![Sponsor 743](https://www.dirtondirt.com/banners/banner_1710433741.gif)
July 15
Eagle Raceway,
Eagle, NE
Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (High Bank Heist) - $10,000
Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated July 16, 12:03 pm)
SSI's O'Neal tops team's ex-driver in Eagle duel
High Bank Heist
- Hudson O'Neal
- Ricky Thornton Jr.
- Jonathan Davenport
- Devin Moran
- Tim McCreadie
- Jimmy Owens
- Max Blair
- Ross Robinson
- Drake Troutman
- Blair Nothdurft
- Garrett Alberson
- Tad Pospisil
- Logan Seavey
- Carson Ferguson
- Boom Briggs
- Cory Lawler
- Derrick Stewart
- Clay Harris
- Brenden Smith
- Dylan Sillman
- Mike Marlar
- Daulton Wilson
- Andrew Kosiski
- Dusty Leonard
Hudson O'Neal celebrates his first victory since rejoining SSI Motorsports.
What won the race: In a race-long battle between current and former SSI Motorsports drivers, Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., regained the point from Ricky Thornton Jr. on lap 13 and repelled several late-race challenges to capture Monday's 40-lap High Bank Heist at Eagle Raceway. SSI's O'Neal led twice for 32 laps (1-4, 13-40) against Thornton's Koehler Motorsports entry en route to capturing $10,000 and his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season and first since Feb. 6.
Quotable: “It feels awesome, it’s been so long I don’t know if I breathed the last 15 laps,” said O'Neal, who rejoined SSI a week earlier. “It’s so cool to be back up here again after everything I went through this year .. decisions I made, other decisions, whatever. Man, it’s just awesome to be back up here and be able to represent all my guys and SSI Motorsports. It’s been pretty cool to be a part of this deal the last few weeks and hopefully we can continue to build on it going forward.”
Key notes: O'Neal, who has driven for four teams in 2024, won his first race with Indiana's SSI Motorsports since Sept. 21, 2019's $15,000 Lucas Oil-sanctioned Jackson 100 at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway. ... Thornton, making his second career start for North Carolina-based Koehler Motorsports after his July 7 release by SSI, led once for eight laps (5-12) before settling for second, 1.516 seconds behind O'Neal. ... Fourth-starting Jonathan Davenport stuck to the high line in finishing third. ... Devin Moran, winner of the previous two Lucas Oil events, improved three positions and finished fourth. ... The 40-lapper was slowed five times, the second stoppage the lengthiest after the leading O'Neal tangled with Cory Lawler's slower car in turn four. Thornton slammed into Lawler's left side, straightening him back out, just as third-running Daulton Wilson arrived into the pileup with pole-starting Garrett Alberson. Thornton continued with right-side damage while Alberson required extensive repairs; Wilson retired. ... Alberson, who lowered the track record (previously 13.597 seconds by Scott Bloomquist in 2004), was bailed out by a caution for Mike Marlar on the ensuing restart attempt which allowed his team to complete repairs without losing a lap; he finished 11th. ... Marlar, poised to inherit fifth on the restart, retired after his hood blew up and covered his field of vision. ... Open-wheel standout Logan Seavey finished 13th in his series debut and third Late Model start. ... Dylan Sillman slowed to draw the race's fourth caution in his series debut. ... Boom Briggs spun from 10th on the lap-35 restart attempt to bring out the final yellow, before continuing to 15th. ... Eagle's series debut lasted 23 minutes, with 18 competitors running at the checkers.
On the move: Drake Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., started 20th and finished ninth.
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: After Eagle: 1. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4,390); 2. Jonathan Davenport (4,125); 3. Devin Moran (4,065); 4. Tim McCreadie (3,740); 5. Hudson O'Neal (3,690); 6. Mike Marlar (3,565); 7. Garrett Alberson (3,540); 8. Daulton Wilson (3,515); 9. Jimmy Owens (3,410); 10. Max Blair (3,130).
Current weather: Clear, 90°F
Car count: 27
Fast qualifier: Garrett Alberson
Time: 13.292 seconds
Polesitter: Garrett Alberson
Heat race winners: Garrett Alberson, Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O'Neal
Consolation race winners: Carson Ferguson
Provisional starters: Clay Harris, Brenden Smith
Next series race: July 16, Shelby County Speedway (Harlan, IA) $10,053
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.