HUDSON O'NEAL SET TO PILOT MASTERSBILT HOUSE CAR IN 2020!!!
(November 23, 2019) Less than a month removed from announcing that his 2020 plans were up in the air following the dissolution of SSI Motorsports, it was revealed today that Hudson O'Neal will wheel the MasterSbilt House Car for the Crothersville, Indiana-based chassis manufacturer next year! Hudson will pilot a yellow #71 machine, which will hearken back to when his dad - Don O'Neal - drove for the Masters family from 2009-2013. Hudson will help reactivate the house car program for MasterSbilt and the newly-formed combination has designs to start the 2020 campaign in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action during "Speedweeks" in Georgia and Florida.

Sponsorship is still being finalized, but the team will receive backing from Jim Beeman Lumber, who will contribute Jay Dickens engines to the effort. Hudson, who picked up five victories in 2019 and finished seventh in the final Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point standings, has plans on returning to the national touring series full-time next year, along with entering a multitude of other major Super Late Model events. More details will be announced as they are finalized! (Mike Ruefer Photo)

O'NEAL CLOSES OUT TENURE WITH SSI MOTORSPORTS AT CHARLOTTE
(November 10, 2019) SSI Motorsports entered their final two races of the 2019 season from November 7-9 in the annual 'World Finals' at the pristine Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, North Carolina. Following World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series qualifying on Thursday at the 4/10-mile speedplant, the first of two $12,000 to win programs took center stage in front of a packed Charlotte crowd on Friday night. Hudson O'Neal placed fifth in his heat race, won his B-Main, and later climbed nine spots during the course of the 50-lap headliner on his way to a twelfth place showing. In his final start for SSI Motorsports in Saturday's finale, Hudson finished fourth in his B-Main before winning his B-Main and advancing to fourteenth in the final finishing order of the 50-lapper. Full results from the 'World Finals' weekend can be accessed online at www.woolms.com.

HUDSON O'NEAL LOOKS FOR NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR 2020 SEASON
(October 31, 2019) Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular and 2017 Rookie of the Year Hudson O'Neal announced today that he is looking for a new opportunity for the 2020 racing season after he was informed on Monday that SSI Motorsports would be stepping away from the sport and not fielding a race team next season. Hudson, who started in a Crate Late Model with the Todd and Vickie Burns-owned team back in 2016 and quickly transitioned to a Super Late Model, will enter one more event with SSI Motorsports from November 7-9 at the pristine Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, North Carolina. A pair of $12,000 top prizes will be on the line with the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series during the 13th edition of the Can-Am 'World Finals.' (MRM Racing Photos)

"As a lot of you are aware, I have been driving for SSI Motorsports and Todd Burns for the last four years," quoted O'Neal today. "It has been a pleasure working with such an amazing car owner and all the people that surround that program. I'm saddened to inform that SSI Motorsports and myself will be parting ways after Charlotte and will no longer be racing together for the 2020 season. The motorsports stable will not be fielding a race car next year and they have decided to step away. I am grateful for every minute I have been able to spend with the Burns family and the whole Sub-Surface of Indiana operation. I have built many friendships that will last a lifetime!" | full press release

O'NEAL NINTH IN $100K DTWC; FINISHES SEVENTH IN FINAL POINTS!
(October 20, 2019) The long year with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series that started in early February in Georgia and Florida during "Speedweeks" wrapped up over the October 18-19 weekend with the 39th Annual 'Dirt Track World Championship' at Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, Ohio. A stellar 66 car field converged on PRP to do battle for the whopping $100,000 paycheck. On Friday night, Hudson O'Neal laid down the tenth quickest lap in Group B during qualifying before running third in his loaded heat race.

After amassing the sixteenth most points during preliminary action, Hudson rolled off from the outside of the eighth row in Saturday's 100-lap crown jewel headliner. The Martinsville, Indiana ace then drove past seven competitors during the extra-distance affair to place ninth in the final finishing order of the DTWC. With the top ten effort, Hudson officially landed in the seventh spot in the final version of the LOLMDS point standings. Full results from the DTWC weekend can be viewed by clicking on www.lucasdirt.com.

HUDSON O'NEAL COMPETES AT DIXIE; SEES RAIN AT ROME...
(October 14, 2019) With the rain-out of last night's annual 'Rome Showdown' at Rome Speedway in Rome, Georgia, Hudson O'Neal competed in only one event over the weekend on Saturday, October 12 at the historic Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Georgia. A stellar field of 39 competitors piled into the Atlanta-area venue to vie for the $12,000 windfall in the 'Dixie Shootout.' Hudson O'Neal clicked off the fourth quickest lap in Group B during Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series qualifying prior to grabbing the fourth transfer spot through his stacked heat race. After rolling off from the outside of the eighth row in the 50-lap finale, Hudson wound up finishing right where he started in the caution-free affair... in the sixteenth position. The Martinsville, Indiana ace currently finds himself seventh in the latest version of the LOLMDS point standings exiting the Peach State. Full results from Dixie Speedway can be accessed online at www.lucasdirt.com.

O'NEAL FOURTH AT RACEWAY 7; WINDS UP WITH TOP TEN AT PPMS
(October 6, 2019) The SSI Motorsports team returned to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series scene on October 4-5 with a pair of events in the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. On Friday night in a $12,000 to win tilt at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, Ohio, Hudson O'Neal placed second in his heat race prior to moving up four spots during the 50-lap main event to finish fourth in the final rundown behind only victor Kyle Bronson, Tim McCreadie, and Josh Richards. At the sprawling Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in Imperial, Pennsylvania on Saturday evening in the 31st annual running of the 'Pittsburgher 100,' Hudson won his heat race and ran in the top five early in the 100-lap distance before a tangle with Jimmy Owens on lap 48 cost him a chance at the $20,000 payday. The Martinsville, Indiana ace, who currently sits seventh in the latest LOLMDS point standings, was able to rally back up to tenth by the finish of the 'Pittsburgher 100.' Full results from the doubleheader weekend can be viewed online at www.lucasdirt.com.

HUDSON O'NEAL STEERS CRATE LATE MODEL TO PODIUM FINISH
(September 29, 2019) Fresh off his recent 'Jackson 100' triumph at Brownstown Speedway, Hudson O'Neal was back at the Brownstown, Indiana oval on Saturday night, September 28 to pilot a Crate Late Model owned by Issac Rainey. Behind the wheel of the #24r machine, Hudson set a New Track Record during the qualifying session prior to picking up a heat race victory. While he was unable to pick up his second straight feature win at the 1/4-mile fairgrounds venue, Hudson was able to land on the podium in third behind only $800 victor Marty O'Neal and runner-up Shelby Miles. Complete results from last night can be accessed online at www.brownstownspeedway.com.

O'NEAL CAPTURES FIRST JACKSON 100 TITLE; POCKETS $15,000!!!
(September 22, 2019) Hudson O'Neal picked up one of the biggest wins of his young racing career on Saturday evening, September 21 in the 40th Annual 'Jackson 100' at the legendary Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, Indiana! Hudson clicked off the sixth quickest time in Group B during the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series qualifying session prior to scoring a victory in heat race action. In front of the standing-room-only crowd at his home racetrack, Hudson started the 100-lap main event from the outside of the second row and raced all over the top five throughout the extra-distance affair. The Martinsville, Indiana rising star eventually wrestled away the top spot from Devin Moran on lap 71 and led the remainder of the contest to pocket the $15,000 payday for his first 'Jackson 100' title ahead of Moran, Don O'Neal, Tim McCreadie, and Nick Hoffman!

A day earlier, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series took the #71 team to Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Indiana on Friday for the inaugural series event at the historic Hoosier State facility. Hudson once again secured a heat race triumph to earn the inside of the second row for the start of the $12,000 to win headliner. The "New Deal" put his Longhorn Chassis at the top of the leader board on the eighth circuit and held the point up until lap 46 when a broken rack had negatively effected the handling of his ride. Hudson wound up fourth at the conclusion of the wild 50-lapper to place behind only victor Tyler Erb, Jimmy Owens, and Don O'Neal. He still finds himself eighth in the latest version of the LOLMDS point standings following the doubleheader weekend in his home state of Indiana. Full results can be located online at www.lucasdirt.com. (Heath Lawson Photo)

HUDSON O'NEAL BLASTS TO PODIUM FINISH IN KNOXVILLE NAT'LS!
(September 15, 2019) The #71 team made the trek west to the Hawkeye State of Iowa from September 12-14 for the 16th edition of the 'Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals.' The three-day crown jewel event drew 55 competitors to the 1/2-mile, semi-banked Marion County fairgrounds speedplant and action kicked off with a pair of $7,000 to win preliminary programs. On Thursday night in the weekend lid lifter, Hudson O'Neal unfortunately missed out on the 25-lap main event after finishing fourth in both his heat race and his B-Main. At Knoxville on Friday evening in a similar contest, Hudson placed third in heat race action prior to starting and finishing tenth in the 25-lapper.

By virtue of racking up the sixteenth best point night, Hudson earned the rights to the outside of the eighth row for the start of the 100-lap 'Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals.' Mired mid-pack through much of the first half of the distance, Hudson pitted before the lap 50 fuel stop and promptly made a charge through the talented field. The Martinsville, Indiana star blasted up inside of the top five and eventually netted a hard fought third place podium performance behind only $40,000 victor Jimmy Owens and runner-up Brandon Sheppard. Hudson still finds himself eighth in the latest version of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point standings. You can read more about each of the three shows from Knoxville Raceway by pointing your web browser to www.lucasdirt.com.

O'NEAL KICKS OFF WORLD 100 WEEKEND WITH $10K VICTORY!
(September 8, 2019) The "New Deal" Hudson O'Neal - celebrating his nineteenth birthday - captured a $10,000 triumph on Thursday evening, September 5 in his Twin 25 preliminary program for the 49th Annual 'World 100' at the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio! Hudson posted the twenty-second quickest time in his group during qualifying prior to securing a heat race victory. After rolling off from the third starting spot at the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap sprint, Hudson streaked to the lead on lap 10 and held off all challenges past that point to start his 'World 100' weekend on a winning note over Jonathan Davenport, Tim McCreadie, Shannon Babb, and Mason Zeigler!

On Friday night, September 6, a similar Twin 25 show was held and the #71 team was gunning for another $10,000 top prize. Hudson won his heat race and led early in his 25-lap sprint, but was caught up in an incident running second and later hit the wall - forcing the young Martinsville, Indiana standout to retire with damage in the twentieth position. All eyes were then fixed on the annual running of the 'World 100' on Saturday, September 7 and a record crowd was on hand to watch the 98 car field vie for the $52,000 winner's check and the famed globe trophy. Hudson once again took the victory in his heat race, started the 100-lap crown jewel headliner from the outside of the third row, and eventually placed eleventh in the final finishing order of the sport's most prestigious race. Complete results from the entire 'World 100' weekend can be viewed online a www.eldoraspeedway.com. (Heath Lawson Photo)

HUDSON O'NEAL COMPETES IN LABOR DAY TRIPLE SHOT
(September 2, 2019) The #71 team headed to Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Kentucky, Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, Ohio, and Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, West Virginia from August 30-September 1 for a trio of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series throwdowns. On Friday night in the 'John Bradshaw Memorial' at Ponderosa, Hudson O'Neal finished seventh in both his heat race and his B-Main, unloaded a back-up car for the $12,000 to win feature event, and later streaked past twelve competitors during the 50-lapper en route to a respectable eleventh place showing.

In a similar $12,000 to win battle on Saturday at PRP in the 'Bob Miller Memorial,' Hudson wound up in an incident in his heat race to finish seventh, grabbed the fourth transfer spot through the B-Main, and later placed sixteenth in the 50-lap main event. On Sunday evening in the annual 'Hillbilly Hundred' at Tyler County, Hudson relied on a series provisional to gain access into the $30,000 to win headliner and was officially paid for a twentieth place performance in the 100-lap mega-event. Complete results from the Labor Day weekend triple shot can be viewed online at www.lucasdirt.com.

O'NEAL STEERS TO TOP TEN IN LUCRATIVE DIRT MILLION
(August 25, 2019) The 2nd Annual 'Dirt Million' took center stage in the Dirt Late Model world from August 22-24, as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presided over the crown jewel spectacular at Mansfield Motor Speedway in Mansfield, Ohio. A pair of $10,000 to win preliminary duels kicked off the three-day weekend in the Buckeye State and Hudson O'Neal advanced to seventh in Thursday's 30-lap contest, while he charged past ten competitors during Friday night's 30-lapper to land in the fifth spot behind only prelim victor Brandon Sheppard, Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson, Jr., and Brandon Overton. The Martinsville, Indiana rising star then grabbed the second transfer position through his heat race on Saturday evening to secure the outside of the eighth row for the start of the 100-lap 'Dirt Million,' which carried a whopping $101,626 paycheck. Despite the track taking rubber early in the distance, Hudson was able to steer his #71 machine past seven cars en route to a strong ninth place performance. Full results from throughout the 'Dirt Million' weekend can be found online by clicking on www.lucasdirt.com.

HUDSON O'NEAL REBOUNDS TO PLACE TENTH IN TOPLESS 100
(August 18, 2019) Another crown jewel event was on tap from August 15-17, as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series once again presided over the 27th Annual 'Topless 100' at Batesville Motor Speedway. The action at the Locust Grove, Arkansas facility kicked off with a pair of $5,000 to win preliminary programs. In the roofless opener on Thursday evening, Hudson O'Neal placed third in his heat race prior to moving past five competitors during the 30-lap feature to land in the seventh finishing position. At BMS on Friday night, Hudson narrowly missed out on the 30-lapper after running eighth in his stacked heat race and fifth in his B-Main.

After amassing the twelfth most points during the two prelims, Hudson rolled off from the outside of the sixth row in Saturday's 100-lap headliner. The Martinsville, Indiana ace was unfortunately caught up in a first lap wreck, which effectively took him out of contention for the $40,000 payday, but he battled back to salvage a solid tenth place showing. Hudson still finds himself eighth in the latest version of the LOLMDS point standings after the 'Topless 100.' Full results from the long weekend in Batesville can be located by pointing your web browser to www.lucasdirt.com.

O'NEAL A STERLING RUNNER-UP IN NORTH/SOUH 100!!!
(August 11, 2019) Following a couple of idle weekends on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series schedule, the popular national touring series took the #71 team to Florence Speedway from August 8-10 for the 37th edition of the 'North/South 100.' The three-day extended weekend in Union, Kentucky drew 53 entrants to the 1/2-mile speedplant to do battle in the crown jewel extravaganza. On Thursday night in the $10,000 to win 'North/South Shootout,' Hudson O'Neal placed fourth in his stacked heat race and third in his B-Main, which forced him to rely on an emergency provisional to gain access into the 50-lap main event. After rolling off from the inside of the thirteenth row in the weekend lid lifter, Hudson steered his Longhorn mount past seventeen competitors en route to a solid eighth place feature showing.

At Florence on Friday evening in the double set of qualifying heat races, Hudson streaked to the win in his first heat race before finishing fourth in his final prelim. By virtue of racking up the fifth most passing points, the Martinsville, Indiana ace earned the rights to the inside of the third row for the start of Saturday's $50,000 to win 'North/South 100.' In front of a sold out crowd in the 100-lap headliner, Hudson drove all the way up to second in the contest and landed an impressive runner-up effort behind only victor Chris Madden. The "New Deal" still finds himself eighth in the latest LOLMDS point standings exiting Florence. Full results from the entire weekend in the Commonwealth of Kentucky can be located online at www.lucasdirt.com. (MRM Racing Photos)