WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa — Brandon Sheppard had been chasing a victory in the Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway for several years, and on Thursday night everything came together as he led the final 13 laps to earn the $15,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory.
Devin Moran challenged Sheppard over the closing seven laps but finished 1.562 seconds behind the winner.
Brandon Overton led the opening 37 laps before surrendering the top spot to Sheppard on lap 38 and finishing third. Max Blair, winner at Muskingum County Speedway last Saturday, finished fourth, while Ricky Thornton Jr. completed the top five.
It was Sheppard’s 42nd career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory, and the win moved him into the championship points lead by 55 markers heading into this weekend’s events at Lucas Oil Speedway.
“This feels amazing. I’m super happy for promoter Brad Stevens and everyone involved with this race. I’ve been coming here for a number of years. I’ve finished second here a time or two and had some decent runs, but the past three or four years I just haven’t been very good here,” Sheppard said. “The car was phenomenal tonight. Mark and the guys have given me a great piece night in and night out, and it’s been super consistent. We backed up a little bit at Muskingum last week, but the boys went to work this week and pretty well figured out what we did wrong. It was just some really small stuff.”
Moran finished second for the second straight event after winning the Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway at the end of June.
“I just needed to win the race off the restart and stay in front of Sheppy. He’s been really good, and when he gets the jump on us it’s tough to pass him. Congratulations to those guys – they’ve been fast all year. Brad and his crew have done a great job with this racetrack. It’s one of the most enjoyable places we race.”
Overton rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third after leading the first 37 laps.
“I probably stayed on the top a little too long, but I felt like my tires started chattering up there. Sheppy was underneath me, and I knew if I moved down he was going to drive by me. I just tried to keep my momentum up. We had a good night, but to win these races you have to be perfect.”
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Slocum 50 | Feature Finish (50 Laps):
Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings
1 – 2 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $15,800
2 – 6 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $8,200
3 – 1 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $5,800
4 – 7 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $4,800
5 – 4 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $4,200
6 – 9 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $3,300
7 – 3 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $3,200
8 – 8 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $3,100
9 – 11 – 25 – Chad Simpson – Mt. Vernon, IA – $2,200
10 – 18 – 32X – Chris Simpson – Oxford, IA – $2,100
11 – 12 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $2,800
12 – 5 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $2,600
13 – 16 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $2,400
14 – 13 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $2,800
15 – 10 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $2,200
16 – 15 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $2,100
17 – 21 – 11G – Gordy Gundaker – St. Charles, MO – $1,200
18 – 14 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $1,900
19 – 17 – 15 – Clay Stuckey – Shreveport, LA – $1,000
20 – 20 – 17A – Austin Howes – Lewistown, MO – $1,000
21 – 22 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $1,000
22 – 23 – 17SS – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $1,000
23 – 19 – 38T – Dylan Thornton – Orcutt, CA – $1,000
24 – 24 – 17SR – Brody Smith – Dade City, FL – $1,000
