Alberson and Wilson Earn Thursday Night Prelim Wins at Florence
2025-08-08 13:32
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WALTON, KENTUCKY (August 7, 2025) - Garrett Alberson and Daulton Wilson both started from the third position and went on to win their 25-lap main events on Thursday night at Florence Speedway, kicking off the Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 presented by Lucas Oil weekend.
In the $6,000-to-win opener, Alberson passed race leader Devin Moran on the 21st lap after Moran had led the first 20 laps of the race. Mike Marlar, who finished third and rounded out the Big River Steel Podium, ran in second until Alberson got by him on lap 14. Cory Hedgecock finished fourth, with Hudson O'Neal rounding out the top five drivers.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the second time in 2025 and for the third time in his career, the Las Cruces, New Mexico native won a hard-fought battle with Moran and Marlar for the win.
"I was a little scared after the early incident in turn one. I didn't know if the whole left front was knocked out or not. I wonder if that kind of got me all riled up, and I just thought, I'm going to go for it. Devin was building a lot of speed up high, but he started kind of falling into the exit a little, and I could just run right through the crumbs and make up a lot of time."
Moran, who was looking for his 7th series win of the season, came home in second after leading the first 20 laps of the race. Moran was coming off a $20,000 victory at Florence in June.
"Our car was really good, and then Garrett got by me. We had a great race among the top three. The track was really good tonight; you could run anywhere on it. We'll just work on it some more for tomorrow night and see if we can close the deal and take one spot better." Moran finished 1.200 seconds behind Alberson at the finish.
Marlar was in the thick of things the whole race, finishing a close third. "We had a good car all night. I could run with Devin through the middle and bottom, and then Garrett got in there. We had a really good race for the lead. It's a great start to the weekend for us.""
The winner's Roberts Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Low Voltage Solutions, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Titan Racing Products, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Bill's Sport Shop, Done Right TV, Dickie's Doghouse, Cheap Cars, Fertilizer Equipment Specialist, Roemer Machine, Denago Powersports, and Mitchell Ranch.
Completing the top ten were Jimmy Owens, Max Blair, Donald McIntosh, Carson Ferguson, and Tripp Gerrald.
In the nightcap, Wilson had to outrun the top three-ranked drivers in the nation to earn his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season. He led the final 23 laps after getting by Jonathan Davenport early in a lead-swapping battle.
Brandon Overton made a late-race charge after a caution flag with two laps to go to take the runner-up spot, with three-time and defending North/South 100 winner Bobby Pierce rounding out the Big River Steel Podium in third. Brandon Sheppard finished fourth, and Ricky Thornton Jr. completed the top drivers.
Wilson is in Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the first time since winning the final East Bay Winternationals race in February of 2024.
"Man, you know we haven't been bad, nothing's gone our way. My awesome car owner said, man, it's time to come home and take a break, go see your family, just re-group, and that's what we did. We all went home, took a minute to clear our heads, then we came back, focused, and went to work. We had a really good car last week and a really good car tonight. I thought I had given it away down there on that cushion, but then I thought I was either going to win or wreck."
Overton, who came out of nowhere before the only caution of the race with 23 laps scored, dived to the inside of the track in the final two laps, coming up just 0.212 seconds short at the finish line.
"When we fired off, I didn't feel great, but I just calmed down and did what I always do—slow down and drive this thing. I just sat there, ran around, and got into a good rhythm where I could hit the bottom and then squirt up through there. When the caution came out, I didn't think I was that close; I thought JD was leading and was gone. I didn't know Daulton was leading, but congratulations to Daulton. It's a good start to the weekend for us."
Pierce, who is attempting to become the first driver in the 43-year history of the race to win three consecutive North/South 100s on Saturday night, ran as high as second, briefly took the lead from Wilson, but officially never led a lap as he finished in third.
"I don't know; I didn't need the caution because we probably would have finished second. Congrats to Daulton on the win, so we were third tonight. We'll try to get a better race car tomorrow night. I need to get the thing in the ground a little bit; I am just kind of wheel-spinning."
The winner's JRR Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing and sponsored by Grant Lee Farms, MGL Auto Sales, The Auto Outlet, Innovative Community Solutions, Keltner Contracting, JRR Motor Sales, B&L Construction, Cheap Chevrolet, VP Fuels, and New Point Lighting and Design.
Completing the top ten were Zack Dohm, Justin Rattliff, Chris Ferguson, Josh Rice, and Dustin Nobbe.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
43rd Annual Sunoco North/South 100 presented by Lucas Oil | Night 1
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Florence Speedway - Union, KY
Entrants: 51
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Jonathan Davenport | 15.717 seconds
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Devin Moran | 15.707 seconds
Fast Time Group B: Jonathan Davenport | 15.495 seconds (Overall)
Group A Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[5]; 3. 23V-Cory Hedgecock[2]; 4. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[4]; 5. 20-Jimmy Owens[6]; 6. 4-Tripp Gerrald[3]; 7. 1G-Devin Gilpin[7]; 8. 15R-Brad Rickels[8]; 9. 96-Josh Vinyard[9]
Group A Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 2. 12-Jason Jameson[4]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[2]; 4. 40B-Kyle Bronson[5]; 5. 93L-Cory Lawler[6]; 6. 93-Carson Ferguson[3]; 7. 317-Blake Creech[7]; 8. 99J-Donnie Jeschke[8]; 9. 15W-Roger Williams[9]
Group A Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 2. 79-Donald McIntosh[4]; 3. 71-Hudson O'Neal[3]; 4. 6M-Michael Chilton[5]; 5. 9-Nick Hoffman[2]; 6. 32-Chad Stapleton[6]; 7. C6-Calvin Carlton[8]; 8. 49G-Billy Green[7]
Group B Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 3. 16J-Justin Rattliff[4]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[3]; 5. 5N-Dustin Nobbe[7]; 6. 11-Adam Stricker[5]; 7. 6-Clay Harris[6]; 8. 81-Conner Mertens[9]; 9. 90-Michael LeFevers[8]
Group B Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 17D-Zack Dohm[2]; 2. 32P-Bobby Pierce[1]; 3. 22F-Chris Ferguson[4]; 4. 10-Joseph Joiner[3]; 5. 1Z-Logan Zarin[5]; 6. 09-Michael Leach[6]; 7. 33AJ-Austin Lay[7]; 8. 18-Trevor Landrum[8]
Group B Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 18D-Daulton Wilson[1]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[2]; 4. 8K-Kyle Strickler[4]; 5. D48-Derek Groomer[6]; 6. 22B-Brandon Hardgrove[8]; 7. 3:16-Mike Bargo[7]; 8. 11R-Josh Rice[5]
Group A | Night 1 Feature Finish (25 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Pay
1 - 3 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $6,000
2 - 1 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $3,000
3 - 2 - 157 - Mike Marlar - Winfield, TN - $2,000
4 - 7 - 23V - Cory Hedgecock - Loudon, TN - $1,250
5 - 9 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $1,000
6 - 13 - 20 - Jimmy Owens - Newport, TN - $900
7 - 4 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - $850
8 - 6 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - $800
9 - 17 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $750
10 - 16 - 4 - Tripp Gerrald - Versailles, KY - $700
11 - 15 - 9 - Nick Hoffman - Mooresville, NC - $650
12 - 5 - 12 - Jason Jameson - Lawrenceburg, IN - $600
13 - 12 - 6M - Michael Chilton - Salvisa, KY - $550
14 - 20 - 317 - Blake Creech - Richmond, IN - $500
15 - 10 - 12M - Ryan Montgomery - Fairmont, WV - $500
16 - 14 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - $500
17 - 18 - 32 - Chad Stapleton - Edinburgh, IN - $500
18 - 22 - 15R - Brad Rickels - Verona, KY - $500
19 - 25 - 96 - Josh Vinyard - Danville, KY - $500
20 - 11 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - $500
21 - 23 - 99J - Donnie Jeschke - Dayton, OH - $500
22 - 26 - 15W - Roger Williams - Florenc, KY - $500
23 - 8 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $500
24 - 19 - 1G - Devin Gilpin - Columbus, IN - $500
25 - 21 - C6 - Calvin Carlton - Lawrenceburg, KY - $500
26 - 24 - 49G - Billy Green - Walton, KY - $500
Group A Race Statistics
Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Devin Moran
MD3 Lap Leaders: Devin Moran (1-20) Garrett Alberson (21-25)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Devin Moran
Wieland Feature Winner: Garrett Alberson
Margin of Victory: 1.200 seconds
Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: n/a
Series Provisionals: n/a
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisional: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Garrett Alberson, Devin Moran, Mike Marlar
Penske Shocks Top 5: Garrett Alberson, Devin Moran, Mike Marlar, Cory Hedgecock, Hudson O'Neal
PEM 4th Place Feature: Cory Hedgecock
DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Hudson O'Neal
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Max Blair
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Nick Hoffman
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Michael Chilton
MD3 24th Place Feature: Devin Gilpin
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Carson Ferguson (Advanced 8 Positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Devin Moran (20 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Garrett Alberson
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: n/a
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Mike Marlar | Lap 1 | 17.618 seconds
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Garrett Alberson
Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Donald McIntosh
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Zach Huston
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Time of Race: 7 minutes 11 seconds
Group B | Night 1 Feature Finish (25 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Pay
1 - 3 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - $6,000
2 - 6 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $3,000
3 - 5 - 32P - Bobby Pierce - Oakwood, IL - $2,000
4 - 9 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $1,250
5 - 4 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr. - Chandler, AZ - $1,000
6 - 2 - 17D - Zack Dohm - Cross Lanes, WV - $900
7 - 7 - 16J - Justin Rattliff - Campbellsville, KY - $850
8 - 8 - 22F - Chris Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $800
9 - 24 - 11R - Josh Rice - Crittenden, KY - $750
10 - 13 - 5N - Dustin Nobbe - Batesville, IN - $700
11 - 14 - 1Z - Logan Zarin - Hookstown, PA - $650
12 - 11 - 10 - Joseph Joiner - Milton, FL - $600
13 - 12 - 8K - Kyle Strickler - Mooresville, NC - $550
14 - 15 - D48 - Derek Groomer - Bloomington, IN - $500
15 - 17 - 09 - Michael Leach - Sun River, MT - $500
16 - 18 - 22B - Brandon Hardgrove - Burnside, KY - $500
17 - 23 - 18 - Trevor Landrum - Florence, KY - $500
18 - 21 - 3:16 - Mike Bargo - Corbin, KY - $500
19 - 20 - 33AJ - Austin Lay - Florence, KY - $500
20 - 22 - 81 - Conner Mertens - Charlestown, IN - $500
21 - 10 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $500
22 - 19 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $500
23 - 16 - 11 - Adam Stricker - Batavia, OH - $500
24 - 1 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - $500
25 - 25 - 90 - Michael LeFevers - Cincinnati, OH - $500
Group B Race Statistics
Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Jonathan Davenport
MD3 Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (1); Daulton Wilson (2-3); Jonathan Davenport (4); Daulton Wilson (5-25)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Daulton Wilson
Wieland Feature Winner: Daulton Wilson
Margin of Victory: 0.212 seconds
Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: Dan Ebert (Lap 23)
Series Provisionals: n/a
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisional: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Daulton Wilson, Brandon Overton, Bobby Pierce
Penske Shocks Top 5: Daulton Wilson, Brandon Overton, Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Thonrton Jr.
PEM 4th Place Feature: Brandon Sheppard
DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Ricky Thornton Jr.
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Justin Rattliff
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Logan Zarin
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Kyle Strickler
MD3 24th Place Feature: Jonathan Davenport
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Josh Rice (Advanced 15 Positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Daulton Wilson (24 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: n/a
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Daulton Wilson | Lap 2 | 16.484 seconds
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Brandon Overton
Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Jonathan Davenport
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Dean Bowen
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Time of Race: 11 minutes 18 seconds
Sunoco North/South 100 presented by Lucas Oil Point Standings
Pos - Car # - Driver - Points
1 - 18D - Wilson, Daulton - 250
2 - 58 - Alberson, Garrett - 250
3 - 99 - Moran, Devin - 240
4 - 76 - Overton, Brandon - 230
5 - 32P - Pierce, Bobby - 220
6 - 157 - Marlar, Mike - 220
7 - 23V - Hedgecock, Cory - 210
8 - 1 - Sheppard, Brandon - 210
9 - 20RT - Thornton, Ricky Jr - 205
10 - 71 - O'Neal, Hudson - 205
11 - 17D - Dohm, Zack - 200
12 - 20 - Owens, Jimmy - 200
13 - 16J - Rattliff, Justin - 195
14 - 111 - Blair, Max - 195
15 - 22F - Ferguson, Chris - 190
16 - 79 - McIntosh, Donald - 190
17 - 93 - Ferguson, Carson - 185
18 - 11R - Rice, Josh - 185
19 - 4 - Gerrald, Tripp - 180
20 - 5N - Nobbe, Dustin - 180
21 - 9 - Hoffman, Nick - 175
22 - 1Z - Zarin, Logan - 175
23 - 10 - Joiner, Joseph - 170
24 - 12 - Jameson, Jason - 170
25 - 8K - Strickler, Kyle - 165
26 - 6M - Chilton, Michael - 165
27 - D48 - Groomer, Derek - 160
28 - 317 - Creech, Blake - 160
29 - 12M - Montgomery, Ryan - 155
30 - 9 - Leach, Michael - 155
31 - 93L - Lawler, Cory - 150
32 - 22B - Hardgrove, Brandon - 150
33 - 32 - Stapleton, Chad - 145
34 - 18 - Landrum, Trevor - 145
35 - 3:16 - Bargo, Mike - 140
36 - 15R - Rickels, Brad - 140
37 - 49 - Davenport, Jonathan - 135
38 - 33AJ - Lay, Austin - 135
39 - 96 - Vinyard, Josh - 135
40 - 40B - Bronson, Kyle - 130
41 - 81 - Mertens, Conner - 130
42 - 22 - Hilsabeck, Daniel - 125
43 - 60 - Ebert, Dan - 125
44 - 11 - Stricker, Adam - 125
45 - 6 - Harris, Clay - 125
46 - 1G - Gilpin, Devin - 125
47 - 49G - Green, Billy - 125
48 - 90 - LeFevers, Michael - 125
49 - 99J - Jeschke, Donnie - 125
50 - C6 - Carlton, Calvin - 125
51 - 15W - Williams, Roger - 125
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.
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