PEVELY, Mo. (June 30) — Looking to make it two in a row, Friday winner Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, threw everything he had at race leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., on the final lap of Saturday’s World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series-DIRTcar Summer Nationals co-sanctioned event at Federated Raceway at I-55.

But Moran’s charge came up short, with Sheppard taking the win at the 1/3-mile Pevely, Mo., oval for the second straight season.

Charging around the high side to overtake fourth-starting Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., on lap 38 of 50, Sheppard fought back a last-lap, turn-four slider from Moran, edging ahead at the line to earn a $10,000 payday in his sixth World of Outlaws victory of the season.

“Shirley was leading there and I just barely got around him on the top,” Sheppard said after the race. “It was pretty hairy up there. I slid a lot getting in the corner. It was really slick getting in and we’re kind of on the wrong tires, so I was slipping a lot more than I wanted on entry. But that bottom was getting pretty treacherous and I had a little too much dig to be able to get down there.

“I had to move back up to the top. Devin’s been really good. I seen hm get second there and I knew he was going to be wherever I wasn’t. My worst part of the track was coming off of (turn) two, so I knew if he hit that bottom right on the last lap and then sent it in there that it was going to be close. I’m glad he left me a lane because if he didn’t, we probably both would be headed to Rocket to get some clips, because I wasn’t going to lift.”

Starting fifth, Sheppard raced three-wide with Shirley and outside polesitter Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., in the early running. Closing the gap between himself and Shirley as the frontrunners worked their way through lapped traffic, Sheppard assumed the point with 12 circuits remaining, capturing his 30th career WoO victory and his 17th win on the Summer Nationals tour.

“It’s just one of them years that’s been up and down,” Sheppard said. “It’s been a really good year for us. It’s just we’ve had a lot of bad luck and a lot of downs too. We’re third in (WoO) points and we’ve got the most wins. It’s just I’ve had a lot of bad luck to come with it too. We’ve had a really fast car. Hopefully we can get our consistency back and stop having some bad luck.”

Moran settled for a second-place finish, with Shirley running third. Charging late-race, seventh-starting Rick Eckert of York, Pa., finished fourth, with Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., advancing from the 10th starting spot to round out the top five.

“Honestly, I didn’t slide all the way up because I didn’t think I had the room,” Moran said of his last-lap challenge for the lead. “I was pretty far back and I dove all the way to the bottom to hit the traction. I was just kind of death-sliding up there and I thought there was no way I had him cleared. I wish I would have moved all the way to the fence. But I didn’t and we had a close second.”

Racing side-by-side with Babb for a handful of laps, Shirley grabbed the race lead on lap 14, maintaining a comfortable distance over second-running Sheppard as the pair worked through lapped traffic at the halfway mark. But he was unable to hold off Sheppard’s top-side charge, finishing third at the checkered flag.

“A caution can breed a change of events,” Shirley said. “Sheppy was just good enough to roll that outside on me. We were kind of married to that bottom because we passed everybody on the bottom. It was hard to come off the bottom until somebody passed us. Then on that restart there, the last one to go, it was just kind of back-and-forth with Moran. All in all it’s woulda, coulda, shoulda. We ran third.”

Notes: The race was slowed by four cautions. … The first yellow flag waved on lap four when Jason Feger slowed on the backstretch. … Third-running Shannon Babb slowed to draw a caution on lap 35. …  A yellow flag flew on lap 40 when Paul Stubber spun in turns one and two. … Jeff Herzog spun in the bottom of turns three and four to draw the final caution on lap 46.

Preliminary reports:

Feature lineup

Row 1: Devin Moran, Shannon Babb
Row 2: Frank Heckenast Jr., Brian Shirley
Row 3: Brandon Sheppard, Chase Junghans
Row 4: Rick Eckert, Gordy Gundaker
Row 5: Tim Manville, Mike Marlar
Row 6: Shane Clanton, Nick Hoffman
Row 7: Brent Larson, Chris Madden
Row 8: Kent Robinson, Jason Feger
Row 9: Jeff Herzog, David Breazeale
Row 10: Rusty Schlenk, Paul Stubber
Row 11: Tyler Erb, Rusty Griffaw
Row 12: Chris Ferguson, Morgan Bagley
Row 13: Kenny Rumble

Consolation

Polesitter Jeff Herzog charged to the lead at the drop of the green flag, with a caution falling on the first lap when Paul Roider spun in turn four. Herzog held his lead on the restart, with Rusty Schlenk powering ahead of David Breazeale to take the second-place spot. As Allen Murray shot to second, Schlenk fell back to fourth on the fourth lap. Herzog began stretching his lead at the halfway mark, with Breazeale charging ahead of Murray down the backstretch to retake second. Herzog won the consolation, with Breazeale taking the final transfer spot.

Finish (top two transfer): Jeff Herzog, David Breazeale, Tyler Erb, Allen Murray, Rusty Schlenk, Morgan Bagley, Kolby Vandenbergh, Paul Stubber, Kenny Rumble, Paul Roider, Bria Diveley, Mike Hammerle, Steven Roberts, Chuck Hummer, Mason Oberkramer. Scratched: Chris Ferguson, Rusty Griffaw.

Consolation lineup

(12 laps; top two transfer)
Row 1: Jeff Herzog, David Breazeale
Row 2: Chris Ferguson, Rusty Schlenk
Row 3: Mason Oberkramer, Tyler Erb
Row 4: Allen Murray, Kenny Rumble
Row 5: Paul Stubber, Kolby Vandenbergh
Row 6: Morgan Bagley, Paul Roider
Row 7: Steven Roberts, Brian Diveley
Row 8: Mike Hammerle, Rusty Griffaw
Row 9: Chuck Hummer

Fourth heat

Polesitter Brian Shirley starting pulling away early, with Gordy Gundaker overtaking Jason Feger for the second-place spot. With Shirley showing the way out front, Feger and Nick Hoffman battled for third, with Hoffman holding the advantage at the halfway point. Shirley dominated the entire 10-lap distance, with Gundaker finishing second. Hoffman ran third, with Feger finishing fourth to transfer to the feature.

Finish (top four transfer): Brian Shirley, Gordy Gundaker, Nick Hoffman, Jason Feger, Rusty Schlenk, Kenny Rumble, Paul Roider, Rusty Griffaw.

Third heat

Charging around the top side, outside pole sitter Frank Heckenast Jr. took an early lead, with Shane Clanton and Rick Eckert battling for second. The top-three cars distanced themselves from the field at the halfway mark, with Heckenast holding a comfortable lead. Heckenast won the heat, with Eckert and Clanton rounding out the podium. Kent Robinson grabbed the fourth and final transfer spot.

Finish (top four transfer): Frank Heckenast Jr., Rick Eckert, Shane Clanton, Kent Robinson, Chris Ferguson, Allen Murray, Morgan Bagley, Mike Hammerle,

Second heat

Polesitter Shannon Babb shot to the lead at the drop of the green flag, with second-starting Chase Junghans in tow. With the top-two cars maintaining position, it was Mike Marlar who was on the move, advancing from sixth to run third on the fifth lap. Babb stretched his lead in the final laps, holding nearly a half straightaway lead over Junghans at the finish. Chris Madden improved from seventh to grab the fourth and final transfer spot.

Finish (top four transfer): Shannon Babb, Chase Junghans, Mike Marlar, Chris Madde, David Breazeal, Tyler Erb, Kolby Vandenbergh, Brian Diveley.

First heat

Polesitter Devin Moran edged ahead of fellow front-row starter Brandon Sheppard to take an early lead, with a yellow flag waving on the first lap when Mason Oberkramer spun in the bottom of turns one and two. Moran held his lead as the race went back green, with Jeff Herzog slipping from third to fifth on the fourth circuit. A second yellow flag flew on lap five when Steven Roberts spun. The Georgia driver drew another caution on the ensuing restart when he spun again on the backstretch. With Sheppard charging to run side-by-side with Moran, another yellow flag waved on lap eight when Paul Stubber spun in turns one and two. Moran won the heat, with Sheppard holding off a last-lap challenge from Tim Manville to run second.

Finish (top four transfer): Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Tim Manville, Brent Larson, Jeff Herzog, Mason Oberkramer, Paul Stubber, Steven Roberts, Chuck Hummer.

Heat race lineups

(10 laps; top four transfer)
First heat
Row 1: Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard
Row 2: Jeff Herzog, Tim Manville
Row 3: Brent Larson, Mason Oberkramer
Row 4: Steven Roberts, Paul Stubber
Row 5: Chuck Hummer
Second heat
Row 1: Shannon Babb, Chase Junghans
Row 2: David Breazeale, Kolby Vandenbergh
Row 3: Tyler Erb, Mike Marlar
Row 4: Chris Madden, Brian Diveley
Third heat
Row 1: Allen Murray, Brian Shirley
Row 2: Shane Clanton, Rick Eckert
Row 3: Kent Robinson, Morgan Bagley
Row 4: Chris Ferguson, Mike Hammerle
Fourth heat
Row 1: Frank Heckenast Jr., Jason Feger
Row 2: Gordy Gundaker, Nick Hoffman
Row 3:Rusty Schlenk, Rusty Griffaw
Row 4: Paul Roider, Kenny Rumble

Qualifying

Fresh off of his Friday victory at Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track, Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, clocked the overall fast time for Saturday’s co-sanctioned program, tripping the clock at 12.709 seconds. Moran will start on the pole of the first of four heat races. Setting quick time in his respective time trial group, Allen Murray of San Antonio, Texas, will start on the pole of the third heat race. Kenny Rumble of Arnold, Mo., was penalized for taking extra laps during his time trial session and will be forced to start on the tail of his heat race.

Pre-race setup

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series and DIRTcar Summer Nationals tour collide again on Saturday night at Federated Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. The 50-lap main event pays $10,000 to the winner.

Outdueling Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, won Friday’s co-sanctioned event at Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., was the winner of last year’s WoO-Summer Nationals clash at I-55.

The World of Outlaws tour makes its ninth-ever visit to I-55, with Babb among the most recent winners expected to be among the field Saturday night. Along with Sheppard, other former I-55 Summer Nationals winners include Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn.

Saturday’s program will include time trials, hot laps, heat races, consolations and the 50-lap feature. Modifieds and pro modifieds will also be in action.

Time trial results

Driver (car no.), hometown, time
Group 1
Devin Moran (9), Dresden, Ohio, 12.709
Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 12.842
Brandon Sheppard (1), New Berlin, Ill., 12.965
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 12.968
Jeff Herzog (11H), Herculaneum, Mo., 13.085
David Breazeale (54), Four Corners, Miss., 13.116
Tim Manville (33), Highland, Ill., 13.143
Kolby Vandenbergh (15), Ashland, Ill., 13.165
Brent Larson (B1), Lake Elmo, Minn., 13.228
Steven Roberts (111), Jesup, Ga., 13.338
Tyler Erb (91), New Waverly, Texas, 13.356
Mason Oberkramer (93), Brosley, Mo., 13.365
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 13.370
Chris Madden (44), Gray Court, S.C., 13.567
Paul Stubber (31aus), Bunbury, Australia, 13.636
Brian Diveley (11), Springfield, Ill., 13.679
Chuck Hummer (25H), Lyons, Ohio, 13.989
Group B
Allen Murray (2M), San Antonio, Texas, 12.940
Brian Shirley (3S), Chatham, Ill., 13.064
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 13.077
Kenny Rumble (7K), Arnold, Mo., 13.196
Shane Clanton (25), Zebulon, Ga., 13.221
Jason Feger (25), Bloomington, Ill., 13.221
Gordy Gundaker (11), St. Charles, Mo., 13.264
Rick Eckert (7E), York, Pa., 13.411
Nick Hoffman (2), Mooresville, N.C., 13.414
Kent Robinson (7R), Bloomington, Ind., 13.421
Rusty Schlenk (CJ1), McClure, Ohio, 13.590
Morgan Bagley (14m), Longview, Texas, 13.710
Rusty Griffaw (16), Festus, Mo., 13.864
Chris Ferguson (22), Mount Holly, N.C., 14.032
Paul Roider (23R), Columbia, Ill., 14.045
Mike Hammerle (16), St. Charles, Mo., 14.615

Saturday’s schedule

6 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m.: Hot laps
- Late Model hot laps
- Modified hot laps/time trials
- Late Model time trials (2 laps)
- Pro modified hot laps
Opening ceremonies
- Modified heats (8 laps)
- Late Model heats (10 laps)
- Modified C-main (8 laps, if needed)
- Late Model C-main (10 laps, if needed)
- Pro modified heats
- Modified B-main (10 laps, if needed)
- Late Model B-main (12 laps, if needed)
Intermission/track prep
- Modified feature (25 laps)
- Late Model feature (40 laps)
- Pro modified feature