Brandon Overton celebrates in victory lane after winning Thursday night’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season opener at Golden Isles Speedway. Photo: LOLMDS Media
Brandon Overton opened up the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season on Thursday night with a home state victory at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, Georgia.
It marked the Evans, Georgia native’s third consecutive series victory at the 4/10-mile raceway.
Overton held off a hard-charging Tim McCreadie on the final lap to secure his 15th career series win. McCreadie, the two-time and reigning series champion, came from the 10th starting spot to finish just .402 seconds behind Overton. Ricky Thornton, Jr. was third, with Devin Moran fourth, and Daulton Wilson fifth.
Overton led the first circuit before the caution flew with just one lap scored. On the restart, Overton maintained the top spot with Thornton moving to second. Hudson O’Neal, the fastest qualifier of the 50 entrants, was on the move early, charging from seventh to third by lap five.
Overton was setting a steady pace out front as McCreadie was marching through the field from his outside row five starting position. McCreadie climbed to second around O’Neal on lap 18.
The top four with 10 laps remaining were Overton, McCreadie, O’Neal, and Jonathan Davenport. However, a caution for O’Neal and Davenport would fly relegating both to the back of the field. On the restart, Overton began pulling away from McCreadie as Thornton was commanding the third spot.
Overton caught the back of the field in the waning laps as McCreadi
tried one last ditch effort coming to the checkered flag falling just short at the finish.
“When you’re out front like that you are just a sitting duck. You don’t know where to go,” Overton said after recording his fourth career Golden Isles victory. “My crew did a good job of moving me around. I have lost a lot of races when I have been loose, but I was getting too tight because I couldn’t stay on the bottom. This race car is awesome this is the first night on it.”
“I think I was a little rusty qualifying,” Overton added. “I got out and I felt really good, and I found out I was fourth. We made up for it in the heat race and got us a good starting spot and we made the right tire choice. So, everything worked out for us. I hope the fans enjoyed it. We love coming here to race in front of people I grew up with. I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”
Ryan Gustin, Tyler Bruening, Brian Shirley, Brandon Sheppard, and Kyle Bronson rounded out the top 10.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action continues at Golden Isles Speedway on Friday, January 27. For more information, visit LucasDirt.com.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Golden Isles Speedway – Brunswick, GA
Super Clean Super Bowl of Racing – January 26, 2023
1. 76-Brandon Overton
2. 39-Tim McCreadie
3. 20RT-Ricky Thornton, Jr.
4. 99-Devin Moran
5. 18D-Daulton Wilson
6. 19R-Ryan Gustin
7. 16-Tyler Bruening
8. 8-Brian Shirley
9. B5-Brandon Sheppard
10. 40B-Kyle Bronson
11. 93-Carson Ferguson
12. 19M-Wil Herrington
13. 96V-Tanner English
14. 20-Jimmy Owens
15. 1T-Tyler Erb
16. 49-Jonathan Davenport
17. 25Z-Mason Zeigler
18. 89-Logan Roberson
19. 1H-Hudson O’Neal
20. 7-Ross Robinson
21. 11-Spencer Hughes
22. 46-Earl Pearson, Jr.
23. 10-Garrett Smith
24. 114-Jordan Koehler
25. 58-Garrett Alberson
26. 2-G.R. Smith
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