PARAGON, IN (April 18, 2025) – Jason Jameson’s first two starts this year in the Northern Allstars Late Model Dirt Series Powered by Sunoco Race Fuels ended before it began, but Friday Night at the Paragon Speedway he turned it all around taking the lead from Hudson O’Neal on lap 36 and leading the rest of the way to win the Inaugural Marvin O’Neal Memorial Race worth $10,071. It was the richest paying Late Model race in the 71-year history of the track.
The 40-year-old Lawrenceburg, Indiana native, who started seventh won the 50-lap main over O’Neal, whose grandfather the race was named after, Steve Peeden, Ryan Gustin, and Tyler Neal.
O’Neal, who even though he grew up just 10 minutes from Paragon was racing at the 3/8ths mile track for the first time in his career was looking for a clean sweep on the night as setting overall fast time and winning his heat race to earn the Coltman Farms Racing pole position.
O’Neal took the lead at the start of the race and received constant pressure from Gustin for the first part of the race. A terrific 2 and 3-wide battle for third was taking place behind the two front runners.
The complexion of the race changed on a lap 35 restart. With O’Neal on the point for the Delaware double-file restart Gustin and Jameson were lined up side-by-side behind him and the trio exited turn two Jameson got the run he was looking for has he dived below O’Neal heading into turn three to work his way to the lead.
Josh Rice, the 2-time and reigning series champion, and the winner of the first two NALMS races this year moved into second place, but that was short lived as the water pump went of the car ending his night with 42 laps scored.
The final restart would see Jameson hold off O’Neal to the checkers.
In Sunoco Race Fuels Victory Lane for the first time in the Northern Allstars Late Model Dirt Series history Jameson became the 10th different winner in the 12 races the series has run since being brought back by James Essex in 2023.
“Man, I will tell you what we have had a monkey on our back this year we’ve made what one lap with two DNF’s, the car breaks or stupid stuff that is out of our hand, but finally we didn’t break tonight and got the finish we needed. I told the guys I don’t care if we win or run the top five I just want to finish the race tonight. It’s a plus for us tonight to get to victory lane with no DNF.”
When asked about the move that took him to the lead after a lap 35 restart when he went full-throttle down the backstretch to get by O’Neal, he said it was a close call.”
“I about took O’Neal out, and thank God we didn’t, turn one down there had a hole in it, so I tried to high-center in two and it wasn’t working. But I told myself, I just had to go above it just one lap to get a good run on Hudson. It worked out perfect.”
Jameson, who last raced at Paragon 23 years ago in an Indiana Super Stock was complimentary of the track crew who prepped the track for only the fifth super late model race in track history.
“If this track is like this absolutely we need more late model races here, we would pack the house. My opinion is if there isn’t a cushion on a racetrack, it isn’t a racetrack.”
The winner’s James Rattliff-owned Longhorn chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by MGL Auto Sales, Grant Lee Farms, JRR Trucking, JRR Motors Sales, The Auto Outlet, and Keltner Contracting.
Completing the top ten were David Webb, Allen Weisser, Devin Gilpin, Dustin Shoulders, and Dustin Nobbe.
Race Summary
Northern Allstars Late Model Dirt Series Powered by Sunoco Race Fuels
Paragon Speedway
Paragon, Indiana
April 18, 2025
Entries: 30
Lap Leaders: Hudson O’Neal 1-35, Jason Jameson 36-50
Florence Winwater Supply Fast Qualifier: Hudson O’Neal
Heat Race Winners: Hudson O’Neal, Daulton Wilson, Ryan Gustin, Josh Rice
B-Main Winner: Jeffrey Shackelford
Todd Steel Buildings Hard of the Charger of the Race: Allen Weisser (started 19th and finished 7th) Advanced 12 positions
Arizona Sport Shorts rookie of the Race: Dustin Shoulders
Inaugural Marvin O’Neal Memorial Feature Finish:
- Jason Jameson (Lawrenceburg, IN) $10,071
- Hudson O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) -$6.420
- Steve Peeden (Martinsville, IN) – $3,000
- Ryan Gustin (Marshalltown, IA) – $2,710
- Tyler Neal (Paragon, IN) – $1,700
- David Webb (Nicholasville, KY) – $1,500
- Allen Weisser (Peoria, IL) $1,910
- Devin Gilpin (Columbus, IN) – $1,000
- Dustin Shoulders (Coatesville,, IN) – $1,100
- Dustin Nobbe (Batesville, IN) – $850
- Eric Spangler (Lake City, MI) – $750
- Josh Boller (Greencastle, IN) – $750
- Tyler Collins (North Vernon, IN) – $750
- Billy Green (Walton, KY) – $750
- Quentin White (Greenwood, IN) – $750
- Jake Leitzman (Paragon, IN) – $750
- Daulton Wilson (Fayetteville, NC) – $1,460
- Josh Rice (Crittenden, KY) – $1,460
- Seth Daniels (Jackson, OH) – $750
- Jeffrey Shackelford (Indianapolis, IN) $750
- Cody Bauer (Farwell, MI) – $750
- Marty O’Neal (Spencer, IN) – $750
Current Northern Allstars Late Model Dirt Series Powered by Sunoco Race Fuels Championship Points Standings, As of April 19, After 3 events
- Devin Gilpin (Columbus, IN) – 576
- Josh Rice (Crittenden, KY) – 566
- Billy Green (Walton, KY) – 556
- David Webb (Nicholasville, KY) – 550
- Dustin Nobbe (Batesville, IN) – 546
- Seth Daniels (Jackson, OH) – 536
- Tyler Collins (North Vernon, IN) – 528
- Jason Jameson (Lawrenceburg, IN) – 508
- Trevor Landrum (Florence, KY) – 460
- Dustin Shoulders (Coatesville, IN) – 444
Current Arizona Sport Shirts Rookie of the Year Points Standings
- Billy Green (Walton, KY) – 556
- Dustin Shoulders (Coatesville, IN) – 444
- Derek Groomer (Bloomington, IN) – 432
- Tucker Chastain (Mitchell, IN) – 370
- Jake Leitzman (Paragon, IN) – 370
- Keegan Cox (Franklin, IN) – 300
