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O’Neal victorious at All-Tech, as Lucas Oil closes out action in the Sunshine State

From series reports

LAKE CITY, FL (February 21) – Hudson O’Neal charged from his fourth starting position to take the lead with 20 laps remaining in Saturday night’s 50-lap Winter Nationals feature at All-Tech Raceway, capturing his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season.

O’Neal had to survive a late-race caution with five laps to go after third-running Mark Whitener climbed the wall in turn four. Whitener, who led a race-high 26 laps, suffered right-front suspension damage in the incident and was unable to finish.

On the ensuing restart, O’Neal held off Brandon Overton to secure his first career victory at All-Tech in 13 appearances at the Florida facility. Overton crossed the line second, just 0.804 seconds behind the third-generation driver. Clay Harris capped off a strong week at All-Tech with his second podium finish, taking third. Garrett Alberson finished fourth, followed by Carson Ferguson in fifth.

Harris jumped to the early lead in the $15,000-to-win feature as weather loomed from the northwest, pacing the field for the first three laps before Whitener took control.

Whitener, who entered the weekend as the driver in the field with the most competitive laps at All-Tech, was seeking his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory.

The race’s first caution flew on lap 17 for Montana’s Michael Leach. Whitener maintained the lead on the restart, with O’Neal running second after starting fourth. O’Neal stalked Whitener until lap 30, when he executed an inside move off turn four to take command.

Whitener settled into second as Overton began applying pressure. Overton briefly took over the runner-up spot on lap 36, but Whitener reclaimed the position a lap later. Overton finally secured second for good on lap 41, dropping Whitener to third. Four laps later, Whitener’s bid for his first LOLMDS podium ended when he climbed the wall in turn four, bringing out the race’s second and final caution.

With five laps remaining and a single-file restart ahead, O’Neal executed flawlessly to fend off Overton and seal the victory.

The win marked O’Neal’s 35th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph. The 2023 series champion also recorded his fifth overall victory of the season, making him the early-season winningest driver in the nation.

Overton, who is returning for another full season with the series, admitted All-Tech has traditionally been a challenging venue for him. Still, he leaves the track with a five-point championship lead heading to Ocala next week.

Harris finished the week at All-Tech with a second- and third-place finish and believes a mistake on Thursday likely cost him a shot at three podium results.

Former WISSOTA wheelman Dan Ebert, of Lake Shore, Minnesota, charged from 22nd at the start to an 11th-place finish.

SUMMARY

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series:

A-Main (50 Laps): 1. 71-Hudson O'Neal[4]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 3. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[8]; 5. 93-Carson Ferguson[11]; 6. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[21]; 7. 99-Devin Moran[9]; 8. 1-Brandon Sheppard[10]; 9. 79-Cory Hedgecock[19]; 10. 40B-Kyle Bronson[18]; 11. 60-Dan Ebert[22]; 12. 11-Josh Rice[13]; 13. 3S-Brian Shirley[6]; 14. 111-Max Blair[14]; 15. 44-Chris Madden[16]; 16. 7-Ross Robinson[5]; 17. 19M-Brenden Smith[17]; 18. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[23]; 19. 5-Mark Whitener[3]; 20. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[7]; 21. 8-Dillon McCowan[15]; 22. 09-Michael Leach[12]; 23. 13-Dallon Murty[20]; 24. 93L-Cory Lawler[24]