Brandon Sheppard and Timothy Culp both scored victories in World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series action over the weekend.
Sheppard took the win on Friday night at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, Mississippi, while Culp was the winner at Kilgore, Texas’ Lonestar Speedway on Sunday.
A third event, slated for Saturday night at Arkansas’ I-30 Speedway, was rained out.
On Friday, Sheppard recorded his first series win of the season, using luck on the qualifying redraw to turn a fourth place in qualifying and a heat race win into a pole start in the feature.
“I got to thank Mark (Richards) and all of the guys at Rocket for making this happen for me,” said Sheppard. “This is an awesome team and I am really excited for the rest of the year.”
Sheppard didn’t have an easy stroll to the lead as Billy Moyer, Sr. started second in the feature, shot to the lead early and held on to that position for 22 laps. Sheppard and Moyer ran door-to-door but with the help of some lap traffic Sheppard pulled away.
Timothy Culp also used lap traffic to his advantage as he made his way from a sixth place start to compete with Moyer for second on lap 22 and then battled with Sheppard for first on lap 24. It was a juggling match between the duo until the last lap.
“Rodney gave us a great racetrack and shoot I am just tickled to death to be standing here right now,” said Culp. “To compete with these guys is just awesome. I got stuck on the bottom for a bit and I tried to roll onto the middle but if it wasn’t for those lap cars I think we might have had a little bit different of an outcome at the end.”
Chris Madden rounded out the podium as he found his way to a third place finish.
Moyer finished in fourth, with Eric Wells in fifth.
On Sunday, Timothy Culp carried the momentum of Friday’s second place finish into victory lane with a win at LoneStar Speedway. The victory gave the series six different winners in six events.
“Wow is all I can say,” said Culp. “To be able to run with these guys is amazing let alone win. It’s exceeded all of my expectations. As soon as we unloaded (this car) brand new it’s been a rocket. It’s lived up to its name. It’s been unreal really, for a guy like me to come out here and be able to run with the Outlaws. A World of Outlaws win is crazy. It’s going to take a few days for this one to sink in.”
Rookie of the Year contender Devin Moran held on to the lead from green until lap 25 of the 40 lap feature. Moran had the best run of his series career, as he won his heat, pulled the pole position, and had the second fastest car of the night during qualifying.
“It’s awesome to get out here and get a podium finish and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling next week,” said Moran. “I wanted (my first win) to be tonight because of where we started but it is what it is.”
Sheppard, B.J. Robinson and Wells rounded out the top tive.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series is back in action at Illinois’ Farmer City Raceway for the Illini 100 on March 31-April 1. For more information, visit WoOLMS.com.
World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series
Whynot Motorsports Park – Meridian, MS
Race Results – March 24, 2017
1. 1- Brandon Sheppard
2. C8- Timothy Culp
3. 44- Chris Madden
4. 21- Billy Moyer
5. 18- Eric Wells
6. 91- Tyler Erb
7. 157- Mike Marlar
8. 18s- Jack Sullivan
9. 1*- Chub Frank
10. 7- Rick Eckert
11. 99j- Frank Heckenast, Jr.
12. 3s- Brian Shirley
13. 21j- Billy Moyer, Jr.
14. 14M- Morgan Bagley
15. 1C- Chad Thrash
16. 18c- Chase Junghans
17. 9- Devin Moran
18. F5- Garrett Alberson
19. 2c- Joey Coulter
20. 96- Tanner English
21. 93- Donald Bradsher
22. R5- Chandler Petty
23. 25- Shane Clanton
24. 4-Ds- Chad Hollenbeck
World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series
LoneStar Speedway – Kilgore, TX
Race Results – March 26, 2017
1. C8- Timothy Culp
2. 9- Devin Moran
3. 1- Brandon Sheppard
4. 1R- BJ Robinson
5. 18- Eric Wells
6. 99jr- Frank Heckenast, Jr.
7. 91- Tyler Erb
8. 7- Rick Eckert
9. 21j- Billy Moyer, Jr.
10. 44- Chris Madden
11. 1*- Chub Frank
12. 6r- Robbie Stuart
13. 5- Jon Mitchell
14. 25- Shane Clanton
15. 4-Ds- Chad Hollenbeck
16. 93- Donald Bradsher
17. 2c- Joey Coulter
18. 18c – Chase Junghans
19. 14M- Morgan Bagley
20. R5- Chandler Petty
21. 3s- Brian Shirley
22. 21- Billy Moyer
23. 777- Jared Landers
24. 18s-Jack Sullivan
