COLUMBUS, Miss. - Hudson O’Neal took the lead from defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion, Josh Richards with seven laps to go and held off a hard-charging Bobby Pierce to score the $20,000 victory in the “Clash at the Mag” at Mississippi’s Magnolia Motor Speedway.
The 17-year-old third generation driver battled amongst the top five for most of the race before beginning his charge to the front. O’Neal moved around Tim McCreadie to take second and then tracked down race-leader Josh Richards, who had been in control for much of the race.
O’Neal dove to the inside of Richards coming off of turn with seven circuits remaining to take the top spot. He then had to contend with Pierce, who had pitted earlier in the race and charged all the way through the field to give O’Neal a challenge in the closing laps.
Pierce finished in second with Richards in third, Scott Bloomquist in fourth and Tim McCreadie in fifth.
In earning his first-career series victory, O’Neal, son of former series champion Don O’Neal (who finished seventh in the race), received several congratulatory wishes from his father, his crew, and other competitors as he gave an emotional victory lane speech.
“I can’t believe it,” O’Neal. “I just saved my stuff there early on. That was a great race. I just wanted to keep the tires under me and not abuse them. I stayed down there on the bottom where there was enough moisture to catch Josh.
“Josh and I had a good battle there for a few laps. He raced me clean and I can’t thank him enough. I hope the fans who watched this enjoyed it, because I sure did. I have to thank my car owners Todd and Vickie Burns, my crew chief Taylon Center and the entire team. Both Josh and Bobby ran a great race, it was a lot of fun.”
Earl Pearson, Jr., Don O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Mason Zeigler and Spencer Hughes rounded out the top ten.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Magnolia Motor Speedway – Columbus, MS
Clash at the Mag – June 16, 2018
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | EARNINGS |
| 1 | 6 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $20,700 |
| 2 | 11 | 32 | Bobby Pierce | Oakwood, IL | $10,700 |
| 3 | 3 | 1R | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $7,000 |
| 4 | 9 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | $4,800 |
| 5 | 5 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $4,200 |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $3,400 |
| 7 | 12 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $2,900 |
| 8 | 7 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $2,900 |
| 9 | 8 | 25Z | Mason Zeigler | Chalk Hill, PA | $1,900 |
| 10 | 23 | 10 | Spencer Hughes | Meridian, MS | $1,750 |
| 11 | 13 | 14 | Darrell Lanigan | Union, KY | $2,350 |
| 12 | 18 | 28 | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | $1,600 |
| 13 | 10 | 22 | Gregg Satterlee | Indiana, PA | $2,250 |
| 14 | 14 | 18X | Jack Sullivan | Greenbrier, AR | $1,500 |
| 15 | 16 | 14z | Zach McMillan | Gladewater, TX | $1,450 |
| 16 | 24 | 77 | Gavin Landers | Batesville, AR | $1,400 |
| 17 | 15 | 21xxx | Neil Baggett | Columbus, MS | $1,350 |
| 18 | 2 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $2,100 |
| 19 | 20 | 71w | Chris Wall | Springfield, LA | $1,250 |
| 20 | 21 | 90 | Brian Rickman | Columbus, MS | $1,200 |
| 21 | 22 | d8 | Mike Palasini, Jr. | Leland, MS | $1,200 |
| 22 | 4 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $1,900 |
| 23 | 19 | 1C | Chad Thrash | Meridian, MS | $1,200 |
| 24 | 17 | 86 | Rick Rickman | Columbus, MS | $1,200 |
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/6/683106/hudson-oneal-earns-first-lucas-oil-win-at-magnolia