Moran Outduels Sheppard for $50,000 Firecracker 100 Victory
2026-06-28 14:18
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SARVER, PA (June 27, 2026) - Devin Moran emerged victorious in an unforgettable duel with Brandon Sheppard over the final 20 laps, capturing the 20th Annual Firecracker 100 presented by Experience Butler County at Lernerville Speedway.
Moran and the Double Down Motorsports team earned $50,000 after taking the lead for the final time on lap 92 of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series crown jewel event. The victory made Moran the 14th different winner in Firecracker 100 history.
Sheppard, who led 80 laps, finished second, while championship points leader Hudson O'Neal completed the Big River Steel podium in third. Brandon Overton rallied from as deep as 18th to finish fourth, and O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year points leader Josh Rice rounded out the top five.
Sheppard controlled the race through the opening 79 laps before Moran, who started fourth, closed the gap and made his first pass for the lead on lap 80. Moran paced the field until lap 91, when Sheppard briefly reclaimed the top spot. Moran answered one lap later, completing the race-winning pass on lap 92 and holding off Sheppard over the closing circuits.
The victory was the 30th Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of Moran's career and added his name to the prestigious list of Firecracker 100 champions dating back to the inaugural event in 2007.
"I was really good through turns one and two early, but from the center off the corner it started going over the crown and I lost a lot of speed," Moran said in Wieland Victory Lane. "I was just watching Sheppy the whole time, trying to take his air away. A couple of times it got close, and I chopped him a little bit, but that's what you've got to do to win the Firecracker."
"I've always loved this place. It's extraordinary to win this race. Roger Sellers is leaving for a cruise tomorrow, so I guess we gave him a little extra spending money. We've had this car for a few years now, and it's been a really good race car. We've had our ups and downs, but we knew if we brought this one out, we'd have a chance."
Sheppard, who was seeking his first Firecracker 100 victory, saw the race slip away in the closing laps but remained within 10 points of O'Neal in the championship standings.
"He did a good job," Sheppard said of Moran. "I was passing lapped cars using the line I wanted to run, but I got to where I couldn't steer through the center very well. I think it was because we had a softer right-front tire, so I had to diamond the corner more than I wanted. After he got by me, I was able to get back to him, but Devin did a great job. There's so much tough competition out here that any one of these guys can win on any night."
O'Neal, who ran second for much of the early portion of the race, was encouraged by the performance after recent struggles on similar track surfaces.
"We always want to be better, but this was a huge step in the right direction for us," O'Neal said. "Historically, we've struggled in conditions like this. We knew we needed to improve after last weekend at Smoky Mountain, and I feel like we made progress tonight."
Moran's winning Double Down Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and backed by Big River Steel, Millwood Plumbing, Northeastern Fabrication, Ohio Natural Energy, C&W Trucking, Phillips CPA, BOMAG, Anthony's Pizza, Car Source Auto, Hazen Services, McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Elliott Farms, and Pee Wee's Wrecker Service.
Completing the top ten were Max Blair, Michael Norris, Dan Ebert, Garrett Alberson, and Carson Ferguson.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
20th Annual Firecracker 100 Presented by Experience Butler County
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Lernerville Speedway | Sarver, PA
Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 71-Hudson O'Neal[3]; 3. 3S-Brian Shirley[4]; 4. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 5. 157-Mike Marlar[8]; 6. 0-Ryan Scott[7]; 7. 24-Rick Eckert[10]; 8. 29-Ken Schaltenbrand[6]; 9. 27W-Eric Wilson[5]; 10. 10L-Gary Lyle[9]; 11. (DNS) 55-Chris Schneider; 12. (DNS) 14R-Clay Ruffo
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 111-Max Blair[2]; 3. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 4. 22G-Gregg Satterlee[5]; 5. 1C-Alex Ferree[4]; 6. 555-Brock Pinkerous[6]; 7. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[7]; 8. 48F-Colton Flinner[9]; 9. 93L-Cory Lawler[8]; 10. 76C-Charles Powell[10]; 11. (DNS) 77-Tyler Dietz; 12. (DNS) 33-Josh Ferry
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 60-Dan Ebert[1]; 2. 11-Josh Rice[2]; 3. 99B-Chub Frank[4]; 4. 93-Carson Ferguson[3]; 5. 40B-Kyle Bronson[11]; 6. 17SS-Brenden Smith[5]; 7. 10-Jared Miley[6]; 8. 10*-Levi Yetter[7]; 9. 1D-Braeden Dillinger[8]; 10. 6M-Matt Martin[9]; 11. 42C-Chad Shearer[10]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (10 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[1]; 2. 8-Dillon McCowan[3]; 3. 72-Michael Norris[2]; 4. 24T-Tyler Wyant[4]; 5. 6-Clay Harris[6]; 6. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[5]; 7. 9-Breyton Santee[7]; 8. 14-Dan Angelicchio[9]; 9. B22-Bump Hedman[8]; 10. 15K-Lane Snook[10]; 11. (DNS) J4-John Garvin Jr
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 157-Mike Marlar[1]; 2. 555-Brock Pinkerous[4]; 3. 24-Rick Eckert[5]; 4. 1C-Alex Ferree[2]; 5. 93L-Cory Lawler[10]; 6. 0-Ryan Scott[3]; 7. 48F-Colton Flinner[8]; 8. 27W-Eric Wilson[9]; 9. 29-Ken Schaltenbrand[7]; 10. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[6]; 11. 10L-Gary Lyle[11]; 12. 76C-Charles Powell[12]
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 40B-Kyle Bronson[1]; 2. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 3. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[4]; 4. 17SS-Brenden Smith[3]; 5. 9-Breyton Santee[6]; 6. B22-Bump Hedman[10]; 7. 1D-Braeden Dillinger[9]; 8. 10*-Levi Yetter[7]; 9. 10-Jared Miley[5]; 10. 6M-Matt Martin[11]; 11. 42C-Chad Shearer[13]; 12. 14-Dan Angelicchio[8]; 13. (DNS) 15K-Lane Snook
20th Annual Firecracker 100 Presented by Experience Butler County | Feature Finish (100 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Earnings
1 - 4 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $51,200
2 - 2 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $20,800
3 - 5 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $11,300
4 - 13 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $8,800
5 - 7 - 11 - Josh Rice - Crittenden, KY - $7,900
6 - 6 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - $6,800
7 - 12 - 72 - Michael Norris - Sarver, PA - $4,500
8 - 3 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $4,800
9 - 10 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $4,600
10 - 15 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $4,400
11 - 23 - 1C - Alex Ferree - Saxonburg, PA - $3,400
12 - 9 - 3S - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - $4,000
13 - 18 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - $3,800
14 - 22 - 12M - Ryan Montgomery - Fairmont, WV - $2,500
15 - 8 - 8 - Dillon McCowan - Urbana, MO - $3,200
16 - 14 - 22G - Gregg Satterlee - Indiana, PA - $2,300
17 - 19 - 555 - Brock Pinkerous - Ellenville, NY - $2,200
18 - 1 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - $3,300
19 - 20 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $2,800
20 - 21 - 24 - Rick Eckert - York, PA - $2,000
21 - 17 - 157 - Mike Marlar - Winfield, TN - $2,000
22 - 26 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - $2,000
23 - 24 - 17SS - Brenden Smith - Dade City, FL - $2,000
24 - 25 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $2,800
25 - 16 - 24T - Tyler Wyant - Oil City, PA - $2,000
26 - 11 - 99B - Chub Frank - Bear Lake, PA - $2,000
27 - 27 - 29 - Ken Schaltenbrand - Sarver, PA - $2,000
Race Statistics
Entrants: 46
Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
MD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Laps 1-79); Devin Moran (Laps 80-90); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 91); Devin Moran (Laps 92-100)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Brandon Sheppard
Wieland Feature Winner: Devin Moran
Margin of Victory: 0.700 seconds
Hellraizer Jacks Cautions: Ken Schaltenbrand (Lap 16); Mike Marlar (Lap 31); Daniel Hilsabeck (Lap 50); Gregg Satterlee (Lap 52); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 52 restart); Clay Harris (Lap 75)
MyRacePass Series Provisional: Daniel Hilsabeck; Cory Lawler
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Track Provisional: Ken Schaltenbrand
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O'Neal
Penske Shocks Top 5: Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O'Neal, Brandon Overton, Josh Rice
Behrent's One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O'Neal
PEM 4th Place Feature: Brandon Overton
Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Josh Rice
Wilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Michael Norris
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Alex Ferree
Velocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Kyle Bronson
XS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Dillon McCowan
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Alex Ferree (Advanced 12 positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Brandon Sheppard (80 Laps)
Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Hudson O'Neal
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Josh Rice
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard | Lap 2 | 16.448 seconds
FK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
Victory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Devin Moran
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Chuck Kimble
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Race Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brandon Sheppard | 13.7373 seconds
Time of Race: 54 minutes 01 seconds
Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:
Pos - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Points - Earnings
1 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - 4140 - $183,050
2 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - 4130 - $184,600
3 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - 3990 - $237,524
4 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - 3765 - $90,600
5 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - 3685 - $81,675
6 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - 3635 - $114,425
7 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - 3510 - $75,925
8 - 11 - Josh Rice - Crittenden, KY - 3430 - $69,375
9 - 3s - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - 3430 - $63,150
10 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - 3370 - $55,275
11 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - 3270 - $56,200
12 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - 3265 - $66,350
13 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - 3145 - $54,950
14 - 8 - Dillon McCowan - Urbana, MO - 2950 - $40,800
15 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - 2775 - $38,175
16 - 17SS - Brenden Smith - Dade City, FL - 2660 - $32,425
17 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - 2480 - $21,675
Official Marketing Partners
Associate Marketing Partners
Advanced Powder Coating, All Makes Collision Center, Arizona Sport Shirts, Behrent's Performance Warehouse, Black Diamond Chassis, Bilstein Shocks, Boyd Bilt Fabrication, Brodix, Capital Race Cars, Clements Racing Engines, Cornett Racing Engines, Dave Warren Powersports, Denago Powersports, Diversified Machine Inc, Fast Shafts, Fire Suppression Engineering, FOX Shocks, Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Heath Lawson Photography, Hellraizer Jacks, Hoker Trucking, Jackson County Tourism, Keyser Manufacturing, Longacre Scales, Longhorn Chassis, The Massengill Company, MD3, Mega Plumbing of the Carolinas, Midwest Sheet Metal, MSD, Ohlins Shocks, Outerwears, PEM - Performance Engineering Mfg, Penske Racing Shocks, ProFabrication Headers, Pro Power Racing Engines, Rocket Chassis, Schoenfeld Headers, Shocker Hitch, Simpson Race Products, Slicker Graphics, Steering Buddy, Strange Oval, Swift Springs, Thermo-Tec Automotive Products, Velocity Manufacturing, Victory Fuel, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood, Xceldyne, XS Power Batteries, and 5150 Race Trailers.