In a thrilling Final Four-style championship finale, Hudson O’Neal prevailed to score his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship.
O’Neal banked $200,000 in the process as he became the youngest champion in series history at 23 years old. He notched six victories on the season.
Devin Moran finished runner-up in the title chase as he scored two victories.
The winningest driver on the tour was Ricky Thornton Jr., who earned 23 triumphs. Though he placed eighth in the finale at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, forcing Thornton to settle for third in the standings.
Thornton also swept the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals after winning all three nights of action.
Jonathan Davenport placed fourth in the standings after a seven-win season.
2023 Schedule & Results
|
Date |
Track |
Winner |
|
Jan. 26 |
Golden Isles Speedway |
Brandon Overton |
|
Jan. 27 |
Golden Isles Speedway |
Kyle Larson |
|
Jan. 28 |
Golden Isles Speedway |
Brandon Overton |
|
Jan. 29 |
Bubba Raceway Park |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Jan. 30 |
Bubba Raceway Park |
Jonathan Davenport |
|
Feb. 4 |
All-Tech Raceway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Feb. 6 |
East Bay Raceway Park |
Tyler Erb |
|
Feb. 7 |
East Bay Raceway Park |
Ashton Winger |
|
Feb. 8 |
East Bay Raceway Park |
Ryan Gustin |
|
Feb. 9 |
East Bay Raceway Park |
Hudson O’Neal |
|
Feb. 10 |
East Bay Raceway Park |
Hudson O’Neal |
|
May 4 |
Atomic Speedway |
Hudson O’Neal |
|
May 5 |
Pondersoa Speedway |
Mike Marlar |
|
May 6 |
Florence Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
May 12 |
Farmer City Raceway |
Brandon Sheppard |
|
May 13 |
Fairbury Speedway |
Bobby Pierce |
|
May 19 |
300 Raceway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
May 20 |
34 Raceway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
May 25 |
Lucas Oil Speedway |
Jonathan Davenport |
|
May 26 |
Lucas Oil Speedway |
Jonathan Davenport |
|
May 27 |
Lucas Oil Speedway |
Devin Moran |
|
June 2 |
West Virginia Motor Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
June 16 |
Smoky Mountain Speedway |
Chris Ferguson |
|
June 17 |
Smoky Mountain Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
June 22 |
Lernerville Speedway |
Jonathan Davenport |
|
June 23 |
Lernerville Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr., Max Blair |
|
June 24 |
Lernerville Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
June 30 |
Muskingum County Speedway |
Tim McCreadie, Hudson O’Neal, Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
July 1 |
Muskingum County Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
July 6 |
Deer Creek Speedway |
Devin Moran |
|
July 7 |
Deer Creek Speedway |
Chris Madden |
|
July 8 |
Deer Creek Speedway |
Bobby Pierce |
|
July 11 |
Davenport Speedway |
Jonathan Davenport |
|
July 15 |
Lucas Oil Speedway |
Jonathan Davenport |
|
July 20 |
Huset’s Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
July 21 |
Huset’s Speedway |
Brandon Sheppard |
|
July 22 |
Huset’s Speedway |
Brandon Sheppard |
|
Aug. 10 |
Florence Speedway |
Bobby Pierce, Mike Marlar |
|
Aug. 11 |
Florence Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr., Bobby Pierce |
|
Aug. 12 |
Florence Speedway |
Bobby Pierce |
|
Aug. 18 |
Batesville Motor Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Aug. 19 |
Batesville Motor Speedway |
Dale McDowell |
|
Aug. 24 |
Georgetown Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Aug. 25 |
Port Royal Speedway |
Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Overton |
|
Aug. 26 |
Port Royal Speedway |
Hudson O’Neal |
|
Sept. 2 |
Portsmouth Raceway Park |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Sept. 3 |
Tyler County Speedway |
Jonathan Davenport |
|
Sept. 14 |
Knoxville Raceway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Sept. 15 |
Knoxville Raceway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Sept. 16 |
Knoxville Raceway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Sept. 22 |
Brownstown Speedway |
Mike Marlar |
|
Sept. 23 |
Brownstown Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Sept. 29 |
Raceway 7 |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Sept. 30 |
Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway |
Ricky Thornton Jr. |
|
Oct. 21 |
Eldora Speedway |
Brandon Sheppard |