LAKE CITY, FL (February 21, 2026) – Hudson O’Neal charged from his fourth starting position to take the lead with 20 laps remaining in Saturday night’s 50-lap Wieland Winter Nationals feature at All-Tech Raceway, capturing his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season. O’Neal had to survive a late-race caution with five laps to go after third-running Mark Whitener climbed the wall in turn four. Whitener, who led a race-high 26 laps, suffered right-front suspension damage in the incident and was unable to finish. On the ensuing restart, O’Neal held off Brandon Overton to secure his first career victory at All-Tech in 13 appearances at the Florida facility. Overton crossed the line second, just 0.804 seconds behind the third-generation driver. Clay Harris capped off a strong week at All-Tech with his second podium finish, taking third. Garrett Alberson finished fourth, followed by Carson Ferguson in fifth. Harris jumped to the early lead in the $15,000-to-win feature as weather loomed from the northwest, pacing the field for the first three laps before Whitener took control. Whitener, who entered the weekend as the driver in the field with the most competitive laps at All-Tech, was seeking his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory. The race’s first caution flew on lap 17 for Michael Leach. Whitener maintained the lead on the restart, with O’Neal running second after starting fourth. O’Neal stalked Whitener until lap 30, when he executed an inside move off turn four to take command. Whitener settled into second as Overton began applying pressure. Overton briefly took over the runner-up spot on lap 36, but Whitener reclaimed the position a lap later. Overton finally secured second for good on lap 41, dropping Whitener to third. Four laps later, Whitener’s bid for his first LOLMDS podium ended when he climbed the wall in turn four, bringing out the race’s second and final caution. With five laps remaining and a single-file restart ahead, O’Neal executed flawlessly to fend off Overton and seal the victory. The win marked O’Neal’s 35th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph. The 2023 series champion also recorded his fifth overall victory of the season, making him the early-season winningest driver in the nation. “I definitely didn’t want to see that caution,” said the Martinsville, Indiana native in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. “I felt like I had a good race car, but the top getting into turn one was so far out there that it really opened me up to a slide job if I didn’t get a good restart. I just focused on hitting my marks and making sure I pinched that last tire and got as low as I could down the front straightaway. “I tried to create as much separation as possible. I really thought Whitener was going to be hard to beat. He was running that top really well and was on the ragged edge. I was just trying to pace myself. Luckily, I found something on the bottom in lapped traffic, and it all worked out. I’ve never won here before, so it’s a great feeling to win somewhere new.” Overton, who is returning for another full season with the series, admitted All-Tech has traditionally been a challenging venue for him. Still, he leaves the track with a five-point championship lead heading to Ocala next week. “We’ll take it because this was supposed to be our tough week,” Overton said. “We set fast time in our group every night, won two heats, and were on the podium two nights. This place is super tricky. I think I had a winning car tonight. I struggled early on the bottom — the first couple of laps I tried to poke my nose down there and they just drove around me on the top. Once I moved up, we were really good. Congrats to Hudson and Clay — they’ve been fast all weekend.” Harris finished the week at All-Tech with a second- and third-place finish and believes a mistake on Thursday likely cost him a shot at three podium results. “I just couldn’t run that top like those other guys could,” Harris said. “I hit the tractor tire with the right front and it knocked the toe out, ripped the steering wheel out of my hands. I had to gather it back up and get it back together. Then there at the end, I guess I decided to hit it again.” The winning Todd and Vickie Burns/SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine 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, Lucas Oil, Sunoco Race Fuels, Seven Spurs Ranch, Penske Racing Shocks, and Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball. Completing the top ten were Frank Heckenast Jr., Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Cory Hedgecock, and Kyle Bronson. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary Wieland Winter NationalsSaturday, February 21, 2026All-Tech Raceway | Lake City, FL Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Brandon Overton | 17.135 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Brian Shirley | 17.325 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 7-Ross Robinson[2]; 3. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 4. 11-Josh Rice[4]; 5. 15-Clay Stuckey[5]; 6. 15K-Cody Overton[8]; 7. 31-Tyler Millwood[7]; 8. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[9]; 9. (DNS) 388-Jackson Hise; 10. (DNS) 24-Tyler Wyant Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 5-Mark Whitener[1]; 2. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[2]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 4. 8-Dillon McCowan[6]; 5. 19M-Brenden Smith[5]; 6. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[9]; 7. 77-Preston Luckman[3]; 8. 4-Kale Green[8]; 9. 79-Cory Hedgecock[7]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[4]; 4. 111-Max Blair[6]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[7]; 6. 13-Dallon Murty[8]; 7. 16-Tyler Bruening[5]; 8. 32J-Justin Weaver[10]; 9. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 10. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[9]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 3. 09-Michael Leach[5]; 4. 44-Chris Madden[3]; 5. 81F-Jadon Frame[6]; 6. 12R-Ryan Payne[8]; 7. 60-Dan Ebert[7]; 8. 6B-Adam Boyd[9]; 9. (DNS) C4-Freddie Carpenter Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 19M-Brenden Smith[2]; 2. 79-Cory Hedgecock[10]; 3. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[7]; 4. 31-Tyler Millwood[5]; 5. 4-Kale Green[8]; 6. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[4]; 7. 15-Clay Stuckey[1]; 8. 15K-Cody Overton[3]; 9. 77-Preston Luckman[6]; 10. (DNS) 388-Jackson Hise; 11. (DNS) 24-Tyler Wyant
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[1]; 2. 13-Dallon Murty[3]; 3. 60-Dan Ebert[6]; 4. 81F-Jadon Frame[2]; 5. 16-Tyler Bruening[5]; 6. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[11]; 7. 32J-Justin Weaver[7]; 8. 93L-Cory Lawler[9]; 9. 6B-Adam Boyd[8]; 10. 12R-Ryan Payne[4]; 11. C4-Freddie Carpenter[10] Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 4 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $16,1002 – 1 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $7,7003 – 2 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $5,7004 – 8 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $4,7005 – 11 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $3,7006 – 21 – 99JR – Frank Heckenast Jr – Frankfort, IL – $2,5007 – 9 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $3,6008 – 10 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $3,0009 – 19 – 79 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – $2,90010 – 18 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $2,10011 – 22 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $2,70012 – 13 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,50013 – 6 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $1,60014 – 14 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $1,50015 – 16 – 44 – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – $1,40016 – 5 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – $1,30017 – 17 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $1,90018 – 23 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $2,20019 – 3 – 5 – Mark Whitener – Middleburg, FL – $1,00020 – 7 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,70021 – 15 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $1,00022 – 12 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – $1,00023 – 20 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $1,00024 – 24 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $1,700 Race Statistics Entrants: 38Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Brandon OvertonMD3 Lap Leaders: Clay Harris (Laps 1-3); Mark Whitener (Laps 4-29); Hudson O’Neal (Laps 30-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Mark WhitenerWieland Feature Winner: Hudson O’NealMargin of Victory: 0.804 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Michael Leach (Lap 17); Mark Whitener (Lap 45)MyRacePass Series Provisionals: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Cory LawlerFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Overton, Clay HarrisPenske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Overton, Clay Harris, Garrett Alberson, Carson FergusonBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Overton, Clay HarrisPEM 4th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Carson FergusonWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Devin MoranWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Dan EbertVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Brian ShirleyXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Chris MaddenHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Frank Heckenast, Jr. (Advanced 15 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Mark Whitener (26 Laps)Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O’NealMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Devin MoranO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Mark Whitener | Lap 21 | 19.792 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Mark WhitenerVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Hudson O’NealOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason DurhamARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brian Shirley | 16.8697 secondsTime of Race: 22 minutes 58 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 690 – $13,9002 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 685 – $22,1003 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 675 – $21,2004 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 650 – $15,9005 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 575 – $7,5006 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 575 – $12,6007 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 550 – $5,9008 – 79 – Cory Hedgecock – Loudon, TN – 545 – $6,4009 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 545 – $6,50010 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 535 – $7,00011 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 535 – $5,10012 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 520 – $5,15013 – 5 – Mark Whitener – Middleburg, FL – 515 – $5,30014 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 510 – $4,25015 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 495 – $5,40016 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 415 – $3,60017 – 44 – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – 405 – $3,20018 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 395 – $2,12519 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – 390 – $2,10020 – 7 – Ross Robinson – Georgetown, DE – 385 – $2,40021 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – 380 – $1,15022 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 375 – $3,50023 – 77 – Preston Luckman – Coos Bay, OR – 375 – $2,02524 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 375 – $1,27525 – 81F – Jadon Frame – Winchester, TN – 355 – $1,20026 – 31 – Tyler Millwood – Kingston, GA – 355 – $1,20027 – 9 – Michael Leach – Sun River, MT – 355 – $1,20028 – 32J – Justin Weaver – Clearspring, MD – 350 – $1,00029 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – 330 – $30030 – 99JR – Frank Heckenast Jr – Frankfort, IL – 315 – $2,60031 – 388 – Jackson Hise – Ocala, FL – 310 – $1,80032 – 24 – Tyler Wyant – Oil City, PA – 310 – $1,80033 – 6B – Adam Boyd – Riverview, FL – 310 – $30034 – 16 – Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – 300 – $95035 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 295 – $30036 – 15K – Cody Overton – Thomson, GA – 260 – $1,15037 – 4 – Kale Green – Pelion, SC – 230 – $20038 – 12R – Ryan Payne – Pennsboro, WV – 195 – $100 |
