Brandon Sheppard Shocks the Field and Wins the Dirt Track World Championship

PORTSMOUTH, OH (October 19, 2013) – Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, IL captured the biggest race of his young career winning the 33rd Annual RED BUCK Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth Raceway Park on Saturday Night.  Sheppard at age 20 became the youngest driver in the history of the DTWC to win the crown jewel event. Sheppard earned $50,000 as he became the 24th different driver to win the DTWC and captured his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory.

Sheppard piloting the #1 Mark Richards Racing, Rocket House Car charged through the field from his seventh starting position using the very top groove to pass Scott Bloomquist for the lead on lap 43. Sheppard would motor away from the field after each restart through the middle stages of the race fending off challenges from several seasoned veterans en route to his victory in front of a capacity crowd. Steve Francis of Ashland, KY advanced from his 15th starting position to finish second at the checkers and clinching second place in the final LOLMDS Championship Points Standings. Jackie Boggs of Grayson, KY took home third followed by 14^th starting Jason Feger of Bloomington, IL. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN rounded out the top five.  With his fifth place finish Owens was crowned the 2013 Lucas Oil late Model Dirt Series National Champion for the third year in a row.

Sheppard, who was subbing for Josh Richards in the Rocket Chassis House car this weekend, was stunned with his accomplishment in victory lane.  “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Sheppard in victory lane.  “To come here in this car and win this race is just unbelievable, we had a great weekend, we set fast time last night, and almost won our heat race, but to come from seventh tonight and win was just unbelievable. And to beat the caliber of drivers in this field and the history of this event is just awesome. We’ve really had such a good year with our own Rocket car as well and I have to thank my dad and grandpa for all of their help this season.  I also want to thank all the sponsors on the number one car, Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ernie D’s, Ace Metal Works, Sunoco Race Fuel and Roush-Yates Engines’, stated Sheppard.

Francis driving the #15 Clint Bowyer Racing, Georgia Boot entry grabbed the second spot on lap 79 from Boggs.  But over the final 21 laps of the race Francis could not catch Sheppard.  “Congrats to those guys on the win, Brandon and Mark they did a great job all weekend.  I thought maybe I had enough to chase him down at the end, but we finished the year strong and got second in the Lucas Oil points. We had a good battle all season with Jimmy (Owens) and congrats to him and his team on their championship. We’ll be back next year with Clint Bowyer Racing and Georgia Boot to try and win this championship again”, stated Francis.

Jackie Boggs, whose hall of fame father was the late Jack Boggs, won the DTWC three times in his career. Jackie was in the hunt for his first DTWC win over the last half of the race, but came up just short in finishing a solid third place.  “The nose of our car was digging in the track at times and I couldn’t get off the corners like I wanted to. But we had a real good set-up for the feature and was hoping all the laps I’ve ran here would pay off with a win. To run third with these guys is still great”, stated Boggs, driver of the #4B with sponsorship from Quick Response Environmental and Industrial Services and Swartz Race Cars.

Completing the top ten were Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR; Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL; Eric Wells of Hazard, KY, and Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV.

In preliminary action, Brandon Sheppard set the overall time (Group A) amongst the ­79 entrants, with a lap of 14.575 seconds. Jackie Boggs set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 14.755 seconds. Earl Pearson, Jr., Steve Shaver, Eric Wells, Jackie Boggs, Scott Bloomquist and Billy Moyer won their respective heat races.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com and follow the series on www.facebook.com/lucasdirt and www.twitter.com/#!/lucasdirt.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Race Summary

Saturday Night, October 19th, 2013
33rd Annual RED BUCK Dirt Track World Championship presented by Borrowed Blue
Portsmouth Raceway Park – Portsmouth, OH

RED BUCK Fast Time Group A: Brandon Sheppard  / 14.575 seconds

RED BUCK Fast Time Group B: Jackie Boggs / 14.755 seconds

Wiles Drive Shafts Heat Race #1 Finish (20 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Earl Pearson Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Don O’Neal, Tim Dohm, Chris Wilson, Jared Hawkins, Mark Frazier, KC Burdette, Stephen Breeding, Paul Davis, Tommy Bailey, Mike Unger, Duane Chamberlain

Eibach Springs Heat Race #2 Finish (20 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Steve Shaver, Jeep VanWormer, Steve Francis, Jared Landers, Davey Johnson, DJ Wells, Andrew Reaume, Dennis Robinson, JT Conley, Lee Logan, Shannon Thornsberry, Josh Bocook

Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (20 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Eric Wells, Dale McDowell, Will Vaught, Jimmy Mars, Greg Johnson, Dustin Linville, Nick Bocook, Michael Chilton, Kenny Howell, Jeff Arnold, Richie Edwards, Jeff Babcock

FK Rod Ends Heat Race #4 Finish (20 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Jackie Boggs, John Blankenship, Jason Feger, RJ Conley, Billy Moyer Jr., Jeff Provinzino, Donnie Moran, Russ Frohnapfel, Bobby Pierce, Delmas Conley, Zack Dohm, Mike Marlar, Billy Ogle Jr.

ASi Racewear Heat Race #5 Finish (20 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Eddie Carrier Jr., Jonathan Davenport, Mason Zeigler, Josh McGuire, Devin Moran, Walker Arthur, Tim Fuller, Billy Gullion, Wayne Chinn, DJ Miller, Chris Garnes

DirtOnDirt.com Heat Race #6 Finish (20 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Billy Moyer, Jimmy Owens, Shane Clanton, Chris Combs, Dennis Erb Jr., Gregg Satterlee, Steve Casebolt, Rod Conley, Steve Lucas, David Webb, Charlie Jude

CV Products B-Main #1 (20 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Davey Johnson, Jared Hawkins, Andrew Reaume, Tim Dohm, Duane Chamberlain, Stephen Breeding, Tommy Bailey, Josh Bocook, Lee Logan, KC Burdette, Chris Wilson, JT Conley, Shannon Thornsberry, Mark Frazier, Dennis Roberson, DJ Wells, Jared Landers, Paul Davis

Wrisco Aluminum B-Main #2 (20 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Jimmy Mars, Dustin Linville, RJ Conley, Billy Moyer, Jr., Donnie Moran, Nick Bocook, Greg Johnson, Zack Dohm, Delmas Conley, Jeff Babcock, Jeff Provinzino, Kenny Howell, Jeff Arnold, Michael Chilton, Mike Marlar, Russ Frohnapfel

Borrowed Blue B-Main #3 (20 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): Mason Zeigler, Chris Combs, Josh McGuire, Dennis Erb, Jr., Steve Casebolt, Rod Conley, Chris Garnes, Gregg Satterlee, Tim Fuller, Billy Gullion, Charlie Jude, Wayne Chinn, DJ Miller, Devin Moran, Steve Lucas, Sam Hobbs

Jim Dunn Memorial Non-Qualifiers Race (30 Laps): RJ Conley, Tim Dohm, Andrew Reaume, Donnie Moran, Josh McGuire, Stephen Breeding, Nick Bocook, Zack Dohm, Mike Marlar, Chris Garnes, Delmas Conley, Duane Chamberlain, Jeff Babcock, Tommy Bailey, Jeff Provinzino, Greg Johnson, Billy Gullion, DJ Miller, Billy Moyer, Jr., Gregg Satterlee, Lee Logan, Josh Bocook, Steve Casebolt, Kenny Howell

RED BUCK DTWC Feature Finish (100 Laps)

Race Statistics

Entrants: 79

Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist (1-42); Brandon Sheppard (43-100)

Caution Flags: Jared Landers (lap 21); Davey Johnson (lap 40); Scott Bloomquist (lap 44); Will Vaught (lap 53); Jonathan Davenport (lap 64); Debris (lap 79)

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Dennis Erb, Jr. and Shane Clanton

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: N/A

Portsmouth Raceway Park Track Provisional: Rod Conley

Jim Dunn Memorial Non-Qualifiers Race Winner: RJ Conley

Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Dennis Erb, Jr.

Keyser Mfg Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jimmy Owens

Allstar Performer of the Race: Jason Feger

Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard

JRi Shocks/Dunn Benson Ford Rookie of the Race: Billy Moyer Jr.

COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Roush-Yates Engines

Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis

Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Tommy Grecco (Steve Francis)

HAWK Performance Fastest Lap of the Race: Scott Bloomquist – Lap 7 – 15.574

Time of Race: 49 minutes 15 seconds