Sheppard and Marlar Take Thursday Night Florence Prelims
2026-08-08 11:03
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WALTON, KY (August 6, 2026) - Brandon Sheppard and Mike Marlar took top honors in Thursday night's dual 25-lap features for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Florence Speedway to kick off the 44th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North-South Weekend.
In the first $6,000-to-win main event, Sheppard took the lead from Chris Ferguson on lap 13 and then pulled away for his ninth series win of the season. Garrett Alberson, who passed Ferguson for second on lap 14, then held off a charging Josh Rice for second over the final 10 laps of the race. Rice, the current O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year points leader, was debuting a new Rocket Chassis as he rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third.
Donald McIntosh, last year's O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Year, was fourth, with Ferguson rounding out the top five.
In Wieland Victory Lane for the 44th time in his career, the current championship points leader finally picked up his first win at Florence as he eyes the $75,000 top prize in Saturday night's 44th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North-South 100.
"I am pretty sure this is my first Florence win. We have been really good in the big race on Saturday a few times. In 2016, I was there at the end and got a flat tire. It's been one of them places where things haven't went my way. I felt like we had a pretty decent car in the spring when we were here, so I was excited to come back, especially with as good as we have been running. My confidence is at an all-time high with this race car."
Alberson fought off Rice in a great battle to snag the runner-up spot.
"I knew once Josh (Rice) got to third, I was like, alright, we are going to have us a fight right there, you know, because I was a little too tight to really run that top the way I needed to. I kind of had to back it in there, but hats off to Josh. We had a good little race right there. It was a lot of fun, and Sheppy, his car was really good. It's super balanced right now."
Rice, who entered the weekend having won 13 times at Florence since 2021, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third in front of his home-track fans.
"That was fun racing with Garrett. I wanted to get to second for Mark (Richards). He worked a lot on my race car this week, and I can't thank him enough for that. It was just like home. It was typical Florence on the cushion. I was probably a little too tight for the cushion. I probably didn't have much for Shep, but congrats to those guys."
The winner's Mark Richards Racing, Rocket Chassis is powered by a Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ace Metal Works, Performance Grading, Franklin Enterprises, Sunoco Race Fuels, Gunter's Honey, Stiles Marine and Maintenance, Fox Shocks, and Collins Brothers Towing.
Completing the top 10 in the first feature were Devin Moran, Clay Harris, Trevor Landrum, Bobby Pierce, and Shannon Babb.
In the second $6,000-to-win main event, Marlar took the lead from Brandon Overton on lap 20 and held on the rest of the way for his first LOLMDS win of the year. Marlar, who started eighth, led Overton, Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, and Jonathan Davenport across the finish line for his 24th Lucas Oil win, tying him with Hall of Famer Billy Moyer.
Ricky Thornton Jr. led the first eight laps of the 25-lap nightcap until he relinquished the lead to Overton on lap nine. Two laps later, Thornton brushed the wall in turn four, resulting in a right-rear flat tire as he slowed to bring out a caution flag.
Overton, who was looking for his first series win since Circle City last year, was in front until Marlar got by him on lap 20 to take over the lead. Marlar then beat Overton to the finish line by 1.244 seconds in a highly competitive race.
Marlar, like Sheppard, is looking for his first career Sunoco Race Fuels North-South 100 victory on Saturday night.
"I tried to be a little bit of everywhere. The track was just racy, you know. When you've got a great track like that, that's how you've got to be. There was a lot of thinking going on in that race and strategies on restarts and stuff like that. It was fun to race with the top guys up here and have a good time and get a win. My car was really good, so I was on offense. When you're on defense, you don't want to see those cautions, but when you are on offense, every caution is an opportunity. I want to really thank Mark Richards for his help on the car today. I kind of told him what I was looking for, and he helped me a little bit."
Overton, who led the most laps (11) in the second feature, came home in second.
"The other cars had me moving all over the racetrack, and I was kind of holding them off. They said Mikey had a 3 on, so I don't know if the softer tires, you know, played into it at the end on them restarts. I didn't feel bad. Honestly, I felt pretty good at the beginning. I know Ricky had a softer tire on earlier. He was doing what he does out front, and he got into the fence, and I don't know whether that cut his tire down or what. On those restarts, it was hard getting back into a rhythm, and it is what it is. We're alright."
O'Neal, who started ninth, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third.
"We worked, and I think we worked in the right direction, and we'll see tomorrow when we unload. We just found ourselves in really bad positions on those restarts. I felt like my race car was okay. I just jumped the cushion one time and made one mistake and let two or three cars get by me, and then I had to drive back through there to get to third."
The winner's Ronnie Delk-owned, Rocket Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Delk Equipment, Langenfelder Mechanical Contractors, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Petroff Towing, Certain Teed, Can Am Auto Salvage, Fox Shocks, and Spirit Fuel Racing.
Completing the top 10 in the second feature were Drake Troutman, Carson Ferguson, Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Zack Dohm.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
44th Annual Sunoco North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil | Night 1
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Florence Speedway | Union, KY
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A-1: | Frank Heckenast | 16.008 seconds
Fast Time Group A-2: | Brandon Sheppard | 15.929 seconds
Group A Results:
Penske Shocks Heat Race #A1-1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 22F-Chris Ferguson[3]; 2. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[1]; 3. 18L-Trevor Landrum[4]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[5]; 5. 32-Bobby Pierce[8]; 6. 16-Justin Rattliff[7]; 7. 18-Shannon Babb[2]; 8. 17SR-Brody Smith[6]
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #A1-2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 2. 11-Josh Rice[5]; 3. 79-Donald McIntosh[6]; 4. 93L-Cory Lawler[4]; 5. 49M-Luke Morey[2]; 6. 93-Devin Gilpin[7]; 7. 111-Max Blair[3]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #A2-3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[2]; 3. 5N-Dustin Nobbe[3]; 4. 4G-Kody Evans[5]; 5. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[4]; 6. 49G-Billy Green[6]; 7. H22-Brandon Hardgrove[7]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #A2-4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 13-Dallon Murty[1]; 2. 81F-Jadon Frame[2]; 3. 6-Clay Harris[3]; 4. 20O-Jimmy Owens[4]; 5. 7S-Justin Smith[5]; 6. 6C-Calvin Carlton[6]; 7. 20-Glenn Hounshell[7]
44th Annual Sunoco North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Group A - Feature Finish (25 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Earnings
1 - 2 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $6,000
2 - 3 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $3,000
3 - 7 - 11 - Josh Rice - Crittenden, KY - $2,000
4 - 11 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - $1,250
5 - 1 - 22F - Chris Ferguson - Mt. Holly, NC - $1,000
6 - 6 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $900
7 - 12 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $850
8 - 9 - 18L - Trevor Landrum - Florence, KY - $800
9 - 17 - 32 - Bobby Pierce - Oakwood, IL - $750
10 - 21 - 18 - Shannon Babb - Moweaqua, IL - $700
11 - 5 - 99JR - Frank Heckenast Jr - Frankfort, IL - $650
12 - 18 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $600
13 - 8 - 81F - Jadon Frame - Winchester, TN - $550
14 - 24 - 93 - Devin Gilpin - Columbus, IN - $500
15 - 16 - 20O - Jimmy Owens - Newport, TN - $500
16 - 15 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - $500
17 - 19 - 49M - Luke Morey - Zeeland, MI - $500
18 - 13 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $500
19 - 20 - 7S - Justin Smith - Barbourville, KY - $500
20 - 4 - 13 - Dallon Murty - Chelsea, IA - $500
21 - 14 - 4G - Kody Evans - Camden, OH - $500
22 - 10 - 5N - Dustin Nobbe - Batesville, IN - $500
23 - 22 - 16 - Justin Rattliff - Campbellsville, KY - $500
24 - 23 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - $500
Group A Race Statistics
Entrants: 59
Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Chris Ferguson
MD3 Lap Leaders: Chris Ferguson (Laps 1-12); Brandon Sheppard (Laps 13-25)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Brandon Sheppard
Wieland Feature Winner: Brandon Sheppard
Margin of Victory: 3.116 seconds
Hellraizer Jacks Cautions: Justin Rattliff (Lap 13); Dan Ebert (Lap 18)
MyRacePass Series Provisional: n/a
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Garrett Alberson, Josh Rice
Penske Shocks Top 5: Brandon Sheppard, Garrett Alberson, Josh Rice, Donald McIntosh, Chris Ferguson
Behrent's One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Garrett Alberson, Josh Rice
PEM 4th Place Feature: Donald McIntosh
Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Chris Ferguson
Wilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Clay Harris
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Frank Heckenast, Jr.
Velocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Jadon Frame
XS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Jimmy Owens
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Shannon Babb (Advanced 11 positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Brandon Sheppard (13 Laps)
Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon Sheppard
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard| Lap 1 | 16.329 seconds
FK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Max Blair
Victory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Garrett Alberson
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
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brandon Sheppard | 16.120 seconds
Time of Race: 15 minutes 36 seconds
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group B-1: | Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 15.996 seconds
Fast Time Group B-2: | Tyler Erb | 15.917 seconds (Overall)
Group B Results:
Penske Shocks Heat Race #B1-1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 5-Drake Troutman[2]; 3. 71-Hudson O'Neal[5]; 4. 12J-Jason Jameson[3]; 5. 17SS-Brenden Smith[4]; 6. 11M-Michael Chilton[6]; 7. T8-Steve Banal[7]; 8. (DNS) 96-Josh Vineyard
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #B1-2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[4]; 2. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 3. 0-Jake O'Neil[3]; 4. 40B-Kyle Bronson[5]; 5. 317-Blake Creech[6]; 6. 31-Tyler Millwood[2]; 7. 18S-Quade Schoonover[7]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #B2-3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 1T-Tyler Erb[1]; 2. C7-Adam Stricker[2]; 3. 09-Michael Leach[3]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[4]; 5. 126-Kaede Loudy[5]; 6. 17D-Zack Dohm[7]; 7. 15-Brad Rickels[8]; 8. 8-Dillon McCowan[6]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #B2-4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 93F-Carson Ferguson[1]; 2. 157-Mike Marlar[2]; 3. 12M-Ryan Montgomery[4]; 4. T1-Todd Morrow[3]; 5. D48-Derek Groomer[6]; 6. 21-Kirk Phillips[7]; 7. 9-Josh Dietz[5]
44th Annual Sunoco North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Group B - Feature Finish (25 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Earnings
1 - 8 - 157 - Mike Marlar - Winfield, TN - $6,000
2 - 3 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $3,000
3 - 9 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $2,000
4 - 15 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - $1,250
5 - 7 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - $1,000
6 - 5 - 5 - Drake Troutman - Hyndman, PA - $900
7 - 4 - 93F - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $850
8 - 2 - 1T - Tyler Erb - New Waverly, TX - $800
9 - 1 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton, Jr. - Chandler, AZ - $750
10 - 21 - 17D - Zack Dohm - Cross Lanes, WV - $700
11 - 13 - 12J - Jason Jameson - Lawrenceburg, IN - $650
12 - 24 - 8 - Dillon McCowan - Urbana, MO - $600
13 - 14 - 3s - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - $550
14 - 6 - C7 - Adam Stricker - Batavia, OH - $500
15 - 12 - 12M - Ryan Montgomery - Fairmont, WV - $500
16 - 20 - D48 - Derek Groomer - Bloomington, IN - $500
17 - 10 - O9 - Michael Leach - Sun River, MT - $500
18 - 22 - 11M - Michael Chilton - Salvisa, KY - $500
19 - 16 - T1 - Todd Morrow - Penton, AL - $500
20 - 23 - 31 - Tyler Millwood - Kingston, GA - $500
21 - 19 - 317 - Blake Creech - Richmond, IN - $500
22 - 11 - 0 - Jake O'Neil - Tucson, AZ - $500
23 - 17 - 17SS - Brenden Smith - Dade City, FL - $500
24 - 18 - 126 - Kaede Loudy - Rogersville, TN - $500
Group B Race Statistics
Entrants: 59
Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton, Jr.
MD3 Lap Leaders: Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 1-8); Brandon Overton (Laps 9-19); Mike Marlar (Laps 20-25)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Brandon Overton
Wieland Feature Winner: Mike Marlar
Margin of Victory: 1.244 seconds
Hellraizer Jacks Cautions: Kaede Loudy (Lap 5); Ricky Thornton, Jr. (Lap 10); Brenden Smith (Lap 12); Jake O'Neil (Lap 16); Todd Morrow, Michael Chilton (Lap 17)
MyRacePass Series Provisional: n/a
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisionals: n/a
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal
Penske Shocks Top 5: Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, Jonathan Davenport
Behrent's One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Mike Marlar, Brandon Overton, Hudson O'Neal
PEM 4th Place Feature: Kyle Bronson
Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Jonathan Davenport
Wilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Carson Ferguson
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Jason Jameson
Velocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Brian Shirley
XS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Ryan Montgomery
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Dillon McCowan (Advanced 12 positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Brandon Overton (11 Laps)
Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Hudson O'Neal
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Brandon Sheppard
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | Lap 1 | 16.564 seconds
FK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Dillon McCowan
Victory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Mike Marlar
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Josh Davis
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Race Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 15.9031 seconds
Time of Race: 20 minutes 53 seconds
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.