Sheppard Edges Moran at Pevely

 Saturday night we jumped back on the UMP Summernationals wagon as we made the three hour trip to the I-55 Raceway in Pevely,Mo. In tandem with a Friday night show in Terre Haute,In., the I-55 show featured a co sanction with the World of Outlaw late models. This format was popular with the fans, but not as much with the drivers, with some saying they would stay away if the outlaws were added in. Still a solid field of 33 super late models - about average for a " big " show at I-55, signed in for a shot at the $10,000 top prize. The UMP Summit modified portion of the tour turned out 37 competitors vying for a $1,000 check, and the local Pro Mod division produced somewhere close to 35 entries.
  Local favorite Rick Conoyer got the evening started with the quickest overall qualifying time for the mods. The late models were paced by Devin Moran, who turned in a lap of 12.709 seconds around the high banked 1/3 mile oval.
  Before actual racing began, the track crew tore up the speedway, a process that took some time, but offered up multi groove racing for the remainder of the night. We took the time to visit with old friends Tracey and Kim Westling, who have at least temporarily suspended their late model racing program.
  Four modified heat wins went to Conoyer, Rick Stevenson, Mike Harrison, and Timmy Hill. It was then late model time, and the first pair of ten lap qualifiers went to Moran over Brandon Sheppard, Tim Manville, and Brent Larson, then  series point leader Shannon Babb bested Chase Junghans, Mike Marlar, and WoO point leader Chris Madden. Frank Heckenast Jr. topped heat three ahead of Rick Eckert, Shane Clanton, and Kent Robinson, while Brian Shirley captured the final heat over Gordy Gundaker, Nick Hoffman, and Jason Feger.
 The pro mods ran four eight lap heats, while the mods completed their starting field with a consolation event won by Michael Long.
 All but two of the 17 non qualified late models came to the track for twelve laps to determine the row nine starters in the 50 lap main event. I-55 point leader Jeff Herzog led the distance followed by David Breazeale. Between the Summernational, World of Outlaw, track choice and " emergency " provisionals, a ridiculous number of seven cars were added to the show, giving us a 25 car starting grid.
  The 25 lap modified feature ran first. Conoyer started on the pole position and quickly established himself as the man to beat. Harrison came from row two to the runner up spot, with Hill and Jim Black following. After a lap two caution, fifth row starter Kenny Wallace charged into the top five., and he gained another position following a lap five yellow. Meanwhile Long was on the move, working his way up eight spots to ninth by lap eight. Long charged to sixth on lap ten, and just before halfway, Wallace entered the top three. Conoyer held a sizable lead as he encountered slower traffic on lap 21. He worked his way through the lapped cars with ease, as Long and Hill staged an entertaining duel for fifth. Long took the spot on lap 23, only to give it up to Dean Hoffman on the final trip around. At the checkers, it was Conoyer with the time trial, heat race, and feature sweep. Harrison rode home second, ahead of Wallace, Black, Hoffman, and Long.
  It was now late model feature time. Moran and Babb redrew the front row starting spots among the four heat winners. Moran, son of legendary father Donnie, led the first trip past the flag stand, but it was Babb out front as lap two was scored. Feger came to a stop on lap four, ending his night behind the wrecker. Back under green, Moran ran the inside line while Babb worked the top of the track. Behind the lead pair, Sheppard worked the low groove and Shirley tried the high line. Shirley then used an inside move to take second on lap eight, and one lap later Sheppard also cleared Moran for third. It was now a two car battle between Babb and Shirley, the top point men on the Summernationals tour. Shirley grabbed the lead on lap 14, with Sheppard closing fast. Brandon moved to second on lap 17. With slower traffic in play by lap twenty, Shirley stretched his lead. Sheppard again closed on the leader by lap 28, and the two traded lines as they circled the crowded oval. Then it was Babb back on the move, powering to second on lap 33. But disaster struck, as contact left Babb with a flat tire on lap 35. He ducked to the hot pit under the yellow, eventually rejoining the pack at the back of the lead lap cars in 19th. At this point, row five starters Mike Marlar and Tim Manville sat third and fourth, both having overtaken Moran. Back to racing, Shirley hugged the bottom groove, while Sheppard elected the higher line. Brandon used the top side momentum to grab the lead on lap 38, and the caution came out two circuits later. By this point, Moran had charged back to third, and Manville had fallen back. Sheppard shot out to a nice lead on the restart, while Moran got a nose ahead of Shirley. One final caution with four laps to go set up a dramatic finish. Third generation driver Sheppard in the Mark Richards Rocket house car and Moran waged a side by side battle. As the pair exited turn four for the final time, everyone was standing. After 50 hard fought laps, Sheppard won by a nose! Moran took runner up honors, with Shirley third. Eckert came on strong in the late stages, slipping past Marlar for fourth. Heckenast led the second five followed by Gundaker, Madden, provisional starter Tyler Erb, and Hoffman.
  With the post race interviews in progress and the Pro Mods lining up, we headed for the car, as it was now on the wrong side of 11:00 PM. Although there was a fair amount of down time, the four of us agreed that the trip was well worth the time and money, with great racing all night long. Special thanks to Fayette County Speedway racer Kate Smith, who helped keep us entertained and informed on a warm, muggy evening. Fayette County has been on our " bucket list " for some time, and we hope to plan a trip there soon.
  For now though, it looks like the IMCA late model Deery Brothers Summer Series race at 34 Raceway in West Burlington will take us to the Independence Day holiday. Brad Stevens and Jessi Mynatt will host the traveling late models along with IMCA stock cars and Inex Legend cars on Tuesday, July 3 at the high banked 3/8 mile speed plant.
  Thanks for reading!