What won the race: Pole-starting Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., powered around Carson Ferguson on lap three and led the rest of Thursday's Hawkeye Land 40 at Cedar County Raceway. Sheppard beat Bobby Pierce to the checkers by 0.745 of a second for the $5,000 payday, his seventh career MARS Championship Series victory.

Quotable: “I feel really good about where we’re at with the cars and everything right now. Mark (Richards) and all the guys back at Rocket Chassis and Fox Shox have been working really hard to put me back up front and I can’t thank all my great crew enough,” Sheppard said. “Anytime you can beat (Bobby Pierce) you know your stuff’s pretty good. So congrats to him, he’s been awesome all year again and hopefully we can keep it up.”

Key notes: Driving his family-owned No. B5, Brandon Sheppard secured his second consecutive victory after topping last Saturday's $20,000 Illini 100 at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway aboard the Rocket Chassis house car. ... Sheppard notched his first MARS victory since April 30, 2023, at Red Hill Raceway in Sumner, Ill. ... Fifth-starting Bobby Pierce reclaimed the runner-up spot from Tanner English on lap 31, but never seriously challenged Sheppard in the closing stages. ... The third-finishing English briefly took second from Pierce on the lap-29 restart. ... Carson Ferguson led the opening two laps and finished fourth. ... Ryan Gustin gained six spots and finished sixth. ... Ryan Unzicker slowed on lap 11 for the first caution. ... The second slowdown came on lap 29 when Justin Duty and Tony Jackson Jr. tangled in turn two. ... Drake Troutman ran as high as third before slipping to fifth, then hopping the turn-three cushion on lap 34 and finishing 17th. ... Thursday's program was the first opportunity for teams to use the new Hoosier NLMT right-rear tire. ... The feature lasted 16 minutes.

On the move: Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., started 20th and finished eighth.

Winner's sponsors: Sheppard’s family-owned Rocket Chassis is powered by a Pro Power Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Valvoline, Sheppard Auto Sales & Salvage, Realtee, Pee Wee’s Wrecker Service, Guse’s Pub & Eatery, Paulson Rock Products & Stussy Construction, Busch Light, Dennis G. Woodworth, attorney at law, American Racing Wheels, Fox Racing Shox, Sunoco, Corrigan Race FuelsNight Owl Design and BSheppGear.com.

Points chase: After Cedar County: 1. Bobby Pierce (220); 2. Brandon Sheppard (194); 3. Brian Shirley (182); 4. Ryan Gustin (162); 5. Tanner English (147).

Current weather: Overcast, 64°F

Car count: 43

Fast qualifier: Carson Ferguson

Time: 12.892 seconds

Polesitter: Brandon Sheppard

Heat race winners: Carson Ferguson, Tanner English, Brian Shirley, Brandon Sheppard

Consolation race winners: Jason Feger, Dylan Thornton

Provisional starters: Tony Jackson Jr., Bob Gardner

Next series race: April 18, 34 Raceway (West Burlington, IA) $5,000