10/29/2025
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
McIntosh Earns O’Reilly Rookie of the Year Honors
BATAVIA, Ohio (October 29, 2025) – Donald McIntosh capped off his first year on tour with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing by claiming the 2025 O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year honors.
“I’m proud of that. It means a lot,” McIntosh said. “We have to give a special thank you to everyone who made this year possible. It’s been a lifelong dream to run a national tour. People don’t realize, until you’ve done it, how hard and grueling running this deal is. For most of the year, it was just me and (girlfriend) Shelby (Cooper) working on the race car, week in and week out. We also had Aaron (Latham) helping, too. I’m also proud that we’ve had two mechanical problems this year, which were out of our control.”
McIntosh achieved 11 top ten finishes during his debut season with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing. He recorded a single top five at Atomic Speedway on July 4.
McIntosh’s Billy Hicks Racing No. 79 is sponsored by Coltman Farms Racing, Al Belt Custom Homes, VG Performance, Rick Havenridge (www.RickHavenridge.com), Predator Custom Trailers and Motorcoaches, Clements Racing Engines, Allstar Performance, XS Power Batteries, Gambler Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Tire by Brian, Bilstein, Longhorn Chassis, and H&H Auto Sales.
McIntosh will receive an industry-leading $20,000 for his O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year title, along with over $10,000 in valuable products from various industry manufacturers.
2025 Rookie of the Year Product Awards:
Dave Warren Powersports - Pit Bike
Fire Suppression Engineering (FSE) - Complete Fire System
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse - $500 Product Certificate
Brodix - $100 Product Certificate
Diversified Machine Inc (DMI) - $500 Product Certificate
Fast Shafts - One (1) Free Drive Shaft
FOX Shocks - One (1) Set of Shocks (Valued at $6,000)
Keyser Manufacturing - $500 Product Certificate
MD3 - $500 Product Certificate
MSD - $250 Product Certificate
ProFabrication Headers - One (1) Set of Headers (Valued at $2,500)
Schoenfeld Headers - $500 Product Certificate
Slicker Graphics - One (1) Free Wrap
Simpson Race Products - $250 Product Certificate
Strange Oval - $500 Product Certificate
Summit Racing Equipment - $250 Product Certificate
Swift Springs - One (1) Set of Springs (Valued at $500)
Thermo-Tech - $500 Product Certificate
Wehrs Machine - $250 Product Certificate
Wieland - Ten (10) Sheets of Aluminum (Valued at $1,000)
Wilwood Brakes - $250 Product Certificate
Xceldyne - $500 Product Certificate
Daniel Hilsabeck, who finished second in this season’s Rookie of the Year chase, will earn $5,000 and a $500 product certificate from Performance Engineering & Manufacturing (PEM).
Dan Ebert, third place in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year, receives $2,500.
For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, please visit www.lucasdirt.com.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year Standings:
Pos - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Points – YTD Earnings
1 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville GA - 6685 - $107,700
2 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham IA - 6355 - $93,575
3 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore MN - 6165 - $97,800
About O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
Since 1957, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., has grown from a family-owned company to a leader in the automotive replacement parts industry. It supplies equipment, tools, parts, and accessories to professional service providers and do-it-yourself customers across the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada. With more than 6,500 store locations and growing, the O’Reilly Professional Parts People deliver excellent customer service, knowledge and value to the communities they serve.
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields
