O'Neal Outduels Overton in Saturday's Wieland Winter Nationals at All-Tech
2026-02-22 17:16
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LAKE CITY, FL (February 21, 2026) - Hudson O'Neal charged from his fourth starting position to take the lead with 20 laps remaining in Saturday night's 50-lap Wieland Winter Nationals feature at All-Tech Raceway, capturing his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season.
O'Neal had to survive a late-race caution with five laps to go after third-running Mark Whitener climbed the wall in turn four. Whitener, who led a race-high 26 laps, suffered right-front suspension damage in the incident and was unable to finish.
On the ensuing restart, O'Neal held off Brandon Overton to secure his first career victory at All-Tech in 13 appearances at the Florida facility. Overton crossed the line second, just 0.804 seconds behind the third-generation driver. Clay Harris capped off a strong week at All-Tech with his second podium finish, taking third. Garrett Alberson finished fourth, followed by Carson Ferguson in fifth.
Harris jumped to the early lead in the $15,000-to-win feature as weather loomed from the northwest, pacing the field for the first three laps before Whitener took control.
Whitener, who entered the weekend as the driver in the field with the most competitive laps at All-Tech, was seeking his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory.
The race's first caution flew on lap 17 for Michael Leach. Whitener maintained the lead on the restart, with O'Neal running second after starting fourth. O'Neal stalked Whitener until lap 30, when he executed an inside move off turn four to take command.
Whitener settled into second as Overton began applying pressure. Overton briefly took over the runner-up spot on lap 36, but Whitener reclaimed the position a lap later. Overton finally secured second for good on lap 41, dropping Whitener to third. Four laps later, Whitener's bid for his first LOLMDS podium ended when he climbed the wall in turn four, bringing out the race's second and final caution.
With five laps remaining and a single-file restart ahead, O'Neal executed flawlessly to fend off Overton and seal the victory.
The win marked O'Neal's 35th career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph. The 2023 series champion also recorded his fifth overall victory of the season, making him the early-season winningest driver in the nation.
"I definitely didn't want to see that caution," said the Martinsville, Indiana native in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. "I felt like I had a good race car, but the top getting into turn one was so far out there that it really opened me up to a slide job if I didn't get a good restart. I just focused on hitting my marks and making sure I pinched that last tire and got as low as I could down the front straightaway.
"I tried to create as much separation as possible. I really thought Whitener was going to be hard to beat. He was running that top really well and was on the ragged edge. I was just trying to pace myself. Luckily, I found something on the bottom in lapped traffic, and it all worked out. I've never won here before, so it's a great feeling to win somewhere new."
Overton, who is returning for another full season with the series, admitted All-Tech has traditionally been a challenging venue for him. Still, he leaves the track with a five-point championship lead heading to Ocala next week.
"We'll take it because this was supposed to be our tough week," Overton said. "We set fast time in our group every night, won two heats, and were on the podium two nights. This place is super tricky. I think I had a winning car tonight. I struggled early on the bottom — the first couple of laps I tried to poke my nose down there and they just drove around me on the top. Once I moved up, we were really good. Congrats to Hudson and Clay — they've been fast all weekend."
Harris finished the week at All-Tech with a second- and third-place finish and believes a mistake on Thursday likely cost him a shot at three podium results.
"I just couldn't run that top like those other guys could," Harris said. "I hit the tractor tire with the right front and it knocked the toe out, ripped the steering wheel out of my hands. I had to gather it back up and get it back together. Then there at the end, I guess I decided to hit it again."
The winning Todd and Vickie Burns/SSI Motorsports Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Wheeler Metals, Merrill Bonding Company, Professional Concrete Cutting and Drilling, O'Neal's Salvage and Recycling, Lineal Contracting, Beeman Lumber, Lucas Oil, Sunoco Race Fuels, Seven Spurs Ranch, Penske Racing Shocks, and Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball.
Completing the top ten were Frank Heckenast Jr., Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Cory Hedgecock, and Kyle Bronson.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Wieland Winter Nationals
Saturday, February 21, 2026
All-Tech Raceway | Lake City, FL
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Brandon Overton | 17.135 seconds (Overall)
Fast Time Group B: Brian Shirley | 17.325 seconds
Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 7-Ross Robinson[2]; 3. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 4. 11-Josh Rice[4]; 5. 15-Clay Stuckey[5]; 6. 15K-Cody Overton[8]; 7. 31-Tyler Millwood[7]; 8. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[9]; 9. (DNS) 388-Jackson Hise; 10. (DNS) 24-Tyler Wyant
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 5-Mark Whitener[1]; 2. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[2]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 4. 8-Dillon McCowan[6]; 5. 19M-Brenden Smith[5]; 6. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[9]; 7. 77-Preston Luckman[3]; 8. 4-Kale Green[8]; 9. 79-Cory Hedgecock[7]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[1]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[4]; 4. 111-Max Blair[6]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[7]; 6. 13-Dallon Murty[8]; 7. 16-Tyler Bruening[5]; 8. 32J-Justin Weaver[10]; 9. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 10. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[9]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O'Neal[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 3. 09-Michael Leach[5]; 4. 44-Chris Madden[3]; 5. 81F-Jadon Frame[6]; 6. 12R-Ryan Payne[8]; 7. 60-Dan Ebert[7]; 8. 6B-Adam Boyd[9]; 9. (DNS) C4-Freddie Carpenter
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 19M-Brenden Smith[2]; 2. 79-Cory Hedgecock[10]; 3. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[7]; 4. 31-Tyler Millwood[5]; 5. 4-Kale Green[8]; 6. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[4]; 7. 15-Clay Stuckey[1]; 8. 15K-Cody Overton[3]; 9. 77-Preston Luckman[6]; 10. (DNS) 388-Jackson Hise; 11. (DNS) 24-Tyler Wyant
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[1]; 2. 13-Dallon Murty[3]; 3. 60-Dan Ebert[6]; 4. 81F-Jadon Frame[2]; 5. 16-Tyler Bruening[5]; 6. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[11]; 7. 32J-Justin Weaver[7]; 8. 93L-Cory Lawler[9]; 9. 6B-Adam Boyd[8]; 10. 12R-Ryan Payne[4]; 11. C4-Freddie Carpenter[10]
Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (50 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Earnings
1 - 4 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $16,100
2 - 1 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $7,700
3 - 2 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $5,700
4 - 8 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $4,700
5 - 11 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $3,700
6 - 21 - 99JR - Frank Heckenast Jr - Frankfort, IL - $2,500
7 - 9 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $3,600
8 - 10 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $3,000
9 - 19 - 79 - Cory Hedgecock - Loudon, TN - $2,900
10 - 18 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - $2,100
11 - 22 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $2,700
12 - 13 - 11 - Josh Rice - Crittenden, KY - $2,500
13 - 6 - 3S - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - $1,600
14 - 14 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - $1,500
15 - 16 - 44 - Chris Madden - Gray Court, SC - $1,400
16 - 5 - 7 - Ross Robinson - Georgetown, DE - $1,300
17 - 17 - 19M - Brenden Smith - Dade City, FL - $1,900
18 - 23 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - $2,200
19 - 3 - 5 - Mark Whitener - Middleburg, FL - $1,000
20 - 7 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $1,700
21 - 15 - 8 - Dillon McCowan - Urbana, MO - $1,000
22 - 12 - 9 - Michael Leach - Sun River, MT - $1,000
23 - 20 - 13 - Dallon Murty - Chelsea, IA - $1,000
24 - 24 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - $1,700
Race Statistics
Entrants: 38
Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Brandon Overton
MD3 Lap Leaders: Clay Harris (Laps 1-3); Mark Whitener (Laps 4-29); Hudson O'Neal (Laps 30-50)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Mark Whitener
Wieland Feature Winner: Hudson O'Neal
Margin of Victory: 0.804 seconds
Hellraizer Jacks Cautions: Michael Leach (Lap 17); Mark Whitener (Lap 45)
MyRacePass Series Provisionals: Ricky Thornton, Jr., Cory Lawler
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Overton, Clay Harris
Penske Shocks Top 5: Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Overton, Clay Harris, Garrett Alberson, Carson Ferguson
Behrent's One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Overton, Clay Harris
PEM 4th Place Feature: Garrett Alberson
Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Carson Ferguson
Wilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Devin Moran
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Dan Ebert
Velocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Brian Shirley
XS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Chris Madden
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Frank Heckenast, Jr. (Advanced 15 positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Mark Whitener (26 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O'Neal
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Devin Moran
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Mark Whitener | Lap 21 | 19.792 seconds
FK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Mark Whitener
Victory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Hudson O'Neal
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: Brian Shirley | 16.8697 seconds
Time of Race: 22 minutes 58 seconds
Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:
Pos - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Points - Earnings
1 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - 690 - $13,900
2 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - 685 - $22,100
3 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - 675 - $21,200
4 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - 650 - $15,900
5 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - 575 - $7,500
6 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - 575 - $12,600
7 - 11 - Josh Rice - Crittenden, KY - 550 - $5,900
8 - 79 - Cory Hedgecock - Loudon, TN - 545 - $6,400
9 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - 545 - $6,500
10 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - 535 - $7,000
11 - 3s - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - 535 - $5,100
12 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - 520 - $5,150
13 - 5 - Mark Whitener - Middleburg, FL - 515 - $5,300
14 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - 510 - $4,250
15 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - 495 - $5,400
16 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - 415 - $3,600
17 - 44 - Chris Madden - Gray Court, SC - 405 - $3,200
18 - 19M - Brenden Smith - Dade City, FL - 395 - $2,125
19 - 13 - Dallon Murty - Chelsea, IA - 390 - $2,100
20 - 7 - Ross Robinson - Georgetown, DE - 385 - $2,400
21 - 76N - Blair Nothdurft - Renner, SD - 380 - $1,150
22 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - 375 - $3,500
23 - 77 - Preston Luckman - Coos Bay, OR - 375 - $2,025
24 - 8 - Dillon McCowan - Urbana, MO - 375 - $1,275
25 - 81F - Jadon Frame - Winchester, TN - 355 - $1,200
26 - 31 - Tyler Millwood - Kingston, GA - 355 - $1,200
27 - 9 - Michael Leach - Sun River, MT - 355 - $1,200
28 - 32J - Justin Weaver - Clearspring, MD - 350 - $1,000
29 - 15 - Clay Stuckey - Shreveport, LA - 330 - $300
30 - 99JR - Frank Heckenast Jr - Frankfort, IL - 315 - $2,600
31 - 388 - Jackson Hise - Ocala, FL - 310 - $1,800
32 - 24 - Tyler Wyant - Oil City, PA - 310 - $1,800
33 - 6B - Adam Boyd - Riverview, FL - 310 - $300
34 - 16 - Tyler Bruening - Decorah, IA - 300 - $950
35 - C4 - Freddie Carpenter - Parkersburg, WV - 295 - $300
36 - 15K - Cody Overton - Thomson, GA - 260 - $1,150
37 - 4 - Kale Green - Pelion, SC - 230 - $200
38 - 12R - Ryan Payne - Pennsboro, WV - 195 - $100
Official Marketing Partners
Associate Marketing Partners
Advanced Powder Coating, All Makes Collision Center, Behrent's Performance Warehouse, Black Diamond Chassis, Bilstein Shocks, Boyd Bilt Fabrication, Brodix, Capital Race Cars, Clements Racing Engines, Dave Warren Powersports, Denago Powersports, Diversified Machine Inc, Fast Shafts, Fire Suppression Engineering, FOX Shocks, Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Heath Lawson Photography, Hellraizer Jacks, Hoker Trucking, Jackson County Tourism, Keyser Manufacturing, Longacre Scales, Longhorn Chassis, MD3, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Midwest Sheet Metal, MSD, Ohlins Shocks, Outerwears, PEM - Performance Engineering Mfg, Penske Racing Shocks, ProFabrication Headers, Pro Power Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis, Schoenfeld Headers, Shocker Hitch, Simpson Race Products, Slicker Graphics, Strange Oval, Swift Springs, Thermo-Tec Automotive Products, Velocity Manufacturing, Victory Fuel, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood, Xceldyne, XS Power Batteries, and 5150 Race Trailers.