Overton Earns First Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Victory Of ’25 Friday At Circle City

Story By: LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Brandon Overton had never seen Circle City Raceway before Friday night.

However, during the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing’s first-ever visit to the track on the southeast side of Indianapolis, Overton led every lap, earning the $15,000 victory and marking his first tour win of 2025.

Devin Moran pulled even with Overton after a lap 17 restart but couldn’t clear him, as the Evans, Georgia driver fended off Moran’s challenges for the rest of the race. Hudson O’Neal secured third place on the Big River Steel Podium. Jonathan Davenport finished fourth, with Ricky Thornton Jr. completing the top five drivers.

Overton took the lead from the pole position at the start of the 50-lap main event. Moran, who started next to Overton in the front row, moved into second and held that position until Garrett Alberson claimed second place on lap 15, just before a caution came out a lap later.

On the restart, Moran passed Alberson to regain second place and raced door-to-door with Overton off of turn two along the entire back straightaway. However, Overton maintained the lead off of turn four, and Moran was unable to challenge him for the rest of the race.

In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 19th time in his career, Overton overcame a string of bad luck in the last few races to return to victory lane with his comeback to the series in 2025.

“It would have been really easy for him (Moran) to get in there and knock me out a little bit, so I appreciate that. We have been leading races for four weekends in a row, and something happens, so sooner or later, something would go my way. I didn’t think it would be here. It’s pretty special to win here. I have the hardest-working guys in the pits; they don’t give up, and they have good attitudes. As I said, I knew we were going to win sooner or later. The first one is always the hardest, so I hope it continues on.”

Moran, who entered the race second in points and was seeking his sixth series win of the year, took the runner-up spot, falling just 0.062 seconds to Overton at the finish.

“It wasn’t a bad run; congrats to Brandon and the guys. They have been having a lot of bad luck this year, so it’s cool to see them win. I thought I had a chance; I got all the way underneath him, but I couldn’t bring myself to go in there and door slam him for the win. I try to race respectfully, and he does too. I want to thank Circle City for tonight. The weather was not on our side; they still stuck their necks out there and put a lot of money on the line for us and for all of these fans sticking it out.”

O’Neal, whose only previous race experience at Circle City was in a crate late model, finished third in the Big River Steel Podium.

“I was fortunate on that last restart and managed to bet on the bottom there. I kind of rooted my way in on the bottom and drove up to third. I caught up to those guys, but I just couldn’t do anything with them. Thank you to Lucas Oil, congratulations to Brandon and Devin and everybody. Thank you to Circle City. It’s always good to race around home. It’s fun to see some familiar faces.”

The winner’s Riggs Motorsports, Longhorn Factory Team Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Garnto Southern, Big Dog Stump and Tree, NAPA Auto Parts, Roof U.S., UNOH, Dude Wipes, and Mesilla Valley Transportation.

Completing the top ten were Garrett Alberson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Jason Jameson, Spencer Hughes, and Carson Ferguson.

With forecasts for thunderstorms and up to an inch of rain on Saturday, the 39th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway has been canceled. Ticket refunds for anyone who purchased online or by credit card will be issued automatically.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Friday, May 2, 2025
Circle City Raceway – Indianapolis, IN

Allstar Performance Time Trials
Overall Fast Time: Brandon Overton | 12.913 seconds

Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[3]; 4. 18D-Daulton Wilson[4]; 5. 7R-Kent Robinson[5]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[7]; 7. 14-Quentin White[8]; 8. P3-Steve Peeden[6]; 9. (DNS) 317-Blake Creech

Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[2]; 2. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[3]; 4. 12-Jason Jameson[5]; 5. 93L-Cory Lawler[4]; 6. 1G-Devin Gilpin[6]; 7. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 8. 28-Jeffrey Shackelford[8]; 9. (DNS) JD3-Jack Dossey III

Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 93-Carson Ferguson[2]; 3. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[3]; 4. 11-Josh Rice[5]; 5. 79-Donald McIntosh[6]; 6. 11C-Tyler Collins[4]; 7. 20-Tyler Neal[7]; 8. 19M-Spencer Hughes[9]; 9. 72-PJ Simpson[8]

Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (7 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. P3-Steve Peeden[4]; 3. 19M-Spencer Hughes[6]; 4. 20-Tyler Neal[3]; 5. 28-Jeffrey Shackelford[5]; 6. 72-PJ Simpson[9]; 7. 14-Quentin White[1]; 8. (DNS) 317-Blake Creech; 9. (DNS) JD3-Jack Dossey III

Feature Finish (50 Laps):

Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Pay

• 1 – 1 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $16,300
• 2 – 2 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $8,000
• 3 – 5 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $5,800
• 4 – 8 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $5,100
• 5 – 3 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $4,200
• 6 – 4 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $3,200
• 7 – 9 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $3,200
• 8 – 11 – 12 – Jason Jameson – Lawrenceburg, IN – $2,300
• 9 – 21 – 19M – Spencer Hughes – Meridian, MS – $2,900
• 10 – 6 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $2,800
• 11 – 17 – 1G – Devin Gilpin – Columbus, IN – $2,500
• 12 – 7 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $2,500
• 13 – 16 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $2,300
• 14 – 19 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $2,200
• 15 – 14 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $2,100
• 16 – 15 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – $2,000
• 17 – 23 – 28 – Jeffrey Shackelford – Clayton, IN – $1,200
• 18 – 13 – 7R – Kent Robinson – Bloomington, IN – $1,100
• 19 – 20 – P3 – Steve Peeden – Martinsville, IN – $1,000
• 20 – 18 – 11C – Tyler Collins – North Vernon, IN – $1,000
• 21 – 10 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $1,700
• 22 – 12 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $1,000
• 23 – 22 – 20 – Tyler Neal – Paragon, IN – $1,000
• 24 – 24 – 72 – PJ Simpson – Berry , KY – $1,000

Race Statistics

• Entrants: 27
• Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Brandon Overton
• MD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Overton (Laps 1-50)
• Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Brandon Overton
• Wieland Feature Winner: Brandon Overton
• Margin of Victory: 0.063 seconds
• Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: Tyler Collins, Tyler Neal, PJ Simpson, Steve Peeden (Initial Start); Josh Rice (Lap 15); Daulton Wilson (Lap 16); Cory Lawler (Lap 35)
• Series Provisionals: n/a
• Fast Time Provisional: Jeffrey Shackelford; PJ Simpson
• Emergency Provisional: n/a
• Track Provisional: n/a
• Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Brandon Overton, Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal
• Penske Shocks Top 5: Brandon Overton, Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal, Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton, Jr.
• PEM 4th Place Feature: Jonathan Davenport
• DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Garrett Alberson
• Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Daniel Hilsabeck
• Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Devin Gilpin
• Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Dan Ebert
• MD3 24th Place Feature: PJ Simpson
• Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Spencer Hughes (Advanced 12 Positions)
• MD3 Most Laps Led: Brandon Overton (50 Laps)
• Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O’Neal
• Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
• O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Daniel Hilsabeck
• Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Overton (Lap 2 | 12.805 seconds)
• Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Hudson O’Neal
• Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Daulton Wilson
• Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Anthony Burroughs
• ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
• Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
• Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brandon Overton (12.735 seconds)
• Time of Race: 26 minutes 06 seconds