Dirt on Dirt - B-Shepp tops McDowell, scales Smoky Mountain

June 19

Smoky Mountain Speedway,

Maryville, TN

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Mountain Moonshine Classic prelim) - $10,000

Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated June 20, 7:40 am)

B-Shepp tops McDowell, scales Smoky Mountain

Mountain Moonshine Classic prelim

Brandon Sheppard
Dale McDowell
Garrett Alberson
Chris Madden
Sam Seawright
Devin Moran
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Hudson O'Neal
Chris Ferguson
Josh Rice
Kyle Bronson
Dan Ebert
Clay Harris
Carson Ferguson
Brian Shirley
Max Blair
Jake O'Neil
Mike Marlar
Todd Morrow
Brandon Overton
Dillon McCowan
Daniel Hilsabeck
Donovan Jackson
Brenden Smith
Heath Hindman

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Brandon Sheppard led all the way at Smoky Mountain Speedway.

What won the race: Repelling multiple challenges from Dale McDowell, polesitter Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led all the way Friday at Smoky Mountain Speedway to win the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series weekend opener. Sheppard pocketed $10,000 in taking the checkers of the nonstop 40-lapper 1.342 seconds ahead of the third-starting McDowell with outside front-row starter Garrett Alberson third.

Quotable: "It's hard to win here," Sheppard said. "This isn't anything like any place that I grew up (racing) at. ... anytime you can run up here with Dale (McDowell) and them guys here, them guys are the guys to beat at these places. This is our car from Eldora, so I knew it was really good."

Key notes: Sheppard, who notched his fifth Lucas Oil victory of the season and 37th full-field win of his career, previously won at Smoky Mountain on April 29, 2017, for his lone career Southern All Star Series victory. ... Sheppard set fast time, won a heat and led all the way in the 40-lapper. ... Runner-up Dale McDowell, who sustained midrace spoiler damage, pulled alongside Sheppard on the 15th lap but couldn't complete the pass entering turn one. ... Sam Seawright's fifth-place finish was the best of his career on the Lucas Oil tour. ... Series points leader Hudson O'Neal finished eighth. ... The 11-minute feature concluded at 11:14 p.m. ... Clay Harris ran a backup car after problems in hot laps. ... A track reworking and rollover crash in the night's front-wheel drive race delayed the feature. ... Saturday's $30,000-to-win finale concludes the Mountain Moonshine Classic. ... It's the first tour action since Memorial Day weekend. ... SSI Motorsports' Jason Durham won the six-car Crown Vic event for Lucas Oil crew chiefs. He topped Anthony Burroughs, Danny White, Chuck Kimble, Ryder Cantillo and Rob Blair; Hudson O'Neal is slated to start on the pole of Saturday's Crown Vic feature as a result of Durham's victory.

On the move: Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., started 17th and finished ninth.

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 Smoky Mountain Friday: 1. Hudson O’Neal (3,750); 2. Brandon Sheppard (3,670); 3. Devin Moran (3,510); 4. Brandon Overton (3,395); 5. Ricky Thornton Jr. (3,365); 6. Max Blair (3,290); 7. Garrett Alberson (3,200); 8. Brian Shirley (3,115); 9. Josh Rice (3,090); 10. Kyle Bronson (3,015).

Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 73°F

Car count: 37

Fast qualifier: Brandon Sheppard

Time: 16.019 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Sheppard

Heat race winners: Brandon Sheppard, Dale McDowell, Garrett Alberson, Chris Madden

Consolation race winners: Chris Ferguson, Heath Hindman

Provisional starters: Brandon Overton, Dillon McCowan, Brenden Smith

Next series race: June 20, Smoky Mountain Speedway (Maryville, TN) $30,000

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

From staff reports

MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Updates from Friday’s Mountain Moonshine Classic prelim at Smoky Mountain Speedway, highlighted by a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Repelling multiple challenges from Dale McDowell, polesitter Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led all the way Friday at Smoky Mountain Speedway to win the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series weekend opener. Sheppard pocketed $10,000 in taking the checkers of the nonstop 40-lapper 1.342 seconds ahead of the third-starting McDowell with outside front-row starter Garrett Alberson third.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Brandon Sheppard, Garrett Alberson
Row 2: Dale McDowell, Chris Madden
Row 3: Sam Seawright, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 4: Kyle Bronson, Devin Moran
Row 5: Carson Ferguson, Hudson O'Neal
Row 6: Jake O'Neil, Josh Rice
Row 7: Brian Shirley, Dan Ebert
Row 8: Todd Morrow, Clay Harris
Row 9: Chris Ferguson, Heath Hindman
Row 10: Mike Marlar, Donovan Jackson
Row 11: Max Blair, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 12: Brandon Overton, Dillon McCowan
Row 13: Brenden Smith

Consolation race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Chris Ferguson, Mike Marlar, Max Blair, Brandon Overton, Brenden Smith, Noah Phillips, Jimmy Owens, Ben Watkins, Dillon McCowan, Gray Parton.

Second consolation: Heath Hindman, Donovan Jackson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Dylan Barrols, Casey Roberts, Stacy Boles, Cory Lawler, Justin Smith, Joshua Sneed. Scratched: Donald McIntosh, Hunter Kohn.

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Brandon Sheppard, Sam Seawright, Carson Ferguson, Brian Shirley, Chris Ferguson, Max Blair, Noah Phillips, Jimmy Owens, Gray Parton.

Second heat: Dale McDowell, Kyle Bronson, Jake O'Neil, Todd Morrow, Mike Marlar, Brenden Smith, Brandon Overton, Ben Watkins, Dillon McCowan.

Third heat: Garrett Alberson, Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O'Neal, Dan Ebert, Dylan Barrols, Heath Hindman, Daniel Hilsabeck, Stacy Boles, Cory Lawler. Scratched: Hunter Kohn.

Fourth heat: Chris Madden, Devin Moran, Josh Rice, Clay Harris, Donald McIntosh, Donovan Jackson, Casey Roberts, Joshua Sneed. Scratched: Justin Smith.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 16.019
2. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 16.022
3. Sam Seawright (16s), Rainsville, Ala., 16.070
4. Jake O’Neil (0), Tucson, Ariz., 16.138
5. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 16.170
6. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 16.182
7. Max Blair (111) Centerville, Pa., 16.206
8. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 16.222
9. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 16.271
10. Todd Morrow (T1), Penton, Ala., 16.363
11. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 16.395
12. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 16.404
13. Noah Phillips (15), Sevierville, Tenn., 16.526
14. Ben Watkins (16w), Rock Hill, S.C., 16.542
15. Chris Ferguson (22F), Mount Holly, N.C., 16.581
16. Brenden Smith (17ss), Dade City, Fla., 16.671
17. Gray Parton (18p), Rutherfordton, N.C., 17.289
18. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., no time
Group B
1. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 16.035
2. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 16.077
3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 16.137
4. Chris Madden (44m), Gray Court, S.C., 16.163
5. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 16.278
6. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 16.306
7. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 16.350
8. Donald McIntosh (7m), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.439
9. Heath Hindman (91), Signal Mountain, Tenn., 16.473
10. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 16.489
11. Dylan Barrols (17au), Morristown, Tenn., 16.549
12. Donovan Jackson (93J), Hope Mills, N.C., 16.716
13. Stacy Boles (11B), Clinton, Tenn., 16.720
14. Justin Smith (7s), Barbourville, Ky., 16.728
15. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 16.832
16. Casey Roberts (101), Toccoa, Ga., 16.912
17. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 16.937
18. Joshua Sneed (79), Knoxville, Tenn., 18.945
19. Hunter Kohn (48), Mooresville, N.C., no time

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - All gates open
3:15 p.m. - Tech and registration open
6:15 p.m. - Tech and registration close
6:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7 p.m. - On-track activity
- Sportsman group qualifying
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Front-wheel drive group qualifying
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Crown Vic group qualifying
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Front-wheel drives (20 laps)
- Late Models (40 laps)
- Sportsman (20 laps)
- Crown Vics (15 laps)