HUDSON
O'NEAL LEADS EARLY AT BROWNSTOWN...
(August
7, 2022) Next up on the racing calendar for the Double
Down Motorsports (DDM) team was a visit to Brownstown Speedway
in Brownstown, Indiana on Saturday night, August 6. The Valvoline
Iron-Man Late Model Series sanctioned the annual 'Hall of Fame
Classic' last night and a $10,000 payday was up for grabs. Hudson
O'Neal was strong in qualifying and won his heat race in preliminary
action.
After rolling off from the outside of the front row in the 50-lap
headliner, Hudson led the first three circuits of the contest
before he was spun out in front of the field by another competitor,
which caused a massive pile-up. Unfortunately, the Martinsville,
Indiana ace was done for the night with heavy damage and was forced
to settle for a disappointing fourteenth place performance. Complete
results from Saturday's showdown at the 1/4-mile fairgrounds oval
can be accessed online at www.imdirt.net.
(Mark Schaefer Photo)

O'NEAL
WINS AT DAVENPORT FOR $10,000 PAYDAY!
(July
27, 2022) Another busy week greeted the #71 team from
July 19-26 and Hudson O'Neal was able to bag his fifth triumph
of the 2022 campaign in the final event of the swing on Tuesday
night, July 26 at Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa! Hudson
posted the fastest lap in Group A during MARS Racing Series qualifying
before securing a victory in his loaded heat race. After starting
the 'Hoker 50' from the pole position, Hudson controlled the point
for all fifty circuits around the 1/4-mile oval to land the $10,000
payday over runner-up Bobby Pierce, Devin Moran, Max Blair, and
Mike Marlar!
In other action during the hectic week, the Double Down Motorsports
(DDM) team competed against their Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
foes at both Huset's Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota and I-80
Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska. On Tuesday evening, July 19 in
the series first-ever stop to Huset's, Hudson earned Fast Time
honors in qualifying prior to finishing third in his heat race
and fifth in the A-Main behind only $10,000 victor Tim McCreadie,
Mike Marlar, Tyler Erb, and Brandon Sheppard.
At I-80 Speedway over the weekend, 60 competitors showed up to
the Cornhusker State oval for the annual running of the 'Silver
Dollar Nationals.' On Thursday in the 'Dirt Track Bank Go 50,'
Hudson relied on a series provisional to gain access into the
$12,000 to win main event and eventually salvaged a solid tenth
place performance following fifty green flag circuits. During
preliminary action for the 'Silver Dollar Nationals' on Friday,
Hudson placed seventh in his first heat race of the evening and
advanced to third in the final round of heat races. Following
a rain-out on Saturday, the Martinsville, Indiana standout grabbed
the third and final transfer spot through his B-Main before finishing
seventeenth in the $53,000 to win crown jewel headliner on Sunday.
Complete results from the action-packed week can be found online
at www.lucasdirt.com
and www.marsracingseries.com.
(Mike Ruefer Photo)

NEW DEAL
VICTORIOUS AT I-70 & GRANITE CITY!
(July
17, 2022) Hudson O'Neal, of Martinsville, Indiana, recorded
a pair of high-profile Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victories
over the July 14-16 weekend in the states of Missouri and Illinois!
On Thursday night in the first-ever series visit to I-70 Motorsports
Park in Odessa, Missouri, Hudson ran second in his heat race,
but took advantage of a blown motor on Brandon Sheppard's #1 machine
in the waning laps to lead the final two circuits of the 30-lap
feature. At the checkers, Hudson had picked up the $10,000 payday
over a top five that included runner-up Jimmy Owens, Tim McCreadie,
Kyle Strickler, and Ricky Thornton, Jr.!
At Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois on
Friday evening, Hudson won his heat race in preliminary action
before leading laps 1-3 and 6-50 of the headliner. The popular
young driver known as "The New Deal" landed the $12,000
top prize over runner-up Tim McCreadie, Jimmy Owens, Tyler Erb,
and Brandon Sheppard! The tripleheader weekend then wrapped up
on Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri. Hudson
placed fifth in his loaded heat race, won his B-Main, and later
climbed to eleventh in the final finishing order of the $15,000
to win 'CMH Diamond Nationals.' Complete results from each of
these three races can be located online at www.lucasdirt.com.
(Heath Lawson Photography)

O'NEAL
ELEVENTH IN GOPHER 50 DESPITE ISSUES
(July
10, 2022) Fresh off the big win at Davenport, the #71
team bolted to Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota
on July 7-9 for the annual running of the 'Gopher 50,' which was
also sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. In Thursday's
$5,000 to win preliminary show, Hudson O'Neal finished fifth in
his heat race, second in his B-Main, and fifteenth in the 25-lap
sprint. On Friday night in a similar $5,000 to win prelim, Hudson
ran sixth in his heat race and second in his B-Main prior to winding
up eighteenth in the final finishing order of the 25-lapper.
A huge, standing-room-only crowd then assembled
at Deer Creek Speedway on Saturday evening to watch the 'Gopher
50' grand finale, which boasted a whopping $50,000 payday. Hudson
earned enough points during the prelims to start the 75-lap headliner
from the outside of the eighth row. Despite suffering power steering
woes that resulted in him pitting at one point in time during
the contest, the Martinsville, Indiana ace rallied to finish eleventh
at the unfurling of the checkered flag. Hudson still finds himself
fifth in the latest version of the LOLMDS point standings exiting
the Gopher State. Complete results from Deer Creek Speedway can
be found online at www.lucasdirt.com.
(Heath Lawson Photography)

NEW DEAL
VICTORIOUS IN DAVENPORT THRILLER!!
(July
6, 2022) Hudson O'Neal, of Martinsville, Indiana, stood
tall in victory lane earlier tonight, July 6 following a Lucas
Oil Late Model Dirt Series thriller at Davenport Speedway in Davenport,
Iowa! Hudson knocked down the second quickest lap in Group A during
the qualifying session before securing a victory in his loaded
heat race. After rolling off from the inside of the second row
in the 40-lap headliner, Hudson officially led the first circuit
and battled for the point throughout the race before regaining
the top spot for good on lap 34. The popular young driver known
as the "New Deal" captured the $10,000 windfall for
his second triumph of the season over a top five that included
runner-up Brandon Overton, Mike Marlar, Jimmy Owens, and Spencer
Hughes! Complete results from tonight's entertaining show from
the Hawkeye State can be viewed online at www.lucasdirt.com.
(Todd Healy Photo)

O'NEAL
RUNNER-UP IN $30,000 FREEDOM 60!
(July
4, 2022) The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series took the
Double Down Motorsports (DDM) team to the states of Kentucky and
Ohio leading up to the 4th of July holiday, as four straight days
of racing action took place at a trio of different ovals from
June 30-July 3. Things kicked off on Thursday night in the rain-postponed
'Ralph Latham Memorial' at Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky,
which shelled out a $15,000 top prize. Hudson O'Neal ran second
in his heat race prior to knocking down a steady seventh place
effort in the 60-lap main event. At Portsmouth Raceway Park in
Portsmouth, Ohio on Friday evening in the $12,000 to win 'Independence
50,' Hudson placed second in his heat race and later climbed up
to third in the rain-shortened A-Main to land on the podium behind
only victor Ricky Thornton, Jr. and runner-up Tim McCreadie.
Next up was a visit to Muskingum County Speedway
in Zanesville, Ohio, as the 'Freedom 60' program got underway
on Saturday with a trio of split-field, $3,000 to win features.
Hudson earned Fast Time honors of the 36 entrants during qualifying
and later led laps 2-10 of his 20-lap sprint before recording
an impressive runner-up effort behind prelim winner Ricky Thornton,
Jr. At MCS on Sunday, the largest first place prize in track history
was on the line - a $30,000 windfall - in the conclusion of the
'Freedom 60.' The Martinsville, Indiana superstar rolled off from
the outside of the second row and earned another second place
performance in the 60-lap affair behind only victor Brandon Sheppard!
Complete results from the action-packed holiday weekend can be
found online by clicking on www.lucasdirt.com.
(Heath Lawson Photography)

HUDSON
O'NEAL FIFTH IN LERNERVILLE PRELIM
(June
26, 2022) The #71 team made their way to the storied
Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania from June 23-25 for
the 16th edition of the 'Firecracker 100.' The Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series sanctioned the lucrative mega-event for the
very first time and 54 competitors piled into the pit area at
the Keystone State speedplant to do battle in the three day extravaganza.
On Thursday night in a $6,000 to win preliminary event, Hudson
O'Neal placed second in his loaded heat race before winding up
twelfth in the final finishing order of the 30-lap sprint. In
a similar $6,000 to win show on Friday evening, Hudson secured
a heat race triumph prior to placing fifth in the 30-lapper behind
only victor Mike Marlar, Tim McCreadie, Ricky Thornton, Jr., and
Mark Whitener.
When Saturday rolled around at Lernerville Speedway,
a huge crowd assembled to witness who would go home with the whopping
$50,000 top prize in the 'Firecracker 100' grand finale. Hudson
grabbed the second transfer spot through his stacked heat race
and later rolled off from the inside of the fifth row in the 100-lap
headliner. The Martinsville, Indiana star fought hard for a top
ten finish in his first Lernerville trip, but finished just outside
in the twelfth finishing position. Hudson still sits sixth in
the latest version of the LOLMDS point standings exiting the 'Firecracker
100.' Complete results from the entire weekend can be located
online at www.lucasdirt.com.
(Rick Neff Photo)

O'NEAL
TENTH IN SMOKY MOUNTAIN OPENER
(June
19, 2022) A visit to Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville,
Tennessee was in store for the Double Down Motorsports (DDM) team
on June 17-18, as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned
the annual running of the 'Mountain Moonshine Classic.' In his
$5,000 to win prelim on Friday evening, Hudson O'Neal placed third
in his loaded heat race and tenth in his 30-lap feature event.
On Saturday in the weekend finale, which boasted a hefty $50,000
top prize, Hudson finished sixth in his stacked heat race and
fourth in his B-Main. After relying on a series provisional to
gain access into the 60-lap headliner, Hudson was able to move
past eight competitors en route to a sixteenth place showing.
Complete results from the entire 'Mountain Moonshine Classic'
weekend can be found online by clicking on www.lucasdirt.com.
(MRM
Racing Photo)

HUDSON
O'NEAL FINISHES TENTH IN MILLION
(June
12, 2022) The most lucrative stretch of Super Late Model
racing during the year took place from June 8-11 at the famed
Eldora Speedway and Hudson O'Neal was in the pit area at the Rossburg,
Ohio facility to compete in both the 'Eldora Million' and the
'Dirt Late Model Dream.' Following a total washout on Wednesday
night, the entire 'Eldora Million' extravaganza was held on Thursday
at the 1/2-mile oval. During the course of the daytime preliminary
event, which shelled out a $12,000 paycheck, Hudson won his heat
race prior to knocking down a solid sixth place effort in the
25-lap feature. In the nightcap with a whopping $1,002,022 top
prize on the line, Hudson won his heat race, sat on the pole of
the 101-lap headliner, and ultimately wound up tenth in the final
finishing order of the 'Eldora Million.'
When the weekend rolled around at the "Big
E," all focus in the pit area and in our sport quickly turned
to the annual running of the 'Dirt Late Model Dream.' In the $12,000
to win preliminary show on Friday evening, Hudson ran second in
heat race action and later rolled off eighth in the 25-lap sprint,
which was pushed back to Saturday afternoon due to rain. The Martinsville,
Indiana ace eventually placed tenth in the daytime affair and
then set his sights on the 'Dirt Late Model Dream.' Hudson picked
up a heat race triumph later in the night and sat on the pole
of the $128,000 to win contest, but Mother Nature halted the race
after only fourteen circuits and postponed the remainder of the
distance to Wednesday, September 7. Complete results from each
day at Eldora Speedway can be found by logging onto www.eldoraspeedway.com.
(Todd Healy Photo)

O'NEAL
TENTH IN HISTORIC 100 OPENER
(June
5, 2022) The Double Down Motorsports (DDM) team kicked
off a busy month of June at the sprawling West Virginia Motor
Speedway, as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned the
'Historic 100' at the Mineral Wells, West Virginia speedplant.
On Friday night, June 3 in the $15,000 to win opener, Hudson O'Neal
placed third in his heat race to earn the twelfth starting spot
for the 30-lap feature event. Hudson was then able to move past
a couple of cars during the contest to land in the tenth finishing
position.
At WVMS on Saturday evening, June 4 in the weekend finale, which
boasted a whopping $50,000 top prize, Hudson was unfortunately
leading his heat race when he experienced a broken wheel. Following
the eighth place heat race finish, the team unloaded a back-up
car for the 50-lap headliner and utilized a series provisional.
The Martinsville, Indiana ace, who currently finds himself sixth
in the latest LOLMDS point standings, then streaked towards the
top ten from the back until drawing a lap 38 caution flag due
to a broken kill switch. Hudson retired from the race and was
officially relegated to a disappointing eighteenth place effort.
Complete results from the 'Historic 100' weekend can be accessed
by logging onto www.lucasdirt.com.
(Heath Lawson Photography)

HUDSON
FOURTH IN SHOW-ME 100 PRELIM!
(May
31, 2022) Looking to repeat in the 30th Annual 'Show-Me
100,' the Double Down Motorsports (DDM) team invaded the pristine
Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri from May 26-28. Following
a rain-out on Thursday night, a $6,000 to win preliminary program
took place on Friday evening at the Show-Me State facility. Hudson
O'Neal timed in sixteenth fastest in Group A during qualifying
before running third in his loaded heat race. Hudson then picked
off nine competitors during the 40-lap feature en route to an
impressive fourth place effort behind only winner Johnny Scott,
Jonathan Davenport, and Jimmy Owens!
On Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway, all eyes in the pit area were
fixated on capturing the whopping $50,000 top prize in the annual
running of the 'Show-Me 100.' By virtue of accumulating the fourth
most points during the preliminary show, Hudson rolled off from
the outside of the second row in the 100-lap crown jewel headliner.
The Martinsville, Indiana ace battled inside of the top five during
stages of the race and eventually wound up seventh at the unfurling
of the checkered flag. Hudson now finds himself up to sixth in
the latest version of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point
standings following the 'Show-Me 100.'
Following a day off on Sunday, Hudson piloted Alan Magner's #17M
Crate Late Model on Monday, May 30 on the undercard of the 'CJ
Rayburn Memorial' at Circle City Raceway in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He earned Fast Time honors during qualifying, ran second in his
heat race, and later finished third in the $2,000 to win main
event. Complete results from the entire weekend can be found online
at www.lucasdirt.com
and www.circlecityraceway.com.
(Heath
Lawson Photo)

TOP FIVES
FOR O'NEAL IN HAWKEYE STATE
(May
23, 2022) Following the big midweek win at Marshalltown,
the #71 team returned to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
scene from May 20-22 in a doubleheader at 300 Raceway in Farley,
Iowa and 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. On Friday night
in a $12,000 to win showdown at Farley, Hudson O'Neal won his
heat race in preliminary action before winding up fourth in the
50-lap feature behind only winner Tyler Erb, Brandon Sheppard,
and Ricky Thornton, Jr. Following a rain-out on Saturday evening,
a $15,000 top prize was up for grabs at 34 Raceway on Sunday.
Hudson placed second in his heat race before moving up to fifth
in the caution-free 50-lapper to finish behind only victor Tim
McCreadie, Brandon Sheppard, Earl Pearson, Jr., and Garrett Alberson.
Complete results from both Hawkeye State ovals can be found online
at www.lucasdirt.com.
(Heath
Lawson Photo)

NEW DEAL
VICTORIOUS AT MO-TOWN FOR $22,022!
(May
18, 2022) Hudson O'Neal and Double Down Motorsports (DDM)
celebrated in victory lane for the first time in 2022 earlier
tonight, May 18 in their first-ever visit to Marshalltown Speedway
in Marshalltown, Iowa! With 29 entrants signing into the pit area
for the Castrol FloRacing Night in America Series midweek showdown,
Hudson started off the evening by laying down the third quickest
lap overall during qualifying and winning his heat race. The Martinsville,
Indiana star then rolled off from the inside of the second row
in the 50-lap headliner and drove past early leader Ryan Gustin
for the point on the 31st circuit. Hudson then led the remainder
of the contest to pocket the hefty $22,022 top prize ahead of
a top five that included runner-up Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar,
Gustin, and Tyler Erb! Complete results from Mo-Town can be accessed
online by clicking on www.floseries.com.
(Josh
James Artwork)

HUDSON
O'NEAL ON PODIUM TWICE IN ILLINOIS!
(May
15, 2022) The #71 team found themselves in dirt-slinging
action in the Land of Lincoln from May 11-14 in four high-profile
Super Late Model events during "Illinois Speedweek."
Up first was a pair of Castrol FloRacing Night in America Series
battles at Spoon River Speedway in Banner, Illinois and Lincoln
Speedway in Lincoln, Illinois - each of which shelled out a $22,022
winner's check. In the opener at Spoon River on Wednesday, Hudson
O'Neal won his heat race before unfortunately spinning early in
the 50-lap feature and ultimately winding up ninth in the final
finishing order. At Lincoln on Thursday in a similar show, Hudson
ran third in his heat race before advancing up to ninth in the
50-lapper.
Next up for Double Down Motorsports (DDM) was trips
to Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, Illinois and Fairbury Speedway
in Fairbury, Illinois over the weekend for a pair of MARS Racing
Series tilts. On Friday in a $15,000 to win throwdown at Farmer
City, Hudson won his heat race and led the first 14 circuits in
the 47-lap main event before landing a third place podium performance
behind only winner Tyler Erb and runner-up Ricky Thornton, Jr.
In Saturday's $30,000 to win MARS grand finale at FALS, Hudson
placed second in his loaded heat race prior to moving up to third
in the 50-lap headliner to trail only victor Bobby Pierce and
runner-up Brandon Sheppard. Complete results from all four "Illinois
Speedweek" races can be found online by clicking on www.floseries.com
and www.marsracingseries.com.
(Todd Healy Photo)