
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
8 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
- Late Model time trials
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Late Model first feature (25 laps)
- Late Model second feature (25 laps)