Garrett Alberson Wins a Thriller at 34 Raceway
WEST BURLINGTON, IA (July 10, 2025) – It was finally Garrett Alberson’s night on Thursday at 34 Raceway as the Las Cruces, New Mexico native won his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event of the season. Alberson, who entered the event leading in most feature laps this season without a win, earned $15,000 for his second career Series victory.
Alberson led the first 35 laps of the race and the final four as he held off Hudson O’Neal and Brandon Overton for the victory. Jonathan Davenport finished fourth and regained the championship points lead from Ricky Thornton, Jr., who failed to finish the race. Carson Ferguson rounded out the top five drivers.
Alberson, who led 39 laps total, fell to third with 10 laps remaining but rallied using the top side of the race track to go from third to first in the final five laps of the race.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the first time since winning at Port Royal in August of 2024, Alberson came home with the win in dramatic fashion,
“That was a crazy race right there. You know, we went hard on tires, and on some of those restarts, the track kept hacking. At first, I thought it was going to go our way, and then later I started skating around a little bit, and it was a little dirty here and there. It was like that last run we actually cleaned it up on the top and got that right rear going, and we just never quit,” said Alberson, who currently sits fifth in the championship points.
“I could get in there in the bottom with Hud, but I couldn’t really leave out of there quite as nice as I needed to carry my speed, so I just got up there where I tried to get my right rear hot and try to get my momentum back up. At first, I didn’t really feel like I was getting anywhere, it was kind of a treacherous feeling, but then after a couple of laps, I just started to make up some ground, and it just worked out right.”
O’Neal, who won the last series race at Muskingum County on July 5, came from 11th to claim the runner-up spot.
“We raced all over this thing, from wall-to-wall and uke tire to uke tire. Man, 34 put on a show tonight. I really feel like I had something there. I was rolling on Brandon (Overton) and he went down there to protect and he kind of just shut it down on that bottom. Then I heard a motor firing up there outside of me and I thought oh no and then we got to the center of the corner, and I saw the white nose and I figured it was Garrett. He (Alberson) made a great move he just kind of took advantage of Brandon trying to protect a little bit and he was able to make the winning move.”
Overton, who led 11 laps, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third.
“I zigged when I should have zagged, I guess. Hats off to the race track, man that was an awesome race. You could go wherever you wanted to. I seen Hudson and I’m like man just get down and kind of block him and run back to the top and as soon as I moved down, I stalled out and I saw Garrett come around me. I didn’t know he was still there. It is what it is. We have been struggling, but we’re all working together, tonight I feel like was a big step. I am always on Burroughs, and I’m doing this and doing that; we are still learning each other. It has taken us a lot longer than we wanted to, but that’s alright, we are just going to keep working.”
The winner’s Roberts Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Low Voltage Solutions, Inc., Mesilla Valley Transportation, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Titan Racing Products, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Bill’s Sport Shop, Dickie’s Doghouse, Cheap Cars, Done Right TV, Roemer Machine, Denago Powersports, Mitchell Ranch, and Fertilizer Equipment Specialists.
Completing the top ten were Chad Simpson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Tyler Bruening, Brandon Sheppard, and Devin Moran.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing
Race Summary
Thursday, July 10, 2025
34 Raceway – West Burlington, IA
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Tyler Bruening | 14.683 seconds
Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 2. 1-Brandon Sheppard[4]; 3. 32-Chris Simpson[2]; 4. 15-Clay Stuckey[6]; 5. 11T-Trevor Gundaker[7]; 6. 25-Chad Simpson[8]; 7. 19M-Spencer Hughes[5]; 8. 16-Tyler Bruening[1]; 9. 25B-Chevy Boyer[9]
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[4]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[2]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 4. 71-Hudson O’Neal[3]; 5. 11-Gordy Gundaker[6]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 7. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 8. 51-Matt Furman[8]; 9. 17-Tim Simpson[9]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 93-Carson Ferguson[1]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 3. 93L-Cory Lawler[4]; 4. 18D-Daulton Wilson[5]; 5. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[7]; 6. 43-Derrick Stewart[6]; 7. 79-Donald McIntosh[3]; 8. 33-Rickey Frankel[9]; 9. (DNS) 50-Kayden Clatt
Feature Finish (50 Laps):
Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Pay
1 – 1 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $15,800
2 – 11 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $7,800
3 – 6 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $5,700
4 – 8 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $5,100
5 – 3 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $3,700
6 – 16 – 25 – Chad Simpson – Mt. Vernon, IA – $2,500
7 – 15 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $3,200
8 – 22 – 16 – Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – $2,300
9 – 4 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $2,900
10 – 5 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $3,100
11 – 12 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $2,700
12 – 10 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – $1,800
13 – 18 – 43 – Derrick Stewart – Ainsworth, IA – $1,600
14 – 21 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – $2,200
15 – 14 – 11 – Gordy Gundaker – St. Charles, MO – $1,400
16 – 13 – 11T – Trevor Gundaker – St. Charles, MO – $1,300
17 – 19 – 19M – Spencer Hughes – Meridian, MS – $1,900
18 – 9 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $1,800
19 – 25 – 25B – Chevy Boyer – New Haven, MO – $1,000
20 – 2 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $2,200
21 – 20 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $1,700
22 – 24 – 33 – Rickey Frankel – Quincy, IL – $1,000
23 – 26 – 17 – Tim Simpson – Iowa City, IA – $1,000
24 – 23 – 51 – Matt Furman – Iowa City, IA – $1,000
25 – 17 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $1,700
26 – 7 – 32 – Chris Simpson – Oxford, IA – $1,000
Race Statistics
Entrants: 27
Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Garrett Alberson
MD3 Lap Leaders: Garrett Alberson (Laps 1-35); Brandon Overton (Laps 36-46); Garrett Alberson (Laps 47-50)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Garrett Alberson
Wieland Feature Winner: Garrett Alberson
Margin of Victory: 1.482 seconds
Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: Rickey Frankel (Lap 1); Brandon Sheppard, Chris Simpson, Clay Stuckey (Lap 4); Clay Harris (Lap 6); Matt Furman (Lap 8); Gordy Gundaker (Lap 10); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 15); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 18); Devin Moran (Lap 30); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 39)
Series Provisionals: n/a
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisional: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Garrett Alberson, Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Overton
Penske Shocks Top 5: Garrett Alberson, Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Overton, Jonathan Davenport, Carson Ferguson
PEM 4th Place Feature: Jonathan Davenport
DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Carson Ferguson
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Daniel Hilsabeck
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Daulton Wilson
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Derrick Stewart
MD3 24th Place Feature: Matt Furman
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race:
MD3 Most Laps Led: Garrett Alberson (39 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Garrett Alberson
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Daniel Hilsabeck
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Garrett Alberson | Lap 2 | 15.354 seconds
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Garrett Alberson
Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Zach Huston
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Ricky Thornton Jr. | 14.616 seconds
Time of Race: 43 minutes 31 seconds
Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:
Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Pay
1 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – 5045 – $251,300
2 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 4975 – $266,450
3 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 4775 – $187,449
4 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 4755 – $144,175
5 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 4560 – $110,350
6 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 4465 – $120,400
7 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 4365 – $96,200
8 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – 4110 – $77,925
9 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 3945 – $66,125
10 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – 3785 – $51,900
11 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 3705 – $48,425
12 – 19M – Spencer Hughes – Meridian, MS – 3420 – $46,525
13 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 3370 – $39,300
14 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 3175 – $38,450
15 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 2980 – $29,725
18 entries
Modifieds
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 77T-Tripp Gaylord[1]; 2. 22-Austen Becerra[2]; 3. 28-Trevor Fitz[3]; 4. 10C-Cayden Carter[4]; 5. 38T-Dylan Thornton[9]; 6. 40-Dakota Simmons[7]; 7. 1-Eric Barnes[8]; 8. 05-John Oliver Jr[5]; 9. 9Z-Chris Zogg[6]; 10. 53-Logan Anderson[10]; 11. 44X-Blaise Lewis[11]; 12. 32-Donovan Lodge[12]; 13. 71-Dennis LaVeine[15]; 14. 5R-Bill Roberts Jr[16]; 15. 93N-Colton Nelson[18]; 16. (DNF) 96-Matthew Lundry[14]; 17. (DNF) 19J-Levi Smith[13]; 18. (DNF) 99-Charlie Mohr[17]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 10C-Cayden Carter[1]; 2. 77T-Tripp Gaylord[2]; 3. 9Z-Chris Zogg[6]; 4. 05-John Oliver Jr[3]; 5. 53-Logan Anderson[7]; 6. 44X-Blaise Lewis[5]; 7. 32-Donovan Lodge[9]; 8. 19J-Levi Smith[8]; 9. (DNF) 99-Charlie Mohr[4]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 38T-Dylan Thornton[1]; 2. 1-Eric Barnes[3]; 3. 22-Austen Becerra[7]; 4. 28-Trevor Fitz[6]; 5. 40-Dakota Simmons[8]; 6. (DNF) 96-Matthew Lundry[9]; 7. (DNF) 5R-Bill Roberts Jr[2]; 8. (DNF) 71-Dennis LaVeine[5]; 9. (DNS) 93N-Colton Nelson
15 entries
Mini Hauler
A Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 20-Brian Tipps[1]; 2. 89L-Payton Lain[4]; 3. 95-Brett Timmerman[5]; 4. 141-Darin Ronner[3]; 5. 44-Lyle Timmerman[6]; 6. 4-Caleb Ealey[2]; 7. 16-Dawson Tipps[8]; 8. 74-Sheldon Brockett[7]; 9. 28L-Christopher Lain[11]; 10. 44T-Tasker Timmerman[10]; 11. 22-Hayden Delzell[13]; 12. 11L-Haydyn Lain[15]; 13. (DNF) 72-Colton Meeker[9]; 14. (DNS) 15-Tate Kronfieldt; 15. (DNS) 82-Austin Meeker
Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 20-Brian Tipps[2]; 2. 95-Brett Timmerman[3]; 3. 141-Darin Ronner[1]; 4. 89L-Payton Lain[5]; 5. 44T-Tasker Timmerman[7]; 6. 28L-Christopher Lain[4]; 7. 22-Hayden Delzell[6]; 8. 11L-Haydyn Lain[8]
Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 4-Caleb Ealey[1]; 2. 74-Sheldon Brockett[2]; 3. 44-Lyle Timmerman[4]; 4. 72-Colton Meeker[3]; 5. 16-Dawson Tipps[5]; 6. 15-Tate Kronfieldt[6]; 7. 82-Austin Meeker[7]
Hot Laps 1: 1. 141-Darin Ronner, 00:23.568; 2. 89L-Payton Lain, 00:24.609; 3. 20-Brian Tipps, 00:24.889; 4. 16-Dawson Tipps, 00:24.922; 5. 74-Sheldon Brockett, 00:25.798; 6. 11L-Haydyn Lain, 00:29.049
Category: 34 Raceway, Iowa
