Dirt on Dirt - Sheppard surges to win second Firecracker prelim

June 26

Lernerville Speedway,

Sarver, PA

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Firecracker 100 second semifeature) - $5,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, series and track reports (last updated June 26, 9:27 pm)

Sheppard surges to win second Firecracker prelim

Firecracker 100 second semifeature

Brandon Sheppard
Devin Moran
Max Blair
Michael Norris
Garrett Alberson
Dillon McCowan
Alex Ferree
Tyler Wyant
Gregg Satterlee
Ryan Montgomery
Brock Pinkerous
Clay Harris
Daniel Hilsabeck
Levi Yetter
Mike Marlar
Braeden Dillinger
Colton Flinner
Dan Angelicchio
Rick Eckert
Lane Snook
Clay Ruffo
John Garvin Jr.
Kyle Bronson

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Brandon Sheppard (1) overtakes Devin Moran (99) at Lernerville.)

What won the race: Slipping by early leader Devin Moran on the seventh lap, seventh-starting Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led the rest of Friday's second 25-lap Firecracker 100 semifeature at Lernerville Speedway. Sheppard beat Moran by 2.120 seconds for the $5,000 split-field payday and his sixth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season.

Quotable: “It’s kinda one of them deals, when you’re back there like that, you just go where they’re not,” Sheppard said. “I knew my car was good about wherever I put it, so I was just biding my time and seeing where everybody was running. I knew the top was treacherous, so I didn’t want to go up there unless I absolutely had to. … Seen them guys in the first (prelim) flying off the end a bunch.”

Key notes: Sheppard notched his sixth of the season on the Lucas Oil circuit and 10th overall. ... Devin Moran led the opening six laps from the pole before Sheppard slipped by on the low line, beating Moran by 0.094 of a second to lead the seventh lap, then pulled away thereafter. ... Five-time and reigning track champ Michael Norris rode Lernerville's cushion as high as third by lap 19, only for Max Blair to power back around him as they raced towards the checkered flag, finishing third by 0.290 of a second and relegating Norris to fourth. ... Garrett Alberson gained five spots to round out the top-five finishers. ... Dillon McCowan challenged Moran in the early going before slipping to sixth. ... Second-starting Alex Ferree settled for seventh. ... The race's lone caution flew on the sixth lap when fifth-running Kyle Bronson slowed after losing an oil pump belt; his crew will need to swap engines before Saturday's Firecracker 100 finale. ... Clay Harris pitted with fuel pressure issues but soldiered to a 12th-place finish. ... Colton Flinner overcame heavy left-rear damage on the opening lap of the second heat race and improved five positions to finish 17th. ... The 25-lap prelim lasted 10 minutes with 16 starters completing the distance. ... Thursday's double-semifeature program rained out. ... Friday's semifeature performances set the starting lineup for Saturday's $50,000-to-win finale.

On the move: Ryan Montgomery of Fairmont, W.Va., started 17th and finished 10th.

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: Before Lernerville: 1. Hudson O’Neal (3,920); 2. Brandon Sheppard (3,900); 3. Devin Moran (3,740); 4. Brandon Overton (3,555); 5. Ricky Thornton Jr. (3,495); 6. Max Blair (3,485); 7. Garrett Alberson (3,325); 8. Brian Shirley (3,260); 9. Josh Rice (3,225); 10. Kyle Bronson (3,205).

Current weather: Cloudy, 70°F

Car count: 46

Fast qualifier: Devin Moran

Time: 17.447 seconds

Polesitter: Devin Moran

Heat race winners: Devin Moran, Alex Ferree

Next series race: June 27, Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA) $50,000

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

From staff reports

SARVER, Pa. — Live updates from Friday’s Firecracker 100 second prelim night at Lernerville Speedway, highlighted by twin 25-lap, $5,000-to-win semifeatures for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Semifeature

Slipping by early leader Devin Moran on the seventh lap, seventh-starting Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led the rest of Friday's second 25-lap Firecracker 100 semifeature at Lernerville Speedway. Sheppard beat Moran by 2.120 seconds for the $5,000 split-field payday and his sixth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season.

Semifeature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Devin Moran, Alex Ferree
Row 2: Dillon McCowan, Max Blair
Row 3: Michael Norris, Mike Marlar
Row 4: Brandon Sheppard, Gregg Satterlee
Row 5: Kyle Bronson, Garrett Alberson
Row 6: Levi Yetter, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 7: Tyler Wyant, Dan Angelicchio
Row 8: Brock Pinkerous, Braeden Dillinger
Row 9: Ryan Montgomery, Clay Harris
Row 10: Rick Eckert, Lane Snook
Row 11: John Garvin Jr., Colton Flinner
Row 12: Clay Ruffo

Heat race results

(Eight laps; all transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Dillon McCowan, Michael Norris, Brandon Sheppard, Kyle Bronson, Levi Yetter, Tyler Wyant, Brock Pinkerous, Ryan Montgomery, Rick Eckert, John Garvin Jr., Clay Ruffo.

Second heat: Alex Ferree, Max Blair, Mike Marlar, Gregg Satterlee, Garrett Alberson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Dan Angelicchio, Braeden Dillinger, Clay Harris, Lane Snook, Colton Flinner.

Time trials

Group B
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 17.447
2. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 17.484
3. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 17.585
4. Braeden Dillinger (1D), Dawson, Pa., 17.672
5. Levi Yetter (10*), Cabot, Pa., 17.683
6. Alex Ferree (1c), Saxonburg, Pa., 17.712
7. Rick Eckert (24), York, Pa., 17.790
8. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 17.791
9. Michael Norris (72), Sarver, Pa., 17.804
10. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 17.841
11. Brock Pinkerous (555), Ellenville, N.Y., 17.846
12. Lane Snook (15k), Port Royal, Pa., 17.880
13. Tyler Wyant (24T), Oil City, Pa., 17.903
14. Colton Flinner (48F), Allison Park, Pa., 17.927
15. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 17.938
16. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 18.053
17. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 18.056
18. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 18.100
19. Ryan Montgomery (12m), Fairmont, W.Va., 18.102
20. Gregg Satterlee (22G), Indiana, Pa., 18.200
21. John Garvin Jr. (J4), Sarver, Pa., 18.205
22. Dan Angelicchio (14), Mount Pleasant, Pa., 18.515
23. Clay Ruffo (14R), Brookfield, Ohio, 19.006

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
3 p.m. - Pits open
3 p.m. - Tech and registration open
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
5:15 p.m. - Tech and registration close
5:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- 604 Crate hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- 604 Crate time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- First Friday semifeature (25 laps)
- Second Friday semifeature (25 laps)
- 604 Crate heats (8 laps)
- 604 Crate dash (6 laps)