Dirt on Dirt - B-Shepp dominates first Topless semifeature

August 15

Batesville Motor Speedway,

Locust Grove, AR

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (Topless 100 first Friday semifeature) - $5,000

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated August 16, 3:05 am)

B-Shepp dominates first Topless semifeature

Topless 100 first Friday semifeature

Brandon Sheppard
Chris Madden
Hudson O'Neal
Devin Moran
Dale McDowell
Mike Marlar
Joseph Joiner
Donald McIntosh
Jared Landers
Daniel Hilsabeck
Carson Ferguson
B.J. Robinson
Terry Phillips
Chandler Petty
Drew Armstrong
Jon Kirby
Bryce Clark
Peyton Foster
Nathan Stewart

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Brandon Sheppard dominated Friday's first 25-lap semifeature.

What won the race: Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led all 25 laps from the pole to win Friday night's first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Topless 100 preliminary semifeature at Batesville Motor Speedway. Sheppard beat Chris Madden by 2.382 seconds for the $5,000 payday, his third overall Lucas Oil Series victory this season.

Quotable: “I’ve always liked this place. It’s a little ways from home, so I didn’t get to come here very much through the years,” Sheppard said. “Man I just can’t say enough about (car owner) Mark (Richards) and everybody at Rocket Chassis. They’ve been working their tails off all year, really, just trying to get me back comfortable and trying to get that balance that I’m looking for. I knew we’d get it.”

Key notes: Sheppard's full-field Lucas Oil victories were July 4 at Ohio's Atomic Speedway and July 12 at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., both worth $25,000. ... Chris Madden trailed Sheppard the entire way, but never truly challenged for the lead. ... Seventh-starting Hudson O'Neal used a lap-six restart to grab third and rounded out the podium finishers. ... Devin Moran took fourth from Joseph Joiner on a lap-13 restart. ... Joiner, piloting the JCM Motorsports No. 19m Rocket, settled for seventh. He overcame overheating issues in hot laps and a heat race spin that triggered a multicar rollover crash. ... Donald McIntosh improved five positions to finish eighth. ... Daniel Hilsabeck was part of the night's early rollover crash, where his car was pushed up and over, landing on Mike Marlar's brand-new Infinity by Wells Chassis. Marlar finished sixth in his primary machine, while Hilsabeck took 10th aboard his backup. ... Carson Ferguson slowed on lap six with a flat left-rear tire to trigger the race's first caution. He finished 11th after pitting. ... Jon Kirby retired under the lap-six yellow with heavy damage and both right-side flat tires. ... Drew Armstrong slowed from 14th and retired for the second and final slowdown on the 13th lap. ... The night's first semifeature lasted 12 minutes, with 14 starters completing the distance. ... Joseph Long, Travis Ashley and Tanner Kellick (engine) scratched. ... Friday's preliminary points set the lineup for Saturday's consolations, preceding the $50,000-to-win Topless 100 finale.

On the move: Daniel Hilsabeck of Earlham, Iowa, started 18th and finished 10th.

Winner's sponsors: Sheppard's Rocket Chassis has a Durham Racing Engine and sponsorship from Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, Five Star RaceCar Bodies, Rocket Chassis, Ace Metal Works, Gunter’s Honey, Hoosier Racing Tire, Fox Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Petroff Towing, Performance Grading, Stiles Marine & Maintenance, Sunoco Race Fuels and Rocket Preowned Motors.

Points chase: Before Batesville: 1. Jonathan Davenport (6,575); 2. Ricky Thornton Jr. (6,570); 3. Hudson O’Neal (6,260); 4. Devin Moran (6,170); T5. Brandon Sheppard (5,955); T5. Garrett Alberson (5,955); 7. Brandon Overton (5,695); 8. Daulton Wilson (5,275); 9. Carson Ferguson (5,015); 10. Donald McIntosh (4,930); 11. Daniel Hilsabeck (4,725); 12. Dan Ebert (4,435).

Current weather: Clear, 88°F

Car count: 44

Fast qualifier: Brandon Sheppard

Time: 12.982 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Sheppard

Heat race winners: Brandon Sheppard, Chris Madden

Next series race: August 16, Batesville Motor Speedway (Locust Grove, AR) $50,000

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

From staff reports

LOCUST GROVE, Ark. — Live updates from Friday’s 33rd annual Topless 100 preliminary night, highlighted by twin 25-lap, $5,000-to-win split-field semifeatures for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Semifeature

Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led all 25 laps from the pole to win Friday night's first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Topless 100 preliminary semifeature at Batesville Motor Speedway. Sheppard beat Chris Madden by 2.382 seconds for the $5,000 payday, his third overall Lucas Oil Series victory this season.

Semifeature lineup

(25 laps)

Row 1: Brandon Sheppard, Chris Madden
Row 2: Dale McDowell, Joseph Joiner
Row 3: Devin Moran, Carson Ferguson
Row 4: Hudson O'Neal, Mike Marlar
Row 5: Jared Landers, Chandler Petty
Row 6: Terry Phillips, Jon Kirby
Row 7: Donald McIntosh, Bryce Clark
Row 8: Drew Armstrong, B.J. Robinson
Row 9: Nathan Stewart, Daniel Hilsabeck
Row 10: Peyton Foster, Joseph Long
Row 11: Travis Ashley, Tanner Kellick

Heat race results

(Eight laps; all transfer)

First heat: Brandon Sheppard, Dale McDowell, Devin Moran, Hudson O'Neal, Jared Landers, Terry Phillips, Donald McIntosh, Drew Armstrong, Nathan Stewart, Peyton Foster. Scratched: Travis Ashley.

Second heat: Chris Madden, Joseph Joiner, Carson Ferguson, Mike Marlar, Chandler Petty, Jon Kirby, Bryce Clark, B.J. Robinson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Joseph Long. Scratched: Tanner Kellick.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 12.982
2. Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 13.153
3. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 13.223
4. Joseph Joiner (19m), Milton, Fla., 13.326
5. Dale McDowell (17m), Chickamauga, Ga., 13.389
6. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 13.392
7. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 13.436
8. Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 13.440
9. Jared Landers (777), Benton, Ark., 13.469
10. B.J. Robinson (1J), Bossier City, La., 13.561
11. Donald McIntosh (79), Dawsonville, Ga., 13.579
12. Chandler Petty (47), Cabot, Ark., 13.635
13. Terry Phillips (75), Springfield, Mo., 13.787
14. Jon Kirby (11k), Russellville, Ark., 13.947
15. Drew Armstrong (01a), Alexander, Ark., 14.043
16. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 14.051
17. Travis Ashley (997), Batesville, Ark., 14.958
18. Bryce Clark (41), Conway, Ark., 15.047
19. Peyton Foster (F15), Finch, Ark., 15.231
20. Joseph Long (37), Bauxite, Ark., no time
21. Nathan Stewart (89), Bryant, Ark., no time
22. Tanner Kellick (3k), Mer Rouge, La., no time

Friday’s schedule

(All times local)
2:30 p.m. - Pits closed and cleared
3 p.m. - Pits reopen
3:45 p.m. - Tech and registration opens
4 p.m. - Grandstands open
6:45 p.m. - Tech and registration closes
7 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
7:30 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Modified hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (8 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Modified consolations (12 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model first semifeature (25 laps)
- Late Model second semifeature (25 laps)
- Modified feature (20 laps)