QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. — The low groove carried Brandon Sheppard into the lead Sunday at FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway. The high groove helped the New Berlin, Ill., driver keep it in the closing laps of his second-round Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout victory worth $5,000.

Starting outside the front row in the 40-lap feature, the reigning WWS champion slipped under polesitter Don Shaw of Ham Lake, Minn., on the eighth circuit to take command, then fended off late-race challenges from Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., and runner-up Ricky Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba, for his second career miniseries victory.

“We were really good there on the bottom and we were able to get the lead there and stretch it out a little bit, but I knew at some point the top would come back in,” said Sheppard, the Rocket Chassis house car driver and two-time World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series champion who is piloting his family-owned No. B5 in the desert. “The bottom was definitely starting to slow up for me after that last restart, and luckily my crew guy Joe, he told me to get up to the top. Right as soon as I went up there I knew (the track surface) was starting to clean up.”

Sheppard's victory eliminated the possibility of the richest payout from Keyser Manufacturing's Quarter-Million Challenge, which offers $250,000 for a six-race miniseries sweep. Sheppard and Saturday’s winner Brian Shirley — who finished seventh Sunday — still have a shot at the $100,000 for five victories, while the bonus program pays $25,000 for four victories or $10,000 for three victories in the Late Model division.

Feeling the pressure from Pierce and Weiss, Sheppard made sure he was “getting up on the wheel there,” he said in his winner’s interview after firing off blanks from the event's customary six shooters. “I didn’t want to sacrifice and get another second. Definitely (runner-up finishes) were getting old and it feels really good to be in victory lane for sure.”

Shaw jumped into the early lead but Sheppard came off turn four on the eighth lap to overtake his fellow front-row starter and pull away to a 2.2-second edge by the 15th lap as Chase Junghans, who made a fifth-to-second move on the 12th lap amid the flurry of Sheppard’s pursuers, gave chase.

After a lap-18 yellow, the sixth-starting Weiss jumped to the high side to overtake Junghans with Pierce coming alive on the top as well and sweeping into the second spot on lap 23. Sheppard jumped to the outside a lap later and the trio of Sheppard, Pierce and Weiss ran nose-to-tail as the track developed a rubber strip in the upper groove.

Sheppard dipped to the bottom on laps 33 and 36 to dive under a few lapped cars, giving him enough cushion to beat Weiss to the checkers by 0.442 seconds.

“I think we had the car, definitely the car to beat him,” said Weiss, adding that he struggled trying to decide which groove was best midway through the 40-lapper. “I made a couple of passes, and (Pierce) got around me in the top of three and four and I just figured it was time to move up.

“I knew I was quicker than (Pierce). I got beside him but he was just kinda crowding me off the rubber a little bit there, and once I was able to clear him I was kinda on hunt to go get Brandon. I didn’t know if the rubber was wide enough to get by him, but we were going to try to make it interesting for sure.”

Pierce felt like he was the fastest car until the race’s late stages.

“It was a heckuva race there. I thought I might have something for Brandon and I knew it was a matter of time before he moved up to the top where I was running,” said Pierce, a three-time WWS winner last season. “Then I had to change my line in turn three — I think I got a little bit quicker — and then just a little bit after that the rubber came. So Ricky and Brandon, they kinda took off after that happened. For a while I was kind of staying with ’em.

“My tires were both killed after the race. I was driving it in hard trying to try and make up the ground from being behind early in the race. I think Brandon could kind of pace himself and be easier on his tires than I was, and Ricky, his car’s been really good, so he’s able to roll right through the middle and go. He was probably easier on his tires too.”

Junghans finished fourth and fast qualifier Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, rounded out the top five in a feature slowed by two cautions, neither for serious incidents. A lap-11 yellow appeared when Johnny Scott’s left-rear wheel fell off and the caution flag flew again on lap 18 when Cade Dillard’s nosepiece folded under.

After two days off, the Arizona miniseries continues Wednesday with another $5,000-to-win Super Late Model program with modifieds and X-mods on the undercard. Hot laps are scheduled for 5 p.m. MST with racing scheduled for 6:25 p.m.

Notes: Sheppard’s previous WWS victory came in the 2018 finale; he captured 2019’s points title at Arizona Speedway despite being winless. … Early leader Don Shaw dropped out of the top five on lap 16 and retired on lap 22. … Jason Papich won the Pro Power Dash but passed on the $1,000 prize to tag the tail of the feature, just like his teammate Tony Toste did the previous night. … Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., who broke a right-rear hub before Saturday’s opening feature, was leading a Sunday heat race when a broken belt forced him out. Dillard transferred to the feature through the first consolation despite a mid-race spin. … After the track is dark Monday, practice and a postpractice pit party is scheduled for Tuesday.

Feature lineup

(40 laps)

Row 1: Don Shaw, Brandon Sheppard
Row 2: Brian Birkhofer, Bobby Pierce
Row 3: Mike Spatola, Ricky Weiss
Row 4: Johnny Scott, Earl Pearson Jr.
Row 5: Chase Junghans, Brian Shirley
Row 6: Terry Phillips, Garrett Alberson
Row 7: Ryan Gustin, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Row 8: Jimmy Mars, Rob Mayea
Row 9: Chris Simpson, Stormy Scott
Row 10: Justin Duty, Mitch McGrath
Row 11: Ricky Thornton Jr., Jay Morris
Row 12: Cade Dillard, Tony Toste
Row 13: Jason Papich

Consolation results

(12 laps; top four transfer)

First consolation: Chris Simpson, Justin Duty, Ricky Thornton Jr., Cade Dillard, Jason Papich, Matt Sparby, Brian Barrett, Allen Murray, Thomas Hunziker, Kenny Densman, Blair Nothdurft. Scratched: Kyle Beard, Richard Wallace.

Second consolation: Stormy Scott, Mitch McGrath, Jay Morris, Tony Toste, Clay Fisher, Casey Skyberg, Terry Carter, John Cornell, Lyndon Bolt, Rick Ortega, James Laing, McLain Beaudoin. Scratched: Steve Stultz.

Pro Power Dash: Jason Papich, Casey Skyberg, Clay Fisher, Brian Barrett, Matt Sparby, Terry Carter.

Consolation lineups

(12 laps; top four transfer)
First consolation
Row 1: Chris Simpson, Justin Duty
Row 2: Jason Papich, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Row 3: Blair Nothdurft, Thomas Hunziker
Row 4: Allen Murray, Kyle Beard
Row 5: Kenny Densman, Brian Barrett
Row 6: Matt Sparby, Cade Dillard
Row 7: Richard Wallace
Second consolation
Row 1: Stormy Scott, Tony Toste
Row 2: Mitch McGrath, Casey Skyberg
Row 3: Jay Morris, Steve Stultz
Row 4: Clay Fisher, John Cornell
Row 5: Terry Carter, Lyndon Bolt
Row 6: McLain Beaudoin, James Laing
Row 7: Rick Ortega

Heat race results

(Eight laps; top three transfer)

First heat: Don Shaw, Mike Spatola, Chase Junghans, Ryan Gustin, Chris Simpson, Jason Papich, Blair Nothdurft, Allen Murray, Kenny Densman, Matt Sparby, Cade Dillard.

Second heat: Brandon Sheppard, Ricky Weiss, Brian Shirley, Frank Heckenast Jr., Stormy Scott, Mitch McGrath, Jay Morris, Clay Fisher, Terry Carter, McLain, Beaudoin, Rick Ortega.

Third heat: Brian Birkhofer, Johnny Scott, Terry Phillips, Jimmy Mars, Justin Duty, Ricky Thornton Jr., Thomas Hunziker, Kyle Beard, Brian Barrett, Richard Wallace.

Fourth heat: Bobby Pierce, Earl Pearson Jr., Garrett Alberson, Rob Mayea, Tony Toste, Casey Skyberg, Steve Stultz, John Cornell, Lyndon Bolt, James Laing.

Heat race lineups

(Eight laps; top four transfer)
First heat
Row 1: Mike Spatola, Cade Dillard
Row 2: Blair Nothdurft, Don Shaw
Row 3: Chase Junghans, Ryan Gustin
Row 4: Jason Papich, Allen Murray
Row 5: Kenny Densman, Chris Simpson
Row 6: Matt Sparby
Second heat
Row 1: Ricky Weiss, Brandon Sheppard
Row 2: Frank Heckenast Jr., Brian Shirley
Row 3: Mitch McGrath, Jay Morris
Row 4: Clay Fisher, Stormy Scott
Row 5: Terry Carter, McLain, Beaudoin
Row 6: Rick Ortega
Third heat
Row 1: Brian Birkhofer, Terry Phillips
Row 2: Johnny Scott, Jimmy Mars
Row 3: Ricky Thornton Jr., Justin Duty
Row 4: Kyle Beard, Thomas Hunziker
Row 5: Brian Barrett, Richard Wallace
Fourth heat
Row 1: Earl Pearson Jr., Bobby Pierce
Row 2: Casey Skyberg, Garrett Alberson
Row 3: Tony Toste, Rob Mayea
Row 4: John Cornell, Steve Stultz
Row 5: James Laing, Lyndon Bolt

Prerace notes

Brian Birkhofer’s quick time Sunday puts him in the driver’s seat for the $1,000 bonus from Premier Waste Services for the event’s overall fast qualifier. … Richard Wallace of Gold Coast, Ore., got into the backstretch wall in time trials and didn’t get a qualifying time. … The No. 55D of Nick Deal of Walnut, Iowa, sustained serious damaged in Saturday’s heat race action. The team worked on the car Saturday night and all day Sunday with plans to have the car ready for Wednesday’s action. … Cody Laney of Torrance, Calif., took Sunday off after his Pete VanIderstine-owned No. 32B had engine problems; they plan to have a new powerplant for Wednesday’s action. … Don Shaw of Ham Lake, Minn., returned to action Sunday after engine woes in Friday’s practice; he bought a powerplant from the Ricky Weiss team. … Kyle Beard of Trumann, Ark., swapped motors for Sunday’s action after dropping a valve Saturday night. —  Ben Shelton

Time trials (unofficial)

Driver (car no.), hometown
First group
Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 14.998
Cade Dillard (97), Robeline, La., 15.165
Blair Nothdurft (76), Sioux Falls, S.D., 15.241
Don Shaw (42S), Ham Lake, Minn., 15.403
Chase Junghans (18), Manhattan, Kan., 15.416
Ryan Gustin (19), Marshalltown, Iowa, 15.564
Jason Papich (91P), Nipomo, Calif., 15.589
Allen Murray (2), San Antonio, Texas, 15.718
Kenny Densman (75), Lolita, Texas, 15.870
Chris Simpson (32), Oxford, Iowa, 15.907
Matt Sparby (81x), Bemidji, Minn., 16.273
Second group
Ricky Weiss (7W), Headingley, Manitoba, 14.878
Brandon Sheppard (B5), New Berlin, Ill., 14.978
Frank Heckenast Jr. (99jr), Frankfort, Ill., 15.028
Brian Shirley (3S), Chatham, Ill., 15.146
Mitch McGrath (74), Waukesha, Wis., 15.309
Jay Morris (77M), Watseka, Ill., 15.327
Clay Fisher (99), DeWitt, Ark., 15.351
Stormy Scott (2), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.456
Terry Carter (6T), Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, 15.739
McLain Beaudoin (17), Lebanon, Ore., 16.234
Rick Ortega (24), Las Cruces, N.M., 16.657
Third group
Brian Birkhofer (15B), Muscatine, Iowa, 14.790
Terry Phillips (75), Springfield, Mo., 14.985
Johnny Scott (1st), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.003
Jimmy Mars (28), Menomonie, Wis., 15.100
Ricky Thornton Jr. (20rt), Chandler, Ariz., 15.149
Justin Duty (15), Mulino, Ore., 15.276
Kyle Beard (86), Trumann, Ark., 15.364
Thomas Hunziker (38), Bend, Ore., 15.672
Brian Barrett (28), Omaha, Neb., 16.450
Richard Wallace (7m), Gold Coast, Ore., no time
Fourth group
Earl Pearson Jr. (1), Jacksonville, Fla., 15.083
Bobby Pierce (32), Oakwood, Ill., 15.181
Casey Skyberg (6), Rapid City, S.D., 15.329
Garrett Alberson (2a), Las Cruces, N.M., 15.368
Tony Toste (91T), Pismo Beach, Calif., 15.504
Rob Mayea (37), Bend, Ore., 15.586
John Cornell (28), Phoenix, Ariz., 15.942
Steve Stultz (78), Peoria, Ariz., 16.555
James Laing (89), Tucson, Ariz., 16.613
Lyndon Bolt (3x), Rapid City, S.D., 16.696

Prerace setup

Saturday’s opening-race winner Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., resumes his chase of Keyser Manufacturing's Quarter-Million Challenge on Sunday at FK Rod Ends Arizona Speedway in the second round of the Keyser Manufacturing Wild West Shootout.

The bonus program pays $250,000 for a six-race miniseries sweep, $100,000 for five victories, $25,000 for four victories or $10,000 for three victories in the Late Model division. More than 40 other drivers are expected to try and stop Shirley in the second round of the miniseries.

The field of Late Models will be split into four groups for time trials with officials employing combination hot-lap/time trials to set the lineups for four heat races. Drivers start heats straightup by time.

The top four finishers in each of four heats transfer to the 40-lap main event with the winners redrawing for the first two rows of the feature lineup. Consolation races will transfer four drivers apiece to the 24-car main event.

The Pro Power Dash for Late Model non-qualifiers (with winner receives $1,000 or a spot in the 40-lap feature) is also on a card that includes complete modified and X-mod programs.

Sunday's event is the second of six races through Jan. 19 at the third-mile oval southeast of Phoenix. Competitors take Monday off, have an optional Tuesday practice and return to action Wednesday for another $5,000-to-win event.

Sunday's schedule

12:30 p.m. - Pit gate opens
2 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
2:30 p.m. - Grandstands open
3 p.m. - On-track action
- X-mod hot laps
- Modified hot laps
- Late Model (combo hot laps/time trials)
4:20 p.m. - National anthem
4:25 p.m. - Racing begins
- X-mod heats (eight laps)
- Modified heats (eight laps)
- Late Model heats (eight laps)
- X-mod consolations (10 laps)
- Modified consolations (12 laps)
- Late Model consolations (12 laps)
- X-mod feature (25 laps)
- Pro Power Late Model dash (10 laps)
- Modified feature (25 laps)
- Late Model feature (40 laps)