Shinnston, WV, November 21, 2016 –Mark Richards Racing, Inc. (MRRI), the four time World of Outlaws Craftsman late model champion team has selected two-time Dirt Track World Championship winner Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, IL to drive the Valvoline/Seubert Calf Ranches #1 Rocket Chassis house car. Richards also welcomes new marketing partner Gunter’s Honey and two new crew members Austin Hargrove and Joel Rogers.

New driver Brandon Sheppard previously drove the #1 car full-time for MRRI during the 2012 season at just 20 years old. Since then, Sheppard has won the 2013 UMP DIRTcar Late Model National Championship, 2013 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Championship, 2013 Dirt Track World Championship (w/MRRI), in 2014 Brandon won 10 A-mains while running an independent schedule. In 2015 he won the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) Rookie of the Year, won six A-Mains and finished 6th in championship points. In 2016 Sheppard finished 5th in LOLMDS points with seven wins including the series ending Dirt Track World Championship worth $100,000.

For the first time Brandon Sheppard’s young career, the Mark Richards led team will compete for the World of Outlaws Craftsman late model (WoOLMS) championship in 2017. Similar to last year, the #1 car will run crown jewel events and major races that don’t conflict with the WoOLMS schedule.

“Brandon was one of our top choices” stated MRRI owner Mark Richards. “He did an outstanding job for us during the 2012 season, our marketing partners and I are quite comfortable with him and he has been a loyal Rocket Chassis supporter/customer for many years now. I really do consider him one of the top young talents in dirt late model racing today and we’re thrilled to have him come aboard.” (more…)

The 11th Annual Joey Coulter Charity 200 race weekend is fast approaching and we are still right at $1000 short of reaching the goal to open the gates with all the bills paid – That means if the rest of the money can be raised, all money taken in during the weekend will go directly to the five families we are supporting this year!

If anyone can or knows of someone that can help, please let us know!  We also sill only have 73 Laps of the 200 sold so all we can sell on those helps the families (laps are $20 each – $10 of each lap goes to the families and the other $10 is part of the purse).

Time is running out, so please if you are thinking of sponsoring laps or donating at all, let us know by contacting Rick Bristol at 407-497-0448 or rbmini68@aol.com or contact me directly by e-mail at announcerdave@usa.net or on Facebook… I will be announcing much of the event and WILL make sure your business or name is mentioned multiple times.

This is a fantastic event and the families we support really need the help, especially during the Holidays. (more…)

November 16, 2016 – Cope Engines and engine builder Jimmy Cope are no longer an approved engine builder for Florida spec engines following a discovery during this past weekend’s Governor’s Cup at New Smyrna Speedway (FL).

Chief Technical Inspector Ricky Brooks and officials from New Smyrna Speedway made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that one of the engines built by Cope Engines did not meet numerous requirement of the spec engine rulebook.

“We’re not playing games with any of those sealed motors; the main focus of this program is maintaining a level playing field,” Brooks said. “The engine builder asked me to compare my machine to his machine and then once that took place there were washers on the spark plugs to keep the compression down. It just went on from there and we ended up taking the motor, tearing it down and checking it.” (more…)