DIRTcar Summer Nationals
Peoria Speedway
June 23, 2014
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Sheppard Captures First Victory of 2014 DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Peoria Speedway



by Jordan Morris
PEORIA, Ill. (June 23) - Defending DIRTcar Summer Nationals champion Brandon Sheppard found his way back to victory lane Monday night, capturing the checkered flag at Peoria Speedway for the first time in the 2014 season.

Sheppard started the 40-lap feature up front next to Sunday winner Brian Shirley, who was looking to join Rick Eckert and Billy Moyer as the only multiple race winners so far this season. Unfortunately for Shirley, Sheppard rocketed past the pole-sitter at the drop of the green flag, using the outside line to grab the lead and never let Shirley lead a lap. After securing the top spot, Sheppard pulled away from Shirley, who found himself battling Bobby Pierce for much of the race.

Pierce, last year's runner-up to Sheppard in the championship, managed to get around Shirley for second on lap 32, but Sheppard had already built an insurmountable margin. Sheppard went on to dominate, leading all 40 laps en route to capturing the $5,000 checkered flag.

"We've been waiting for things to fall into place," said Sheppard, of New Berlin, Ill. "Finally they did. I'm pretty confident going into the rest of [the DIRTcar Summer Nationals season] now."

A-Main
1 2 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
2 3 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
3 1 81 Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
4 8 24 Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
5 6 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua , IL
6 5 12B Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
7 7 32J Jason Jaggers Wyanet, IL
8 12 75D Billy Drake Lincoln, IL
9 10 1ST Justin Reed Collinsville, IL
10 22 89 Mike Spatola Manhattan, IL
11 18 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
12 13 1W Donny Walden Towanda, IL
13 11 42 Mckay Wenger Fairbury, IL
14 4 58R Ray Guss Jr Milan, IL
15 15 38L Ryan Little Springfield, IL
16 14 4G Bob Gardner Germantown Hills, IL
17 17 16B Bo Brockway Glasford, IL
18 16 74 Russ Adams Princeville, IL
19 19 81JR Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
20 21 T2 Todd Bennett Peoria, IL
21 20 10S Scott Schmitt Tonica, IL
22 9 1M Jim Moon New Florence, MO

B-Main
1 16B Bo Brockway
2 25 Jason Feger
3 1F Evan Fink
4 21B Rich Bell
5 25V Dennis Vandermersch
6 10S Scott Schmitt
7 T2 Todd Bennett
8 7T Steve Thorsten
9 89 Mike Spatola
10 84 Myles Moos
11 81JR Jason Riggs
12 9 Jeff Riddell
13 38J Jake Little
14 782 Mark Larson
15 38C John Gardner Jr
16 4 Mike Mullvain
17 25L Steve Lance Jr

C-Main
1 89 Mike Spatola
2 782 Mark Larson
3 38C John Gardner Jr
4 38J Jake Little
5 4 Mike Mullvain

Heat #1
1 B5 Brandon Sheppard
2 12B Kevin Weaver
3 1M Jim Moon
4 1W Donny Walden
5 16B Bo Brockway
6 7T Steve Thorsten
7 10S Scott Schmitt
8 89 Mike Spatola
9 4 Mike Mullvain

Heat #2
1 58R Ray Guss Jr
2 18 Shannon Babb
3 1ST Justin Reed
4 4G Bob Gardner
5 25L Steve Lance Jr
6 81JR Jason Riggs
7 T2 Todd Bennett
8 782 Mark Larson

Heat #3
1 32 Bobby Pierce
2 32J Jason Jaggers
3 42 McKay Wenger
4 38L Ryan Little
5 25 Jason Feger
6 21B Rich Bell
7 9 Jeff Riddell
8 38C John Gardner Jr

Heat #4
1 81 Brian Shirley
2 24 Ryan Unzicker
3 75D Billy Drake
4 74 Russ Adams
5 1F Evan Fink
6 25V Dennis Vandermersch
7 84 Myles Moos
8 38J Jake Little