Brandon Sheppard made the trip to victory lane after winning Saturday’s World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series feature at Davenport Speedway. Photo: Jacy Norgaard
Brandon Sheppard knew he’d face many challenges when he started Sheppard-Riggs Racing in 2023. And on Saturday at Davenport Speedway, the four-time World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series champion overcame one of those obstacles.
After going winless in the first 28 races of 2023, the New Berlin, Illinois driver scored his first series win of the season at Iowa’s Davenport Speedway.
Chris Madden led the field to the green in the 80-lap Feature, but four cautions slowed the field in the race’s first quarter — the fourth coming on lap 16. That’s when Madden had his first challenge.
On the lap 16 restart, series points leader Bobby Pierce slid under Madden in turn 1 and nosed out ahead on the backstretch. Madden withstood that challenge, driving back around Pierce to keep the lead. Pierce then hounded Madden for the next 20 laps, keeping pace as they battled around the 1/4-mile raceway.
Eventually the long green-flag run played into Pierce’s hands, as he pulled even with Madden on the bottom as they clicked off lap 35. But the next time around, Pierce nosed ahead.
Pierce pulled away, seeming destined for the win until everything changed on lap 58. Pierce’s right rear tire went flat, bringing out the caution and handing the lead to defending series champion Dennis Erb, Jr., who had just passed Madden for second.
Erb’s lead was short-lived, though. With Erb choosing the outside lane, Sheppard found the opening he needed on the bottom. Sheppard’s momentum allowed him to inch past Erb to wrestle the lead away.
From there, not even a late-race restart could keep Sheppard out of victory lane, as he held on to score the win.
“It feels awesome,” Sheppard said. “My team’s been working really hard. Everything has been starting to come our way a little bit. We’ve been starting to show consistency in the past couple of months, and Longhorn has been super easy to work with. It’s been a trying year with a bunch of ups and downs, but nobody’s given up on me one bit or questioned me one bit. It just feels good, and it means the world to be standing here.”
The $30,000 triumph is Sheppard’s 82nd series victory, and his fourth at Davenport Speedway.
Tanner English finished second, with Ryan Gustin third, Madden fourth, and Brian Shirley fifth.
Up next, the World of Outlaws CASE Late Models move to Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wisconsin on Friday, September 1 before traveling to Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota on Saturday, September 2. For more details, visit WorldofOutlaws.com.
World of Outlaws CASE Late Model Series
Davenport Speedway – Davenport, IA
Race Results – August 26, 2023
1. B5-Brandon Sheppard
2. 96V-Tanner English
3. 19R-Ryan Gustin
4. 44-Chris Madden
5. 3S-Brian Shirley
6. 28-Dennis Erb Jr
7. 99JR-Frank Heckenast, Jr.
8. 25S-Chad Simpson
9. 32-Bobby Pierce
10. 40B-Kyle Bronson
11. 97-Cade Dillard
12. 16-Tyler Bruening
13. 30-Todd Cooney
14. 25-Shane Clanton
15. B1-Brent Larson
16. 9-Nick Hoffman
17. 25F-Jason Feger
18. 14W-Dustin Walker
19. 32S-Chris Simpson
20. 32B-Cody Laney
21. 111-Matt Lux
22. 18-Shannon Babb
23. 11-Gordy Gundaker
24. 14G-Trevor Gundaker
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