After the Checkers
Instant reaction, analysis of Firecracker's prelims
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Brandon Sheppard (1) won from seventh. (heathlawsonphotos.com)
SARVER, Pa. (June 26) — Instant reaction and analysis from Friday's Firecracker 100 preliminary program at Lernerville Speedway that included twin 25-lap, $5,000-to-win semifeatures for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series captured by Ricky Thornton Jr. (RaceWire) and Brandon Sheppard (RaceWire):
WELCOME ALTERATION: I often bemoan the fact that tracks and series won't shuffle the night's racing schedule on the fly to run off the headline division when weather is clearly threatening (or a show is just dragging along). So kudos to Lucas Oil Series and Lernerville officials for identifying that the chance of rain was rising earlier than forecast — by 8 p.m. rather than midnight — and adjusting accordingly, which meant bringing the twin 25-lap semifeatures out immediately after the four Lucas Oil heats were completed and pushing the RUSH Crate Late Model heats to the end of the program. Precipitation did start falling lightly halfway through the first 25-lapper to cause a brief delay, but the Firecracker semis were in the books by 8:31 p.m. and the Crate prelims were also able to beat the approaching showers with a final checkered flag around 9:15 p.m.
A LITTLE SURPRISE: Just before the start of Friday's heat races, Koehler Motorsports crew chief Anthony Burroughs walked up to Rocket Chassis house car owner Mark Richards near the staging area and asked, "So what do you think about this surface?" They then began discussing a 4/10-mile oval that turned out much harder and slicker right out of the gate than most competitors seemed to expect after the deluge of rain that washed out Thursday's opener. Richards noted from his intel on Lernerville's conditions this season that the surface has tended to be harder with less traction because it's not being dug up as much as in the past, and that's what teams dealt with on Friday — though there was also a ledge of cushion around the extreme top that was helped by some quick pre-feature tilling and the light rain that dotted the running of the semis.
SPIRIT-RAISERS: Traveling the Lucas Oil Series is a long, grinding road, especially for developing racers trying to make their way, so the significance of the outings Friday by two tour regulars — Dan Ebert of Lake Shore, Minn., and Dillon McCowan of Urbana, Mo. — in need of positive performances was unmistakable. Ebert was absolutely bubbling over with enthusiasm after a night that saw him earn his first-ever Lucas Oil fast-time honor and finish second in the first semifeature despite nearly spinning on the backstretch on lap 13 and falling back as far as ninth; while it wasn't a full-field race, he pointed out with pride that it was the first time in his two years following the circuit that he's had to go to postrace technical inspection for the podium finishers. The red-headed McCowan, meanwhile, was glowing over his sixth-place finish in the second semifeature, which came in his second weekend out with a new Longhorn Chassis and his first time ever racing at Lernerville. McCowan actually felt he had a machine capable of finishing in the top three if he just would have moved out to run the top sooner while chasing Max Blair for third place around the bottom.
BACK ON TRACK: Snapping a nine-race winless streak dating back to a May 28 World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, had Ricky Thornton Jr. in a good mood. The way he battled to the $5,000 prize in the first semifeature would seem to be a good sign that he's recovering his vintage form. Driving a new Longhorn Chassis that he told crew chief Anthony Burroughs to "just do what you think we need to do" to it, he outdueled Hudson O'Neal, Josh Rice, Brandon Overton and, in the final circuits, Dan Ebert to triumph in a race that had few dull moments. "It's the most balanced I've felt in a while," Thornton said.
FIRECRACKER FAVORITE?: As strong as Thornton looked, he was quite pragmatic when a fan asked him about his prospects for the 100-lapper. "B-Shepp is gonna be tough to beat," Thornton asserted, acknowledging Sheppard's powerful drive to victory in the second semifeature. Sheppard put his Rocket1 in front on lap seven and dominated the remainder of the distance, continuing his recent run of high-profile speed — including a runner-up finish in the Show-Me 100, a heartbreaking loss to a blown tire in the Dream finale and last Friday's Lucas Oil Series win at Smoky Mountain Speedway — that his car owner Mark Richards pointed out has been achieved with the same car he's piloting at Lernerville
STAT OF THE NIGHT: Ricky Thornton Jr. has started the Firecracker 100 finale five times and owns three podium finishes, including back-to-back victories in 2023-24 and a runner-up placing last year. Brandon Sheppard has started the 100-lap headliner seven times — driving the Rocket1 machine every time — with a single podium finish of third in 2019, though last year's 14th-place run was the first time he's finished outside the top-10.
