CONCORD, N.C. — Brandon Sheppard calmly stood beside his Rocket1 Racing No. 1 dirt late model in the pits Thursday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, occasionally talking with his crew and greeting fans.
The 27-year-old native of New Berlin, Ill., was only a few hours away from claiming his third World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series championship in the last four years. Yet here he was, casually standing by his race car awaiting the start of the night’s program.
In a way, it’s become a bit normal for Sheppard. During his short but successful career, he’s accomplished more than most drivers could hope to achieve in a lifetime of racing dirt late models.
“It means the world to me, really,” Sheppard said of all the success he has enjoyed in the last four seasons. “It’s been my goal since I started racing 14 years ago. That was my goal before I started racing when I was a little kid, to be able to live my dream and make a living racing.
“Fortunately, this ride (with Rocket) came about and I’ve had a lot of things go my way. I’ve been able to capitalize on a lot of stuff. Made a great career out of it so far.”
This year alone, he won 14 times with the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. No other driver who competed in all 40 series events this year scored more than two triumphs, with series part-timer Brandon Overton coming closest to Sheppard’s win total with six victories.
In total, Sheppard has earned 31 victories this year between his own No. B5 Rocket Chassis and the Rocket1 Racing entry he piloted to the World of Outlaws title.
“It’s been phenomenal and there are a lot of people and things that go into this team that make it as great as it is,” Sheppard said. “I’m just real fortunate to be the guy driving it.”
The success Sheppard has enjoyed aboard the Rocket Chassis house car, which is owned by veteran chassis builder Mark Richards, only continues the long and successful history the brand has established through the years.
Rocket1 Racing has now won seven World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series championships dating back to 2009, when Mark Richards’ son, Josh Richards, won his first of four series titles in the Rocket Chassis house car.
While the crew that helped Josh Richards and the crew that helps Sheppard now are different, the hard work and dedication to their craft remain the same among the Rocket crew.
“When it comes to a championship team, I think we’ve got the best one,” Sheppard said. “Mark gives us everything we need. Our great sponsors play a big part in this deal. This crew, it’s a different crew then when Josh was here, but for me these three guys that we’ve got — Dan, Austin and Joel — they just fit the part really well and they all do a really good job.
“As a driver it makes my confidence that much higher knowing their jobs are done well and their jobs are done right and nothing is going to fall off this thing. It makes for a good team.”
Sheppard has had the good fortune to win a lot of marquee races so far in his short career, including the Dirt Track World Championship, the Dirt Late Model Dream, the Dirt Million, the Illini 100 and the USA Nationals, among others.
However, there are still several major events he wants to cross off his list in the years to come. With the success he has enjoyed so far, you’d be hard pressed to bet against him achieving those goals.
“There is a lot of stuff still to accomplish,” Sheppard acknowledged. “The Knoxville Nationals is high on my list. World 100 is high on my list. The ultimate goal at the end of the day is to keep winning races and keep winning championships.
“The first thing on my mind next year is to start off hot in Florida, hopefully, with some wins, and start our points chase good in Florida next year.”
Considering all that Sheppard has already accomplished at such a young age, it’s hard not to wonder if he’s even hit his prime. By the time all is said and done, Sheppard could be one of the all-time dirt late model greats.
“I try not to too much,” Sheppard said when asked if he thinks about where he might stack up against the other greats in dirt late model racing when all is said and done. “I don’t want to put that much pressure on myself. It’s definitely a cool thing to think about for sure, but at the end of the day I just want to make a good living doing it and make my family proud and my guys (crew) proud.
“I just want to keep it going. A lot of people go out and have one or two good years and then you won’t hear from them for a few years. I want us to be in contention every year. That’s a big goal of mine every year to be as good or better as last year.
“It’s getting harder and harder to top the year before right now,” Sheppard added. “If our goals are high, then our whole team is going to work their tails off to try to meet those goals. That’s what we strive to do. Just think about winning races and winning championships. If we’re not winning, we’re not happy.”