OCALA, FL (February 28, 2026) – Hudson O’Neal took over the lead on lap 37 after race-long leader Brandon Overton suffered a left-rear flat tire, then led the remainder of the race to win the $25,000 Wieland Winter Nationals 50-lap feature Saturday night at Ocala Speedway. It marked O’Neal’s second straight win at Ocala as he led Devin Moran, Tim McCreadie, Jonathan Davenport, and Drake Troutman across the finish line. Overton grabbed the lead at the start of the race with O’Neal, Troutman, and Brandon Sheppard in pursuit. Looking for his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win since last May at Circle City in Indiana, Overton maintained a two-to-three car-length advantage as the top four ran within striking distance during much of the first 15 laps. The top four remained unchanged until Overton slowed under caution with a flat left-rear tire, sending him to the Heartbeat Hot Sauce Hot Pit. O’Neal inherited the lead, and Sheppard moved past Troutman for third on lap 37. Sheppard then advanced to second before suffering a right-rear flat tire with 40 laps complete. Moran moved into the runner-up position as he and sixth-starting McCreadie attempted to chase down O’Neal over the final five laps. However, O’Neal pulled away, crossing the finish line 1.474 seconds ahead to earn his nation-leading seventh win of the season. The victory marked O’Neal’s 37th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph. The 25-year-old Martinsville, Indiana native will head to Golden Isles Speedway next week as the series points leader. “I’m speechless right now. I don’t even know what to say. What an amazing start to the year for this SSI Motorsports team,” said O’Neal. “We have to give credit where credit is due to Kevin Rumley and Longhorn Chassis, who have helped us along the way. It’s so awesome to be in this position. When I crossed the finish line, the first word that came to mind was ‘speechless.’ I just try to give glory to God and do the best we can every day. It wouldn’t be possible without all of you fans, these amazing racetracks, and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series giving us a great place to race.” “Even though we had a lot of rain yesterday and it was kind of uncertain today, Bubba and everyone here at Ocala Speedway worked their tails off to give us the best racetrack possible, and it turned out to be pretty good.” Moran finished second after starting fifth, continuing his streak of top-10 finishes at Ocala. He has never finished outside the top 10 in LOLMDS competition at the Bubba Clem-promoted facility. “It was a good points night. The 71 car is just a little bit better than we are right now,” Moran said. “He can get to the front quicker than we can. I’ve got to figure out why the only two heat races we’ve won this year, we’ve gone on to win the feature that night. We just need to work on our early-night package and start up front more often.” “Honestly, Bubba and those guys did a way better job than any of us expected. We all thought it was going to get really rough and be really bad. It had a little chop, but all-in-all they did a great job,” added the Dresden, Ohio native, who currently sits second in the championship standings. “If I was going to pass Hudson, it was going to have to come from his mistake — maybe if he got over the banking in turns three and four or pushed up into the wall in one and two. I was trying to stay close but also avoid flat tires or hurting the engine. We went four-for-four on the podium here this week, and I can’t complain.” McCreadie, Thursday night’s Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third during Saturday’s finale. “It stayed pretty tacky the whole time. Hats off to Bubba and his guys — they could have easily written it off and quit because it was such a big purse. I don’t think anybody would have blamed them, but they worked hard, and I hope we did it justice for everyone tonight. It was about all you could get tonight.” The winning SSI Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by Clements Racing Engines and sponsored by Big River Steel, Wheeler Metals, Merrill Bonding Company, Professional Concrete Cutting and Drilling, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, Lineal Contracting, Beeman Lumber, Seven Spurs Ranch, Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Lucas Oil Products. Completing the top 10 were Brendan Smith, Max Blair, Kyle Bronson, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Clay Harris. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Wieland Winter NationalsSaturday, February 28, 2026Ocala Speedway | Ocala, FL Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Drake Troutman | 14.525 secondsFast Time Group B: Brandon Overton | 14.338 seconds (Overall) Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 22*-Drake Troutman[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[4]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[6]; 4. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[3]; 5. 58-Garrett Alberson[7]; 6. C4-Freddie Carpenter[9]; 7. 58V-Daulton Wilson[2]; 8. 79-Cory Hedgecock[5]; 9. 32J-Justin Weaver[8] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[2]; 3. 111-Max Blair[5]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[3]; 5. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[6]; 6. 11-Josh Rice[7]; 7. 13-Dallon Murty[4]; 8. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[8]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 9-Tim McCreadie[2]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[3]; 4. 1T-Tyler Erb[4]; 5. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[5]; 6. 40B-Kyle Bronson[6]; 7. 77-Preston Luckman[7]; 8. 09-Michael Leach[8]; 9. 93L-Cory Lawler[9]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 3. 99B-Boom Briggs[3]; 4. 19M-Brenden Smith[4]; 5. 6-Clay Harris[5]; 6. 8-Dillon McCowan[7]; 7. 7-Ross Robinson[8]; 8. 15K-Cody Overton[6] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (6 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[2]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 3. 11-Josh Rice[4]; 4. C4-Freddie Carpenter[3]; 5. 13-Dallon Murty[6]; 6. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[8]; 7. (DNS) 58V-Daulton Wilson; 8. (DNS) 79-Cory Hedgecock; 9. (DNS) 32J-Justin Weaver
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[1]; 3. 8-Dillon McCowan[4]; 4. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 5. 77-Preston Luckman[5]; 6. 09-Michael Leach[7]; 7. 93L-Cory Lawler[9]; 8. 7-Ross Robinson[6]; 9. (DNS) 15K-Cody Overton Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 4 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $26,2002 – 5 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $11,1003 – 6 – 9 – Tim McCreadie – Watertown, NY – $6,0004 – 9 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $4,0005 – 1 – 22* – Drake Troutman – Hyndman, PA – $3,5006 – 16 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $3,4007 – 11 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $2,5008 – 25 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $9009 – 8 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $3,30010 – 18 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $2,80011 – 7 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $2,00012 – 20 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – $1,90013 – 17 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $2,50014 – 15 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $2,40015 – 3 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $2,30016 – 22 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $1,50017 – 2 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $2,30018 – 21 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,20019 – 14 – 1T – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $1,50020 – 10 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $2,20021 – 23 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $2,20022 – 12 – 99B – Boom Briggs – Bear Lake, PA – $1,50023 – 19 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $2,20024 – 13 – 12M – Ryan Montgomery – Fairmont, WV – $1,50025 – 24 – 79 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – $2,200 Race Statistics Entrants: 34Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Drake TroutmanMD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Overton (Laps 1-36); Hudson O’Neal (Laps 37-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Brandon OvertonWieland Feature Winner: Hudson O’NealMargin of Victory: 1.474 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Cory Lawler (Lap 10); Garrett Alberson (Lap 21); Brian Shirley (Lap 36); Carson Ferguson (Lap 39); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 43)MyRacePass Series Provisionals: Cory Lawler; Cory HedgecockFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: Kyle BronsonTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Tim McCreadiePenske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Tim McCreadie, Jonathan Davenport, Drake TroutmanBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Tim McCreadiePEM 4th Place Feature: Jonathan DavenportDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Drake TroutmanWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Max BlairWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Daniel HilsabeckXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Brandon SheppardHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Kyle Bronson (Advanced 17 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Brandon Overton (36 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O’NealMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Hudson O’NealO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Overton | Lap 22 | 14.174 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Brandon OvertonVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Brandon SheppardOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason DurhamARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brenden Smith | 14.693 secondsTime of Race: 28 minutes 39 secondsBig River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1185 – $63,2002 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1135 – $46,8003 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 1045 – $21,6004 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 945 – $29,5755 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 920 – $20,0006 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 920 – $10,1007 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 900 – $12,9008 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 890 – $12,3509 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 870 – $9,60010 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 865 – $11,32511 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 855 – $10,50012 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 840 – $10,32513 – 79 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 795 – $8,80014 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 785 – $12,00015 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 720 – $7,97516 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 715 – $6,95017 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – 655 – $4,65018 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – 640 – $4,55019 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – 640 – $3,50020 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 635 – $3,67521 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 625 – $5,90022 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – 625 – $3,92523 – 77 – Preston Luckman – Coos Bay, OR – 610 – $3,02524 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 540 – $70025 – 5 – Mark Whitener – Middleburg, FL – 515 – $5,400 |
