10/17/2025
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Chris Ferguson Earns Victory Fuel Pole for DTWC at Eldora
ROSSBURG, OH (October 17, 2025) – 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.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
45th Annual Dirt Track World Championship Presented by ARP | Night 1
Friday, October 17, 2025
Eldora Speedway | Rossburg, OH
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Carson Ferguson | 15.940 seconds (Overall)
Fast Time Group B: Chris Madden | 15.998 seconds
Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 22F-Chris Ferguson[2]; 2. 93-Carson Ferguson[1]; 3. 32-Bobby Pierce[4]; 4. 157-Mike Marlar[3]; 5. 3S-Brian Shirley[7]; 6. 20-Jimmy Owens[5]; 7. 29-Clint Keenan[8]; 8. 71R-Rod Conley[6]; 9. 28T-Tyler Carpenter[9]; 10. 24-Tyler Wyant[10]
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 9H-Nick Hoffman[4]; 3. 6-Clay Harris[5]; 4. 74X-Ethan Dotson[7]; 5. 19R-Ryan Gustin[6]; 6. 95J-Jerry Bowersock[9]; 7. 69J-Jon Hodgkiss[10]; 8. 111-Max Blair[2]; 9. 1T-Tyler Erb[3]; 10. 09-Michael Leach[8]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 71-Hudson O'Neal[2]; 3. 18D-Daulton Wilson[3]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 5. 15K-Colten Burdette[8]; 6. 11R-Josh Rice[10]; 7. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[7]; 8. 101-Forrest Trent[4]; 9. 39-Brandon Moore[9]; 10. 69-RC Whitwell[6]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 44-Chris Madden[1]; 2. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 3. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 4. 17D-Zack Dohm[4]; 5. 14H-Haiden Cowan[5]; 6. 89-Mike Spatola[8]; 7. 10-Garrett Smith[7]; 8. 3-Matt Miller[6]; 9. 17SR-Brody Smith[9]; 10. 96-Tanner English[10]
Lucas Oil Products Heat Race #5 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 2. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[8]; 3. 12-Jason Jameson[3]; 4. 9-Tim McCreadie[2]; 5. 79-Donald McIntosh[4]; 6. 17SS-Brenden Smith[7]; 7. 40B-Kyle Bronson[5]; 8. 93L-Cory Lawler[6]; 9. 55E-Eli Johnson[9]
MyRacePass Heat Race #6 Finish (10 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 17M-Dale McDowell[1]; 2. 49-Jonathan Davenport[4]; 3. 19M-Joseph Joiner[3]; 4. 114-Jordan Koehler[6]; 5. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[8]; 6. 99M-Caden McWhorter[5]; 7. 11K-Evan Koehler[7]; 8. S8-Chris Stotts[9]; 9. 6M-Michael Chilton[2]
Fast Shafts B-Main #1 (12 Laps | Top 2 Transfer):
Row - Car # - Driver - Hometown - Car # - Driver - Hometown
1 - 157 - Mike Marlar - Winfield TN - 74X - Ethan Dotson - Bakersfield CA
2 - 3S - Brian Shirley - Chatham IL - 19R - Ryan Gustin - Marshalltown IA
3 - 20 - Jimmy Owens - Newport TN - 95J - Jerry Bowersock - Wapakoneta OH
4 - 29 - Clint Keenan - Pataskala OH - 69J - Jon Hodgkiss - Pittsburgh PA
5 - 71R - Rod Conley - Wheelersburg OH - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville PA
6 - 28T - Tyler Carpenter - Parkersburg WV - 1T - Tyler Erb - New Waverly TX
7 - 24 - Tyler Wyant - Oil City PA - 09 - Michael Leach - Sun River MT
UNOH B-Main #2 (12 Laps | Top 2 Transfer):
Row - Car # - Driver - Hometown - Car # - Driver - Hometown
1 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore MN - 17D - Zack Dohm - Cross Lanes WV
2 - 15K - Colten Burdette - Parkersburg WV - 14H - Haiden Cowan - Savannah GA
3 - 11R - Josh Rice - Crittenden KY - 89 - Mike Spatola - Manhattan IL
4 - 12M - Ryan Montgomery - Fairmont WV - 10 - Garrett Smith - Madison GA
5 - 101 - Forrest Trent - Morristown TN - 3 - Matt Miller - Whitehouse OH
6 - 39 - Brandon Moore - Bryan OH - 17SR - Brody Smith - Dade City FL
7 - 69 - R.C. Whitwell - Tucson AZ - 96 - Tanner English - Benton KY
MyRacePass B-Main #3 (12 Laps | Top 2 Transfer):
Row - Car # - Driver - Hometown - Car # - Driver - Hometown
1 - 9 - Tim McCreadie - Watertown NY - 114 - Jordan Koehler - Mount Airy NC
2 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville GA - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham IA
3 - 17SS - Brenden Smith - Dade City FL - 99M - Caden McWhorter - Fairbury IL
4 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon FL - 11K - Evan Koehler - Mount Airy NC
5 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover PA - S8 - Chris Stotts - Shade OH
6 - 55E - Eli Johnson - Clewiston FL - 6M - Michael Chilton - Salvisa KY
45th Annual Dirt Track World Championship Presented by ARP A-Main (100 Laps):
Row - Car # - Driver - Hometown - Car # - Driver - Hometown
1 - 22F - Chris Ferguson - Mt. Holly NC - 44 - Chris Madden - Gray Court SC
2 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden OH - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces NM
3 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin IL - 17M - Dale McDowell - Chickamauga GA
4 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton NC - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler AZ
5 - 9H - Nick Hoffman - Mooresville NC - 28 - Dennis Erb Jr - Carpentersville IL
6 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville IN - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville GA
7 - 32 - Bobby Pierce - Oakwood IL - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans GA
8 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter FL - 12 - Jason Jameson - Lawrenceburg IN
9 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville NC - 19M - Joseph Joiner - Milton FL
Article Credit: James Essex
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields