In September 2019, Hudson O’Neal scored one of most popular wins ever at the Brownstown Speedway when he captured the Jackson 100.
The 19-year-old Martinsville native will return to the Jackson County Fairgrounds quarter-mile track Saturday for the Indiana Icebreaker featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. O’Neal’s return to his home track, however, will be behind the MasterSbilt house car based in Crothersville instead of the SSI Motorsports entry he had piloted to four Lucas Oil wins a year ago.
In November, O’Neal joined with car owner Tader Masters to pilot the iconic yellow No. 71 that his father, Don, raced successfully from 2009 to 2013 when “The Real Deal” racked up multiple crown jewel triumphs, including the 2011 Dirt Late Model Dream for $100,000, 2011 Dirt Track World Championship for $50,000, 2012 and 2013 North/South 100 for $50,000 each, 2012 Clash at the Mag for $20,000 and 2013 Jackson 100 for $15,000.
Following in his father’s footsteps, the younger O’Neal began his 2020 season for MasterSbilt Race Cars with the Georgia-Florida Speedweeks in late January. Transitioning to a new team often comes with its share of difficulties. Hudson O’Neal’s move to the MasterSbilt team, however, has been aided by the fact he has had a longstanding relationship with the chassis builder due to his father’s successful run for their team.
“Most definitely,” Hudson O’Neal, the 2017 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year, replied when asked if the transition was going smoothly.
“MasterSbilt has had a lot of success, and they’ve done a lot in the racing world for a lot of people. I’m just excited to try to carry on that tradition,” he said. “We’ve put this team together in about six or seven weeks before we went to Georgia. It came together a lot faster than I thought it would and a lot better than I thought it would. I’m excited to get back to Brownstown next weekend.”
Hudson’ O’Neal’s biggest wins for SSI Motorsports included the $20,000 Clash at the Mag at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi, in 2018, the $15,000 Jackson 100 at Brownstown and the $15,000 Big Daddy 60 at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tennessee, both from last year.
Among those drivers ready for the Indiana Icebreaker include defending race winner and current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Brandon Sheppard. Last year, Sheppard was the driver of the year in dirt late model racing, recording 28 wins with three of those worth more than $100,000 each. Sheppard left the Georgia-Florida Speedweeks leading the series points after winning three races in February.
Also expected at Brownstown will be Tim McCreadie, Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Mike Marlar, Kyle Bronson, Jimmy Owens, Billy Moyer Jr. and Brian Shirley. Those drivers round out the top 10 in points heading into next weekend.
There are currently 24 drivers that have perfect attendance with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Shane Clanton, a former World 100 and Dirt Late Model Dream winner, will be making his first Brownstown appearance since 2007 as he is campaigning in his first full season with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
Clanton along with his teammate, Tyler Bruening, Josh Richards, Dennis Erb Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Shanon Buckingham, Tanner English, Earl Pearson Jr., G.R. Smith, Stormy Scott, Jesse Stovall, Charles Powell and Logan Roberson are entered for the Icebreaker.
Other regional racers planning to make the trip to Brownstown include former Jackson 100 winner Bobby Pierce, Frank Heckenast Jr., Justin Rattliff, Steve Casebolt, Scott James, Dustin Linville and Duane Chamberlain.
Three-time and reigning Brownstown late model track champion Devin Gilpin will be on hand along with track regulars Shelby Miles, Jared Bailey, Steven Godsey, Chad Stapleton, Austin Burns, Greg Johnson, Wes Leigh, Zac Blackwood and Britan Godsey.
Also competing at Brownstown will be the American Modified Series and super stocks. For information, visit brownstownspeedway.com.
Thorson wins USAC Midget event
When Tanner Thorson recently recollected over his first three starts of the 2020 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget season, one of his first thoughts was, “We should be three-for-three.”
Instead, the 2016 series champ has had to settle for winning two out of three on the year thus far following the March 7 Shamrock Classic victory at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Illinois.
After capturing a season-opening victory in Ocala, Florida, during February, then dominating the second night at Bubba Raceway Park until an engine issue stifled a surefire victory, Thorson entered the Shamrock Classic with a plan to return to his winning ways, but that plan and the confidence went slightly askew early in the evening.
“After the qualifier, I thought I was about to load this thing up and get out of here,” Thorson said. “This place has never been really too good to me.”
Yet, Thorson and team remained tactful and honed in on the details that allowed him to drive from his 15th starting spot to victory lane, the furthest back in the field a winning driver has started with the series since himself, also from 15th at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville in June 2019.
“We just kept at it all night,” Thorson said. “I was really fast the last time I was here, and we kind of brought the same set up here, but it didn’t work. We just had to change some things and go through some stuff, and it paid off.”
In doing so, Thorson kept the streak intact of consecutive different USAC Midget winners to emerge at the Southern Illinois Center to nine and the run of different Shamrock Classic victors to five years running.
Tyler Thomas took second over series point leader Chris Windom, while career-best series performances were turned in by Robert Dalby, who finished fourth, and Kyle Simon, who collected a fifth in his first career USAC National Midget feature start.
Spring 50 at Florence postponed
The annual Spring 50 for late models scheduled for tonight at the Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky, has been postponed due to inclement weather. The event has been rescheduled for March 28 paying $5,000 to win. For the latest info, visit florencespeedway.com.
Jennings County go-karts season opener
The Jennings County Outlaw Kart Racing will host its first race meet of the 2020 season Friday at the Jennings County 4-H Fairgrounds in North Vernon. This will be a nonpoints night of racing. For more info, contact promoter Clayton Perry at 812-718-7236.