Dirt on Dirt - B-Shepp grabs $30,000 Lucas victory at Fairbury

May 9

Fairbury Speedway,

Fairbury, IL

Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (FALS Spring Shootout) - $30,000

Information provided by: Kyle McFadden, series and track reports (last updated May 9, 11:10 pm)

B-Shepp grabs $30,000 Lucas victory at Fairbury

FALS Spring Shootout

Brandon Sheppard
Nick Hoffman
Brian Shirley
Brandon Overton
Bobby Pierce
Jason Feger
Josh Rice
Clay Harris
Trey Mills
Justin Duty
Ryan Unzicker
Garrett Alberson
Shannon Babb
Dennis Erb Jr.
Dan Ebert
Daniel Hilsabeck
Max Blair
Tyler Erb
Hudson O'Neal
Devin Moran
Carson Ferguson
Kyle Bronson
Dillon McCowan
Michael Leach
Ricky Thornton Jr.
Frank Heckenast Jr.
Brenden Smith

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The Rocket1 team and Brandon Sheppard in victory lane.

What won the race: Going around polesitter Brian Shirley on the 13th lap, Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led the rest of Saturday's 60-lapper at Fairbury Speedway for his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season. Sheppard, who turned back multiple challenges from 12th-starting upstart Clay Harris, took the checkers 0.423 of a second ahead of seventh-starting Nick Hoffman for a $30,000 payday in the Illinois Speedweek finale.

Key notes: Brandon Sheppard notched his 36th career full-field Lucas Oil Series victory. ... Sheppard, a seven-time winner overall in 2026, also captured the only other Illinois Speedweek race Wednesday at Spoon River Speedway in FloRacing Night in America action (three Speedweek events rained out). ... Fourth-place finisher Clay Harris ran the extreme low groove to work to the front and pressure Brandon Sheppard in the second spot through the race's middle stages, pulling within three-tenths of a second on multiple laps before slipping back with 15 laps remaining when he was hung up in traffic. ... Runner-up Nick Hoffman took second from Harris on the 50th lap and he faded over the last 10 laps. ... Four cautions slowed the action, the most serious on the 53rd lap when Ricky Thornton Jr. and Tyler Erb tangled in turn one with Hudson O'Neal collected in the mess. .... Other cautions were for flat tires for Trey Mills (lap 14), Thornton (lap 19) and Devin Moran (lap 28). ... The FALS Spring Shootout presented by Titan Industries wrapped up a rain-plagued Illinois Speedweek.

On the move: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., started 11th and finished fifth.

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 Fairbury: 1. Hudson O’Neal (2,560); 2. Devin Moran (2,530); 3. Ricky Thornton Jr. (2,340); 4. Brandon Sheppard (2,310); 5. Max Blair (2,295); 6. Brandon Overton (2,280); 7. Garrett Alberson (2,040); 8. Kyle Bronson (2,010); 9. Brian Shirley (1,980); T10. Clay Harris (1,965); T10. Carson Ferguson (1,965).

Current weather: Overcast, 64°F

Car count: 48

Fast qualifier: Brian Shirley

Time: 12.882 seconds

Polesitter: Brian Shirley

Heat race winners: Brian Shirley, Garrett Alberson, Brandon Sheppard, Tyler Erb

Consolation race winners: Justin Duty, Trey Mills

Provisional starters: Carson Ferguson, Dan Ebert, Dillon McCowan, Daniel Hilsabeck, Brenden Smith

Next series race: May 14, Eagle Raceway (Eagle, NE) $10,000

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

From staff reports

FAIRBURY, Ill. — Updates from Saturday’s FALS Spring Shootout presented by Titan Industries at Fairbury Speedway, highlighted by a 60-lap, $30,000-to-win feature for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Super Late Models (results unofficial):

Feature

Going around polesitter Brian Shirley on the 13th lap, Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., led the rest of Saturday's 60-lapper at Fairbury Speedway for his fourth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season. Sheppard, who turned back multiple challenges from 12th-starting upstart Clay Harris, took the checkers 0.423 of a second ahead of seventh-starting Nick Hoffman for a $30,000 payday in the Illinois Speedweek finale.

Feature lineup

(60 laps)

Row 1: Brian Shirley, Brandon Sheppard
Row 2: Garrett Alberson, Tyler Erb
Row 3: Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Overton
Row 4: Nick Hoffman, Jason Feger
Row 5: Max Blair, Shannon Babb
Row 6: Bobby Pierce, Clay Harris
Row 7: Michael Leach, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 8: Ryan Unzicker, Josh Rice
Row 9: Justin Duty, Trey Mills
Row 10: Frank Heckenast Jr., Devin Moran
Row 11: Ricky Thornton Jr., Kyle Bronson
Row 12: Carson Ferguson, Dan Ebert

Consolation race results

(12 laps; top three transfer)

First consolation: Justin Duty, Frank Heckenast Jr., Ricky Thornton Jr., Drake Troutman, Carson Ferguson, Daniel Hilsabeck, Collen Winebarger, Dan Ebert, Cory Lawler, Timmy Dick, Tyler Wyant, Austin Howes, Kolby Vandenbergh, Jeffrey Ledford, Mike Winn, Mike Harrison.

Second consolation: Trey Mills, Devin Moran, Kyle Bronson, Dallon Murty, Kyle Hammer, Daniel Adam, Sam Seawright, McKay Wenger, Chris Simpson, Dillon McCowan, Tyler Bruening, Brenden Smith, Alex Wilson, Mike Spatola, Kevin Weaver. Scratched: Billy Hough.

Heat race recap

Brian Shirley led all 10 laps in winning the first heat race by 0.791 over Hudson O’Neal, who stalked Shirley the entire way. Fourth-starting Max Blair finished third with Michael Leach holding on for the fourth and final transfer spot into the night’s 60-lap main event. … Second-starting Garrett Alberson fired off from the outside front row and beat third-starting Nick Hoffman by 1.942 seconds to win the second heat. Polesitter Bobby Pierce settled for third while Ryan Unzicker started and finished fourth. … Brandon Sheppard rocketed off the outside pole and overcame a late-race restart in winning the third heat by 0.805 of a second over third-starting Brandon Overton. Polesitter Shannon Babb slipped to third while Dennis Erb Jr. held serve in fourth, punching his ticket into the $30,000-to-win feature along with Sheppard, Overton and Babb. The night’s first caution came on the seventh lap when Devin Moran slowed from sixth with a flat right-rear tire; Moran soldiered to an eighth-place finish after pitting to change the flat. … Tyler Erb led all 10 laps from the pole in winning the fourth and final heat race by 0.486 of a second over Jason Feger, who trailed him closely the entire way. Fifth-starting Clay Harris finished third with seventh-starting Josh Rice claiming the fourth and final transfer position. … All four prelims combined to last just shy of 12 minutes.

Heat race results

(10 laps; top four transfer)

First heat: Brian Shirley, Hudson O'Neal, Max Blair, Michael Leach, Justin Duty, Dan Ebert, Mike Harrison, Drake Troutman, Collen Winebarger, Kolby Vandenbergh, Timmy Dick, Tyler Wyant.

Second heat: Garrett Alberson, Nick Hoffman, Bobby Pierce, Ryan Unzicker, Carson Ferguson, Frank Heckenast Jr., Ricky Thornton Jr., Daniel Hislabeck, Austin Howes, Cory Lawler, Jeffrey Ledford, Mike Winn.

Third heat: Brandon Sheppard, Brandon Overton, Shannon Babb, Dennis Erb Jr., Dallon Murty, Daniel Adam, Sam Seawright, Devin Moran, Mike Spatola, Brenden Smith, Alex Wilson, Kevin Weaver.

Fourth heat: Tyler Erb, Jason Feger, Clay Harris, Josh Rice, Kyle Bronson, Trey Mills, Dillon McCowan, Kyle Hammer, McKay Wenger, Tyler Bruening, Chris Simpson. Scratched: Billy Hough.

Time trials

Group A
Driver (car no.), hometown, time (unofficial)
1. Brian Shirley (3s), Chatham, Ill., 12.882
2. Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 12.902
3. Hudson O’Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 12.964
4. Garrett Alberson (58), Las Cruces, N.M., 12.965
5. Michael Leach (09), Sun River, Mont., 13.002
6. Nick Hoffman (9H), Mooresville, N.C., 13.157
7. Max Blair (111), Centerville, Pa., 13.158
8. Ryan Unzicker (24u), El Paso, Ill., 13.161
9. Kolby Vandenbergh (5s), Ashland, Ill., 13.233
10. Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 13.259
11. Justin Duty (15D), Molalla, Ore., 13.306
12. Carson Ferguson (93), Lincolnton, N.C., 13.332
13. Mike Harrison (33), Highland, Ill., 13.339
14. Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 13.342
15. Collen Winebarger (14s), Corbett, Ore., 13.407
16. Jeffrey Ledford (8L), Pontiac, Ill., 13.424
17. Dan Ebert (60), Lake Shore, Minn., 13.478
18. Daniel Hilsabeck (22), Earlham, Iowa, 13.507
19. Drake Troutman (22*), Hyndman, Pa., 13.516
20. Cory Lawler (93L), Hanover, Pa., 13.518
21. Timmy Dick (122), Monticello, Ill., 13.680
22. Austin Howes (17A), Lewistown, Mo., 13.766
23. Tyler Wyant (24), Oil City, Pa., 13.802
24. Mike Winn (729), Bourbonnais, Ill., 14.385
Group B
1. Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 13.115
2. Tyler Erb (1T), New Waverly, Texas, 13.131
3. Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 13.142
4. Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 13.173
5. Brandon Overton (76), Evans, Ga., 13.208
6. Kyle Bronson (40B), Brandon, Fla., 13.212
7. Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 13.291
8. Tyler Bruening (16), Decorah, Iowa, 13.306
9. Daniel Adam (75), Peru, Ill., 13.352
10. Clay Harris (6), Jupiter, Fla., 13.355
11. Dallon Murty (13), Chelsea, Iowa, 13.362
12. McKay Wenger (42), Fairbury, Ill., 13.379
13. Devin Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 13.419
14. Josh Rice (11), Crittenden, Ky., 13.443
15. Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 13.474
16. Trey Mills (14), St. Augustine, Fla., 13.495
17. Sam Seawright (16s), Rainsville, Ala., 13.517
18. Dillon McCowan (8), Urbana, Mo., 13.525
19. Brenden Smith (19m), Dade City, Fla., 13.562
20. Kyle Hammer (45), Clinton, Ill., 13.566
21. Alex Wilson (z61), Chenoa, Ill., 13.797
22. Chris Simpson (32x), Oxford, Iowa, 13.828
23. Kevin Weaver (B12), Gibson City, Ill., 13.883
24. Billy Hough (33-4), Thomasboro, Ill., no time

Saturday’s schedule

(All times local)
Noon - Gates open
2 p.m. - Covered grandstands open
3:30 p.m. - Taylor Bruninga concert (North beer stand)
5:30 p.m. - Concert and beer sampling ends
5:30 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - On-track activity
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified group qualifying
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
Opening ceremonies
- Late Model heats (10 laps)
- Modified heats (8 laps)
Intermission/track prep
- Late Model consolations (12 laps)
- Modified consolations (10 laps)
Feature events
- Late Models (60 laps)
- Modifieds (30 laps)