National notebook
Notes: B-Shepp plans to get on track at Volusia
Brandon Sheppard at Volusia last month. (jacynorgaardphotography.com)
Brandon Sheppard’s season-opening run at the Sunshine Nationals in January has only poured more fuel in the fire to claim another Big Gator championship trophy during the 50th DIRTcar Nationals. In part, that's because it was his worst start to the season since joining the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models full time in 2017.
In the first two races of the 2021 season at Volusia Speedway Park, Sheppard — the three-time and defending World of Outlaws champion — finished ninth and seventh, respectively — an average finish of eighth. His previous worse start in the first two events of the season was in 2018 when he finished 12th and second — an average finish of seventh.
He’s no stranger to success at Volusia, though. Sheppard and his Rocket1 Racing team won five straight races at the Florida half-mile from 2019 to 2020. He’s also a two-time DIRTcar Nationals Big Gator champion – his most recent Gator title coming last year.
Sheppard said initially it took time for him to find his rhythm at Volusia before going on a winning spree. With the new dirt that was put down on the track, he’ll have to learn it all over.
“It definitely changed the car up a bunch,” Sheppard said.
Few changes were made to his car for the 2021 season, he said. But with the new dirt, he and his team had to throw out their previous notes and start over.
During Sunshine Nationals, drivers found the best way around the new clay was to run up against the wall on both corners. Many described the feeling as sliding into the corner, feeling like there is no traction, but then the car finds bite and takes off. Tricky, but fun. The new way for racing the track threw Sheppard for a loop, at first, and forced him to change his driving style.
“Everyone knows I’m the first one that will go run a cushion wide open,” he said. “But it is a little different. The track is hard and slimy. It’s not that the cushion is fast, it’s just faster than the slick part of the racetrack. It doesn’t have that grip across the track like it usually does. It’s usually kind of patchy and have wet spots here and there and go where you can bounce off of them and get yourself going. Definitely different. We’ve been working hard to get things rolling again. I think we’ll be fine.”
He'll have four chances to perfect a new Volusia set up with the World of Outlaws Late Models continuing its 2021 season with four straight nights of racing at Volusia during the 50th DIRTcar Nationals (Feb. 10-13).
He'll also have four chances to get a better start on his hunt for a fourth tour championship, which would tie him with former Rocket house car driver Josh Richards for the most in history. After the Sunshine Nationals, Sheppard sits fourth in points, 26 points behind current Series points leader Kyle Strickler. He is also 10 points behind his closest points rival in 2020, Ricky Weiss.
And while the season is only two races deep, Sheppard said points are still a consideration, to an extent.
“You want to win races and the points will play out how they play out,” Sheppard said. “We’re going for the win every night. We’re not going to do anything crazy that’ll give us a DNF or anything like that.”
Despite his winless Speedweeks run, he's confident he can claim a third Gator Championship.
“We know our stuff is pretty fast,” Sheppard said. “We’ve been fast here the past few times. Confidence is up. We’ve just got to get to work. That’s all there is to it.” — Nick Graziano
HIGHLAND, I-55 TEAMING UP: Seeking to create more competitive Super Late Model events, Highland (Ill.) Speedway and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo., plan to run alternating Saturdays for the division in 2021 instead of head-to-head. The Bi-State Late Model Battle will create a two-track championship point fund for DIRTcar-sanctioned racers with racing scheduled for every Saturday from March 20-Sept. 18 with the exception of July 3. The lone non-Saturday Super Late Model event at the track is Highland's annual Madison County Fair Race on Wednesday, July 28. Find schedule details at the track websites.
BIG DRAW FOR NEW MOULTON OWNERS: Moulton (Ala.) Speedway reopened with Feb. 5-7's Winter Breeze Classic, the first under under new owners Amanda and Keith Steele. The event drew 192 race cars overall with Jordy Nipper of Gray, Ga., capturing a $3,000 victory in the 604 Crate Late Model division. "We had no idea that we would even have that kind of turnout," Amanda Steele told DirtonDirt.com. The finale was postponed to Sunday because of Saturday's inclement weather. The regular season opens Feb. 12 with the points season beginning March 5.
TIMED LAPS TO SET ULMS POLESITTER: The Zimmer's United Late Model Series is ditching its feature redraw for 2021 with timed laps to set the top starting spots. The Jay's Auto Wrecking Scramble will include the top two finishers from each of four heats (or heat winners if the event has five or six heats) going against the clock for two laps apiece. The fastest driver will earn the feature pole (and $100) with the rest of the drivers starting according to descending times. For tracks under a half-mile in length, two scrambles will be held. "There is no good or bad luck in the feature redraw no more," series director Chris Zuver said. "It's your luck and skill on the track for two laps.”
MUNN JOINS CAROLINA SPEEDWAY: Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, N.C., has added Shannon Munn to its management for 2021. Munn will continue his duties promoting Lancaster (S.C.) Motor Speedway while joining Bruce Arrants at Carolina."Having Shannon come on board will be a big plus to our program at Carolina," Arrants said. "Shannon has a lot of experience in and around the dirt tracks and will help Carolina tremendously." Munn, who previously co-promoted the BAM Street Stock Battle Royal at Carolina, is anxious to expand his racing duties. "I look forward to helping both Carolina and Lancaster to be the best tracks in the Carolinas, he said. "We also look forward to working with other area tracks to make racing better for area drivers and fans."
CARL BILLET MEMORIAL: BAPS Motor Speedway has announced that June 5's Carl Billet Memorial will pay $1,750-to-win for Limited Late Models, or $2,500 if the event draws 35 or more cars. Additionally, if the race draws 40 cars, the start money ($175) will be doubled to $350. The time-trialed event honors the late racer who was the track's 2012 champion and ended his career with 182 feature victories and 18 track championships overall.
HELM LANDS AT MOUNTAIN VIEW: Former Crate Racin' USA publicist Roby Helm of Etowah, Tenn., will serve as communications director and track announcer for Mountain View Raceway in Spring City, Tenn., this season. “We’re super excited to have someone as experienced as Roby Helm working with us at Mountain View Raceway,” co-promoter Susan Hampton said. “We can’t wait to get the season started with him on the microphone. Roby announced our sprint car and midget race last season, and you can tell he brings a lot of knowledge, experience and fun to the racing program.” Helm, who previously announced for the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series, also plans to pursue other motorsports projects in 2021 through his Helm Communications.
UPCOMING WINTER ACTION: Duck River Raceway Park's Feb. 13 Winterfest pays $1,500-to-win for the Late Model and 604 Crate Late Model divisions (10 divisions in all are in action in Wheel, Tenn.) ... Old No. 1 Speedway in Harrisburg, Ark., has scheduled its Feb. 26-27 Winter Bash for six divisions, including a $1,500-to-win Crate Late Model program (Southern Outlaw-rules Late Models are eligible to compete). ... Needmore Speedway in Norman Park, Ga., will pay $2,000-to-win for Southern Clash-style Late Models at Feb. 20's Frostbite event.
ODDS AND ENDS: Ararat (Va.) Thunder Raceway will honor a late Statesville, Va., driver with the April 30 Kent Peckham Memorial. Peckham died a year ago at age 57 after a battle with renal and abdominal cancer. ... Jimmy Henry will serve as the 2021 announcer at Elkins Raceway in Kerens, W.Va. ... Susie Toler has joined Patriots Park Raceway in Dublin, Ga., to lead track sales and promotions. ... Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon, Ind., is looking for staffers to work the lineup chute, turn two gate and pit gate. ... Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Ala., has resurfaced its oval for 2021. ... Wagner (S.D.) Speedway has added IMCA sanctioning, but not for its Limited Late Model division, which will see a few rule tweaks. ... The reopening of Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee, Okla., will include Super Late Models for the March 26-27 event. ... Tim Fisher of Adrian, Mich., the 2004 sportsman champion at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio, died Feb. 1 at the age of 62. ... The newly resurfaced Tri-County Speedway in Pollard, Ala., has lengthened its layout to a third-mile, nearly doubled the corner banking to 15 degrees and widened turns to 100 feet for the 2021 season. ... Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, is seeking a 2021 co-announcer who would take over upon current announcer Mike Swanger's retirement at the conclusion of the 2021 season. ... Former Oglethorpe Speedway Park flagger Delma Smith of Savannah, Ga., died Jan. 30. He was 71.
