Hudson O'Neal Wins Rain-Shortened Silver Dollar Nationals at Huset's
2025-07-20 16:26
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BRANDON, SD (July 19, 2025) - Hudson O'Neal won his first career Silver Dollar Nationals presented by MyRacePass on Saturday night at Huset's Speedway, earning $75,000 in the richest first-place prize in the 15-year history of the event. His father, Don, won the inaugural race in 2011 at the now-closed I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska.
O'Neal led all 67 completed laps of the originally scheduled 80 laps and was declared the winner after officials called the race due to rain that fell over the track and became too intense to continue. The race was then declared official shortly thereafter.
Branndon Shappard, who took the second spot on lap 55 from Jonathan Davenport, finished in second, followed by Bobby Pierce, Davenport, and Ricky Thornton, Jr.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the fourth time this season and for the 33rd time in his career, the 2023 Series Champion picked up the second most significant win of his career, second only to a $100,000 payday at Kokomo Speedway in 2023, as he became the 11th different winner of the Silver Dollar Nationals.
"This is unbelievable. You know, to be a race car driver is something you always dream of - to be in a position to win big races, to win crown jewel races. The Silver Dollar Nationals - I have never won it before; my dad won the inaugural one back at I-80. It's so cool to be standing here at Huset's Speedway and call myself a Silver Dollar Nationals winner. I am about speechless," said the Martinsville, Indiana native.
"It's not the way we necessarily wanted to win, but we'll take the rain all day whenever we're out front leading like that. Whenever I caught lapped traffic, especially down here at turns three and four and just above the bottom in one and two, I just couldn't bring myself to go out there and pass the lapped cars. I knew those guys in front of me couldn't move either, and I'm sure they were trying their best everywhere. I was just trying not to give the race away. I'm not going to move out of there; if somebody's going to pass me, I'll make them pass me somewhere else. I was able to get by a couple of lapped cars, and then we caught a lot of cautions at the right time, which was a big help."
Sheppard, who was attempting to equal Davenport's event record with three Silver Dollar Nationals wins, finished as the runner-up for the second straight night, earning $25,000 for his efforts.
"I don't know if we would have gone back to green, it would have changed anything. Hudson was really good, and we all know how important it is to get out front at this place; especially because you can build momentum so well here, it makes it really hard to pass the leader for sure. So, congrats to him (O'Neal), congrats to Bobby, and thanks to all of the fans for sticking it out tonight. It was a solid weekend for us; we definitely wanted to win, but overall it was a good weekend. We're not going to hang our heads — we've got a fast race car, and we're looking forward to the rest of the year."
Pierce who won the Silver Dollar Nationals in 2019 rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third.
"It is what it is. Hudson ran a really good race, congrats to him. Congrats to Brandon, and I don't know if 13 laps would have changed anything. It was follow the leader forever, and then the track finally got good, and then came the rain."
The winner's SSI Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Wheeler Metals, Merrill Bonding Company, Sub-Surface of Indiana, Professional Concrete, Cutting, and Drilling, West Side Tractor Sales, Dyno One Inc., O'Neal's Salvage and Recycling, Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball, Bob and Tammy Burton, Midwest Sheet Metal, Houchens Insurance Group, BobCat of Batesville, and Sunoco Race Fuels.
Completing the top ten were Garrett Alberson, Dan Ebert, Brandon Overton, Dennis Erb Jr., and Devin Moran.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
15th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals Presented by MyRacePass | Night 3
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Huset's Speedway - Brandon, SD
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Hudson O'Neal | 13.571 seconds (Overall)
Fast Time Group B: Garrett Alberson | 13.908 seconds
Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O'Neal[1]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[3]; 3. 79-Donald McIntosh[2]; 4. 22*-Drake Troutman[4]; 5. 76-Brandon Overton[6]; 6. 17SS-Brenden Smith[5]; 7. 20-Trevor Anderson[7]; 8. 04-Tad Pospisil[8]; 9. 15C-Curt Schroeder[9]; 10. 26JR-Corey Zeitner[10]; 11. 93L-Cory Lawler[11]
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 1T-Tyler Erb[3]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[4]; 4. 01J-Jacob Hobscheidt[5]; 5. 74X-Ethan Dotson[7]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 7. 01-CJ Horn[6]; 8. 51W-JT Wasmund[9]; 9. 24L-Bill Leighton[10]; 10. 22C-Charlie McKenna[11]; 11. 5S-Dylan Schmer[8]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[2]; 3. 3S-Brian Shirley[4]; 4. 93-Carson Ferguson[3]; 5. 19M-Spencer Hughes[5]; 6. 35D-Dylan Sillman[8]; 7. 85-Josh Leonard[6]; 8. 85JR-Braxten Leonard[10]; 9. 8-Lane Brenden[9]; 10. 15M-Shane DeMey[7]; 11. 10-Junior Coover[11]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[3]; 3. 99-Devin Moran[2]; 4. 18D-Daulton Wilson[8]; 5. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[4]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[6]; 7. 18-Jesse Sobbing[5]; 8. 17SR-Brody Smith[7]; 9. 4TW-Tim Ward[9]; 10. 99D-Darrel DeFrance[11]; 11. 87-Curt Kranz[10]
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 74X-Ethan Dotson[2]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 3. 6-Clay Harris[4]; 4. 17SS-Brenden Smith[3]; 5. 01-CJ Horn[6]; 6. 20-Trevor Anderson[5]; 7. 51W-JT Wasmund[8]; 8. 24L-Bill Leighton[10]; 9. 04-Tad Pospisil[7]; 10. 22C-Charlie McKenna[12]; 11. 26JR-Corey Zeitner[11]; 12. 15C-Curt Schroeder[9]; 13. 5S-Dylan Schmer[14]; 14. 93L-Cory Lawler[13]
UNOH B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 19M-Spencer Hughes[1]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[4]; 3. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[2]; 4. 18-Jesse Sobbing[6]; 5. 35D-Dylan Sillman[3]; 6. 85-Josh Leonard[5]; 7. 4TW-Tim Ward[10]; 8. 17SR-Brody Smith[8]; 9. 8-Lane Brenden[9]; 10. 15M-Shane DeMey[11]; 11. 85JR-Braxten Leonard[7]; 12. 87-Curt Kranz[14]; 13. 10-Junior Coover[13]; 14. 99D-Darrel DeFrance[12]
15th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals Presented by MyRacePass | Night 3 Feature Finish (67 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Pay
1 - 1 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $75,900
2 - 3 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $25,700
3 - 6 - 32 - Bobby Pierce - Oakwood, IL - $10,000
4 - 4 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - $10,200
5 - 5 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - $9,100
6 - 2 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $7,700
7 - 20 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $6,800
8 - 19 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $5,700
9 - 8 - 28 - Dennis Erb Jr - Carpentersville, IL - $4,500
10 - 12 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $5,000
11 - 18 - 19M - Spencer Hughes - Meridian, MS - $4,500
12 - 7 - 1T - Tyler Erb - New Waverly, TX - $3,700
13 - 9 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - $4,300
14 - 21 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $4,200
15 - 16 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - $4,100
16 - 11 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $4,000
17 - 22 - 76N - Blair Nothdurft - Renner, SD - $3,200
18 - 10 - 3S - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - $3,100
19 - 23 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - $3,700
20 - 24 - 17SS - Brenden Smith - Dade City, FL - $2,900
21 - 17 - 74X - Ethan Dotson - Bakersfield, CA - $2,800
22 - 14 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $3,400
23 - 13 - 22* - Drake Troutman - Hyndman, PA - $2,600
24 - 15 - 01J - Jacob Hobscheidt - Plattsmouth, NE - $2,500
Race Statistics
Entrants: 44
Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Hudson O'Neal
MD3 Lap Leaders: Hudson O'Neal (Laps 1-67)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Hudson O'Neal
Wieland Feature Winner: Hudson O'Neal
Margin of Victory: 0.821 seconds
Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: Daniel Hilsabeck, Drake Troutman, Jacob Hobscheidt, Ethan Dotson, Clay Harris (Lap 2); Debris (Lap 13); Carson Ferguson (Lap 29); Cory Lawler, Tyler Erb, Brian Shirley, Dalton Wilson (Lap 57); Daniel Hilsabeck (Lap 59)
Series Provisionals: Cory Lawler
Fast Time Provisional: Brenden Smith
Emergency Provisional: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce
Penske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce, Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton Jr.
PEM 4th Place Feature: Jonathan Davenport
DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Dan Ebert
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Spencer Hughes
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Donal McIntosh
MD3 24th Place Feature: Jacob Hobscheidt
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Dan Ebert (Advanced 13 Positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Hudson O'Neal (67 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O'Neal
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Dan Ebert
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Hudson O'Neal | Lap 12 | 12.683 seconds
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Hudson O'Neal
Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Devin Moran
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Jason Durham
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Bobby Pierce | 13.212 seconds
Time of Race: 45 minutes 51 seconds
Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:
Pos - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Points - Pay
1 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - 6355 - $294,300
2 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - 6340 - $314,950
3 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - 6065 - $243,975
4 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - 5960 - $215,049
5 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - 5810 - $135,450
6 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - 5785 - $193,300
7 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - 5505 - $115,300
8 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - 5150 - $94,425
9 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - 4840 - $79,175
10 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - 4765 - $67,600
11 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - 4595 - $61,450
12 - 19M - Spencer Hughes - Meridian, MS - 4335 - $59,700
13 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - 4300 - $53,725
14 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - 4205 - $53,400
15 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - 3730 - $39,050
About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing
Founded in 2005, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing showcases the talents of the top dirt late model drivers from across the country. In 2025, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will sanction 58 events across 16 states, including some of the biggest marquee events in the industry, providing dirt slinging, sideways, door-to-door racing action lap after lap.
The series receives national exposure through a television package streamed live via FloRacing, with select broadcasts on RACER Network.
The in your face excitement of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing is second to none in motorsports. For more information, including the latest news, tour schedule, driver information, and more, visit the official website at: www.LucasDirt.com.
Official Marketing Partners
Associate Marketing Partners
Advanced Powder Coating, Behrent's Performance Warehouse, Black Diamond Chassis, Boyd Bilt Fabrication, Brodix, Capital Race Cars, Clements Racing Engines, Coltman Farms Racing, Dave Warren Powersports, Deatherage Opticians, DMI Rearends, Fast Shafts, Fire Suppression Engineering, FOX Shocks, Fresh Roof Shingle Rejuvenation, Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Heath Lawson Photography, Hellraizer Jacks, Hoker Trucking, Keyser Manufacturing, Longhorn Chassis, MD3, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Midwest Sheet Metal, MSD, Outerwears, PEM - Performance Engineering Mfg, Penske Racing Shocks, ProFabrication Headers, Pro Power Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Slicker Graphics, Strange Oval, Swift Springs, Thermo-Tec Automotive Products, Vic Hill Race Engines, Victory Fuel, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood, Xceldyne, and 5150 Race Trailers