Hope resident Hudson O’Neal battled his way to the lead with seven laps to go as he pulled away in the final laps to win the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rumble by the River on Aug. 26 at Port Royal Speedway in Pennsylvania.

O’Neal earned $50,000 from the $150,000 feature purse for the Rocket 1 Team.

His winning margin of 1.808 seconds was the largest lead anyone held during the 50-lap event. Mike Marlar came home in second as he passed Jonathan Davenport with two laps to go. Davenport was third with Matt Cosner and Brandon Overton completing the top five.

O’Neal described his hard-fought victory in Lucas Oil Victory Lane.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “I had to get up on the wheel. I was just so tight against that cushion I was afraid to run it. It just came down to the last 10 laps, and I knew I had a shot at it if I could run it hard enough, if I could get enough of a run down the straightaways. The crew gave me a great race car all weekend. We were able to get back into victory lane last night, and I knew coming into today, we had a great piece. We just needed to play our cards right.”

Linville Takes Brownstown Special

Brownstown Speedway hosted the P3 Graphix ILMS Pro Late Models running for the $5,000-to-win Carey Ruwe Memorial on Aug. 26.

Dustin Linville had a good night. He started off with a heat race win and then led all 50 laps of the Pro Late Model feature for the victory. He has four career Brownstown Super Late Model wins, but this was his first Pro Late Model win at the track.

Linville finished ahead of Tyler Cain, Steve Peeden, Chad Stapleton and Shelby Miles. Rounding out the top 10 were Derek Groomer, Alan Magner, Tyler Collins, Justin Shaw and Tory Collins.

Matt Boknecht of Seymour made it two in a row in Pewter Hall Super Stocks. He and Branden Carr swapped the lead a couple of times during the feature. A late-race caution allowed Boknecht to jump to the lead on the restart and score another win. Greg Amick, Blake Hull, Carr and J.T. Huffman trailed at the finish.

Dalton Roark of Dupont recorded his first win of 2023 in All in One Pools Pure Stocks. He stayed close to early leader Brent McMillan for the first half of the race and then took the lead with 10 laps remaining to get the win. Roark took the checkers ahead of Dusten Carr, McMillan, Mickey Hines and Edgar Godsey.

Jeff Cranmer of Memphis led flag to flag in Flag 2 Flag Media Crown Vics. He is the third Cranmer to visit victory lane for the year. Brandon Cranmer and Matt Cranmer also won this year. Jeff held off all challenges for the lead and took the checkers ahead of Matt Cranmer, Phillip Boudreaux, Matt Weston and Kenna Day.

Jeremy Shemwell of Indianapolis recorded win No. 4 for the year in Haymaker Customs Hornet feature action. He led every lap of the feature to get the win over Brian Pollitt, Matt Freeman, Scott Smith and Shane Reed.

Crate Late Model feature results: Dustin Linville, Tyler Cain, Steve Peeden, Chad Stapleton, Shelby Miles, Derek Groomer, Alan Magner, Tyler Collins, Justin Shaw, Tory Collins, Marty ONeal, Steve Godsey, Rohn Moon, Jug Wethington, Zack Burton, Patrick Shumaker, Jordan Wever, Caleb Schryer, Josh Boller, Brian Wilhite, Daniel Dial

Super Stock feature results: Matt Boknecht, Greg Amick, Blake Hull, Branden Carr, J.T. Huffman, Colton Sullivan, Tanner Chastain, Zach Sasser, Jack Roberts, Austin Perry, Broc Burton, Hayden Groomer, Webb Lee, Randy Brawley, Skyler Cohee, Craig Markel, Isaiah Sasser, Jim Ruddick, Roger Reichenbacker, Bryson Clark

Pure Stock feature results: Dalton Roark, Dusten Carr, Brent McMillan, Mickey Hines, Edgar Godsey, Hunter Perry, Josh Hayes, Tommy Fleenor, Preston Carr, Alex Shipman, Donnie Wilson, Cody Ellison, Kevin Bloom, Vern Albertson, Tanner Short, A.J. Warren, Keaton Streeval, A.J. Wilson, Davey Waggoner, Bobby Woods

Crown Vic feature results: Jeff Cranmer, Matt Cranmer, Phillip Boudreaux, Matt Weston, Kenna Day, Eric Lewis, Peyton Walker, Nathan Lewis, Virgil Sparrow, Ray Weston, Brandon Lange, Dustin Cross, Todd Cain, Zachary Hall, Kilie Reynolds, Josh Hayes, Ryan Woods, Wayne Shoff, Shilow Hurt, Gereny Hays, Elizabeth Finley, Stacie Fitzgerald-DNS

Hornet feature results: Jeremy Shemwell, Brian Pollitt, Matt Freeman, Scott Smith, Shane Reed, Landon Hayes, Matt Miller, Logan Garner, Ben Carnell, Robert White IV, Bryce Burton, Conner Garrison, Brandon Crockett, Preston Righthouse, Kameron Arthur, Jeremy Ogle, Alex Wilson, Josh Arthur, Marshall Claycamp, James Simmons-DNS

This week in racing history

From 70 years ago in 1953, Gene Minor won the feature at Columbus Speedway over Al Perry, Ted Pfeiffer, Bud Greathouse and Gerald Hoppock.

From 50 years ago on Labor Day weekend in 1973 at Brownstown, there were two nights of racing. Jim Curry won the Friday night late model race over Russ Petro and Don Hobbs. On Saturday night, Hobbs won the feature race over Woody Smith, Ira Bastin, Curry and Petro.

From 1973 at Twin Cities, Johnny Robbins won the Saturday feature race over Gary Herbert, Alan Scott, Chuck Gilpin and Mike Stewart. On Labor Day, Robbins won the feature race over Herbert, Gilpin, Jim Raymer and Roger Zellner.

Also in 1973, at Lawrenceburg, Butch Wilkerson won the sprint car feature over Johnny Krebbs, Tony Solomito, Calvin Gilstrap and Nick Naber. The night before at Bloomington, Wilkerson won the sprint car feature over Sheldon Kinser and Mike Johnson.

In 1973 at Paragon, Danny Bowlen won the 100-lap sprint car feature over Allen Barr, Bob Kinser and Chet Johnson.

From 40 years ago this weekend in 1983 at Brownstown, Paul Crockett won the limited late model feature over Pete Willoughby, Lee Fleetwood, John Davis and T.J. Straley. Don Barnett won the street stock feature over Bill Norton, Rodney Gaines, Billy Filburn and Todd Carr.

Also in 1983, at Lawrenceburg, Greg Staab won the sprint car feature over Terry Shepherd, Gary Gray, Willie Rice and Jim Collier. Ross Smith won the late model feature over Gary Herbert, Denny Martini, Larry Detmer and Leon Burch.

On Labor Day in 1983 at Twin Cities, Paul Crockett won the limited late model feature over Daryl Herbert, Lee Fleetwood, Merrill Wilson and Jim Ruddick. Charlie Hartwell won the street stock feature over Merrill Downey, Earl Plessinger, Bill Franks and Brad Tobias.

In 1983 at Paragon, Steve Butler won the sprint car feature over Mike Johnson, Roger Rager, Tom Goad and Rodney Ritter Jr. The limited late model feature winner was Junior Pace over Marvin O’Neal, Gary Barrow, Jim Nichols and Dave Weddle.

From 40 years ago at I-65 Speedway in Scottsburg, John Gill won the late model feature over Jim Curry, David Logsdon, Dennis Boknecht and Steven Davis. Mike Jewell won the street stock feature over Oscar Gray and Billy Filburn.

On this weekend in 1983 at Bloomington, Leon Thickstun won the sprint car feature over Roger Rager, Bob Kisner, Mike Johnson and Larry Martin. Tim Engelau won the limited late model feature over Gary Barrow, Marvin Strong, John Davis and Dale Dubois.

From 30 years ago in 1993 at Brownstown, Scott Patman won the street stock feature over Jeff Wilson, Earl Plessinger, Darin George and Tim Clark. Dale Dubois won the modified feature over Tom Curtsinger, Danny Claycomb, Curtis Bennett and Terrence Johnson. Murl Robinson won the bomber feature over Joe Johnson, Bob Schrader, Jerry Adams and Dale Hobbs.

In 1993 at Haubstadt, Kevin Briscoe won the sprint car feature over Gary Trammell and Randy Kinser. Greg Williams won the late model feature over Terry English and Steve Karnes. Bill Shaw won the modified feature over Everett Bradham and Rick Calloway.

Upcoming local racing schedule

Today – Brownstown Speedway – Fan Appreciation Night – Crate late models, super stocks, pure stocks, hornets and crown vics. For information, visit brownstownspeedway.com.

Today – Columbus Speedway Go-Kart Racing – Tony Stewart Speedway – Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds – Midwest Dirt Classic – All classes

Today – Paragon Speedway – Sprints, hornets and Xtreme Outlaw Midgets. For information, visit paragonspeedway.com.

Today – Lawrenceburg Speedway – Sprints, modified, pure stocks and hornets. For information, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.

Sunday – Tri-State Speedway – Haubstadt – MSCS Sprints and modifieds. For information, visit tristatespeedway.com.

Sunday – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, Ohio – Baltes Classic for late models, modifieds and stock cars. For information, visit eldoraspeedway.com.

Friday – Bloomington Speedway – Sprints, super shocks and hornets. For information, visit racebloomingtonspeedway.com.

Thursday – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, Ohio – Twin 25-lap features for late models

Friday – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, Ohio – Twin 25-lap features for late models

Sept. 9 – Eldora Speedway – Rossburg, Ohio – 53rd annual World 100 for late models