Brandon Sheppard
After winning the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series race at Davenport(IA) Speedway last weekend, Brandon Sheppard continued his winning ways on Friday night as he held off Bobby Pierce over the closing laps in the Milton Hershey ‘Back to Class’ Showdown at Mississippi Thunder Speedway.
The Longhorn Chassis driver from New Berlin, Illinois earned $20,000 from the track located in Fountain City, Wisconsin in a race shown live by DirtVision.com.
A total of 30 cars were signed in for competition
Qualifying Results: 1. Cade Dillard(13.670), 2. Jake Timm, 3. Kyle Bronson, 4. Brian Shirley, 5. Blair Nothdurft, 6. Nick Hoffman, 7. Chris Madden, 8. Brandon Sheppard, 9. Dennis Erb Jr., 10. Jesse Glenz
Heat 1 Results: 1. Brian Shirley, 2. Cade Dillard, 3. Chris Madden, 4. Tanner English, 5. Stormy Scott, 6. Bobby Pierce
Heat 2 Results: 1. Jake Timm, 2. Dennis Erb Jr., 3. Ryan Gustin, 4. Todd Cooney, 5. Blair Nothdurft, 6. Jordan Yaggy
Heat 3 Results: 1. Nick Hoffman, 2. Brandon Sheppard, 3. Kyle Bronson, 4. Tyler Erb, 5. Dustin Sorensen, 6. Shane Clanton
Last Chance Showdown Finish: 1. Tyler Bruening, 2. Nick Anvelink, 3. Brent Larson, 4. Lance Matthees
WoO Redraw Results: 1. Brian Shirley, 2. Brandon Sheppard, 3. Jake Timm, 4. Nick Hoffman, 5. Cade Dillard, 6. Dennis Erb Jr.
Feature Re-cap: At the start of the 50-lap feature it was Shirley who took the early lead with Sheppard, Timm, Dennis Erb Jr. and Hoffman trailing. Erb passed by Timm for third on lap 3 then Hoffman would also pass Timm for fourth a few laps later.
The leaders were running in tight formation as they began to encounter slower traffic on lap 12. However, Tyler Erb blew a tire to bring out a caution on lap 14. Under that yellow, series points leader Pierce pulled into the pit area with damage after reportedly making contact with the slowing Erb machine.
Dillard went on the charge following the restart taking fifth from Timm then fourth from Hoffman. That opened the door for Gustin to take fifth from Hoffman soon afterwards.
Sheppard got by Shirley for the lead before a caution came out for the slowing car of Yaggy on lap 19. Gustin bolted to fourth on the ensuing restart sending Dillard to fifth.
A fast rising Pierce went to the high side and burst into the top-5 just before the halfway mark. At the front of the field, Sheppard began to slip away from Shirley and Gustin. Just before a lap 29 caution for Gundaker and Sorensen, Gustin had gotten by Shirley for second.
Pierce moved to fourth on the restart as Sheppard continued to lead Gustin and Shirley. Pierce got by Shirley for third on lap 36 after a fierce battle. Gustin closed in on Sheppard at the same time to challenge for the lead but a yellow flag for Yaggy paused the action on lap 38.
A spin by Clanton saved Pierce after he was passed by multiple cars on the initial attempt to restart on lap 38. When the race did get going again, Bronson moved to fourth just before another caution for Timm slowed the pace.
Pierce moved around Gustin for the runner-up position on lap 44 behind Sheppard. Pierce then closed right to the rear of Sheppard’s car as the laps clicked off but Sheppard was able to put enough space between himself and the No. 32 car to take away any chance of a late slide job.
Feature Results: 1. Brandon Sheppard, 2. Bobby Pierce, 3. Ryan Gustin, 4. Kyle Bronson, 5. Chris Madden, 6. Brian Shirley, 7. Nick Hoffman, 8. Cade Dillard, 9. Tyler Bruening, 10. Dennis Erb Jr., 11. Brent Larson, 12. Tanner English, 13. Blair Nothdurft, 14. Stormy Scott, 15. Shane Clanton, 16. Gordy Gundaker, 17. Todd Cooney, 18. Lance Matthees, 19. Dustin Walker, 20. Jake Timm, 21. Tyler Erb, 22. Nick Anvelink, 23. Jordan Yaggay, 24. Dustin Sorensen
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