5/13/2023
Brandon Sheppard
BShep soars to $25,000 Farmer City 74
Brandon Sheppard returned to the driver’s seat of his Sheppard Riggs Racing No. B5 Late Model on Wednesday evening at Spoon River Speedway (Canton, IL) for the opening round of the Illinois Speedweek.
Amongst a stacked field of 48 Castrol FloRacing Night in America entries, Sheppard edged his way into the $23,023-to-win A-Main with the fourth-and-final transfer spot in his heat. Climbing into the top-10, Brandon passed eight cars in the 50-lap affair to finish eighth.
For Thursday’s Illinois Speedweek stop at Lincoln Speedway (Lincoln, Ill.), Brandon set the pace in time trials with a 12.887-second lap before placing second in his heat. Chasing another $23,023 payday in the feature, Sheppard tracked down leader Hudson O’Neal late but was never able to get by him as he battled the treacherous cushion. He trailed O’Neal to the checkers with Jonathan Davenport, Garrett Alberson, and Tim McCreadie completing the top-five.
Brandon is currently fourth in the latest Castrol FloRacing Night in America point standings.
The following night saw Sheppard head to Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, Ill.) where he locked his spot into the $25,000-to-win Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Farmer City 74 with a fourth-place finish in his heat. A brief rain shower during consolation races forced officials to postpone the 74-lap feature to May 15th.
On Saturday evening at Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, Ill.) for the FALS Spring Shootout, Brandon’s third-place finish in his heat positioned him on the fifth row for the main event. With $30,000 on the line, Sheppard charged late in the 60-lap affair to secure a podium finish. He followed Bobby Pierce and Daulton Wilson to the checkers to place third.
Rolling off 14th for Monday’s rain-delayed Farmer City 74, Sheppard slid ahead of race-long pacesetter Gordy Gundaker on lap 47 and led the remainder of the 74-lapper to capture the $25,000 payday and his 27th career LOLMDS triumph. He notched his third win of the 2023 campaign ahead of Gundaker, Brian Shirley, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Hudson O’Neal.
Full results from the events are available at www.FloSeries.com and www.LucasDirt.com.
Article Credit: Josh James image
Article Media
