MACON, Ill. — If there’s one thing Brandon Sheppard has perfected in 14+ years of racing dirt late models, it’s how to be patient in long races.
On Thursday night at Macon Speedway, he put every bit of that patience to good use, passing DIRTcar Summer Nationals point leader Brian Shirley in traffic for the lead on lap 81 and carrying it all the way home for his first victory in the Herald & Review 100.
The 2013 DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion grew up spectating and racing on Macon Speedway, climbing behind the wheel of his father Steve’s backup late model at Macon for the first time at just 14 years old. Ever since that day, it’s been his dream to win the big races like the Herald & Review 100. Now, he’s finally achieved it.
“It feels really good, I’ve been trying to win this race for a long time,” Sheppard said. “I know this place means a lot to me and my family and friends. I’ve got a lot of family here tonight… that’s what it’s all about for me racing – family.”
Sheppard played the waiting game through the first 80 laps, trailing leader Shirley through thick lapped traffic and a few caution flags as they weaved in-and-out of numerous waves of slower cars. One thing to note about the gap between the two leaders – Sheppard never let Shirley get too far ahead in traffic.
A caution flag just past the halfway mark bought the leaders a breather and erased Shirley’s sizable lead – one he had used to lap up to the top-six drivers in the running order. Once again, Sheppard took the green on the restart and never forced the issue. Rather, he was patient and got his primetime opportunity in lapped traffic as the leaders approached 20 laps to go.
Shirley continued to run the high side as he had done all race while Sheppard kept it fast and smooth on the bottom. Shirley then reached the back of the slower Rusty Griffaw and spent one lap too many trying to get around him. That’s when Sheppard pounced.
The No. B5 Rocket Chassis stuck like glue to the bottom lane and drove off of turn four with the lead. But it wasn’t exactly over yet.
Sheppard’s lead was erased as the caution came out with two laps remaining. Sheppard stared down the green-white-checkered finish and handled it like all pros do, holding off Shirley and the competition behind him for his second $5,000 Hell Tour victory this season and second in three days.
“We’ve been getting our butt whooped here for a long time,” Sheppard said. “We could win a Heat Race and start up front, but we could never seal the deal. Tonight, I was just really patient. I didn’t knock the deck out, not that I know of, maybe a little bit…
“I just bided my time there and didn’t use up my tires. I was really easy on them in the first part of the race, then I saw Brian [Shirley] starting to fade a little bit and I knew it was my chance to try and make something happen.”
Shirley held onto second and increased his points lead over the rest of the field while Jason Feger crossed the line third, also making up some points in the standings on Frank Heckenast Jr., who had a tough night in 11th. Former Herald & Review winners Shannon Babb and Dennis Erb Jr. completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (100 Laps) 1. B5-Brandon Sheppard [1][]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley [2][]; 3. 25-Jason Feger [5][]; 4. 18-Shannon Babb [3][]; 5. 28-Dennis Erb [6][]; 6. 91-Rusty Schlenk [8][]; 7. 33X-Gordy Gundaker [7][]; 8. 16-Rusty Griffaw [10][]; 9. 4G-Bob Gardner [9][]; 10. 11T-Trevor Gundaker [22][]; 11. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr [15][]; 12. 27-Greg Kimmons [14][]; 13. 10-Blake Damery [18][]; 14. 51-Dean Carpenter [12][]; 15. 48-Tim Lance [17][]; 16. 25W-Allen Weisser [16][]; 17. 30-Mark Voigt [13][]; 18. 32M-Cody Maguire [21][]; 19. 111-Steven Roberts [11][]; 20. B12-Kevin Weaver [4][]; 21. 84-Myles Moos [20][]; 22. 48L-Tim Lance Jr [19][] Hard Charger: 11T-Trevor Gundaker[+12]