ROSSBURG, Ohio — It was preliminary night on Friday for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, as 59 cars competed in six heat races to qualify for the 45th Annual Dirt Track World Championship presented by ARP, which will pay $100,000 to win on Saturday night at Eldora Speedway.
In heat number one, it was a fierce battle within the Ferguson Family until the very end as Chris Ferguson overtook his cousin Carson just before the checkered flag to secure the victory, earning him the Victory Fuel Pole for the 100-lap main event Saturday night.
Carson had led from the start of the 10-lap race, but Chris gained enough momentum on the final lap to pass him on the inside coming off of turn four. Trailing the Fergusons at the finish line was defending DTWC winner Bobby Pierce, who secured the third and final transfer spot.
The second heat was won by current championship points leader Devin Moran, who led from start to finish to secure the third starting spot in the DTWC. Nick Hoffman, coming off two third place finishes in the Dream and World 100 at Eldora this year, finished second to Moran, with Clay Harris claiming the third and final transfer position.
In heat number three, Brandon Sheppard dominated by leading all 10 laps and taking the win. Sheppard now aims to become the first six-time winner of the Crown Jewel race on Saturday night, starting from the fifth position. Hudson O’Neal finished second, followed by Daulton Wilson, who secured the third and final transfer spot.
In pivotal heat number four, where the winner would start alongside Chris Fergerson on the front row Saturday night, Chris Madden dominated the race, winning by more than six seconds over Ricky Thornton Jr. and Brandon Overton.
The fifth heat was all Garrett Alberson, the New Mexico native, who led all 10 laps to secure the victory and earn the fourth starting spot in the DTWC. Dennis Erb Jr., a former Dirt Late Model Dream winner at Eldora, charged from the eighth starting position to finish as the runner-up. Jason Jameson claimed the third and final transfer spot.
The sixth and final heat of the night was won by veteran Dale McDowell, who led from start to finish, beating Jonathan Davenport and Joseph Joiner.
