Sheppard, from New Berlin., Ill., raced his preferred high line leading the 100-lap Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway on Saturday night. Georgia’s McDowell ran low. McDowell cut Sheppard’s lead from 1.9 seconds with five laps remaining to 0.5 seconds with one lap to go.
Sheppard’s momentum riding the high cushion was enough to beat McDowell in a drag race to the finish, winning by 0.056 seconds. It was Sheppard’s first Dream victory and it came at a good time. The winner’s share of $125,000 was increased by $25,000 this year.
As for McDowell, who won the Dream in 2014, two feet was the difference between the record payout and his $20,000 check. McDowell hasn’t placed worse than sixth in the past seven Dreams, including consecutive runner-up finishes.
The three-day event drew 92 cars wanting to test their luck around Eldora’s high-banked, half-mile oval. Thursday and Friday featured full shows with a pair of 25-lap features.
The Dream turned into a nightmare for eight-time winner and defending champ Scott Bloomquist. During Bloomquist’s heat race a roughly 10-second burst of rain during a restart sent all eight cars into the wall as they lost traction accelerating out of Turn 1. Bloomquist went on to win his heat but came up a couple pounds too light on the post-race scales. He was disqualified from his heat and didn’t make it out of the B-Main qualifying race.
For Sheppard, winning the Dream was just that 12 years ago when he went down to Georgia to take part in McDowell’s dirt driving school.
“If you asked him, the way I won the race tonight was the way he told me not to do it,” Sheppard said of his first day. “We went out there for first session and I was fast time out of the late model guys that was there and Kent Robinson was second. I was ripping the cushion and we all pulled into the infield and got out. Dale said, ‘Kent you did a good job. Sheppard, we’re not here to run the cushion. I know you’re from Illinois but we’re not there to run the cushion. We’re here to learn how to drive in the slick. I want you to figure out how to drive around the middle of the track.’”
Sheppard did some of that Saturday, too. But he earned his victory running high alongside Eldora’s intimidating concrete outer wall.
Sheppard, who started 15th, grabbed the lead on lap 72 when leader Earl Pearson Jr. cut a tire. Sheppard caught a glimpse of McDowell, who started 13th, with about two laps to go. It was confirmed when he glanced at the large video screen that sits outside of Turn 3.
“I knew it was going to be tough because I’ve watched him win at this place numerous times middle-bottom,” Sheppard said.
This time it was Sheppard’s turn. And his car owner, Mark Richards, too. Richards – the father of former late model standout Josh Richards – had never won a crown jewel event at Eldora Speedway. It was a long time coming for the car owner and Rocket chassis builder from West Virginia.
“It’s been 44 years coming here and racing. This is the first time my personal car is on the stage,” Richards said. “This is really special to me.”
Richards hired Sheppard to drive for him about seven years ago. It was only a matter of time before Sheppard got him to Eldora’s legendary victory lane stage.
After all, Richards said: “When you want a guy who runs the top of the track you go to Illinois.”
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