UNION, KY (May 2, 2026) – Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Indiana took the lead on lap three from Jason Jameson and held off Devin Moran to win the 40th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial on Saturday night at Florence Speedway. O’Neal and Moran entered the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event tied atop the championship standings. With the victory, O’Neal now holds a 30-point advantage over Moran heading into next weekend’s events at Farmer City Raceway and Fairbury Speedway. The win marked O’Neal’s fourth LOLMDS victory of the season and his 12th overall triumph of 2026, earning him $25,000. Moran finished second, 1.060 seconds behind at the finish, while Ricky Thornton Jr., fresh off his win at Circle City on Friday, rounded out the Big River Steel podium in third.Brandon Sheppard and Garrett Alberson completed the top five. In his 38th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory, the 2023 Series Champion is now tied for seventh on the all-time wins list with Tim McCreadie and Brandon Sheppard. O’Neal survived a tense finish, brushing the turn four wall multiple times in the closing laps, to secure his first Ralph Latham Memorial victory since 2018. The event had not been contested since 2023 due to weather interruptions in recent years. “I’ve got to tip my hat to Riley (Sheedy), my body guy,” O’Neal said. “With a couple laps to go, I was just trying to get everything I could. I got a little loose and backed it into the fence – I knew it wasn’t too bad, but I hate that for him, especially with a short turnaround. We’ll get it fixed.”“I felt like the track was widening out in turns three and four, and I was just waiting for someone to show me their nose.” Moran, still seeking his first win in the event that began in 1987, finished second. “I was really good until that one restart,” Moran said. “I thought the top would be better, but Thornton got the bottom. Then on another restart, I got a good run and slid him, but I ended up messing both of us up. I apologized – I should have committed to the fence and given him a chance to cross over. I didn’t want to race him like that.” Thornton, who won the event the last time it was held in 2023, finished third and commented on the late-race contact. “It was just racing – I told him we’re not going golfing together anymore,” Thornton joked. “Nothing to be mad about. The track was pretty good. When we come back in August, I think they’ll widen turns one and two a bit so the top can keep up. Three and four were really good all night. Honestly, these conditions are where I struggle, so to be close to those guys up front, I’m happy.” O’Neal’s winning SSI Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and backed by Big River Steel, Wheeler Metals, Merrill Bonding, Professional Concrete Cutting and Drilling, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, Lineal Contracting, Beeman Lumber, Sunoco Race Fuels, Dicky’s Doghouse, Seven Spurs Ranch, Penske Racing Shocks, Lucas Oil, and Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball. Completing the top ten were Max Blair, Jason Jameson, Brian Shirley, Kyle Bronson, and Dan Ebert. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 40th Annual Ralph Latham MemorialSaturday, May 2, 2026Florence Speedway | Union, KY Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Hudson O’Neal | 16.126 seconds (Overall)Fast Time Group B: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 16.288 seconds Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 3. 8-Dillon McCowan[3]; 4. 44-Dave Hess Jr[4]; 5. 16-Justin Rattliff[7]; 6. 40B-Kyle Bronson[6]; 7. 4-Cody Mahoney[9]; 8. 33AJ-Austin Lay[8]; 9. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 10. (DNS) C4-Freddie Carpenter Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 12J-Jason Jameson[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 3. 111-Max Blair[2]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 5. 44M-Chris Madden[6]; 6. 18-Trevor Landrum[4]; 7. 4GK-Kody Evans[7]; 8. 49G-Billy Green[8]; 9. 8A-Curt Addison[9]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 12J-Jason Jameson[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 3. 111-Max Blair[2]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 5. 44M-Chris Madden[6]; 6. 18-Trevor Landrum[4]; 7. 4GK-Kody Evans[7]; 8. 49G-Billy Green[8]; 9. 8A-Curt Addison[9]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[3]; 2. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 3. 22F-Chris Ferguson[2]; 4. 93L-Cory Lawler[6]; 5. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[4]; 6. 93-Carson Ferguson[7]; 7. C7-Adam Stricker[5]; 8. 8K-Kyle Strickler[9]; 9. 93J-Donovan Jackson[8] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 2. 44M-Chris Madden[2]; 3. 60-Dan Ebert[9]; 4. 4-Cody Mahoney[5]; 5. 16-Justin Rattliff[1]; 6. 18-Trevor Landrum[4]; 7. 4GK-Kody Evans[6]; 8. 33AJ-Austin Lay[7]; 9. 8A-Curt Addison[10]; 10. (DNS) 49G-Billy Green; 11. (DNS) C4-Freddie Carpenter UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 2. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[1]; 3. C7-Adam Stricker[6]; 4. 11M-Michael Chilton[3]; 5. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 6. 5N-Dustin Nobbe[5]; 7. 8K-Kyle Strickler[8]; 8. 59-Dillard Hatchett[9]; 9. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[2]; 10. 93J-Donovan Jackson[10]
40th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $26,4002 – 7 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $11,4003 – 2 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $7,3004 – 4 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $4,9005 – 5 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $4,4006 – 11 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $3,6007 – 3 – 12J – Jason Jameson – Lawrenceburg, IN – $2,5008 – 15 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $3,2009 – 17 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $3,10010 – 21 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $3,00011 – 19 – 44M – Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC – $2,00012 – 6 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $2,80013 – 18 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $2,70014 – 20 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,70015 – 16 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $1,60016 – 23 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $2,40017 – 10 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,50018 – 22 – C7 – Adam Stricker – Batavia, OH – $1,50019 – 9 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $2,40020 – 24 – 18 – Trevor Landrum – Florence, KY – $1,50021 – 14 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $2,40022 – 8 – 157 – Mike Marlar – Winfield, TN – $1,50023 – 13 – 44 – Dave Hess Jr – Waterford, PA – $1,50024 – 12 – 22F – Chris Ferguson – Mt. Holly, NC – $1,500 Race Statistics Entrants: 37Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Hudson O’NealMD3 Lap Leaders: Jason Jameson (Laps 1-2); Hudson O’Neal (Laps 3-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Hudson O’NealWieland Feature Winner: Hudson O’NealMargin of Victory: 1.060 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Josh Rice (Lap 15); Mike Marlar (Lap 24); Dan Ebert (Lap 35); Trevor Landrum (Lap 36); Dillon McCowan (Lap 37)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Clay HarrisFast Time Provisional: Trevor LandrumEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr.Penske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Garrett AlbersonBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Hudson O’Neal, Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr.PEM 4th Place Feature: Brandon SheppardDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Garrett AlbersonWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Jason JamesonWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Chris MaddenVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Carson FergusonXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Cory LawlerHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Dan Ebert (Advanced 10 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O’Neal (48 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O’NealMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Devin Moran; Hudson O’NealO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh RicePro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Hudson O’Neal | Lap 3 | 17.619 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Josh RiceVictory 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: Kyle Bronson | 16.0162 secondsTime of Race: 29 minutes 51 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 2560 – $133,1002 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 2530 – $149,8493 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 2340 – $79,9504 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 2310 – $72,7005 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 2295 – $53,6006 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 2280 – $55,3507 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 2040 – $41,6258 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 2010 – $31,8759 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1980 – $33,70010 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 1965 – $44,20011 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 1965 – $34,50012 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 1940 – $32,87513 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 1905 – $32,87514 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 1660 – $20,90015 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 1645 – $20,72516 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 1630 – $23,15017 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 1450 – $13,52518 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 1340 – $6,300 |
