Story By: BEN SHELTON / ROCKET1 RACING – SHINNSTON, WV – Hudson O’Neal utilized every inch of Marshalltown Speedway on Tuesday night to score the $23,023 Castrol FloRacing Night in America victory aboard his Rocket1 Racing / Valvoline / Seubert Calf Ranches No. 1 Ace Metal Works / XR1 Rocket Chassis / Durham Racing Engine Super Late Model.
O’Neal held back the challenges of a hard-charging Bobby Pierce for the five-figure triumph.
“It was a busy but successful week in Iowa. We started things with a win on Wednesday at Marshalltown (Speedway) in what was a fun race with Bobby (Pierce). Thursday night at Davenport Speedway, (Dennis) Erb Jr. had us all covered, but we still got a second-place finish,” O’Neal commented. “We added a third at 300 Raceway on Friday and a sixth at 34 (Raceway) on Saturday. Overall it was a good four-day run for this Rocket1 Racing team. I’m excited to get back to Lucas Oil Speedway and go after another Show-Me 100 title this weekend.”
Back in action on Tuesday evening, Rocket1 Racing and Hudson O’Neal followed the Castrol FloRacing Night in America miniseries to Marshalltown (Iowa) Speedway for the fifth stop of the tour.
Following the third-fastest qualifying lap, Hudson outran Bobby Pierce in his heat race to pick up the eight-lap victory.
Earning the second-starting position for the feature, O’Neal grabbed the lead on the third circuit and kept a threatening Bobby Pierce at bay throughout the 50-lapper to claim his seventh win of the 2023 campaign and his second consecutive victory in the event at the Iowa oval.
He pocketed the $23,023 payday ahead of Pierce, Brandon Overton, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Tim McCreadie.
On the quarter-mile bullring on Wednesday night at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway, O’Neal secured his spot into the $23,023-to-win Castrol FloRacing Night in America feature with a runner-up showing in his heat race.
Reeling in a podium finish in the 50-lap feature, Hudson passed five cars to finish second, chasing Dennis Erb Jr. across the line.
With the performances Hudson took over the top spot in the miniseries standings as he pursues the $75,000 title.
For the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned You Call We Haul 50 on Friday evening at 300 Raceway (Farley, Iowa), Hudson’s second-place finish in his heat placed him on the second row for the main event. With $12,000 on the line, O’Neal rallied to a third-place finish after getting shuffled on a late restart.
The LOLMDS doubleheader weekend wrapped up on Saturday for Rocket 1 Racing at 34 Raceway (West Burlington, Iowa) with O’Neal qualifying for the $15,000-to-win CRST Transportation Solution 50 with a third-place run in his heat. Moving forward six spots in the 50-lap affair, Hudson crossed the line in sixth.
Hudson is currently second in the latest LOLMDS point standings.
The team continues their busy schedule this Thursday – Saturday with a visit to the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, Mo.) for the 31st annual Lucas Oil Show-Me 100. Both Thursday and Friday feature $6,000-to-win programs, while Saturday night’s finale boasts a $50,000 winner’s check.
Hudson claimed the crown jewel win in the event in 2021.