Sheppard Notches Third Lucas Oil Win of 2018

(PHENIX CITY, AL  -  March 24, 2018) - Brandon Sheppard piloted the Mark Richards Racing, Rocket Chassis House Car to his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season on Saturday night. Sheppard held off a hard-charging Scott Bloomquist in route to Victory Lane in the 21st Annual Bama Bash at East Alabama Motor Speedway.

Sheppard bolted to the lead at the start of the 50-lap main event before Don O'Neal took over the point on lap two. O'Neal maintained the lead until Sheppard forged ahead again on lap nine. Bloomquist moved ahead of O'Neal for second on lap 12.

Several restarts made the racing action wild and exciting as two, three, and four-wide battles ensued throughout the field. In the midst of the excitement, O'Neal managed to hold off Bloomquist until ten laps to go when Bloomquist retook the runner-up position. Bloomquist was gaining on Sheppard late in the race before a caution thwarted his efforts. Bloomquist's New Direction Ag, Sweet-Bloomquist Race Car finished second for the second consecutive night as the three-time LOLMDS National Champion continues to gain valuable points.

"There is a lot of great competition on the Lucas Oil Series," said the 25-year-old Sheppard who is a former series rookie-of-the-year. "I have only followed it once before, and that was two years ago. I was driving harder than I probably should have been. The track developed a black streak and that helped as I was leading. Overall, I can't thank Mark Richards, Steve Baker and everybody at Rocket Chassis enough for giving me this opportunity. It's a dream come true for me."

"At the start of the race I knew the track was real slippery and the tire wear was no big deal. Once I felt it latch up a little bit in three and four I knew to back down out of it. Luckily it worked out for us. I want to thank my crew. They work hard all of time on the car, so I can stay at home with my family. I really appreciate their help it means a lot."

O'Neal had his best finish of the season with a third in the Peak Antifreeze and Coolant, Club 29 entry for Bowyer Dirt Motorsports. "That was a good race. Those restarts were something else. All-in-all it was good night for us. We struggled during Speedweeks and last night.   But I think after tonight we know we can run up there with these guys. I wish we would have won this race. On the restarts at times, the bottom would be better and other times the top would be."

Sheppard's ninth-career LOLMDS victory came aboard the Andy Durham-powered Rocket Chassis is sponsored by: Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Gunter's Honey, Ace Metal Works, Sallack Well Service, Keyser, Integra, and Sunoco Race Fuels.

Completing the top ten were Bobby Pierce, Hudson O'Neal, Darrell Lanigan, Josh Richards, and Earl Pearson Jr.,