GIBSONTON, Fla. — For the second consecutive night it came down to the last lap. On Friday, Sheppard survived an attempted pass by Brandon Overton as a caution flag came out as the two were headed to the checkers.
The final restart with the white flag waving, Sheppard pulled away from Overton for his ninth career win at East Bay. Despite a heavily damaged race car Overton finished in second, followed by Ashton Winger, Devin Moran and Tim McCreadie.
The first 24 laps of the race were outstanding with three drivers trading the lead four times. Sheppard led the first 11 laps until Chase Junghans took over the point for one lap before Sheppard regained the lead on lap 13.
Junghans was once again out front on lap 14 until lap 21. Overton took over lead on lap 22 for two laps, but Sheppard came to life again regaining the lead for good on lap 24.
“Our car was really good in the bottom at the beginning of the race,” Sheppard said. “I went up to the top one time and I thought it was going to be treacherous running up there the whole time. Chase (Junghans) did a good job getting by me; it made me and Overton get up on the wheel. That was a heck of a race. Overton got by me too. Luckily in lapped traffic I was able to get back by them before the caution come out. It was a little slimy at the start, but the longer the race went the better the track got.”
Overton led two laps during the mid-part of the race but came home in second to Sheppard.
“Spencer (Hughes) had nowhere to go when the 10-car stuffed it in the fence,” Overton said. “That was my only shot. Brandon wasn’t moving off the bottom. He got behind some lapped cars and went to the outside. Once I had clear vision there was a wreck in front of me. I am excited I got to race with him tonight. Every other night we have started up front and went straight backward.”
Winger continued his impressive Georgia-Florida Speedweeks by rounding out the podium in third.
“I can’t figure out how to go the first five to ten laps when I need to. I have to claw my way back and you drive by some really good cars and there’s Brandon Sheppard and Brandon Overton in front of you. It’s almost breathtaking. It’s cool to be racing with such great guys.”
The finish:
Brandon Sheppard, Brandon Overton, Ashton Winger, Devin Moran, Tim McCreadie, Chase Junghans, Garrettt Alberson, Earl Pearson Jr., Ricky Thornton Jr., Kyle Bronson, Dennis Erb Jr., Stormy Scott, Tanner English, Daulton Wilson, Tyler Bruening, Ross Robinson, Shane Clanton, Garrett Smith, Spencer Hughes, Cody Overton, Boom Briggs, Jimmy Owens, Josh Rice, Johnny Scott, Max Blair, Tyler Erb, Frank Heckenast Jr., Mark Whitener, Colten Burdette.