Brandon Sheppard Tops Devin Moran To Win Lucas Oil LM Dirt Series Event At Brownstown

Story By: JAMES ESSEX / LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – BROWNSTOWN, IN – Brandon Sheppard denied Devin Moran his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season on Saturday night at Brownstown Speedway.

By doing so, Sheppard scored his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season with his first career win at the historic Brownstown Speedway. Sheppard becomes the fifth different winner on the tour this season after holding off a late-race charge from Devin Moran for the win. Jonathan Davenport finished third, with Hudson O’Neal and Tyler Erb completing the top five.

Sheppard made a clean sweep of the night; setting the Miller Welders Overall Fast Time; and winning the first heat race of the night to earn the PFC Brakes Pole Award.

Sheppard took the lead at the start of the 50-lap main event with Hudson O’Neal giving chase until the caution for debris on lap 21. On the restart, Devin Moran moved into second and held the runner-up position to the finish.

The final caution of the race came with just two laps remaining. Moran and Davenport managed to get within striking distance, but Sheppard forged ahead at the end.

“It is great to finally win at Brownstown,” said Sheppard. “We have won a lot of heat races and started up front but never been able to put it all together in a night. This car is on rail right now. Thanks to Mark, Austin, Joel, and Danny we are hitting on all cylinders. They have worked their tails off on this car. It is just phenomenal right now. It’s a dream to drive this car. I am ready to go to the next one.”

“I didn’t really know if the cautions were helping me or hurting me,” Sheppard added. “I was kind of maintaining my pace. The traffic was either in the bottom or the top because that was the line, they would be in. I was slowly breaking my way through the middle. I did all I could to get through there.”

Moran took home his best finish of the 2019 season. “Congrats to Brandon on the win. That was a good race for the lead there in the last few laps. This team is just getting better and better. For the Jackson 100 we are expecting a little better. I love coming here to Brownstown. My dad [Donnie] never won here so I was trying my best to get that first win for my family.”

Davenport, who was primed for a late race charge to the lead, took third place at the finish. “Congrats to those guys [Sheppard] that’s their fifth win in a row. I think we need to make him start a lap down to give them a little bit of a challenge. All of my guys worked hard, thanks to Nutrien Ag Solutions.”

The winner’s Mark Richards Racing, Rocket Chassis is powered by a Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by: Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ace Metal Works, Keyser Manufacturing, Gunter’s Honey, and Integra Racing Shocks.

Completing the top ten were Don O’Neal, Josh Richards, Earl Pearson Jr., Tim McCreadie, and Allen Weisser.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Indiana Icebreaker
Brownstown Speedway – Brownstown, Ind.

Miller Welders Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Brandon Sheppard / 12.803 seconds (overall)
Fast Time Group B: Hudson O’Neal / 12.916 seconds

Penske Race Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb, Tim McCreadie, Darrell Lanigan, Tanner English, Stormy Scott, Ryan King, Austin Burns, Matt Cosner

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport, Bobby Pierce, Dennis Erb, Jr., Steve Casebolt , Chris Garnes, Justin Rattliff, Chad Stapleton

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Hudson O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Brian Shirley, Earl Pearson, Jr., Robby Hensley, Kyle Bronson, Shanon Buckingham, Blake Naylor, Skyller Lewis

Lucas Oil Products Penetrating Oil Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Don O’Neal, Josh Richards, Allen Weisser, Kent Robinson, Greg Johnson, Billy Moyer, Jr., Shelby Miles, Jason Jameson

Lucas Oil Products Red “N” Tacky Spray Grease B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Steve Casebolt , Tanner English, Stormy Scott, Chris Garnes, Ryan King, Matt Cosner, Austin Burns, Justin Rattliff, Chad Stapleton

FAST Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Kyle Bronson, Shanon Buckingham, Greg Johnson, Shelby Miles, Jason Jameson, Billy Moyer, Jr., Blake Naylor, Robby Hensley, Skyller Lewis-DNS

Lucas Oil Feature Finish (50 Laps):

FINISH
START
CAR #
DRIVER NAME
HOMETOWN
EARNINGS
1
1
1S
Brandon Sheppard
New Berlin, IL
$12,000
2
3
1M
Devin Moran
Dresden, OH
$6,200
3
7
49
Jonathan Davenport
Blairsville, GA
$4,600
4
2
71
Hudson O’Neal
Martinsville, IN
$3,450
5
5
1T
Tyler Erb
New Waverly, TX
$2,950
6
4
5
Don O’Neal
Martinsville, IN
$2,600
7
8
14
Josh Richards
Shinnston, WV
$2,300
8
14
1
Earl Pearson, Jr.
Jacksonville, FL
$2,100
9
9
39
Tim McCreadie
Watertown, NY
$1,900
10
12
25W
Allen Weisser
Bartonville, IL
$1,100
11
10
3s
Brian Shirley
Chatham, IL
$1,075
12
17
C9
Steve Casebolt
Richmond, IN
$1,050
13
15
28
Dennis Erb, Jr.
Carpentersville, IL
$1,025
14
20
50
Shanon Buckingham
Morristown, TN
$1,700
15
16
7R
Kent Robinson
Bloomington, IN
$1,000
16
22
17J
Greg Johnson
Bedford, IN
$1,000
17
18
40B
Kyle Bronson
Brandon, FL
$1,700
18
23
12J
Jason Jameson
Lawrenceburg, IN
$1,700
19
21
2s
Stormy Scott
Las Cruses, NM
$1,000
20
26
76
Shelby Miles
Bloomington, IN
$1,000
21
13
29
Darrell Lanigan
Union, KY
$1,000
22
19
96
Tanner English
Benton, KY
$1,000
23
24
21
Billy Moyer, Jr.
Batesville, AR
$1,000
24
6
20
Jimmy Owens
Newport, TN
$1,900
25
11
32
Bobby Pierce
Oakwood, IL
$1,000
26
25
1Gk
Ryan King
Seymour, TN
$100
Race Statistics
Entrants
: 34
Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Laps 1 – 50)
Wrisco Feature Winner: Brandon Sheppard
Margin of Victory: 0.409 seconds
Cautions: Debris (Lap 21); Jason Jameson (Lap 33); Darrell Lanigan (Lap 48)
Series Provisionals: Jason Jameson, Billy Moyer Jr.
Miller Welders Fast Time Provisionals: n/a
Series Emergency Provisional: Ryan King
Brownstown Speedway Track Provisional: Shelby Miles
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr. (Advanced 6 Positions)
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
Allstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Jason Jameson
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
Eibach Springs Rookie of the Race: *Rookie of the Race will begin after April 1st.*
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Danny Myers (Devin Moran)
Dirty Girl Racewear Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard (Lap #2 – 14.901 seconds)
Hot Rod Processing Tough Break of the Race: Jimmy Owens
STEEL-IT Most Laps Led
: Brandon Sheppard (50 Laps)
PFC Brakes Pole Award: Brandon Sheppard
Time of Race: 22 minutes 14 seconds