Hudson O’Neal and Jonathan Davenport were both winners in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action in the Hawkeye State over the weekend.
O’Neal took top honors on Thursday night at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, while Blairsville, Georgia’s Davenport was the winner on Friday night at 300 Raceway in Farley, Iowa.
On Thursday, O’Neal passed Davenport on lap 48 and went on to score his second series win of the season at 34 Raceway.
O’Neal battled with his father Don for several laps after the 18-year-old charged from the 10th starting position. Then, a single file restart with three laps to go saw O’Neal pass Davenport to score the win.
Hudson O’Neal’s fourth career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory came over Davenport, Josh Richards, Kyle Bronson and Earl Pearson, Jr.
Don O’Neal took the lead heading the down the backstretch on lap 38, but that lap was never completed as contact between Don O’Neal and Davenport caused the caution flag when O’Neal came to a halt with a left rear flat.
Davenport then went back in front with Hudson O’Neal in second. It was the fateful lap 47 that allowed Hudson O’Neal to saddle up behind Davenport. The 3-lap shootout was set, and Hudson O’Neal came out on top. Davenport then held off Richards by just half-a-car length for second.
“Oh my gosh, I am out of breath,” said the winner. “The surface was bumpy, but it made for some good racing. I was all over this thing. It really widened out there at the end and it gave me a chance to make a move there on (Davenport). We weren’t very good at the beginning, but we continually got better and better. I just put myself in a good position there at the end.”
On Friday night, Jonathan Davenport dominated at 300 Raceway, leading all 50 laps and collecting $12,000 for the effort.
Davenport survived a late-race charge from Tyler Erb to claim his sixth series win of the season. Devin Moran trailed Davenport and Erb to the finish line, passing Josh Richards on the final lap to take third. Richards came home fourth, followed by Tim McCreadie who crossed the finish line in fifth after starting in 20th.
Davenport took the lead at the start of the Truck Country 50, with polesitter Brian Birkhofer settling into the second spot. In only his second race of the 2019 season, Birkhofer set fast time and went on to earn the pole.
Throughout the race, various drivers challenged for the top spot. Along with Birkhofer and Erb, Moran and Richards also made a bid for the lead. Erb closed the gap on Davenport in the final laps but came up just short at the finish line.
The win marks Davenport’s 42nd-career series victory.
“I wasn’t going to let another race slip away this weekend,” Davenport said. “Hudson did a great job last night. Hats off to my crew, I tore the car up last night, not on purpose. They worked hard on this car today and everything was spot-on tonight.”
On Saturday night, Mother Nature intervened, washing out the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series NAPA North Star Nationals scheduled for Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota.
A forecast for heavy rain and severe thunderstorms throughout the region forced track and series officials to cancel the event.
“This is really disappointing for us, our fans and our drivers,” said Series Director Rick Schwallie. “The safety of everyone is our first priority. After closely monitoring the forecast and the high probability of severe storms, it’s in the best interest for everyone involved. We look forward to returning to Deer Creek Speedway in 2020.”
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
34 Raceway – West Burlington, IA
TruAcre 50 – May 16, 2019
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | EARNINGS |
| 1 | 8 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $10,700 |
| 2 | 1 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $6,600 |
| 3 | 7 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $4,300 |
| 4 | 14 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $3,450 |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $3,050 |
| 6 | 6 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $2,700 |
| 7 | 9 | 18J | Chase Junghans | Manhattan, KS | $1,500 |
| 8 | 18 | 50 | Shanon Buckingham | Morristown, TN | $1,300 |
| 9 | 2 | 16T | Tyler Bruening | Decorah, IA | $1,200 |
| 10 | 11 | 1M | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH | $1,900 |
| 11 | 5 | 21JR | Billy Moyer, Jr. | Batesville, AR | $1,775 |
| 12 | 16 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $1,850 |
| 13 | 22 | 2s | Stormy Scott | Las Cruses, NM | $1,025 |
| 14 | 13 | 1T | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | $1,700 |
| 15 | 23 | 12J | Jason Jameson | Lawrenceburg, IN | $1,650 |
| 16 | 4 | 21 | Billy Moyer | Batesville, AR | $925 |
| 17 | 19 | 32P | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL | $900 |
| 18 | 17 | 99JR | Frank Heckenast, Jr. | Frankfort, IL | $875 |
| 19 | 21 | 29d | Spencer Diercks | Davenport, IA | $850 |
| 20 | 10 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $1,525 |
| 21 | 20 | 1s | Chad Simpson | Mt. Vernon, IA | $800 |
| 22 | 12 | 18 | Shannon Babb | Mowequa, IL | $800 |
| 23 | 15 | 32S | Chris Simpson | Oxford, IA | $800 |
| 24 | 24 | 2M | Allen Murray | San Antonio, TX | $800 |
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
300 Raceway – Farley, Iowa
Truck Country 50 – May 17, 2019
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | EARNING |
| 1 | 2 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $13,100 |
| 2 | 4 | 1T | Tyler Erb | New Waverly, TX | $6,300 |
| 3 | 16 | 1M | Devin Moran | Dresden, OH | $4,200 |
| 4 | 9 | 14 | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $3,550 |
| 5 | 20 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $2,950 |
| 6 | 5 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $2,600 |
| 7 | 13 | 18 | Shannon Babb | Mowequa, IL | $1,500 |
| 8 | 17 | 21 | Billy Moyer, Jr. | Batesville, AR | $2,000 |
| 9 | 8 | 1s | Chad Simpson | Mt. Vernon, IA | $1,200 |
| 10 | 15 | 32S | Chris Simpson | Oxford, IA | $1,100 |
| 11 | 6 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $1,875 |
| 12 | 19 | 12J | Jason Jameson | Lawrenceburg, IN | $1,050 |
| 13 | 12 | 58 | Jeremiah Hurst | Dubuque, IA | $1,025 |
| 14 | 7 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $1,700 |
| 15 | 3 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $1,700 |
| 16 | 22 | 2s | Stormy Scott | Las Cruses, NM | $1,000 |
| 17 | 10 | 50 | Shanon Buckingham | Morristown, TN | $1,700 |
| 18 | 24 | 40 | Joel Callahan | Dubuque, iA | $1,000 |
| 19 | 14 | 16T | Tyler Bruening | Decorah, IA | $1,000 |
| 20 | 18 | 29d | Spencer Diercks | Davenport, IA | $1,000 |
| 21 | 23 | 17 | Tim Simpson | Iowa City, IA | $1,000 |
| 22 | 1 | OU812 | Brian Birkhofer | Muscatine, IA | $1,000 |
| 23 | 11 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $1,900 |
| 24 | 21 | 32c | Chad Holladay | Muscatine, IA | $1,000 |
