Hudson O’Neal to Double Down Motorsports

Dirt late model team signs Hudson O’Neal; Makes transition to Rocket Chassis

After the 2019 season, PPC Motorsports announced they would depart the sport. Hudson O’Neal was on the search for a new ride.

Over the winter, O’Neal partnership with MasterSbilt Race Cars to drive their house car program. During the Show-Me 100 weekend, the pair went separate ways.

Back in August, PPC Motorsports announced a new startup team. Craig and Shannon Sims out of Columbus, Indiana are the owners of the team. At the time of the release, Hudson was dating Sims’ daughter Tessa.

In September, the new team went to victory lane at Portsmouth Raceway Park, collecting the $12,000 check.

Shanon Buckingham departs Double-Down Motorsports

In late August, Shanon Buckingham announced that he would drop off the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tour.

“We have known from the beginning that family and business would take priority over anything else”, said Roger Sellers, owner of Double Down Motorsports. “Shanon has a storm recovery business, and its now hurricane season as everyone can see with the current situation on the gulf coast.”

Sellers added, “It’s only a matter of time until he gets the call to head out. He has also started a tree business with his oldest son, Camden, just a few weeks ago. They have been blessed with an abundance of work. The busy schedule that comes from running a national series combined with a season of racing that hasn’t gone as well as we would have hoped has led to the team deciding to pull off the Lucas Oil tour.”

With storms heading to the United States due to the hurricane, it played a part of Buckingham dropping off the tour.

“I think running a major series such as Lucas Oil is the ultimate dream for any driver that has raced at a local track on a Saturday night”, said Shanon Buckingham. “Thanks to Roger, Casey, my Dad (Tom), JC, and Eric for allowing me the opportunity to do just that.”

Buckingham added, “The Lucas guys are the best officials, fellow racers and team owners, and staff that I have ever had the chance to compete with. I would like to thank our marketing partners and product sponsors for helping make this possible as well, including Lazydays RV, 2150 Enterprises, Smoky Mountain Speedway, FK Rod Ends, Penske Racing Shocks, Maxima Racing Oil, Longhorn Chassis, and Durham Race Engines.”

Shanon Buckingham at Magnolia Motor Speedway - Dirt Late Model 6650
Shanon Buckingham at Magnolia Motor Speedway – Dirt Late Model 6650

Hudson O’Neal to Double-Down Motorsports

For 2020, Hudson O’Neal will be the driver of the Double-Down Motorsports machine.

“I can’t express just how excited I am to have Hudson (O’Neal) on board and driving our equipment in 2021 and beyond,” exclaimed team owner Roger Sellers recently.

“Hudson is an exceptional talent behind the wheel, but is also a very polite and well-spoken young man that will be very marketable to our current group of partners, as well as potential sponsors in the future.”

Sellers added, “We have a lot of details to still figure out heading into 2021, but I think the pieces will all come together to have a terrific season, as we vie for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship!”

The team will field an XR1 Rocket Chassis throughout the 2021 season, a chassis familiar to O’Neal. The team will run the #71. Previously, the team ran Longhorn Chassis.

“First off, I have to thank Craig and Shannon Sims and the entire Sims family for stepping up and fielding a car for the past couple of months,” commented O’Neal.

“I am very excited about this new deal and it will be an honor to represent Double Down Motorsports in first class fashion both on and off the racetrack in 2021.

O’Neal added, “I can’t thank Roger (Sellers) and everyone associated with Double Down Motorsports enough for believing in me and providing me with such an awesome opportunity. Roger pours his heart and soul into that race program and has such great equipment – it is going to be an incredible year I believe!”

Come January, the new combination will make their debut with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Golden Isles Speedway in Georgia.

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Hudson O’Neal | Double-Down Motorsports | Rocket Chassis |  Professional Concrete Cutting & Drilling LLC | Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

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