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TAMPA, FL (February 13, 2017) Defending Dirt Track World Champion, Brandon Sheppard picked up his first career East Bay Raceway Park victory on Monday night during the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Wrisco Industries Winternationals \u2013 Presented by E3 Spark Plugs. Sheppard \u2013 who started fourth on the grid \u2013 drove the Mark Richards Racing, Valvoline, Rocket Chassis\u2019 House Car to the win after taking the lead on the fifth lap.<\/p>\n
Trailing Sheppard across the finish line were Earl Pearson Jr., Devin Moran, Kyle Bronson, and Brian Shirley.<\/p>\n
Shirley led the first four circuits of the 25-lap main event until Sheppard came from the outside of the second row to take over the top spot. Sheppard then held off Pearson, who had started seventh, for the victory. It was Sheppard\u2019s fifth career LOLMDS win.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to finally get a win at East Bay. We have been coming here for several years and to do it on opening night this year feels great. In a short race like this you must get to the front as soon as you can. The car was good all night long. We could pass cars low and high and then we finally cleared Shirley. It was a good race up front. This Rocket XR-1 Chassis is just fabulous and the Durham Race Engine was flawless.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once Sheppard had the lead, he had to wait through two caution flags inside the final five laps of the race. Pearson slipped under Moran on a lap 20 restart and held that spot to the finish in the Carlton and Kemp Lamm-owned, Dunn-Benson Ford, Longhorn Chassis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese young guys are wearing me out,\u201d said Pearson, a 3-time East Bay winner who was among only seven drivers in the starting field who had ever won at the track. \u201cIt was a total turnaround from Golden Isles. The crew has worked hard on this car and the Larry Wallace Racing Engine was super-strong tonight as well. To come from where we did in just 25 laps we should be set-up well for the rest of the week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moran realized that his slipping out of the groove with five laps to go cost him a shot at the win. \u201cIt was driver error. But I had fun tonight running up front like I did. Hopefully this bodes well for the rest of the season,\u201d said the driver of the Tye Twarog Racing entry.<\/p>\n
Completing the top ten were Austin Hubbard, Josh Richards, Tyler Erb, Hudson O\u2019Neal, and Gregg Satterlee.<\/p>\n
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
\nRace Summary
\nMonday, February 13th, 2017
\nWrisco Industries Winternationals \u2013 presented by E3 Spark Plugs
\nEast Bay Raceway Park \u2013 Tampa, FL<\/p>\n
Miller Welders Fast Time Group A: Brian Shirley \/ 15.111 seconds
\nMiller Welders Fast Time Group B: Austin Hubbard \/ 14.794 seconds<\/p>\n
Eibach Springs Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Brian Shirley, Devin Moran, Tyler Erb, Ricky Weiss, Steve Francis, Tim McCreadie, Hudson O\u2019Neal, Stephen Breeding, Kenny PettyJohn, Todd Frank, Bob Gardner<\/p>\n
FK Rod Ends Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Kyle Bronson, Earl Pearson, Jr., Austin Rettig, Dennis Erb, Jr., Tim Dohm , Frank Heckenast, Jr., Boom Briggs, Brent Larson, Gordy Gundaker, Mason Zeigler, Brian Ligon<\/p>\n
Simpson Performance Products Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Doug Drown, Austin Hubbard, Gregg Satterlee, Jared Miley, Davey Johnson, Corey Conley , David Breazeale, GR Smith, Tyler Carpenter, Craig Wolford, Chad Hollenbeck<\/p>\n
QA1 Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): Brandon Sheppard, Billy Moyer, Jr., Michael Lake, Josh Richards, Nick Davis, Greg Oakes, Pancho Lawler, Timothy Culp, Jimmy Owens, John Gardner, Dustin Linville<\/p>\n
Penske Racing Shocks B-Main #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Tim Dohm , Hudson O\u2019Neal, Tim McCreadie, Steve Francis, Frank Heckenast, Jr., Kenny PettyJohn, Boom Briggs, Gordy Gundaker, Brent Larson, Mason Zeigler, Stephen Breeding, Bob Gardner, Todd Frank, Brian Ligon<\/p>\n
Fast Shafts B-Main #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): Nick Davis, Tyler Carpenter, Corey Conley , Greg Oakes, Timothy Culp, Pancho Lawler, Chad Hollenbeck, Craig Wolford, David Breazeale, GR Smith, Davey Johnson, Jimmy Owens-DNS, John Gardner-DNS, Dustin Linville-DNS<\/p>\n
Feature Finish (25 Laps):
\nFINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN EARNINGS
\n1 4 1S Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL $5,000
\n2 7 1 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL $3,000
\n3 5 9 Devin Moran Dresden, OH $2,000
\n4 3 40B Kyle Bronson Brandon, FL $1,500
\n5 1 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL $1,000
\n6 6 11 Austin Hubbard Bridgeville, DE $800
\n7 16 1R Josh Richards Shinnston, WV $750
\n8 9 91 Tyler Erb New Waverly, TX $700
\n9 19 71 Hudson O\u2019Neal Martinsville, IN $650
\n10 10 22 Gregg Satterlee Rochester Mills, PA $600
\n11 21 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY $550
\n12 12 27 Michael Lake Uniontown, PA $500
\n13 8 21JR Billy Moyer, Jr. Batesville, AR $500
\n14 15 28E Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL $500
\n15 17 6T Tim Dohm Cross Lanes, WV $500
\n16 23 22G Greg Oakes Franklinville, NY $500
\n17 26 15 Steve Francis Bowling Green, KY $500
\n18 18 92 Nick Davis Millsboro, DE $500
\n19 2 240 Doug Drown Wooster, OH $500
\n20 22 14c Corey Conley Wellsburg, WV $500
\n21 13 7w Ricky Weiss Headingley, MB $500
\n22 14 H1 Jared Miley South Park, PA $500
\n23 24 B1 Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN $500
\n24 25 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN $500
\n25 11 94 Austin Rettig Sikeston, MO $500
\n26 20 k0 Tyler Carpenter Parkersburg, WV $500<\/p>\n
Race Statistics
\nEntrants: 44
\nLap Leaders: Brian Shirley (Laps 1 \u2013 4); Brandon Sheppard (Laps 5 \u2013 25)
\nCautions: Tyler Carpenter (Lap 7); Jared Miley (Lap 19); Steve Francis (Lap 20)
\nLucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Jimmy Owens, Steve Francis
\nLucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: n\/a
\nWrisco Winternationals Provisional: Greg Oakes
\nStrawberry Dash Provisional: Brent Larson
\nWrisco Feature Winner: Brandon Sheppard
\nOptima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Hudson O\u2019Neal (Started: 19th; Finished: 9th; Advanced 10 Positions)
\nMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: n\/a
\nAllstar Performance Power Move of the Race: Tim McCreadie
\nSunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
\nHot Rod Processing Rookie of the Race: n\/a
\nCOMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines
\nOhlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
\nOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Taylon Center (Earl Pearson Jr.)
\nFastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard (Lap #22 \u2013 15.7457 seconds)
\nSafecraft Most Laps Led: Brandon Sheppard (26 Laps)
\nPFC Brakes Pole Award: Brian Shirley
\nTime of Race: 15 minutes 8 seconds<\/p>\n
Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:
\nPOS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS EARNINGS
\n1 116 Brandon Overton Evans, GA 480 $13,700
\n2 1R Josh Richards Shinnston, WV 450 $15,250
\n3 49 Jonathan Davenport Williamson, SC 410 $5,300
\n3 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY 410 $7,850
\n5 1S Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL 375 $9,475
\n6 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 370 $5,800
\n7 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 355 $7,300
\n8 7m Donald McIntosh Dawsonville, GA 345 $2,075
\n9 91 Tyler Erb New Waverly, TX 335 $2,825
\n9 7 Rick Eckert York, PA 335 $2,075
\n9 14 Darrell Lanigan Union, KY 335 $3,200
\n12 240 Doug Drown Wooster, OH 320 $2,400
\n12 38 Kenny PettyJohn Millsboro, DE 320 $2,400
\n12 5 Don O\u2019Neal Martinsville, IN 320 $2,925
\n15 1 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 305 $5,950
\n15 9 Devin Moran Dresden, OH 305 $3,300
\n17 99B Boom Briggs<\/p>\n
Bear Lake, PA 295 $1,500
\n18 71 Hudson O\u2019Neal Martinsville, IN 275 $1,825
\n19 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL 270 $3,850
\n19 28E Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL 270 $3,000
\n19 15 Steve Francis Bowling Green, KY 270 $1,500
\n22 B1 Brent Larson Lake Elmo, MN 265 $1,975
\n23 21JR Billy Moyer, Jr. Batesville, AR 260 $2,400
\n23 7F Jason Fitzgerald Middleburg, FL 260 $1,200
\n25 22* GR Smith Statesville, NC 255 $1,150
\n26 99JR Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL 245 $1,050
\n27 30K Ryan King Seymour, TN 235 $1,100
\n28 75 Colton Flinner Allison Park, PA 230 $700
\n29 c81 Timothy Culp Prattsville, AR 225 $300
\n30 18J Chase Junghans Manhattan, KS 220 $200
\n30 87 Ross Bailes Clover, SC 220 $900<\/p>\n
*Points are unofficial until Close of Business on the Tuesday following Race Day*<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TAMPA, FL (February 13, 2017) Defending Dirt Track World Champion, Brandon Sheppard picked up his first career East Bay Raceway Park victory on Monday night […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"publish_to_discourse":"","publish_post_category":"","wpdc_auto_publish_overridden":"","wpdc_topic_tags":"","wpdc_pin_topic":"","wpdc_pin_until":"","discourse_post_id":"","discourse_permalink":"","wpdc_publishing_response":"","wpdc_publishing_error":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,3,59,117],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-east-bay-raceway-park","category-front-page-news","category-lucas-oil-late-model-dirt-series","category-national"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24320"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24320\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24322,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24320\/revisions\/24322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}