LINCOLN, Ill. — Not even a scrape with a crashed lapped car could stop Brandon Sheppard from winning the FloRacing Night in America feature at Lincoln Speedway on Tuesday night.
In an accident with lapped traffic that collected second-running Bobby Pierce on the 27th circuit, Sheppard escaped with just spoiler and quarter panel damage en route to the $20,000 victory.
“Lincoln [Speedway] always produces some really good races, every time I’m here, anyway. Thanks for all the fans coming out, really appreciate it for packing Lincoln Speedway anytime we get to support our local tracks and have an awesome race here on a Tuesday night,” Sheppard said before later adding, “then we had a big scare there with lapped cars and that was definitely hindering me there at the end of the race. Anytime you lose your spoiler like that, it’s not good.
“Again, it’s just so cool to see so many people out here at the track on a Tuesday night.”
From the pole, Hudson O’Neal led the first circuit before fifth-starting Shannon Babb raced to the lead on the second lap. Babb’s turn at the front only lasted one circuit before the second-starting Sheppard charged to the lead.
Over the next several laps Sheppard kept the fourth-starting Pierce at bay before disaster struck on the 27th lap when Myles Moos bounced off the wall in front of the leaders.
Sheppard made contact with the rear of Moos car, which shot him down the track into Pierce. Pierce and Moos rolled to a stop to draw the caution. Sheppard didn’t stop and was able to retain the lead.
While Pierce had to duck into the pits for a new right-rear tire and repairs to his entry, his night was far from over. He charged from the rear of the field to challenge seventh-starting Devin Moran for the second spot late.
Eighth-starting Ricky Thornton Jr. was a podium contender for much of the race before a late-race flat tire sent him to the tail of the field.
Ultimately Sheppard crossed the finish line 2.331 seconds ahead of Moran and Pierce.
The finish:
Feature (50 Laps): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[2]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[7]; 3. 32-Bobby Pierce[4]; 4. 1T-Tyler Erb[10]; 5. 58-Garrett Alberson[6]; 6. 9-Nick Hoffman[11]; 7. 18-Shannon Babb[5]; 8. 71-Hudson O’Neal[1]; 9. 19R-Ryan Gustin[14]; 10. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[13]; 11. 60-Dan Ebert[18]; 12. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[8]; 13. 15-Justin Duty[16]; 14. 25-Jason Feger[9]; 15. 77-Carson Hocevar[24]; 16. 09-Michael Leach[20]; 17. 89-Mike Spatola[3]; 18. 33H-Roben Huffman[23]; 19. 84-Myles Moos[22]; 20. 40B-Kyle Bronson[15]; 21. 38J-Jake Little[21]; 22. 11R-Josh Rice[12]; 23. 3S-Brian Shirley[19]; 24. 17A-Austin Howes[17]
