CROTHERSVILLE, Ind. – Don O’Neal is returning to dirt late model competition after spending most of the season on the sidelines.

O’Neal, who departed Clint Bowyer Racing at the end of the 2019 season, will take over driving duties of the No. 71 MasterSbilt House Car, effective immediately.

The MasterSbilt House Car was recently vacated by Don O’Neal’s son, Hudson O’Neal, who amicably split from MasterSbilt in mid-July.

The elder O’Neal will make his debut in the car this weekend during the Jackson 100 at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway.

“I’m really excited to return to racing this weekend at Brownstown,” Don O’Neal said in a statement on his official website. “I kind of had my mind made up after leaving the (Clint) Bowyer deal that I was just going to race here and there and go into semi-retirement mode. With all of this time off and only racing once this year; however, I really started to get the itch and I am ready to get back behind the wheel. I’m thankful for my relationship with Tader and Jerilyn (Masters), as well as with Jim Beeman, and look forward to racing with them for the rest of this year and kicking off 2021 down south during Speedweeks.”

Don O’Neal previously drove for the Masters family from 2009 to 2013, earning multiple crown jewel victories during that time period.

The Jackson 100 will be Don O’Neal’s second race of the season. He made his season debut on June 6 at Brownstown Speedway, finishing sixth in the MasterSbilt House Car.

A schedule for the remainder of the season for Don O’Neal and the MasterSbilt team is to be determined, but the the pairing is making plans to attend Speedweeks next February and contest a schedule of select events.