Dirt on Dirt - O'Neal grabs Eagle's opening $10,000 prelim

May 14

Eagle Raceway,

Eagle, NE

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Malvern Bank High Bank Heist prelim) - $10,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated May 15, 2:58 am)

O'Neal grabs Eagle's opening $10,000 prelim

Malvern Bank High Bank Heist prelim

Hudson O'Neal
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Brandon Sheppard
Max Blair
Jonathan Davenport
Brian Shirley
Devin Moran
Kyle Bronson
Garrett Alberson
Dallon Murty
Cory Lawler
Dillon McCowan
Josh Rice
Tyler Bruening
Tad Pospisil
Brandon Overton
Carson Ferguson
Brenden Smith
Jesse Sobbing
Clay Harris
Dan Ebert
Daniel Hilsabeck
Chase Junghans
Blair Nothdurft

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Hudson O'Neal grabbed his first Eagle Raceway victory.

What won the race: Sneaking under pole-starting Brandon Overton in the inside groove on a lap-31 restart, Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., led the rest of Thursday's 40-lap Malvern Bank High Bank Heist opener at Eagle Raceway for a $10,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series payday. The seventh-starting O'Neal, who took the checkers 0.616 of a second ahead of 15th-starting Ricky Thornton Jr., notched his fifth series victory of the season.

Quotable: "(Brandon) Overton was quite a bit better than I was around the cushion, but whenever we got to move into that bottom, I was pretty good, and I just tried to stay patient down there and then finally had a restart to where I could get up underneath of him. I hate he had a little bit of misfortune with a flat tire," O'Neal said, later adding that "I think I can get a little bit better and maybe have a chance at that $50,000 on Saturday."

Key notes: The points-leading Hudson O'Neal, who has a sport-leading 13 victories overall in 2026, notched his 36th career full-field series victory. ... Brandon Overton, seeking his first tour victory in more than a year, led laps 1-17 and 21-30 and was running second when a flat left-rear tire forced him to pit. He ended up 16th. ... The first lap was lively with Overton making contact in sliding in front of Garrett Alberson in turn two. ... Alberson slipped back to fifth, but quickly got back into contention and swung around Overton exiting turn four to take the lead on the 18th lap. ... Alberson got too high exiting turn two on a lap-21 restart and Overton raced by on the backstretch to regain command. ... Max Blair and Jonathan Davenport got together on a lap-35 restart and again after the lap-37 restart while battling for second. ... Davenport slipped to fifth after the late-race contact. ... Six cautions slowed the action, the first on the 21st lap for debris and a slowing Blair Nothdurft. ... On the ensuing restart, Daniel Hilsabeck went around for another quick caution. ... Josh Rice slowed with a flat tire on the 31st lap. ... On the 35th lap, Overton's flat slowed the action. ... On the lap-35 restart, Dan Ebert spun. ... The final caution dropped on the 38th lap when Chase Junghans jumped the cushion in turn one and retired. ... Friday's action brings another $10,000-to-win 40-lapper with Saturday's finale paying $50,000-to-win. … Watch live on FloRacing.

On the move: In a backup car, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., started 15th and finished second.

Winner's sponsors: O’Neal’s SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis was powered by a Clements Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Wheeler Metals, Professional Concrete, Dyno One, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Big River Steel, O'Neal's Salvage & Recycling, Merrill Bonding, Indiana USSSA Fastpitch, SevenSpursRanch.com, Lineal Inc. Contracting, Penske Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels and Midwest Sheet Metal.

Points chase: After Eagle Thursday: 1. Hudson O’Neal (2,945); 2. Devin Moran (2,855); 3. Brandon Sheppard (2,780); 4. Ricky Thornton Jr. (2,695); T5. Brandon Overton (2,650); T5. Max Blair (2,650); 7. Brian Shirley (2,410); 8. Garrett Alberson (2,405); 9. Kyle Bronson (2,325); 10. Josh Rice (2,300).

Current weather: Clear, 73°F

Car count: 31

Fast qualifier: Garrett Alberson

Time: 13.701 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Overton

Heat race winners: Brandon Overton, Chase Junghans, Garrett Alberson, Max Blair

Consolation race winners: Dallon Murty

Provisional starters: Daniel Hilsabeck, Brenden Smith

Next series race: May 15, Eagle Raceway (Eagle, NE) $10,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

EAGLE, Neb. — Updates from Thursday’s Malvern Bank High Bank Heist opener at Eagle Raceway, highlighted by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Sneaking under pole-starting Brandon Overton in the inside groove on a lap-31 restart, Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., led the rest of Thursday's 40-lap Malvern Bank High Bank Heist opener at Eagle Raceway for a $10,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series payday. The seventh-starting O'Neal, who took the checkers 0.616 of a second ahead of 15th-starting Ricky Thornton Jr., notched his fifth series victory of the season.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Brandon Overton, Garrett Alberson
Row 2: Chase Junghans, Max Blair
Row 3: Blair Nothdurft, Jonathan Davenport
Row 4: Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Bronson
Row 5: Brian Shirley, Brandon Sheppard
Row 6: Cory Lawler, Devin Moran
Row 7: Dan Ebert, Josh Rice
Row 8: Ricky Thornton Jr., Tyler Bruening
Row 9: Dallon Murty, Dillon McCowan
Row 10: Clay Harris, Jesse Sobbing
Row 11: Carson Ferguson, Tad Pospisil
Row 12: Daniel Hilsabeck, Brenden Smith

Consolation race results

(10 laps; top six transfer)

Consolation: Dallon Murty, Dillon McCowan, Clay Harris, Jesse Sobbing, Carson Ferguson, Tad Pospisil, Collen Winebarger, Clay Stuckey, Daniel Hilsabeck, Brenden Smith, Dylan Sillman, Curt Schroeder, Mike Morton Jr., Dan Battaglia. Scratched: Junior Coover.

Heat race recap

Brandon Overton cruised to win the night’s first heat race from the pole, leading all eight laps and crossing the line 1.640 seconds ahead of Blair Nothdurft, who trailed Overton all the way. Fifth-starting Brian Shirley finished third with third-starting Dan Ebert hanging on for the fourth and final transfer spot into the 40-lap main event. … Third-starting Chase Junghans earned a flag-to-flag victory in winning the second heat by 1.201 seconds over Hudson O’Neal, who grabbed second from Cory Lawler as they raced towards the white flag, relegating Lawler to third. Fifth-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. finished fourth, punching his ticket into the $10,000-to-win High Bank Heist opener, along with the top-three finishers. The night’s first caution flag flew on the opening lap when Clay Stuckey’s left-rear wheel and tire assembly came off in the first turn; Stuckey was unable to continue and credited with eighth. … Garrett Alberson controlled the entire distance in dominating fashion, winning heat three by 1.238 seconds over Jonathan Davenport, who trailed him all eight laps. Brandon Sheppard and Josh Rice both held serve in completing the top-four finishers. … Max Blair cruised to win the fourth and final heat race from the pole, leading all eight laps and taking the checkers 0.255 of a second over Kyle Bronson, who grabbed second from Devin Moran when Moran slipped high on the third lap. Tyler Bruening started and finished fourth, earning a starting position in the night’s feature.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Brandon Overton, Blair Nothdurft, Brian Shirley, Dan Ebert, Clay Harris, Tad Pospisil, Brenden Smith, Mike Morton Jr.

Second heat: Chase Junghans, Hudson O'Neal, Cory Lawler, Ricky Thornton Jr., Carson Ferguson, Dylan Sillman, Dan Battaglia, Clay Stuckey.

Third heat: Garrett Alberson, Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Sheppard, Josh Rice, Dallon Murty, Jesse Sobbing, Daniel Hilsabeck. Scratched: Junior Coover.

Fourth heat: Max Blair, Kyle Bronson, Devin Moran, Tyler Bruening, Dillon McCowan, Collen Winebarger, Curt Schroeder.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 13.702
2. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 13.750
3. Blair Nothdurft (76N), Renner, S.D., 13.905
4. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 13.930
5. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 13.956
6. Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 13.968
7. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.072
8. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.101
9. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.125
10. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.129
11. Tad Pospisil (04), Norfolk, Neb., 14.308
12. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.326
13. Brenden Smith (19m), Dade City, Fla., 14.398
14. Dylan Sillman (35D), Alvo, Neb., 14.509
15. Mike Morton Jr. (71m), Omaha, Neb., 15.089
16. Dan Battaglia (45D), Gretna, Neb., 16.304
Group B
1. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 13.701
2. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 13.939
3. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 13.955
4. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 13.971
5. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 14.039
6. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.120
7. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 14.133
8. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 14.223
9. Jesse Sobbing (99-18), Malvern, Iowa, 14.256
10. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 14.350
11. Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, 14.353
12. Collen Winebarger (14s), Corbett, Ore., 14.383
13. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 14.483
14. Curt Schroder (15c), Newton, Iowa, 15.173
15. Junior Coover (10), Norfolk, Neb., no time

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
2 p.m. - Pits open
2:45 p.m. - Tech and registration open
5:30 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:45 p.m. - Tech and registration close
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modified hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (10 laps)
Consolation races
- Late Models (10 laps)
- Modifieds (12 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (40 laps)
- Modifieds (20 laps)