ROSSBURG, Ohio — Through the pandemonium of Sunday’s rescheduled Dirt Track World Championship that decided the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series title bout, Brandon Sheppard at least capped off the night that’ll be talked about for the rest of time with a sense of familiarity.

Two midrace pit stops and running out of fuel moments before the checkers couldn’t stop the New Berlin, Ill., driver from reaching DTWC victory lane for a record-tying fifth time. Better yet, Sheppard effectively ties the event’s first five-time winner, Freddy Smith, who died nine days ago at 76 following a brief battle with leukemia.

Sheppard edged Hudson O’Neal — the newest Lucas Oil Series champion and the emerging driver from the Big River Steel Big Four title format over third-place finisher Devin Moran — by 0.084 of a second.

“It’s unbelievable. I watched (Freddy Smith) a lot growing up,” Sheppard said. “All the competition these days, it’s really hard to win these things. I don’t know. I guess it’s something about taking a little bit of money out of Carl Short’s pocket, (the DTWC founder and promoter). For some reason, it fits me really, whether it’s Portsmouth (Raceway Park in Ohio) or here, or wherever it is. As I said, everything fell our way tonight.”

Indeed, practically everything imaginable fell Sheppard’s way in a 100-lap grind of a race that saw six drivers finish on the lead lap, eight different leaders, 12 total cautions, 14 different drivers run inside the top five, and Ricky Thornton Jr.’s title hopes ultimately crushed from a lap-eight incident.

No driver other than Thornton left Eldora more snakebitten by the demanding conditions, which were severely affected by three straight days of rainfall. Thornton’s demise happened when he hopped over a rut and launched up the turn-four banking, right in Jimmy Owens’s path.

That triggered a multi-car collision also collecting Bobby Pierce, leaving Thornton with right-front suspension damage that kept from staying on the lead lap. Thornton salvaged eighth from the chaotic night despite being 14 laps down

Big Four contender Jonathan Davenport was among the many drivers whose race ended prematurely. The Blairsville, Ga., driver had been 20 laps away from effectively cinching a fourth Lucas Oil Series title, holding down the fifth spot with O’Neal and Moran in tow, until a mud clod punched a hole through his radiator.

So, that staged the kind of championship battle Lucas Oil Series officials envisioned when announcing the Big Four format last winter: a head-to-head duel pitting O’Neal and Moran in the closing laps.

“What a war of attrition, man,” O’Neal said. “Two flat tires. Led at one point. Was a lap down at one point. Every emotion you could ever think of happened in that race. What a race it came down to between me and Devin. The racetrack wasn’t necessarily the best. It was pretty rough and tumble, but it made a great race for the championship and about made a great race for the win.

“Hats off to my whole team. … Man, they all have a hand on this. It’s so great to be able to represent Rocket and try and do the best we can for them. … I can’t believe it turned out the way it did. Hats off to the Eldora track crew. They worked their tails off all week. No matter, they did the best they can. Nobody knew three, four, five, six months ago it was going to rain for three days straight. Hats off to them and everybody at Eldora.

“As far as the moment goes, I don’t know what to say. Nothing can put into words how I feel right now. It was awesome we had a good run in second. … I hate that the other two broke and  took them out of contention, and that Ricky got in a wreck early. I wish we could all race out there in the end. I’m just happy we’re the fortunate ones that came out on top.”

That’s right, O’Neal, like Sheppard, overcame multiple pit stops and had to fight his way back on the lead lap by way of the Lucas Oil Series lucky dog. O’Neal’s lowest point of the night came on lap 41 when he slowed out of 10th and then clobbered by Tyler Carpenter (who even led laps 24-32) from behind.

That shuffled O’Neal, who led laps eight through 23, back to 15th. O’Neal dropped off the lead lap on lap 67, but got the big break he desperately needed seven laps later when Tyler Erb drew the caution for an expired engine.

O’Neal broke back into the top five with 15 laps left, and that’s when the race for the title between he and Moran really picked up. As for Moran, though he had the longest odds to win the title in comparison to Thornton, O’Neal and Davenport, he “gave it 130 percent” and nearly ended the stunning night as a series champion.

“I did leave everything out there,” Moran said. "I think they said Sheppy started running out of gas. I ran really hard behind him heading into one because I knew Hudson was going just as hard as I was. It got me just a little tight, and I felt like that’s what cost me (with four laps to go).

“I know some people don’t like this championship, but that was about as exciting as it’s going to get. For the people that don’t like it, they can go find another hobby or something else. Obviously it wasn’t ideal, but I think everybody is going to talking about this for a long time. Kudos to the whole Lucas Oil family for giving us this great series we get to race with.

“There’s so much negativity in our world, and we get to race and people get to watch the races and be excited about it. I’m so thankful to God and everyone, that we get to do what we do. Yeah, we’ll try it again next year.”

For Sheppard, he made most of his race-winning moves during the 33-lap green-flag run, the longest of the night, from laps 41 through 74. In a 20-lap span, Sheppard powered from seventh and into the lead around Pierce for good on lap 60. Sheppard’s biggest scare of the night happened on lap seven when he had to pit for a left-rear brakeline that came loose.

Sheppard’s No. B5 team with Kevin Rumley as crew chief needed to pit once more during the caution period on the very next lap for Thornton.

“Luckily (the caution) came back really quick,” Sheppard said. “We were able to come in and get it bled out, and it was perfect after that. After that, I went pretty hard at the very beginning to try and get some distance just in case the leaders were to come around so I didn’t get lapped.

“Right around halfway I was good around the middle-bottom. I felt really good there. Also, about midway through the race, I found the line that was pretty good for me in the middle of one and two. … Once I started seeing some of them guys dropping out, we were picking a few of them off, and it was time to turn it up.”

Sheppard ran as low as 23rd in the century-grind of a main event, but most importantly, was the eighth and final leader. Davenport (laps one through six), Mike Marlar (lap seven), O’Neal eight through 23), Carpenter, Brian Shirley (laps 33-40), Tim McCreadie (laps 41-43), and Pierce (laps 44-59) were the other leaders of a chaotic race conquered by the newest house car driver of Longhorn Chassis.

“Every time I’ve drove this thing, it’s been good all year,” Sheppard said. “Can’t thank Longhorn and Bilstein enough for building a phenomenal race car. All the parts and pieces on this thing held up on that track. It was phenomenal.

“I knew we had a good car right off the bat this weekend. It was a matter of stuff falling our way. As I said, every time I drive Kevin Rumley’s car, it’s been good for me. It just hasn’t fallen my way. At the World, we had a really good car and got into a wreck.

“When we were running out of the fuel … I was hoping for the best,” Sheppard added. “It was pretty crazy. A pretty crazy end to the night.”

Notes: Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill, Pa., never took the green because of a “broken right-rear suspension component” the team admittedly missed moments before the start of the feature. … Last year’s DTWC winner Garrett Smith transferred to the 100-lapper by winning a consolation race, but his hopes of winning a heat race were dashed earlier in the afternoon when a penalty cost him a pole starting spot in the fourth heat. Smith was penalized because a crew member worked on the car in the lineup chute where work isn’t permitted. … Second-year Lucas Oil regular Ross Robinson was checked out at the infield medical center after being struck by an apparent mud clod during the fifth heat. He wasn’t seriously injured but was done for the night. … Jason Jameson of Lawrenceburg, Ind., won the 16-lap Jim Dunn Memorial non-qualifiers’ race, earning $3,000. The most serious incident of the race came on the second lap when G.R. Smith bounced into the turn-two wall, drawing a red flag. He wasn’t hurt.

43rd annual General Tire Dirt Track World Championship presented by ARP
Driver (car no.), hometown, chassis, earnings
1. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., Longhorn, $100,000
2. Hudson O’Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind., Rocket, $20,000
3. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, Longhorn, $10,000
4. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., Longhorn, $8,000
5. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., Team Zero, $7,500
6. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., Longhorn, $7,000
7. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., Rocket, $6,000
8. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., Longhorn, $5,000
9. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., Longhorn, $4,500
10. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., Rocket, $4,000
11. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, Rocket, $3,500
12. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., Longhorn, $3,250
13. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., Longhorn, $3,000
14. Carson Ferguson (00), Lincolnton, N.C., Longhorn, $2,750
15. Ricky Weiss (7), Headingley, Manitoba, Sniper, $2,700
16. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., Team Zero, $2,650
17. Spencer Hughes (11), Meridian, Miss., Longhorn, $2,600
18. Brandon Overton (4), Evans, Ga., Longhorn, $2,575
19. Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va., Kryptonite, $2,550
20. Brian Shirley (8), Chatham, Ill., Team Zero, $2,525
21. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., Longhorn, $2,500
22. Tanner English (96v), Benton, Ky., Longhorn, $2,500
23. Max Blair (111B), Centerville, Pa., Rocket, $2,500
24. Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla., Longhorn, $2,500
25. Ethan Dotson (174), Bakersfield, Calif., Longhorn, $2,500
26. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., Longhorn, $2,500
27. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., Rocket, $2,500
28. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., Rocket, $2,500
Lap leaders: Davenport 1-6; Marlar 7; O’Neal 8-23; Carpenter 24-32; Shirley 33-40; McCreadie 41-43; Pierce 44-59; Sheppard 60-100
Fast qualifier (among 62 cars): Owens, 16.165 seconds
Heat race winners: Moran, McCreadie, Thornton, Davenport Marlar, O'Neal
Consolation winners: Hoffman, Smith, Weiss
Provisional starters: Blair, Pearson, Alberson, Hughes
Non-qualifiers’ race winner: Jason Jameson

Feature lineup

(100 laps)

Row 1: Devin Moran, Jonathan Davenport
Row 2: Tim McCreadie, Mike Marlar
Row 3: Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O'Neal
Row 4: Jimmy Owens, Brandon Overton
Row 5: Brian Shirley, Daulton Wilson
Row 6: Carson Ferguson, Mason Zeigler
Row 7: Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard
Row 8: Dale McDowell, Ethan Dotson
Row 9: Tyler Carpenter, Chris Ferguson
Row 10: Nick Hoffman, Garrett Smith
Row 11: Ricky Weiss, Tanner English
Row 12: Tyler Erb, Mike Spatola
Row 13: Max Blair, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 14: Garrett Alberson, Spencer Hughes

Jim Dunn Memorial non-qualifiers’ finish

Finish: Jason Jameson, Dennis Erb Jr., Boom Briggs, Austin Kirkpatrick, Jerry Bowersock, Austin Neely, Chad Green, David McCoy, Brian Ruhlman, Mike Bargo, Parker Martin, Bill Lewis. Jon Hodgkiss, G.R. Smith, Freddie Carpenter, Chase Osterhoff. Scratched: Trent Ivey, Scott Bloomquist, Robby Hensley, Gregg Haskell, Chris Stotts, Cody Overton, Ross Bailes.

Jim Dunn Memorial non-qualifiers’ race lineup

(16 laps)

Row 1: Parker Martin, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 2: Freddie Carpenter, Boom Briggs
Row 3: Trent Ivey, Jason Jameson
Row 4: David McCoy, G.R. Smith
Row 5: Austin Neely, Jerry Bowersock
Row 6: Austin Kirkpatrick, Scott Bloomquist
Row 7: Brian Ruhlman, Robby Hensley
Row 8: Gregg Haskell, Chase Osterhoff
Row 9: Mike Bargo, Chris Stotts
Row 10: Chad Green, Jon Hodgkiss
Row 11: Cody Overton, Ross Bailes
Row 12: Bill Lewis

Sunday's consolation race results

(12 laps; top two transfer)

First consolation: Nick Hoffman, Tanner English, Garrett Alberson, Freddie Carpenter, Jason Jameson, G.R. Smith, Austin Kirkpatrick, Robby Hensley, Mike Bargo, Chad Green, Max Blair, Bill Lewis. Scratched: Jason Feger.

Second consolation: Garrett Smith, Tyler Erb, Parker Martin, Boom Briggs, David McCoy, Austin Neely, Scott Bloomquist, Gregg Haskell, Earl Pearson Jr., Jon Hodgkiss.

Third consolation: Ricky Weiss, Mike Spatola, Dennis Erb Jr., Trent Ivey, Spencer Hughes, Jerry Bowersock, Brian Ruhlman, Chase Osterhoff, Chris Stotts, Cody Overton. Scratched: Ross Bailes, Ross Robinson, Austin Smith.

Sunday's heat race results

(10 laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Devin Moran, Jimmy Owens, Bobby Pierce, Nick Hoffman, Tanner English, Freddie Carpenter, Austin Kirkpatrick, G.R. Smith, Mike Bargo. Scratched: Shannon Babb, Duane Chamberlain.

Second heat: Tim McCreadie, Brian Shirley, Dale McDowell, Jason Jameson, Garrett Alberson, Max Blair, Robby Hensley, Chad Green, Jason Feger, Bill Lewis.

Third heat: Ricky Thornton Jr., Carson Ferguson, Tyler Carpenter, Jon Hodgkiss, Parker Martin, Boom Briggs, Austin Neely, Gregg Haskell. Scratched: Steven Roberts, Dustin Nobbe.

Fourth heat: Jonathan Davenport, Brandon Overton, Brandon Sheppard, Garrett Smith, Tyler Erb, Earl Pearson Jr., David McCoy, Scott Bloomquist. Scratched: Tyler Bruening, Terry Rushlow.

Fifth heat: MIke Marlar, Daulton Wilson, Ethan Dotson, Ross Bailes, Ricky Weiss, Dennis Erb Jr., Jerry Bowersock, Spencer Hughes, Ross Robinson, Cody Overton.

Sixth heat: Hudson O'Neal, Mason Zeigler, Chris Ferguson, Mike Spatola, Chase Osterhoff, Trent Ivey, Chris Stotts, Brian Ruhlman, Austin Smith. Scratched: Rob Anderzack.

Sunday's revised schedule

(All times local)

Noon - Pit gates open
1 p.m. - Spectator gates open
3 p.m. - On-track activity
- Lucas Oil Series hot laps (by heat race)
- Steel Block Late Model Series hot laps
- Lucas Oil heat races (10 laps)
- Lucas Oil consolation races (12 laps)
- SBLMS feature race
- General Tire Dirt Track World Championship presented by ARP (100 laps)
- Lucas Oil Jim Dunn Memorial Non-Qualifiers' Race

Event postponed to Sunday

Rain delay over

After a rain delay of nearly three hours, the track surface was rolled back in and Steel Block Late Model Series drivers were set to begin their hot lap/time trial sessions shortly after 4:30 p.m. … In a change to the running order, SBLMS competitors will complete their hot lap/time trial sessions first followed by hot laps for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. After that the SBLMS competitors will run their heat races to try to get more laps on the track ahead of Lucas Oil competition. … The Big River Steel Big Four drew names of fans as part of a promotion with series sponsor Heartbeat Hot Sauce. Angela Hall will be partnered with Ricky Thornton Jr., Chad Smith with Hudson O’Neal, Chris Summers with Jonathan Davenport and Chris Horn with Devin Moran. The fan paired with the highest finishing driver — and series champion — will receive $5,000, plus swag from Heartbeat Hot Sauce and the chance to be in a victory lane photo. The three remaining fans will receive $1,000 apiece.

Pre-race notes

The Saturday morning hours were dry to allow some drying of the Eldora Speedway surface that was soaked from two days filled with rain, but packed trucks were then pulled off the track around 12:30 p.m. as light rain began to fall while the drivers’ meeting was conducted at the Lucas Oil Series trailer. More rain came shortly after hot laps started, requiring officials to pull cars off the track about 1:30. The track's weather sources expected rain would clear the area by 3:45. … Lucas Oil Series director Rick Schwallie told teams the Saturday’s schedule would be fluid with pockets of rain still dancing around the area. He noted that rain during time trials could potentially lead to officials have to restart the qualifying session so no one would be put at a disadvantage. … Hoosier Tire dirt oval product manager Shanon Rush spoke during the drivers’ meeting to update teams on the tire situation that became an issue during last month’s World 100 with several blown right-front tires. He said Hoosier engineers continued put the current National Late Model Tire and an older UMP DIRTcar LM tire through the same protocols and found no different in how they reacted; the right-front tire lasted four times longer at 15 pounds of pressure than at 11 pounds, leading Rush to recommend teams run 15 pounds in the right-front and also to reduce camber in that corner in consultation with their chassis builders. … Brandon Sheppard, driving the developmental Longhorn Chassis for Kevin Rumley, has the assistance of veteran crew chief Randall Edwards in the pits. Edwards previously worked with Sheppard with the Best Performance Motorsports team in 2016. .... Schwallie said crews are permitted to use signal sticks, which have not been allowed during recent crown jewel events at Eldora. Crew members must stand in the specified area inside of turn three, however, while using the sticks. … In an effort to hasten Saturday’s jam-packed program that includes 62 Lucas Oil entries and 64 Steel Block Late Models, officials announced that the Steel Blocks will hot lap and qualify at the same time, saving a significant chunk of time instead of running practice and time trials separately.

Time trials

First group
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)

1. Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 15.165
2. Brian Shirley (8), Chatham, Ill., 15.197
3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.363
4. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.440
5. Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.440
6. Jon Hodgkiss (69), Kennedy Township, Pa., 15.444
7. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.456
8. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.471
9. Carson Ferguson (00), Lincolnton, N.C., 15.513
10. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 15.546
11. Tanner English (96v), Benton, Ky., 15.563
12. Parker Martin (6jr), Milledgeville, Ga., 15.580
13. Nick Hoffman (9), Mooresville, N.C., 15.582
14. Jason Jameson (12), Lawrenceburg, Ind., 15.628
15. Tyler Carpenter (28), Parkersburg, W.Va., 15.672
16. Freddie Carpenter (C4), Parkersburg, W.Va., 15.719
17. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 15.720
18. Steven Roberts (111), Sylvester, Ga., 15.721
19. G.R. Smith (22), Cornelius, N.C., 15.727
20. Robby Hensley (21H), Walton, Ky., 15.790
21. Austin Neely (3), New Tazewell, Tenn., 15.884
22. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 15.897
23. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 15.913
24. Boom Briggs (99B), Bear Lake, Pa., 16.080
25. Austin Kirkpatrick (11), Harrisburg, N.C., 16.157
26. Chad Green (88G), Flemington, W.Va., 16.283
27. Gregg Haskell (03), Chatham, Ontario, 16.423
28. Duane Chamberlain (20c), Richmond, Ind., 16.488
29. Bill Lewis (79), Lynn, Ind., 16.542
30. Dustin Nobbe (5N), Batesville, Ind., 16.743
31. Mike Bargo (316), Corbin, Ky., 17.148

Second group

1. Garrett Smith (10), Eatonton, Ga., 15.370
2. Daulton Wilson (18D), Fayetteville, N.C., 15.437
3. Mason Zeigler (25z), Chalk Hill, Pa., 15.468
4. Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 15.477
5. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 15.492
6. Hudson O’Neal (1), Martinsville, Ind., 15.504
7. Jonathan Davenport (49), Blairsville, Ga., 15.512
8. Ross Bailes (6), Clover, S.C., 15.570
9. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 15.574
10. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 15.582
11. Spencer Hughes (11), Meridian, Miss., 15.605
12. Austin Smith (11A), Rome, Ga., 15.629
13. Tyler Erb (1), New Waverly, Texas, 15.700
14. Cody Overton (15k), Evans, Ga., 15.724
15. Trent Ivey (88), Union, S.C., 15.776
16. Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.835
17. Ross Robinson (7), Georgetown, Del., 15.881
18. Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 15.961
19. David McCoy (187), Franklin, N.C., 15.987
20. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 16.050
21. Brian Ruhlman (49), Clarklake, Mich., 16.06
22. Earl Pearson Jr. (46), Jacksonville, Fla., 16.066
23. Ethan Dotson (174), Bakersfield, Calif., 16.229
24. Chris Stotts (S8), Shade, Ohio, 16.273
25. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 16.307
26. Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 16.377
27. Chase Osterhoff (130), Kankakee, Ill., 16.399
28. Terry Rushlow (63), Holland, Ohio, 16.447
29. Jerry Bowersock (95j), Wapakoneta, Ohio, 16.598
30. Rob Anderzack (8), Swanton, Ohio, 18.012
31. Clint Keenan (29), Pataskala, Ohio, no time

Saturday's schedule

(All times local; updates removing modified program and consolation to one-day program)
Preliminaries
8:30 a.m. - Pit pass and ticket sales begin
9 a.m. Pit gate opens
10 a.m. - Lucas Oil Series technical inspection
11 a.m. - Spectator gates open
12:30 p.m. - Drivers' meeting
1 p.m. - On-track activity begins
- Limited Late Model hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Limited Late Model time trials
- Late Model time trials
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heat races
- Limited Late Model heat races
- Limited Late Model consolations
(Pause to rework track surface)
Feature program
- Late Model hot laps (consolation drivers)
- Limited Late Model hot laps (main event drivers)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model consolation races
- Late Model hot laps (main event drivers)
- Late Model non-qualifiers’ race (25 laps)
- 43rd annual Dirt Track World Championship (100 laps)
Postrace ceremonies
- Limited Late Model feature (25 laps)