Dirt on Dirt - B-Shepp perfect in Lucas Oil prelim win at Port Royal

August 26

Port Royal Speedway,

Port Royal, PA

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Rumble by the River first semifeature) - $5,000

Information provided by: Kevin Kovac, Kyle McFadden and series reports (last updated August 27, 2:10 pm)

B-Shepp perfect in Lucas Oil prelim win at Port Royal

Rumble by the River first semifeature

Brandon Sheppard
Earl Pearson Jr.
Jimmy Owens
Mike Marlar
Michael Norris
Gary Stuhler
Ross Robinson
Daulton Wilson
Rick Eckert
Dale Hollidge
Mason Zeigler
Dylan Cecce
Bryan Bernheisel
Mike Lupfer
Austin Berry
Justin Weaver
Jim Yoder
Tyler Emory
Shaun Jones
Jason Miller
Jared Miley
Chad Myers
Roy Deese Jr.
Jason Covert
Jason Schmidt
Spencer Hughes

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Brandon Sheppard topped Earl Pearson Jr. (left) and Jimmy Owens (right) in the first prelim Friday at Port Royal.

What won the race: Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., kept Jimmy Owens at bay early and turned back a challenge from Earl Pearson Jr. on the final restart for a clean sweep of Friday's Rumble by the River first preliminary program at Port Royal Speedway. After setting fast time by a wide margin and winning his heat, Sheppard led all 25 laps from the pole to put himself in pristine position ahead of Saturday's $50,000-to-win finale.

Quotable: "We fired off really good there and could really carry good speed. The track slowed down, and I was getting a little tight off the corner there. The car was phenomenal. I feel good about tomorrow. It's going to be a tough, long race, but this place always produces good racing."

Key notes: Brandon Sheppard's preliminary victory Friday came by 1.230 seconds over Earl Pearson Jr. and snapped a 13-race winless skid with the series. ... Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., started third and finished third but ran second for the race's first 15 circuits. ... The 25-lap semifeature spanned 15 minutes and was slowed by two cautions: for Jason Covert (lap five) and Jason Miller (lap 15). ... Port Royal's third annual Rumble by the River includes split-field, $5,000-to-win semifeatures on Friday and the track Late Model-record $50,000-to-win weekend finale Saturday. ... Drivers accrued points Friday to set Saturday's heat race lineups; Sheppard will start the first heat from the pole position. ... The program was delayed more than two hours by rain that fell following time trials.

On the move: Michael Norris of Sarver, Pa., started 10th and finished fifth; he passed Gary Stuhler on the last lap to crack the top five.

Winner's sponsors: Sheppard’s Rocket Chassis has a Durham Racing Engine and sponsorship from Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Rocket Chassis, Ace Metal Works, Gunter’s Honey, Hoosier Racing Tire, Integra Racing Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing Co., Petroff Towing, Slavic Shirts & Decals, Sunoco Race Fuels and Rocket Preowned Motors.

Points chase: Before Port Royal: 1. Tim McCreadie (6,060); 2. Brandon Sheppard (5,855); 3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (5,660); 4. Hudson O'Neal (5,495); 5. Tyler Erb (5,405); 6. Earl Pearson Jr. (5,335); 7. Garrett Alberson (4,900); 8. Daulton Wilson (4,635); 9. Spencer Hughes (4,615); 10. Jimmy Owens (4,435); 11. Ross Robinson (4,275).

Current weather: Clear, 68°F

Car count: 51

Fast qualifier: Brandon Sheppard

Time: 18.293 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Sheppard

Heat race winners: Brandon Sheppard, Ross Robinson, Jimmy Owens

Next series race: August 27, Port Royal Speedway (Port Royal, PA) $50,000

Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

From staff and series reports

PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Updates and results from Friday’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action at Port Royal Speedway’s Rumble by the River, highlighted by a pair of $5,000-to-win, split-field semifeatures (results unofficial):

Feature

Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., kept Jimmy Owens at bay early and turned back a challenge from Earl Pearson Jr. on the final restart for a clean sweep of Friday's Rumble by the River first preliminary program at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway. After setting fast time by a wide margin and winning his heat, Sheppard led all 25 laps from the pole to put himself in prime position ahead of Saturday's $50,000-to-win finale.

Sheppard's preliminary victory came 1.230 seconds over Pearson Jr. and snapped a 13-race winless skid with the series.

Feature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Brandon Sheppard, Ross Robinson
Row 2: Jimmy Owens, Mike Marlar
Row 3: Gary Stuhler, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 4: Dale Hollidge, Daulton Wilson
Row 5: Rick Eckert, Michael Norris
Row 6: Mason Zeigler, Mike Lupfer
Row 7: Jason Covert, Bryan Bernheisel
Row 8: Austin Berry, Jared Miley
Row 9: Tyler Emory, Shaun Jones
Row 10: Justin Weaver, Jason Miller
Row 11: Dylan Cecce, Jim Yoder
Row 12: Jason Schmidt, Roy Deese Jr.
Row 13: Chad Myers, Spencer Hughes

Heat race results

(Eight laps; all transfer)

Heat one: Brandon Sheppard, Mike Marlar, Dale Hollidge, Michael Norris, Jason Covert, Jared Miley, Justin Weaver, Jim Yoder, Chad Myers.

Heat two: Ross Robinson, Gary Stuhler, Daulton Wilson, Mason Zeigler, Bryan Bernheisel, Tyler Emory, Jason Miller, Jason Schmidt. DNS: Spencer Hughes.

Heat three: Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr., Rick Eckert, Mike Lupfer, Austin Berry, Shaun Jones, Dylan Cecce, Roy Deese Jr.

Weather delay

10:20 p.m.: The second round of hot laps following the two-hour rain delay conclude. Jonathan Davenport is fastest among 51 total cars with a lap of 17.762 seconds.

9:50 p.m.: Drivers are asked to return to their cars to help with pack-tracking efforts.

8:30 p.m.: The rain shower that stopped Friday's preliminary program shortly after series qualifying has subsided and track drying procedures have begun.

7:52 p.m.: Friday's Rumble by the River preliminary action went into a holding pattern for a rain shower that swept over the half-mile Port Royal Speedway. Series officials are optimistic for the wet weather to subside and finish out the program that sets the table for Saturday's $50,000-to-win finale before night's end.

Time trial results

Driver (car no.), hometown, Time
Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 18.293
Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 18.633
Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla., 18.635
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 18.660
Gary Stuhler (4), Greencastle, Pa., 18.732
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 18.765
Dale Hollidge (15R), Mechanicsville, Md., 18.825
Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 18.834
Rick Eckert (0), York, Pa., 18.835
Michael Norris (72), Sarver, Pa., 18.904
Mason Zeigler (9z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 18.939
Mike Lupfer (O6), Shermansdale, Pa., 18.988
Jason Covert (15C), York Haven, Pa., 18.989
Bryan Bernheisel (119), Jonestown, Pa., 19.117
Dylan Cecce (18*), Addison, N.Y., 19.196
Jared Miley (10), Pittsburgh, Pa., 19.222
Tyler Emory (72T), King George, Va., 19.254
Austin Berry (86), South Mifflin, Pa., 19.371
Justin Weaver (2J), Williamsport, Md., 19.421
Jason Miller (94), Berryville, Va., 19.510
Shaun Jones (32) Shermansdale, Pa., 19.731
Chad Myers (21), Hampstead, Md., 19.742
Jason Schmidt (11J), Lewistown, Pa., 19.761
Roy Deese (05), Laurel, Md., 19.784
Jim Yoder (27), Selinsgrove, Pa., 19.788
Spencer Hughes (11), Meridian, Miss., 20.020

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)

2 p.m. - Registration and tech inspection
3:30 p.m. - Pit gates close
4 p.m. - Pit gates reopen; grandstands open
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Mid-Atlantic modified hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Mid-Atlantic modified heat races (8 laps)
- Late Model heat races (8 laps)
- Mid-Atlantic modified consolation (10 laps; if necessary)
- Late Model consolation races (10 laps)
- Mid-Atlantic modified feature (20 laps)
- Late Model first semifeature (25 laps)
- Late Model second semifeature (25 laps)
- Conclusion of weekly Late Model feature (21 laps remaining)