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May 15, 2023

Brandon Sheppard Wins Delayed Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Farmer City 74 And The $25,000 Payday


SHEPPARD CHARGES TO FARMER CITY 74 TRIUMPH


FARMER CITY, Ill. (May 15, 2023) – Brandon Sheppard worked forward from his 14th starting position to take the lead on lap 47 of the Farmer City 74 on Monday night. Sheppard then led the rest of the way for the $25,000 payday in the first-ever appearance at the track by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.


Sheppard became the 11th different winner in 16 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races in 2023. The Illinois native crossed the finish line ahead Gordy Gundaker and 18th starting Brian Shirley. Gundaker had led the first 46 laps of the race from his outside pole starting position.



Rounding out the top five were 21st starting Ricky Thornton Jr., and Hudson O’Neal, who recovered from a lap seven flat tire to race his way into the top five and back to the top of the Big River Steel Chase for Championship presented by ARP standings.


For the first half of the race Gundaker ran virtually unchallenged as Shirley and Sheppard were making their way through the field. Sheppard was able to overtake Shirley for second and set his sights on the high-flying Gundaker. Sheppard closed the gap on Gundaker in traffic as he slipped by the Missouri driver with 27 laps remaining.


Sheppard then pulled away to win by 1.251 seconds over Gundaker, who recorded his best career finish with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.


In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 29th time in his career Sheppard was relishing the win in front of his home-state fans. “I don’t even know honestly how I did it. That was Farmer City at its best right there. That’s the Farmer City that I am used to. Put it up against the wall and it got slick where you can race all over it. It was right on, hats off to the track crew. Hats off to my team as well they have been working their tails off all year, we’ve been up-and-down a lot.”


“This means the world to get to do this,” said the 30-year-old New Berlin, Illinois native. “Man, we have been working hard. It’s been a long year. I am just super-proud of everybody involved with the team. It’s been a really trying year for us and my team has no quit in them. We haven’t given up on anything. We just keep plugging away on this thing week in and week out.”


Gundaker, who was looking for his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win and the biggest of his career came home in second. “I can’t hang my head on running second to Brandon and this group of cars. I got tight there for like five laps and just really screwed up. I am not much of a cushion banger as most of you know. I just made a few mistakes, and you can’t make mistakes against these guys. I saw Brandon down there creeping. I was just trying to fight him off and doing everything I could. Yes, I’m bummed, but you can’t hang your head running second.”


Shirley, a former Knoxville Late Model Nationals winner, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. “The track started to give way a little bit. We probably didn’t have the setup good enough for 74 laps. I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight. It was good race.”



The winner’s Sheppard-Riggs Racing-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by True Timber Camo, Valvoline, Dennis G. Woodworth, Attorney at Law, Wyld Gear, Riggs Drilling Solutions, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, and Sheppard Auto Sales and Salvage.


Completing the top ten were Jimmy Owens, Dennis Erb Jr., Daulton Wilson, Max Blair, and Devin Moran.


Farmer City 74 Feature Finish (74 Laps):



The Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:



See the full story and results:



Photo's: lucasdirt.com and social



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