WHEATLAND, Mo. — Hudson O’Neal emerged from an early duel with Jonathan Davenport and went on to prevail on Friday night at Lucas Oil Speedway, capturing night one of the 12th annual Spring Nationals Presented by Iconic Apparel.
The Martinsville, Ind., driver pocketed $7,000 for the unsanctioned late model victory, beating Davenport by two seconds in a battle of former Show-Me 100 winners.
O’Neal started inside of Davenport on row one of Friday’s 40-lapper and Davenport was credited with the lead by a few feet at the conclusion of the opening circuit. O’Neal used the inside line to inch in front the next time around and never surrendered the top spot the rest of the way.
“It’s been a rocky start to the season,” O’Neal said, “but being able to hire Jason Durham and Todd Burns … everybody has done a great job. They’ve given me a great crew that’s behind and they’ve worked their tails off. I appreciate all my guys.”
Davenport said he got into O’Neal slightly going into turn three in the early going as he tried to regain the lead, but fortunately both cars came away unscathed by the close shave that left a small racing stripe on the side of his car.
“He was really good, for sure,” Davenport said. “I couldn’t believe the bottom was that good when we first took off. Once he did get by me, I could move into his lane and he was still a little better than we was.
“I’m just gonna go back and we’re gonna make us a drink and think about this.”
O’Neal opened a 1.3-second lead over Davenport by lap eight as lapped traffic began to play a factor. O’Neal maneuvered through the slower cars, though Davenport began to cut into the margin a bit by lap 15.
The difference was back to 1.5 seconds at the halfway mark as the action remained caution-free. Brandon Overton advanced to third by that point with Mike Marlar fourth.
O’Neal narrowly avoided a disaster on lap 28 when Scott Crigler suddenly slowed, right in front of him coming off turn two. O’Neal yanked to the outside of Crigler in time to avoid contact, but a caution flew as Crigler’s car limped to the edge of he infield before rolling to a stop.
The caution wiped out a 2.4-second lead and gave Davenport’s chances life with 12 laps remaining. Davenport opted to start outside of turn two with Overton to the inside, but O’Neal nailed the restart and needed just three laps to open a 1.2-second lead.
With a clear track ahead, O’Neal hit his marks from there as action remained under green. The 2021 Show-Me 100 winner beat Davenport, the reigning Show-Me 100 champ, by 2.074 seconds.
“This feels like so much bigger than $7,000 for us,” O’Neal said. “We’re excited about the future. We’ve always enjoyed coming here. The race track was pretty good and we were able to put on a good show.
“I was a little nervous about when J.D. got the start on me at the beginning. He’s a tough one whenever he gets out front. We were able to find the bottom a little earlier than those guys and were able to work back by him.”
Overton was about one second behind Davenport for third with Marlar fourth and Mason Oberkramer fifth after starting 10th.
Jared Hays captured the $650 first prize in the Hickamo Super Stocks, beating Brian Worley by just over one second in the 20-lap feature.
Seventh-starting Damon Clevenger of Parkville took command in the early stages and rolled to the Show-Me Vintage Racers feature win.
The finish:
Feature (40 laps): 1. 71-Hudson O’Neal[2]; 2. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 3. 76-Brandon Overton[5]; 4. 157-Mike Marlar[6]; 5. 93O-Mason Oberkramer[10]; 6. 22D-Daniel Hilsabeck[7]; 7. 93-Carson Ferguson[8]; 8. 97-Cade Dillard[3]; 9. 8-Dillon McCowan[13]; 10. 11GG-Gordy Gundaker[11]; 11. 98-Justin Wells[14]; 12. 11-Jeff Herzog[4]; 13. 74-Mitch McGrath[19]; 14. 11K-Jon Kirby[20]; 15. 11T-Trevor Gundaker[21]; 16. 1X-Aaron Marrant[16]; 17. (DNF) 12-Scott Crigler[17]; 18. (DNF) 8K-Tyler Kuykendall[12]; 19. (DNF) 5-Logan Martin[18]; 20. (DNF) 2-Tyler Stevens[22]; 21. (DNF) 21-Billy Moyer Sr[23]; 22. (DNF) 7-Cole Wells[15]; 23. (DNF) 56-Tony Jackson Jr[9]; 24. (DNF) 31C-Cole Henson[24]
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