Sheppard and Davenport Win Friday Night Preliminaries at Batesville

Column By: LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – LOCUST GROVE, A.R. –

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.