Devin Gilpin of Columbus extended his all-time win record in the modified division at Brownstown Speedway by winning for the 68th time in his career on March 16, when the track opened its 2019 racing season.
Gilpin, in his first open wheel modified event of the year, took over the lead after front-row starters Ryan Thomas and Tyler Nicely went pitside in the early part of the 20-lap feature event.
Once Gilpin was out front, he went unchallenged for the remaining distance to capture the $1,000-to-win main event. Gilpin, in the Don Fleetwood of Brownstown-owned Elite Chassis modified, is sponsored by Dasco Racing Supply, Bane Logging, Karen’s Winery Vineyard, Vallery Motorsports and Blondie’s Pizzeria and Pub. The car is powered by a Mullins Race Engine.
There was a terrific race for second behind Gilpin, with Jamie Lomax of Lake Village edging out Paul Miles of Owensboro, Kentucky, for the runner-up position. Jacoby Hines of Trafalgar was fourth, with Tommy Sheppard of New Berlin, Illinois, taking fifth.
Completing the top 10 were John Clippinger, Jimmy Lennex, Dustin Golden, Levi Godsey and Matt Mitchell.
Brandon Sheppard joined a list of Illinois racing stalwarts to win a feature race at Brownstown Speedway when the 26-year-old racer scored his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature of the season with his first career win at the historic racetrack on March 16.
Sheppard won the 22nd Annual edition of the Indiana Icebreaker feature race to become the fifth different winner of the LOMDS 2019 season. Sheppard had to hold off a charging Devin Moran and Jonathan Davenport for the win. Hudson O’Neal and Tyler Erb completed the top five.
Sheppard made it a clean sweep for the night by setting the Miller Welders Fast Time and winning the first heat race of the night to earn the PFC Brakes Pole Award.
Sheppard took the lead at the start of the 50-lap main event, and Hudson O’Neal ran in second. The top two stayed that way until a Lap 21 restart saw loose a couple of positions. Devin Moran then moved past O’Neal to take over the second spot, and he stayed there until the end of the race.
Moran had one last shot at Sheppard in the final two laps, when a caution flew with two circuits left. Moran and Davenport got good restarts, but Sheppard was too tough, and he went on for the win.
“It is great to finally win here at Brownstown," Sheppard said. "We have won a lot of heat races and started up front, but we were never able to put it all together in a night. This car is on rail right now. Thanks to Mark, Austin, Joel and Danny, we are hitting on all cylinders. They have worked their tails off on this car. It is just phenomenal right now. It’s a dream to drive this car. I am ready to go to the next one.
“I didn’t really know if the cautions were helping me or hurting me," he added. "I was kind of maintaining my pace. The traffic was either in the bottom or the top because that was the line, they would be in. I was kind of slowly breaking my way through the middle. I did all I could to get through there.”
Moran, in his first season with the Lucas Oil Later Model Dirt Series, took home his best finish of 2019 with his runner-up finish.
“Congrats to Brandon on the win," Moran said. "That was good race for the lead there in the last few laps. This team is just getting better and better. For the Jackson 100, we are expecting a little better. I love coming here to Brownstown. My dad (Donnie) never won here, so I was trying my best to get that first win for my family.”
Davenport, who was primed for one of his late-race charges to the lead, took third place at the finish.
“Congrats to those guys," Davenport said. "(Sheppard), that’s their fifth win in a row. I think we need to make him start a lap down to give them a little bit of a challenge. All of my guys worked hard, thanks to Nutrien Ag Solutions. It feels weird not to have the Zero car here, but hopefully, he gets back soon.”
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, Keyser Manufacturing, Gunter’s Honey and Integra Racing Shocks.
Completing the top 10 were Don O’Neal, Josh Richards, Earl Pearson Jr., Tim McCreadie and Allen Weisser.
Rick Gumm of Tampico picked up where he left off a year ago at Brownstown when won his track-record 12th consecutive pure stock feature event. Zachary Stalker of Salem finished in second, with Mickey Hines of Scipio finishing in third. Josh Hayes of Seymour and Mark Hines of North Vernon rounded out the top-five finishers.
Completing the top 10 in the pure stock feature were Brent McMillan, Randal Akers, Michael Cranmer, T.J. Larson and Nathan Conway.
Tonight, Brownstown will host the 11th Annual “No-Way Out 40” for 410 non-wing sprints paying $7,500 to win. Also competing tonight will be modifieds, the Indiana Pro late models and super stocks. For more information, visit brownstownspeedway.com.
Twin Cities tries again tonight
Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon will try for the second time to begin its 2019 racing season after cancelling last week’s race program due to weather conditions. On the race schedule tonight will be crate late models, modifieds, super stocks, pure stocks and hornets. For more information, visit twincitiestrack.com.
Florence Spring 50 tonight
Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky, will try for the second time this month to get in the Spring 50 tonight. The $5,000-to-win super late model feature event will highlight the evening that also includes crate late models, modifieds and sport mods. For further info, visit florencespeedway.com.
Lawrenceburg opener set
Lawrenceburg Speedway will start its 2019 season next March 30, with the USAC National Sprint Car Series taking to the track, along with modifieds and hornets. For more info, visit lawrenceburgspeedway.com.
