Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., has paired up with Kevin Rumley of Longhorn Chassis to race for the China Grove, N.C., manufacturer at Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events this Saturday and Sunday at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway and Ohio’s Atomic Speedway, respectively.

The No. 71 will grace the door panels of the 23-year-old’s Longhorn Chassis, a number that has a long history in the Indiana-based family with Don O’Neal (Hudson’s father), Marvin O’Neal (Hudson’s grandfather) and Hudson himself.

The young O’Neal, who’s enjoying a homecoming of sorts racing at the quarter-mile bullring roughly an hour from home, left the Rocket Chassis house car last week, citing a “difference in vision” for his seemingly shocking departure.

Rocket Chassis owner and house car overseer Mark Richards reinforced his former driver’s claim to DirtonDirt.com's Kevin Kovac in a March 21 story.

“Hudson O’Neal is one of the most respectable young men that I have ever worked with, and all the rumors out there that social media has blasted off with are totally untrue,” Richards said. “Hudson will always be part of Rocket1’s history and we were proud to have him on board. We can’t say enough about how great of a guy Hudson is, we wish him the best in the future, and I’m sure he will have continued success in his career.”

O’Neal, meanwhile, resumes his Lucas Oil Series title defense in good standing just five points behind leader Ricky Thornton Jr. heading into the series 14th race of the season this evening at Brownstown Speedway, which goes live on FloRacing at 4:45 p.m. with hot laps scheduled for 5 p.m.

O’Neal finished second to Thornton in last fall’s Jackson 100 at the Brownstown quarter-mile oval.