Hudson O’Neal details his shoulder injury; Wins in final weekend before surgery

Being a growing young man makes racing drivers more susceptible to shoulder injuries

Hudson O’Neal will sit out after this weekend at Florence Speedway

On August 1st, Hudson O’Neal released a note via social media that he’ll be stepping away from the seat following this weekend at Florence Speedway. He has a surgery scheduled for August 15th.

Following that, Hudson O’Neal will be in recovery for 4-5 months. Heading into the weekend he was 9th in the standings.

I saw the note you released. But, I still don’t know how you injured your shoulder?

“Yeah, it’s all in the race car,” Hudson O’Neal said ahead of the weekend at Florence Speedway. “I have a couple torn ligaments.”

“It’s just all wear and tear usage in the race car. No prior sports injury or anything.”

“I’m just really looking forward to getting that fixed and getting back to it.”

There was no big impact that caused it? Just over time it gradually happened? Is that all racers? These cars specifically?

“No. There’s not a whole lot of racers that have that. Usually, [it happens] when they get in a wreck.”

“It’s not uncommon. But, it’s not like it happens to every driver either though. Usually, it’s a big impact or a big wreck that causes it. Mine’s just wear and tear.”

Are you confused by that? A little bit? I am.

“No, not entirely. We figured out how it happened. I think we’ve got a grip on it.”

What was that?

“It’s all in the seat, the belts and neck braces. Just the way it pulls and tugs.”

“It’s also a part of an aging deal. The doctors informed me that it happens a lot with growing, young men and stuff like that.”

I’m far from a doctor but I would assume that the ligaments just aren’t as strong when you’re young and still growing. I guess they’re technically already stretching and pulling themselves as your body grows.

The combination of that, plus being behind the wheel of a rough ridin’ dirt late model makes these young drivers more susceptible to this type of injury. This is something that I’ve not heard before and it certainly never occurred to me.

Is anyone going to drive this car after this weekend? Or is it going to sit?

“I’m pretty sure it’s going to sit,” Hudson O’Neal concluded.

Hudson O'Neal wins at Florence Speedway 4861
Hudson O’Neal wins at Florence Speedway 4861

Four hours later… He won!

The North/South 100 weekend began last night with a rain makeup from earlier in the season. O’Neal drove to the win in his heat race.

In the main event, Hudson O’Neal looked to the outside of Kyle Bronson off turn 4. They ran side by side into turn 1. Hudson O’Neal then drove to the lead off turn 2 on the outside.

On Lap 22, the rain began to fall on the track. The race was red flagged and the cars drove back to the outside pit areas by their haulers. As soon as they did that, the rain stopped.

5-10 minutes later, the field returned to the race track to complete the race. The dropped the green then ran a few laps and the rain started to fall once again.

The checkered flag dropped at the lap 25 mark in the race. The race makeup event was rain shortened. Hudson O’Neal drove to victory lane!

“Let it rain!,” Hudson O’Neal says from the victory lane and Florence Speedway. “I didn’t even know we were running [just] 3 laps.”

The scheduled distance of the race was 50 laps. When the green flag dropped following the race break, Hudson O’Neal though he had 28 laps to go. Instead, they only ran 3 and dropped the checkered flag on lap 25. Making it to the halfway mark makes it official.

His trip to victory lane was somewhat brief. A drizzle of rain fell as Hudson O’Neal climbed from the car. That light drizzle quickly transformed into a torrential downpour. The victory lane photo op was canceled.

The win last night at Florence Speedway was his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of his career. The previous win came at Magnolia Motor Speedway on June 16th.

He has 3 nights of racing left…

Hudson O'Neal at Florence Speedway 4496
Hudson O’Neal at Florence Speedway 4496
More

Related: Hudson O’Neal wins at Florence Speedway!

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Related: Hudson O’Neal, an interview with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series rookie (2017)

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Hudson O’Neal | Florence Speedway | LOLMDS

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