Updates and results from Thursday’s first round of the 53rd annual World 100 weekend with a DIRTcar Racing program capped by two $12,000-to-win preliminary features at Eldora Speedway.

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Second World 100 Semifeature Recap

Sixth-starting Bobby Pierce overtook fellow Illinois driver Brandon Sheppard on the sixth lap and cruised the rest of Thursday’s second 25-lap semifeature at Eldora Speedway for a $12,000 payday on opening night of the World 100 weekend. Oakwood, Ill.’s Pierce pulled away to win by 3.198 seconds over Sheppard with Tim McCreadie finishing third in lapping all but nine competitors.

Second World 100 Semifeature Results

1. Bobby Pierce

2. Brandon Sheppard

3. Tim McCreadie

4. Jonathan Davenport

5. Chris Madden

6. Jason Feger

7. Spencer Hughes

8. Josh Rice

9. Shane Clanton

10. David McCoy

11. Trent Ivey

12. Mason Zeigler

13. Michael Brown

14. Tyler Erb

15. Dennis Erb Jr.

16. Garrett Smith

17. Brandon Overton

18. Joseph Joiner

19. Carson Ferguson

20. Cory Hedgecock

21. Kyle Strickler

22. Cody Overton

23. Kenny Collins

24. Jordan Koehler

First World 100 Semifeature Recap

Polesitter Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., overtook fellow front-row starter Jason Jameson on a lap-three restart and led the rest of Thursday’s opening semifeature at Eldora Speedway on World 100 weekend. O’Neal dove under Jameson in turn three and earned $12,000 for his 25-lap victory in the Rocket Chassis house car. O’Neal, who survived a lap-15 scrape with the slower car of Wil Herrington exiting turn four and had a flat right-rear tire in victory lane, took the checkers over fellow Indiana residents Jameson and Ricky Thornton Jr.

First World 100 Semifeature Results

1. Hudson O’Neal

2. Jason Jameson

3. Ricky Thornton Jr.

4. Mike Marlar

5. Shannon Babb

6. Devin Moran

7. Brian Shirley

8. Daulton Wilson

9. Garrett Alberson

10. Kyle Bronson

11. Earl Pearson Jr.

12. Gregg Satterlee

13. Dale McDowell

14. Ryan Gustin

15. Jimmy Owens

16. Steven Roberts

17. Wil Herrington

18. Stormy Scott

19. Matt Sheppard

20. Ricky Weiss

21. R.J. Conley

22. Haiden Cowan

23. Chris Ferguson

24. G.R. Smith

Second World 100 Semifeature Lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: David McCoy, Brandon Sheppard

Row 2: Tim McCreadie, Michael Brown

Row 3: Chris Madden, Bobby Pierce

Row 4: Brandon Overton, Jason Feger

Row 5: Trent Ivey, Spencer Hughes

Row 6: Shane Clanton, Cody Overton

Row 7: Mason Zeigler, Jonathan Davenport

Row 8: Jordan Koehler, Josh Rice

Row 9: Carson Ferguson, Kenny Collins

Row 10: Tyler Erb, Dennis Erb Jr.

Row 11: Kyle Strickler, Garrett Smith

Row 12: Cory Hedgecock, Joseph Joiner

First World 100 Semifeature Lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Hudson O'Neal, Jason Jameson

Row 2: Shannon Babb, Haiden Cowan

Row 3: Ricky Thornton Jr., Brian Shirlieoy

Row 4: Mike Marlar, Chris Ferguson

Row 5: Jimmy Owens, Devin Moran

Row 6: Earl Pearson Jr., Daulton Wilson

Row 7: Ryan Gustin, Steven Roberts

Row 8: Kyle Bronson, G.R. Smith

Row 9: Gregg Satterlee, Dale McDowell

Row 10: Wil Herrington, Garrett Alberson

Row 11: Stormy Scott, Matt Sheppard

Row 12: R.J. Conley, Ricky Weiss

World 100 Consolation Race Results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Stormy Scott, R.J. Conley, Austin Kirkpatrick, Casey Noonan, Gordy Gundaker, Seth Daniels, Mike Benedum, Tyler Nicely, Brian Ruhlman, Jake Timm, Freddie Carpenter, Jon Hodgkiss, Jeremy Cropper, John Tweed, Bryant Dickinson, Tyler Carpenter. Scratched: Gilbert Hess.

Second consolation: Matt Sheppard, Ricky Weiss, Richie Stephens, Will Roland, Ross Bailes, Benji Hicks, Kaede Loudy, Jason Riggs, Jerry Bowersock, Brad Dyer, Forrest Trent, Justin Cooper, Donnie Jeschke, Jeff Kohn, Jeff Robertson.

Third consolation: Kyle Strickler, Cory Hedgecock, Nick Hoffman, Tristan Chamberlain, Tim Lance, Rod Conley, Kody Evans, Dustin Nobbe, Jeep Van Wormer, Josh Dietz, Chase Osterhoff, Terry Rushloew, David Ellis. Scratched: Terry Wolfenbarger, Dona Marcoullier, Gilbert Hess.

Fourth consolation: Garrett Smith, Joseph Joiner, Donald McIntosh, Tanner English, Kye Blight, Matt Cosner, Austin Neely, Kent Robinson, Kirk Phillips, Curtis Roberts, Brenden Smith, Travis Stemler, Mike Bargo, Rob Anderzack, Luke Anstett.

World 100 Heat Race Recap

• Mike Marlar marched to a flag-to-flag victory in the first heat driving his Delk Motorsports car that sports a wrap inspired by a World War II fighter plane, which led him to make an interesting postrace comment. “This is an airplane, but I’m gonna keep it on the ground,” he quipped. G.R. Smith finished fifth in Heat 1, putting into the preliminary feature in his first start since mid-March.
• Earl Pearson Jr. led all the way to capture the second heat.Mike Benedum ran second for the first five laps of Heat 2 before slipping backward and finishing 10th.
• Noting that “the track still has a lot of grip,” Devin Moran controlled the third heat from start-to-finish to win by 0.498 of a second over Hudson O’Neal, who overtook Steven Roberts for second on lap six.
• Ryan Gustin became the fourth wire-to-wire winner in as many heats, taking the fourth prelim by 1.532 seconds over Ricky Thornton Jr. Northeast big-block modified star Matt Sheppard missed transferring by one spot in Heat 4; he ran fifth for one lap before settling into sixth place for the remainder of the distance.
• The fifth heat saw the five transfer spots swept by Southeasterners: Trent Ivey held off a late challenge from Chris Madden for the win with Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport and Carson Ferguson following.
• Bobby Pierce became the first driver win a heat from the fourth starting spot, capturing the sixth prelim after sliding past David McCoy for the lead on lap six. Second-running Dustin Nobbe spun in turn four to bring out the caution flag on lap four; several onrushing cars barely avoided hitting the Indiana driver’s machine.
• Shane Clanton said he “has to get rid of a little push out of turn four,” but he was otherwise pleased with his car’s performance in his flag-to-flag Heat 7 triumph.
• MARS Championship Series points leader Jason Feger led flag-to-flag to top the eighth heat by 1.665 seconds over Tim McCreadie.

World 100 Heat Race Results

(Eight laps; top five transfer)

First heat: Mike Marlar, Daulton Wilson, Brian Shirley, Chris Ferguson, G.R. Smith, Casey Noonan, Austin Kirkpatrick, Seth Daniels, R.J. Conley, John Tweed, Freddie Carpenter, Jeremy Cropper, Jake Timm.

Second heat: Earl Pearson Jr., Jason Jameson, Kyle Bronson, Haiden Cowan, Wil Herrington, Stormy Scott, Tyler Carpenter, Gordy Gundaker, Jon Hodgkiss, Mike Benedum, Tyler Nicely, Brian Ruhlman, Bryant Dickinson.

Third heat: Devin Moran, Hudson O'Neal, Steven Roberts, Shannon Babb, Garrett Alberson, Richie Stephens, Ross Bailes, Benji Hicks, Jason Riggs, Justin Cooper, Forrest Trent, Donnie Jeschke, Jeff Robertson.

Fourth heat: Ryan Gustin, Ricky Thornton Jr., Jimmy Owens, Dale McDowell, Gregg Satterlee, Matt Sheppard, Ricky Weiss, Will Roland, Kaede Loudy, Brad Dyer, Jerry Bowersock, Jeff Kohn.

Fifth heat: Trent Ivey, Chris Madden, Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport, Carson Ferguson, Tristan Chamberlain, Cory Hedgecock, Nick Hoffman, Rod Conley, Josh Dietz, Jeep Van Wormer, David Ellis.

Sixth heat: Bobby Pierce, David McCoy, Mason Zeigler, Brandon Sheppard, Kenny Collins, Kyle Strickler, Tim Lance, Kody Evans, Dustin Nobbe, Chase Osterhoff, Terry Rushlow, Terry Wolfenbarger, Gilbert Hess.

Seventh heat: Shane Clanton, Michael Brown, Spencer Hughes, Jordan Koehler, Tyler Erb, Kye Blight, Matt Cosner, Austin Neely, Rob Anderzack, Kirk Phillips, Mike Bargo, Luke Anstett, Donald McIntosh.

Eighth heat: Jason Feger, Tim McCreadie, Cody Overton, Josh Rice, Dennis Erb Jr., Tanner English, Garrett Smith, Joseph Joiner, Travis Stemler, Kent Robinson, Brenden Smith, Curtis Roberts.

World 100 Heat Race Lineups

(Top five transfer)

Group A - Heat #1

Row 1: Daulton Wilson, Mike Marlar

Row 2: Chris Ferguson, Brian Shirley

Row 3: G.R. Smith, Casey Noonan

Row 4: Austin Kirkpatrick, Jake Timm

Row 5: Seth Daniels, R.J. Conley

Row 6: Freddie Carpenter, John Tweed

Row 7: Jeremy Cropper

Group A - Heat #2

Row 1: Earl Pearson Jr., Mike Benedum

Row 2: Jason Jameson, Haiden Cowan

Row 3: Kyle Bronson, Stormy Scott

Row 4: Wil Herrington, Gordy Gundaker

Row 5: Tyler Carpenter, Jon Hodgkiss

Row 6: Tyler Nicely, Brian Ruhlman

Row 7: Bryant Dickinson

Group A - Heat #3

Row 1: Steven Roberts, Devin Moran

Row 2: Hudson O'Neal, Shannon Babb

Row 3: Richie Stephens, Forrest Trent

Row 4: Garrett Alberson, Ross Bailes

Row 5: Benji Hicks, Donnie Jeschke

Row 6: Justin Cooper, Jason Riggs

Row 7: Jeff Robertson

Group A - Heat #4

Row 1: Ryan Gustin, Matt Sheppard

Row 2: Jimmy Owens, Ricky Thornton Jr.

Row 3: Gregg Satterlee, Dale McDowell

Row 4: Ricky Weiss, Will Roland

Row 5: Jerry Bowersock, Brad Dyer

Row 6: Kaede Loudy, Jeff Kohn

Group B - Heat #1

Row 1: Trent Ivey, Brandon Overton

Row 2: Tristan Chamberlain, Chris Madden

Row 3: Jonathan Davenport, Chris Ferguson

Row 4: Josh Dietz, Nick Hoffman

Row 5: Cory Hedgecock, Jeep Van Wormer

Row 6: Dona Marcoullier, Rod Conley

Row 7: David Ellis

Group B - Heat #2

Row 1: Dustin Nobbe, David McCoy

Row 2: Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce

Row 3: Mason Zeigler, Kenny Collins

Row 4: Tim Lance, Kyle Strickler

Row 5: Chase Osterhoff, Kody Evans

Row 6: Terry Rushlow, Terry Wolfenbarger

Row 7: Gilbert Hess

Group B - Heat #3

Row 1: Shane Clanton, Spencer Hughes

Row 2: Michael Brown, Donald McIntosh

Row 3: Jordan Koehler, Tyler Erb

Row 4: Austin Neely, Matt Cosner

Row 5: Rob Anderzack, Kye Blight

Row 6: Mike Bargo, Kirk Phillips

Row 7: Luke Anstett

Group B - Heat #4

Row 1: Cody Overton, Jason Feger

Row 2: Tim McCreadie, Joseph Joiner

Row 3: Josh Rice, Dennis Erb Jr.

Row 4: Travis Stemler, Tanner English

Row 5: Garrett Smith, Curtis Roberts

Row 6: Brenden Smith, Kent Robinson

Pre-qualifying Notes

• The 53rd World 100 weekend opens Thursday under mostly cloudy skies with comfortable temperatures that topped out in the low 70s during the afternoon. Some drizzle did fall a few times during the day but never hard enough to threaten the 6:30 p.m. start time for heats — though the track surface does have plenty of moisture in it. 
• The car count of 102 cars is down a minimal five entries from 2022. 
• Numerous teams were told to snip some sheet metal after going through tech inspection for the first time on Wednesday and early Thursday, but DIRTcar officials reported no major issues. 
• Northeast big-block modified star Matt Sheppard of Waterloo, N.Y., is back in the Niece Motorsports Dirt Late Model that he ran in Aug. 24’s Lucas Oil Series event at Georgetown (Del.) Speedway, but his first World 100 attempt got off to an inauspicious start. Before he even hit the track, Sheppard’s No. 42 fell off the team’s trailer liftgate as it was being unloaded and landed rearend-first on the concrete pits; the car appeared to escape serious damage, but team manager Cody Sommer — the promoter of the Gateway Dirt Nationals — also fell off the liftgate and suffered a cut on his left elbow and also complained of a sore chest and back. 
• Normally the Rocket Chassis house car team’s big blue trailer is parked on the front row of Eldora’s pit area directly next to the media center, but this weekend the Mark Richards operation is situated in the middle row alongside the concession stand. 
• Among the drivers in Group A sporting special World 100 weekend wraps: Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn. (a World War II plane-themed scheme); Daulton Wilson of Fayetteville, N.C. (a duplicate of Earl Pearson Jr.’s 2006 World 100-winning Dunn Benson Racing No. 1); and Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio (the light blue color on his Double Down Motorsports car represents Dementia Awareness). 
• G.R. Smith of Cornelius, N.C., is making his first competitive start since mid-March when he was involved in a controversial incident with Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., at Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla. Racing as a teammate to Ricky Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba — the winner of Sunday’s Baltes Classic at Eldora — Smith is driving a new Sniper Chassis that he tested recently at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tenn. 
• Jason Jameson of Lawrenceburg, Ind., is back with Rattliff Racing as a temporary teammate of Daulton Wilson driving a Longhorn car that the team purchased from Eli Beets after it was run just twice. Jameson is making his third start of 2023 with Rattliff Racing, including Sunday’s Baltes Classic.
• While Stormy Scott of Las Cruces, N.M., is in the World 100 field, his twin brother Johnny Scott is sitting the weekend out while recovering from concussion and a sore neck and back he suffered two weeks ago in a heat-race accident at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway. 
• Modified ace Tyler Nicely of Owensboro, Ky., is making his World 100 behind the wheel of the Hatcher Motorsports No. 6, a car that has performed well at Eldora in the past with driver Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C. 
• Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., will bid for his record-tying sixth World 100 with his Double L Motorsports No. 49 sporting a new green-dominated look. While many superstitious racers avoid the color green, Davenport said he doesn’t adhere to that mindset. 
• Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., is driving the Kevin Rumley-owned Longhorn Chassis development car with a his familiar No. B5 on the doors and an bright orange color scheme. Other Group B drivers boasting special wraps: Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C. (running a white No. 87 machine in honor of his late grandfather); Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga. (changed his Wells Motorsports No. 76 to a white-and-blue No. 4 in honor of Southeast racer Ed Basey); and Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., whose brand-new Longhorn by Wesley Page mount is a throwback to 1994 Dream winner Freddy Smith’s Bazooka No. 00 (Ferguson races out of Smith’s son Jeff’s shop). Another tribute car is being fielded by Gilbert Hess, a 53-year-old from Inwood, W.Va., who has his 1-race-old Rocket Chassis outfitted to mirror the famed Speedy Hays No. 44 that was piloted in the ‘80s and ‘90s by, among others, Hall of Famer Gary Stuhler. Hess is making his first competitive start in 20 years to raise awareness for childhood cancer — the disease that took his daughter’s life two decades ago at the age of 8 — and his honor his wife, who died from complications of Covid-19 two years ago. 
• With his three-month suspension for World of Outlaws- and DIRTcar-sanctioned events for his father’s actions at a Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series event now expired, 19-year-old Garrett Smith of Eatonton, Ga., is in the field for the DIRTcar-sanctioned World 100. 
• After making his Eldora debut on Sunday, 16-year-old Tristan Chamberlain of Richmond, Ind., is set to attempt his first World 100. The teenager has plenty of experience on his side with his father, veteran racer Duane Chamberlain, and longtime mechanic Mark Saul. Duane Chamberlain is in the pit area wearing a patch over his right eye after he had to visit a doctor because an apparent fiberglass shaving scratched his cornea. 
• Dustin Nobbe of Batesville, Ind., is ready for action after his trailer was hit by a drunk driver just south of Eldora Speedway following Sunday’s Baltes Classic. The impact flipped over Nobbe’s trailer and threw around his race car; fellow racer Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., and his team stopped at the scene of the accident and took Nobbe’s car away in their trailer. After securing a borrowed trailer from Indiana Crate driver Steve Peeden, Nobbe picked up his car at Rice’s shop and prepped it for this weekend’s action.

World 100 Entry List 

Driver (car no.), hometown

Brad Dyer (0), Mohawk, Tenn.

Justin Cooper (00), Wheelersburg, Ohio

Carson Ferguson (00), Lincolnton, N.C.

Richie Stephens (00), Phenix City, Ala.

Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas

Hudson O’Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind.

Daulton Wilson (1), Fayetteville, N.C.

Seth Daniels (s1), Jackson, Ohio

Kenny Collins (1c), Colbert, Ga.

Casey Noonan (1N), Sylvania, Ohio

Stormy Scott (2s), Las Cruces, N.M.

Jeff Robertson (P3), Defiance, Ohio

Austin Neely (3), New Tazewell, Tenn.

Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill.

Freddie Carpenter (c4), Parkersburg, W.Va.

Brandon Overton (4), Evans, Ga.

Kody Evans (4G), Camden, Ohio

Travis Stemler (4s), Ionia, Mich.

Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill.

Ross Bailes (5), Clover, S.C.

John Tweed (5), Greeneville, Tenn.

Bryant Dickinson (5*), Ionia, Mich.

Dustin Nobbe (5N), Batesville, Ind.

Tyler Nicely (6), Owensboro, Ky.

Dona Marcoullier (6m), Houghton Lake, Mich.

Ricky Weiss (7), Headingley, Manitoba

Jeremy Cropper (7c), Ringgold, Ga.

Kent Robinson (7r), Bloomington, Ind.

Rob Anderzack (8), Swanton, Ohio

Kyle Strickler (8), Mooresville, N.C.

Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C.

Josh Dietz (9D), Hebron, Ky.

Curtis Roberts (9r), Coleman, Mich.

Joseph Joiner (10), Milton, Fla.

Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga.

Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo.

Spencer Hughes (11), Meridian, Miss.

Austin Kirkpatrick (11), Harrisburg, N.C.

Josh Rice (11), Verona, Ky.

Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Terry Wolfenbarger (14), Powell, Tenn.

David Ellis (17), Defiance, Ohio

Cody Overton (15k), Evans, Ga.

Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga.

Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla.

Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill.

Wil Herrington (19m), Hawkinsville, Ga.

Ryan Gustin (19r), Marshalltown, Iowa

Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn.

Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz.

Tristin Chamberlain (20tc), Richmond, Ind.

Kirk Phillips (21k), Ashland, Ky.

Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C.

Will Roland (22), Jasper, Ga.

Gregg Satterlee (22), Indiana, Pa.

G.R. Smith (22x), Cornelius, N.C.

Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn.

Michael Brown (24-D), Pageland, S.C.

Mike Benedum (25), Salem, W.Va.

Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga.

Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill.

Jeff Kohn (25), Sheridan, Mich.

Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa.

Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va.

Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill.

Kye Blight (31aus), Bunbury, Western Australia

Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill.

Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y.

Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla.

Matt Sheppard (42), Waterloo, N.Y.

Gilbert Hess (44), Inwood, W.Va.

Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla.

Tim Lance (48), Brimfield, Ill.

Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga.

Brian Ruhlman (49), Clarklake, Mich.

Jake Timm (49), Winona, Minn.

Benji Hicks (55), Mount Airy, N.C.

Jeep Van Wormer (55), Pinconning, Mich.

Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M.

Terry Rushlow (63), Holland, Ohio

Luke Anstett (64), Greenville, Mich.

Matt Cosner (66), Ridgeley, W.Va.

Jon Hodgkiss (69), Kennedy Township, Pa.

R.J. Conley (71c), Wheelersburg, Ohio

Rod Conley (71r), Wheelersburg, Ohio

Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga.

Jason Riggs (81r), College Grove, Tenn.

Chris Madden (87), Gray Court, S.C.

Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C.

Jerry Bowersock (95j), Wapakoneta, Ohio

Tanner English (96v), Benton, Ky.

Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio

Donnie Jeschke (99J), Dayton, Ohio

Forrest Trent (101), Morristown, Tenn.

Steven Roberts (111), Sylvester, Ga.

Jordan Koehler (114), Mount Airy, N.C.

Chase Osterhoff (130), Kankakee, Ill.

Kaede Loudy (126), Rogersville, Tenn.

Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn.

David McCoy (187), Franklin, N.C.

Haiden Cowan (214), Rincon, Ga.

Mike Bargo (316), Corbin, Ky.

World 100 Thursday Schedule

7 a.m.-11 a.m. - Breakfast served (turn four concession building)

9 a.m. - Gates open

10 a.m. - Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)

11 a.m. - Grounds cleared and secured

Noon - All gates, suites and concessions open

Noon-4:30 p.m. - Technical inspection

3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. - Billy Chez Cheese concert (fan zone)

5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting

6:30 p.m. - Hot laps

8 p.m. - Opening ceremonies

Competition

- Late Model time trials

- Late Model heats (8 laps)

- Late Model consolations (10 laps)

- Late Model first feature (25 laps)

- Late Model second feature (25 laps)