Dirt on Dirt - B-Shepp spoils battle of front row, nabs $15,000

July 16

Shelby County Speedway,

Harlan, IA

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Silver Dollar Nationals prelim) - $15,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated July 17, 1:56 am)

B-Shepp spoils battle of front row, nabs $15,000

Silver Dollar Nationals prelim

Brandon Sheppard
Nick Hoffman
Ryan Gustin
Devin Moran
Brian Shirley
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Hudson O'Neal
Josh Rice
Max Blair
Dennis Erb Jr.
Mike Marlar
Brenden Smith
Kyle Bronson
Brandon Overton
Garrett Alberson
Clay Stuckey
Daniel Hilsabeck
Tad Pospisil
Chris Madden
Blair Nothdurft
Clay Harris
Dan Ebert
Dillon McCowan
Carson Ferguson
Justin Duty
Andrew Kosiski
Tyler Bruening
Chase Junghans

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Brandon Sheppard takes the checkers at Shelby County Speedway.

What won the race: Capitalizing on a lead-swapping, paint-trading showdown between front-row starters Ryan Gustin and Devin Moran, sixth-starting Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led the final six laps Thursday at Shelby County Speedway for a $15,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in a preliminary event for the Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals. The second-starting Gustin led 42 laps as he and the polesitting Moran, who led laps 40 and 43, battled up front but ended up third and fourth behind Sheppard and runner-up Nick Hoffman.

Quotable: "I was getting a hell of a show for sure," Sheppard said. "They were racing each other really hard there and I just kept feeling myself slipping in the top, and I knew at some point I was going to try to move down. No better time when them guys are racing each other like that."

Key notes: Brandon Sheppard, whose right rear tire was deflating in victory lane, won his eighth Lucas Oil race of the season and 38th full-field triumph of his career. ... Runner-up Nick Hoffman ran fourth most of the way. ... Ryan Gustin led comfortably in the first half of the 50-lapper, but fellow front-row starter Devin Moran challenged him repeatedly amid traffic. ... Gustin held the lead most of the way, but Moran dove under him multiple times and was alongside Gustin at the flagstand to nip him for the lead, according to electronic scoring. ... Observers, including the track's Gary Hopp, were skeptical the track would produce a solid feature after lackluster heat races, and the high groove was dominant most of the 50-lapper. But Sheppard made his winning move in the low groove, grabbing the lead exiting turn two on the 45th lap. ... The lone stoppage was for a red flag on the 13th lap when Tyler Bruening's car got upside down in turn three; he climbed out after the car was returned to his wheels and wasn't hurt. Bruening's car made contact with Chris Madden, sending Bruening shooting into the turn-three wall. He nearly cleared the wall and his car got up into the fencing before rolling over slowly. ... Action continues at the Silver Dollar Nationals with Friday's preliminary night (double-heat races) and Saturday's $52,000-to-win event. ... Bobby Pierce, who won Tuesday’s Lucas Oil event at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, missed Thursday's action after his father underwent emergency surgery Wednesday; Pierce plans to compete the rest of the weekend.

On the move: Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., started 23rd and finished sixth.

Winner's sponsors: Sheppard's Rocket Chassis has a Durham Racing Engine and sponsorship from Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, Five Star RaceCar Bodies, Rocket Chassis, Ace Metal Works, Gunter’s Honey, Hoosier Racing Tire, Fox Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Petroff Towing, Performance Grading, Stiles Marine & Maintenance, Sunoco Race Fuels and Rocket Preowned Motors.

Points chase: After Shelby County Thursday: 1. Brandon Sheppard (5,405); 2. Hudson O’Neal (5,280); 3. Devin Moran (5,180); 4. Brandon Overton (4,955); 5. Max Blair (4,865); 6. Ricky Thornton Jr. (4,725); 7. Garrett Alberson (4,685); 8. Josh Rice (4,560); 9. Brian Shirley (4,550); 10. Kyle Bronson (4,360).

Current weather: Clear, 77°F

Car count: 52

Fast qualifier: Devin Moran

Time: 14.263 seconds

Polesitter: Devin Moran

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Brian Shirley, Max Blair, Ryan Gustin, Nick Hoffman, Brandon Sheppard

Consolation race winners: Daniel Hilsabeck, Garrett Alberson

Provisional starters: Ricky Thornton Jr., Josh Rice, Kyle Bronson, Clay Harris, Carson Ferguson, Dan Ebert

Next series race: July 17, Shelby County Speedway (Harlan, IA) $52,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff reports

HARLAN, Iowa — Live updates from Thursday’s 16th annual Silver Dollar Nationals prelim at Shelby County Speedway, highlighted by a 50-lap, $15,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Capitalizing on a lead-swapping, paint-trading showdown between front-row starters Ryan Gustin and Devin Moran, sixth-starting Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led the final six laps Thursday at Shelby County Speedway for a $15,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in a preliminary event for the Al Belt Custom Homes Silver Dollar Nationals. The second-starting Gustin led 42 laps as he and the polesitting Moran, who led laps 40 and 43, battled up front but ended up third and fourth behind Sheppard and runner-up Nick Hoffman.

Feature lineup

(50 laps)

Row 1: Devin Moran, Ryan Gustin
Row 2: Brian Shirley, Nick Hoffman
Row 3: Max Blair, Brandon Sheppard
Row 4: Mike Marlar, Justin Duty
Row 5: Brenden Smith, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 6: Brandon Overton, Dillon McCowan
Row 7: Chris Madden, Hudson O'Neal
Row 8: Andrew Kosiski, Tyler Bruening
Row 9: Blair Nothdurft, Tad Pospisil
Row 10: Daniel Hilsabeck, Garrett Alberson
Row 11: Chase Junghans, Clay Stuckey
Row 12: Ricky Thornton Jr., Josh Rice
Row 13: Kyle Bronson, Clay Harris
Row 14: Carson Ferguson, Dan Ebert

Consolation results

(10 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Daniel Hilsabeck, Chase Junghans, Brody Smith, Kyle Bronson, Chris Simpson, Cory Lawler, Jeff Tharp, Clay Harris, J.C. Wyman, Jesse Sobbing, Dylan Sillman, Tim Ward, Charlie McKenna, Brandon Conkwright, Allan Hopp, Dan Battaglia, Junior Coover.

Second consolation: Garrett Alberson, Clay Stuckey, Josh Rice, Jonathan Davenport, Dallon Murty, Dan Ebert, Jacob Hobscheidt, Tim McCreadie, Carson Ferguson, Zach Zeitner, Ricky Thornton Jr., Derrick Stewart, J.T. Wasmund, Brett Hopp, Curt Schroeder, Mike Collins, Chad Simpson.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Mike Marlar, Chris Madden, Jesse Sobbing, Kyle Bronson, Charlie McKenna, Clay Harris, J.C. Wyman, Junior Coover.

Second heat: Brian Shirley, Brenden Smith, Andrew Kosiski, Chase Junghans, Brody Smith, Dylan Sillman, Cory Lawler, Tim Ward. Scratched: Dan Battaglia.

Third heat: Max Blair, Brandon Overton, Blair Nothdurft, Daniel Hilsabeck, Jeff Tharp, Chris Simpson, Brandon Conkwright, Allan Hopp.

Fourth heat: Ryan Gustin, Justin Duty, Hudson O'Neal, Clay Stuckey, Chad Simpson, Dan Ebert, Carson Ferguson, Derrick Stewart, J.T. Wasmund.

Fifth heat: Nick Hoffman, Dennis Erb Jr., Tyler Bruening, Dallon Murty, Jonathan Davenport, Zach Zeitner, Tim McCreadie, Brett Hopp, Mike Collins.

Sixth heat: Brandon Sheppard, Dillon McCowan, Tad Pospisil, Garrett Alberson, Josh Rice, Jacob Hobscheidt, Curt Schroeder, Ricky Thornton Jr.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 14.263
2. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 14.295
3. Blair Nothdurft (76n), Renner, S.D., 14.344
4. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 14.382
5. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 14.431
6. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 14.490
7. Chris Madden (44m), Gray Court, S.C., 14.503
8. Andrew Kosiski (53), Omaha, Neb., 14.508
9. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 14.513
10. Jesse Sobbing (99-18), Malvern, Iowa, 14.527
11. Chase Junghans (18J), Manhattan, Kan., 14.558
12. Chris Simpson (32x), Oxford, Iowa, 14.579
13. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 14.630
14. Brody Smith (17sr), Dade City, Fla., 14.653
15. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 14.713
16. J.C. Wyman (4), Griswold, Iowa, 14.736
17. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 14.741
18. Brandon Conkwright (24c), Wamego, Kan., 14.826
19. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 14.833
20. Tim Ward (4tw), Mesa, Ariz., 14.900
21. Jeff Tharp (10T), Sherrill, Iowa, 14.988
22. Charlie McKenna (22m), Ames, Iowa, 15.020
23. Dylan Sillman (35D), Alvo, Neb., 15.118
24. Allan Hopp (80), Harlan, Iowa, 15.706
25. Junior Coover (10), Norfolk, Neb., 15.862
26. Dan Battaglia (45D), Gretna, Neb., no time
Group B
1. Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa, 14.408
2. Nick Hoffman (9H), Mooresville, N.C., 14.499
3. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 14.543
4. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 14.617
5. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 14.631
6. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 14.693
7. Justin Duty (15D), Molalla, Ore., 14.722
8. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.736
9. Tad Pospisil (04), Norfolk, Neb., 14.757
10. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 14.807
11. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 14.809
12. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 14.854
13. Chad Simpson (25), Mount Vernon, Iowa, 14.860
14. Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, 14.867
15. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 14.884
16. Clay Stuckey (15), Shreveport, La., 14.899
17. Tim McCreadie (9), Watertown, N.Y., 14.947
18. Jacob Hobscheidt (01), Plattsmouth, Neb., 14.948
19. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 14.983
20. Zach Zeitner (z76), Bellevue, Neb., 14.986
21. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.028
22. J.T. Wasmund (51w), Pine Island, Minn., 15.162
23. Brett Hopp (21H), Harlan, Iowa, 15.187
24. Curt Schroeder (15c), Newton, Iowa, 15.476
25. Mike Collins (3), New Orleans, La., 15.610
26. Derrick Stewart (43), Ainsworth, Iowa, 15.566

Thursday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - Pits open
2:45 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
3 p.m. - Grandstands open
5:45 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modified hot laps
- Stock car hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (50 laps)
- Modifieds (30 laps)
- Stock cars (30 laps)