Sheppard and Davenport Win Friday Night Preliminaries at Batesville
2025-08-17 14:08
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LOCUST GROVE, AR (August 15, 2025) - Brandon Sheppard and Jonathan Davenport each secured a 25-lap preliminary win on Friday night at Batesville Motor Speedway as the action began for the 33rd Annual Nutrien Ag Solutions Topless 100 presented by Big River Steel.
Sheppard dominated the racing in Group A, posting the fastest overall time, winning his heat race, and leading wire-to-wire to take the win in the first 25-lap main event, earning $5,000. Chris Madden finished second, with Hudson O'Neal, Devin Moran, and Dale McDowell rounding out the top five.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the third time this season and for the 35th time in his career, the driver from New Berlin, Illinois, will be looking for his first Topless 100 victory tomorrow night.
"I have always liked this place. You know, it's a little ways from home, so I didn't get to come here very often over the years. The crew has been trying to make me comfortable and find the balance I'm looking for. I knew we'd get there, and I also knew it would take some time. Since we brought it out, it's been lights out. Of course, we can still miss the setup or make a mistake with the tires or whatever the case may be, but this car has been really good ever since we broke it out. I am super proud to be part of this team and proud to be part of the Rocket family."
Madden, the 2019 winner of the Topless 100 while driving for Scott Bloomquist, finished second to Sheppard in his Kale Green-owned entry.
"We made a few adjustments right there before that feature; we're stuck too hard. We just went overboard on that balance, but we'll get it back for tomorrow. We feel good about what we have here. 100 laps is a long time around this place, so you've got to keep some tires on it, and you've got to be there at the end."
O'Neal, who had to deal with a flat tire while running second in his heat race, came from seventh to finish on the Big River Steel Podium in the first 25-lapper.
"It was interesting, that's for sure. We were fortunate to start at the bottom and be able to pick off a few cars there early on. After having a flat in the heat race like we did, we're happy to rebound and come back up through the field to make it onto the podium. We are excited about tomorrow. I think over 100 laps, the track is going to slow down a bit more, and I felt really good right there. It just got narrow on that bottom lane. I hope for 100 laps it widens out so we can race all over the track," said the 2021 winner of the event.
The winner's Mark Richards Racing, Rocket Chassis is powered by a Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Franklin Enterprises, Petroff Towing, Gunter's Honey, Ace Metal Works, Sunoco Race Fuels, Collins Brothers Towing, Stiles Marine and Maintenance, Performance Grading, Fox Shocks, and Rocket Pre-Owned Motors.
Completing the top ten in the first feature were Mike Marlar, Joseph Joiner, Donald McIntosh, Jared Landers, and Daniel Hilsabeck.
The second feature didn't end well for several drivers, as Jimmy Owens led the first four laps until Cade Dillard moved into the lead on lap five. A caution after a lap seven restart saw Dillard and Garrett Alberson get together after Alberson took over the lead from Dillard heading out of turn two, almost flipping his car as the incident eliminated both drivers.
Owens then went back to the race lead as he led until lap 14, when he suffered a right rear flat tire. Davenport then took the top spot and kept it until the finish.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the 90th time in his career, and for the seventh time this season, Davenport will be aiming for his second career Topless 100 win on Saturday night.
"It's always good to win here for my car owners. We created a special paint scheme for my good buddy and our partner, Steve Martin, with Nutrien Ag Solutions. It's just a little something different for them; they help with this event and have been a big stepping stone in my career. They have definitely helped me and Lance Landers Motorsports a lot. I wasn't sure if leading was the right spot to be in. I am thankful for my guys—we've been on the road for six weeks. We came back to the shop, and they completely rebuilt two or three race cars, then worked on Jared's (Landers) car as well."
Thornton, who is seeking his first career win in the Topless 100 on Saturday night, finished second in the nightcap feature.
"I definitely didn't have anything for Jonathan during that last restart. I told my guys afterward that I wasn't even going to try to race JD; I'm just glad Garrett and everyone else is okay after that wreck on the back straightaway. I feel like you're going so fast here that a small mistake could cost you. We've got a lot to do to catch the Rocket1."
Harris, who was as high as second, saw a late-race caution derail his hopes of passing Davenport, who was nearing traffic with three laps remaining. Harris finished on the Big River Steel Podium in the second feature race after passing him in the closing laps.
"I thought our night was going downhill early on; we fell behind in qualifying. I kind of messed up some things on the car to upset it, but we came from 16th to second and then third, so I am happy with it."
The winner's Double L Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions, DynaGro Seed, Mark Martin Automotive, and Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas.
Completing the top ten in the second feature were Kyle Beard, Jimmy Owens, Brandon Overton, Daulton Wilson, and Haiden Cowan.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Nutrien Ag Solutions Topless 100 presented by Big River Steel | Night 1
Friday, August 15, 2025
Batesville Motor Speedway - Locust Grove, AR
Entrants: 44
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Clay Stuckey | 13.604 seconds
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Brandon Sheppard | 12.982 seconds (Overall)
Fast Time Group B: Cade Dillard | 13.303 seconds
Group A Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 17M-Dale McDowell[3]; 3. 99-Devin Moran[4]; 4. 71-Hudson O'Neal[2]; 5. 777-Jared Landers[5]; 6. 75-Terry Phillips[7]; 7. 79-Donald McIntosh[6]; 8. 01A-Drew Armstrong[8]; 9. 89-Nathan Stewart[11]; 10. F15-Peyton Foster[10]; 11. (DNS) 997-Travis Ashley
Group A Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 44-Chris Madden[1]; 2. 19M-Joseph Joiner[2]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[3]; 4. 157-Mike Marlar[4]; 5. 47-Chandler Petty[6]; 6. 11K-Jon Kirby[7]; 7. 41-Bryce Clark[9]; 8. 1J-BJ Robinson[5]; 9. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[8]; 10. 37-Joseph Long[10]; 11. (DNS) 3K-Tanner Kellick
Group B Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 97-Cade Dillard[1]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[2]; 3. 14-Haiden Cowan[4]; 4. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[3]; 5. 28B-Carson Brown[5]; 6. 21JR-Billy Moyer Jr[6]; 7. 12-Scott Crigler[7]; 8. 21-Chris Wilhite Jr[8]; 9. 16A-Geoff Aitken[10]; 10. 88M-Chance Mann[11]; 11. 15-Clay Stuckey[9]
Group B Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, All Transfer): 1. 20-Jimmy Owens[1]; 2. 18D-Daulton Wilson[2]; 3. 49-Jonathan Davenport[3]; 4. 93L-Cory Lawler[7]; 5. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 6. 76-Brandon Overton[4]; 7. 86-Kyle Beard[10]; 8. 6-Clay Harris[9]; 9. 1G-Bryan Glaze[8]; 10. C8-Timothy Culp[6]; 11. (DNS) 1B-Hunter Branscum
Group A | Night 1 Feature Finish (25 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Pay
1 - 1 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $5,000
2 - 2 - 44 - Chris Madden - Gray Court, SC - $3,000
3 - 7 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $2,000
4 - 5 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $1,500
5 - 3 - 17M - Dale McDowell - Chickamauga, GA - $1,250
6 - 8 - 157 - Mike Marlar - Winfield, TN - $1,000
7 - 4 - 19M - Joseph Joiner - Milton, FL - $950
8 - 13 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - $900
9 - 9 - 777 - Jared Landers - Benton, AR - $850
10 - 18 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $800
11 - 6 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $700
12 - 16 - 1J - BJ Robinson - Bossier City, LA - $600
13 - 11 - 75 - Terry Phillips - Springfield, MO - $600
14 - 10 - 47 - Chandler Petty - Cabot, AR - $600
15 - 15 - 01A - Drew Armstrong - Alexander, AR - $600
16 - 12 - 11K - Jon Kirby - Russellville, AR - $600
17 - 14 - 41 - Bryce Clark - Conway, AR - $550
18 - 19 - F15 - Peyton Foster - Finch, AR - $500
19 - 17 - 89 - Nathan Stewart - Bryant, AR - $500
20 - 20 - 37 - Joseph Long - Bauxite, AR - $0
21 - 21 - 997 - Travis Ashley - Batesville, AR - $0
22 - 22 - 3K - Tanner Kellick - Mer Rouge, LA - $0
Group A Race Statistics
Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Brandon Sheppard
MD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Laps 1-25)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Brandon Sheppard
Wieland Feature Winner: Brandon Sheppard
Margin of Victory: 2.382 seconds
Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: Carson Ferguson (Lap 5), Drew Armstrong (Lap 12)
Series Provisionals: n/a
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisional: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Chris Madden, Hudson O'Neal
Penske Shocks Top 5: Brandon Sheppard, Chris Madden, Hudson O'Neal, Devin Moran, Dale McDowell
PEM 4th Place Feature: Devin Moran
DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Dale McDowell
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Joseph Joiner
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Carson Ferguson
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Terry Phillips
MD3 24th Place Feature: n/a
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Daniel Hilsabeck (Advanced 8 Positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Brandon Sheppard (25 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: n/a
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Chris Madden | Lap 3 | 13.5575 seconds
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: n/a
Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Daniel Hilsabeck
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Danny White
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Race Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Time of Race: 11 minutes 53 seconds
Group B | Night 1 Feature Finish (25 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Pay
1 - 6 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - $5,000
2 - 7 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton, Jr. - Chandler, AZ - $3,000
3 - 16 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $2,000
4 - 10 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $1,500
5 - 20 - C8 - Timothy Culp - Prattsville, AR - $1,250
6 - 14 - 86 - Kyle Beard - Trumann, AR - $1,000
7 - 2 - 20 - Jimmy Owens - Newport, TN - $950
8 - 12 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $900
9 - 4 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - $850
10 - 5 - 14 - Haiden Cowan - Savannah, GA - $800
11 - 9 - 28B - Carson Brown - New London, NC - $700
12 - 8 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - $600
13 - 13 - 12 - Scott Crigler - Alton, MO - $600
14 - 18 - 1G - Bryan Glaze - Little Rock, AR - $600
15 - 19 - 88M - Chance Mann - Newport, AR - $600
16 - 15 - 21 - Chris Wilhite, Jr. - Chandler, OK - $600
17 - 21 - 15 - Clay Stuckey - Shreveport, LA - $550
18 - 11 - 21JR - Billy Moyer, Jr. - Batesville, AR - $500
19 - 17 - 16A - Geoff Aitken - Pottsville, AR - $500
20 - 1 - 97 - Cade Dillard - Robeline, LA - $500
21 - 3 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $500
22 - 22 - 1B - Hunter Branscum - Batesville, AR - $0
Group B Race Statistics
Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Cade Dillard
MD3 Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1-4); Cade Dillard (Laps 5-7); Jimmy Owens (Laps 8-13); Jonathan Davenport (Laps 14-25)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Jimmy Owens
Wieland Feature Winner: Jonathan Davenport
Margin of Victory: 2.014 seconds
Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: Cory Lawler (Lap 7); Garrett Alberson, Cade Dillard, Daulton Wilson, Chris Wilhite, Jr., Carson Brown, Haiden Cowan, Bryan Glaze, Clay Stuckey (Lap 7 restart); Jimmy Owens (Laps 13); Cory Lawler (Lap 14); Billy Moyer, Jr. (Lap 22)
Series Provisionals: n/a
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisional: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Clay Harris
Penske Shocks Top 5: Jonathan Davenport, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Clay Harris, Dan Ebert, Timothy Culp
PEM 4th Place Feature: Dan Ebert
DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Timothy Culp
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Jimmy Owens
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Carson Brown
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Scott Crigler
MD3 24th Place Feature: n/a
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Timothy Culp (Advanced 15 Positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Jonathan Davenport (12 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: n/a
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Cade Dillard | Lap 4 | 13.871 seconds
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Clay Harris
Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Garrett Alberson
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Cory Fostvedt
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Race Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Time of Race: 30 minutes 50 seconds
33rd Annual Nutrien Ag Solution Topless 100 presented by Big River Steel
Saturday Night Line-Ups
Fast Shafts B-Main #1 (15 Laps | Top 3 Transfer):
Row - Car # - Driver - Hometown - Car # - Driver - Hometown
1 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - 14 - Haiden Cowan - Savannah, GA
2 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - 1J - BJ Robinson - Bossier City, LA
3 - 75 - Terry Phillips - Springfield, MO - 47 - Chandler Petty - Cabot, AR
4 - 01A - Drew Armstrong - Alexander, AR - 11K - Jon Kirby - Russellville, AR
5 - 15 - Clay Stuckey - Shreveport, LA - 97 - Cade Dillard - Robeline, LA
6 - F15 - Peyton Foster - Finch, AR - 89 - Nathan Stewart - Bryant, AR
7 - 997 - Travis Ashley - Batesville, AR - 3K - Tanner Kellick - Mer Rouge, LA
UNOH B-Main #2 (15 Laps | Top 3 Transfer):
Row - Car # - Driver - Hometown - Car # - Driver - Hometown
1 - 777 - Jared Landers - Benton, AR - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA
2 - 28B - Carson Brown - New London, NC - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA
3 - 12 - Scott Crigler - Alton, MO - 1G - Bryan Glaze - Little Rock, AR
4 - 88M - Chance Mann - Newport, AR - 21 - Chris Wilhite Jr - Chandler, OK
5 - 41 - Bryce Clark - Conway, AR - 21JR - Billy Moyer Jr - Batesville, AR
6 - 16A - Geoff Aitken - Pottsville, AR - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM
7 - 1B - Hunter Branscum - Batesville, AR - 37 - Joseph Long - Bauxite, AR
Nutrien Ag Solution Topless 100 presented by Big River Steel (100 Laps):
1 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA
2 - 44 - Chris Madden - Gray Court, SC - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ
3 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL
4 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN
5 - 17M - Dale McDowell - Chickamauga, GA - C8 - Timothy Culp - Prattsville, AR
6 - 157 - Mike Marlar - Winfield, TN - 86 - Kyle Beard - Trumann, AR
7 - 19M - Joseph Joiner - Milton, FL - 20 - Jimmy Owens - Newport, TN
8 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA
Nutrien Ag Solution Topless 100 presented by Big River Steel Point Standings
Pos - No. - Competitor - Hometown - Total - Fastest Lap in Qualifying
1 - 1 - Sheppard, Brandon - New Berlin, IL - 260 -
2 - 49 - Davenport, Jonathan - Blairsville, GA - 250 -
3 - 44 - Madden, Chris - Gray Court, SC - 230 - 13.153
4 - 20RT - Thornton, Ricky Jr - Chandler, AZ - 230 - 13.405
5 - 71 - O'Neal, Hudson - Martinsville, IN - 220 - 13.223
6 - 6 - Harris, Clay - Jupiter, FL - 220 - 14.238
7 - 99 - Moran, Devin - Dresden, OH - 210 - 13.436
8 - 60 - Ebert, Dan - Lake Shore, MN - 210 - 13.588
9 - 17M - McDowell, Dale - Chickamauga, GA - 205 - 13.389
10 - C8 - Culp, Timothy - Prattsville, AR - 205 - 13.7
11 - 157 - Marlar, Mike - Winfield, TN - 200 - 13.44
12 - 86 - Beard, Kyle - Trumann, AR - 200 - 14.556
13 - 19M - Joiner, Joseph - Milton, FL - 195 - 13.326
14 - 20 - Owens, Jimmy - Newport, TN - 195 - 13.343
15 - 76 - Overton, Brandon - Evans, GA - 190 - 13.52
16 - 79 - McIntosh, Donald - Dawsonville, GA - 190 - 13.578
17 - 18D - Wilson, Daulton - Fayetteville, NC - 185 - 13.383
18 - 777 - Landers, Jared - Benton, AR - 185 - 13.469
19 - 14 - Cowan, Haiden - Savannah, GA - 180 - 13.494
20 - 22 - Hilsabeck, Daniel - Earlham, IA - 180 - 14.051
21 - 93 - Ferguson, Carson - Lincolnton, NC - 175 - 13.392
22 - 28B - Brown, Carson - New London, NC - 175 - 13.582
23 - 1J - Robinson, BJ - Bossier City, LA - 170 - 13.561
24 - 93L - Lawler, Cory - Hanover, PA - 170 - 14.024
25 - 75 - Phillips, Terry - Springfield, MO - 165 - 13.787
26 - 12 - Crigler, Scott - Alton, MO - 165 - 13.937
27 - 47 - Petty, Chandler - Cabot, AR - 160 - 13.635
28 - 1G - Glaze, Bryan - Little Rock, AR - 160 - 14.055
29 - 01A - Armstrong, Drew - Alexander, AR - 155 - 14.043
30 - 88M - Mann, Chance - Newport, AR - 155 - 14.506
31 - 11K - Kirby, Jon - Russellville, AR - 150 - 13.947
32 - 21 - Wilhite, Chris Jr - Chandler, OK - 150 - 14.048
33 - 15 - Stuckey, Clay - Shreveport, LA - 145 - 14.228
34 - 41 - Clark, Bryce - Conway, AR - 145 - 15.047
35 - 97 - Dillard, Cade - Robeline, LA - 140 - 13.303
36 - 21JR - Moyer, Billy Jr - Batesville, AR - 140 - 13.67
37 - F15 - Foster, Peyton - Finch, AR - 140 - 15.231
38 - 16A - Aitken, Geoff - Pottsville, AR - 135 - 14.26
39 - 89 - Stewart, Nathan - Bryant, AR - 135 - 99.999
40 - 58 - Alberson, Garrett - Las Cruces, NM - 125 -
41 - 997 - Ashley, Travis - Batesville, AR - 50 - 14.958
42 - 1B - Branscum, Hunter - Batesville, AR - 50 - 17.096
43 - 3K - Kellick, Tanner - Mer Rouge, LA - 50 - 99.999
44 - 37 - Long, Joseph - Bauxite, AR - 50 - 99.999
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