GIBSONTON, Fla. — Hudson O’Neal went back-to-back for Rocket1 Racing by winning Friday night’s 47th annual Wieland Winternationals feature Lucas Oil at East Bay Raceway Park.
O’Neal, who also led every lap of Thursday night’s race went wire-to-wire to score his fourth career victory at the “Clay by the Bay” in a span of 24 hours.
Daulton Wilson made a valiant charge in the final laps to finish second. Wilson had cut more than a second off O’Neal’s lead before getting into the fourth turn wall which took him out of contention for the victory.
Ashton Winger, a first-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series winner on Tuesday night, came from ninth to finish in third.
Devin Moran, who challenged O’Neal for the lead for several laps was fourth, and current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship point leader Ricky Thornton Jr. crossed the line in fifth.
O’Neal jumped to lead with fellow front row starter Garrett Smith falling in line behind him. Smith stayed in second with Wednesday’s night winner Ryan Gustin holding down the third spot. Gustin moved past Smith for second right before Smith got sideways in turn two forcing a caution flag.
O’Neal still held the top spot on a lap-19 restart as Moran started to flex his muscle overhauling Gustin for second. Moran then started to put the heat on O’Neal and by the halfway mark Moran could get a run on O’Neal but could not quite clear him for the lead.
After coming close to taking the lead, Moran fell to third after a lap 32 restart as Wilson picked up the spot. From there Wilson cut a second off O’Neal’s lead within a few laps but contact with the wall ended his bid for the win as he was forced to hold of Winger for second.
Hudson O’Neal (Mike Ruefer photo)
O’Neal became the third two-time winner on the series this year joining Thornton and Brandon Overton.
“That was 50 laps of getting it on. The track was in great shape tonight,” O’Neal said. “We were way more maneuverable tonight to get around those lapped cars. Hats off to the East Bay crew they got the track way better. We could race all over it. I could see Devin [Moran] several times underneath me there before the last caution. I knew I needed to get up on the wheel and go because I knew he was.”
Wilson survived a scrap with the wall to finish second.
“I saw the No. 1 car get bigger, second is great but when you get that close, I was giving it everything I had. I hadn’t been up there that high in four and I just overshot it,” Wilson said. “Hats to Hudson’s guys they have been working hard and they have a good race car. Thanks to my guys this is a brand-new car. My car owner said to bring it out and it’s pretty good.”
Winger was pleased with third.
“It widened out about halfway and you could kind of move around on it. Man, those restarts are close. There are some guys that aren’t sure where they want to be, they kind of go swipe at you. I started ninth, heck I ended back in 13th at one point you get so bottled up.”
The finish:
Hudson O’Neal, Daulton Wilson, Ashton Winger, Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton Jr., Garrett Alberson, Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Overton, Wil Herrington, Logan Roberson, Ryan Gustin, Earl Pearson Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Spencer Hughes, Ross Robinson, Tyler Erb, Tanner English, Max Blair, Garrett Smith, Ross Bailes, Tyler Bruening, Billy Moyer Jr., Kyle Bronson, Brian Shirley, Jimmy Owens, Blair Nothdurft, Tim McCreadie, Mark Whitener, Dennis Erb Jr., Stormy Scott.
Keyword: O’Neal Goes Back-To-Back At East Bay