The second-generation driver cited that his growing enthusiasm and foothold within the dirt late model world all comes from Burns and the developing strength of his SSI Motorsports team.
“It’s not just about me,” said O’Neal. “The whole team has been phenomenal this year. We struggled at the start of the season, but I think that was mostly driver inexperience, to be honest with you. I struggled going to race tracks I’d never seen before and racing with the level of competition that’s on the Lucas tour.”
“I don’t want to say I was thrown to the wolves … I wasn’t ready as a racer, but I was ready in my mind (laughter). I was ready to tackle it. It did tear us down some at the start of the season and I battled some confidence problems, because finishing 15th and 16th isn’t good for a young driver in the confidence department … but we rebounded and we did it in a big way, finally winning (an unsanctioned super late model race) at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway.”
That win on July 29 catapulted O’Neal into a brilliant second-half surge, scoring five wins and 14 top-10 finishes between his crate and super late models in a three-month span — including five top-10s on the Lucas tour.
“Coming back and finding speed, running solid in the second half and now knocking out top-fives and top 10s every week is what we needed to do,” O’Neal remarked. “It really brought my morale back. We’ve really hit our stride here now, and I think it’s only going to get even better going forward.”
“We’re slowly getting there; we’re plucking away at things. I think as long as we stay consistent and keep doing what we’re doing, one of these big wins will come in due course.”
And as far as his plans for the 2018 season, O’Neal said that he plans to be back for his sophomore Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season with the same No. 71 PEAK Antifreeze and Motor Oil-Club 29 race team behind him.
“As of right now, our plan is to be back doing the same thing we did this year when the new season kicks off in a couple months. We’re hoping all the sponsorship comes back together … and we can continue to do what we do best and tackle this all over again next season.”
“As long as we’re having fun and we’re doing well with it, I don’t see why we won’t be one that everyone has to reckon with next year!”
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network, as well as a periodic contributor to SPEED SPORT Magazine.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: editor@racechaseronline.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: news@racechaseronline.com
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