Crowd Favorite Sheppard Tops Jacksonville

  It was a warm Tuesday night in mid June when the UMP Summernationals and Summit modified series visited Jacksonville, Illinois Speedway during the second week of the touring series. The race was billed as the " Wild Man Kelly Classic, honoring the late legendary west central Illnois racer. Although the evening started on a positive note with 27 of the high powered late models signed in as well as a nice field of modifieds and UMP street stocks, it was no secret that strong storms were moving in from the west and south. Promoter Ken Dobson went in to hurry up mode to try and complete the show, but before the consolation events could be run, a heavy downpour brought the action to a close. Dobson was now saddled with a grandstand ( and pit ) full of rain checks, and no workable rain date during the month long points chase to complete the show. Still, Dobson was committed to staging the features, with a $5,000 late model prize along with $1,000 for the mods and $500 for street stocks. After considerable thought, the decision was made to basically scrap the prior results and offer up a complete show from scratch with the same payout and of course no series points. Knowing that there would likely be some of the original competitors upset, having earned advantageous starting positions back in June, Dobson devised a plan to hopefully help sooth a few ruffled feathers. It was announced ahead of race day that all returning drivers that had qualified through heat races at the original show would be eligible for an eight lap dash paying five positions highlighted by a $1,000 to win for the late models and $500 for the mods. An outside donation added $100 to the winners share of each dash. In addition, should any of the original 15 drivers fail to qualify during the make up action, they would make the feature line up as provisional starters.
  With all that in mind, and having made it back from a family outing in southeastern Missouri, I joined Darryl Sunday evening for the make up show.
  A solid group of 18 super late models, including five that were not at the June race, signed in, along with 15 modifieds and an even dozen street stocks.
  Time trial qualifying for the mods and late models opened the program, with Ray Bollinger pacing the modifieds, and Bobby Pierce topping the late models. The racing surface was fast around the top, and local driver Cody Maguire paid the price. Maguire contacted the turn four wall on his first pass , and on his second lap smacked the turn one concrete, ending his night.
  The modified dash came next, with Rick Conoyer, driving a #12 machine, leading flag to flag for the $600 payday. Seven of the returning 13 drivers elected to start the late model dash, and Frank Heckenast Jr. outlasted Pierce to pick up the $1,100 prize. Prior to the dash events, defending World of Outlaw late model champion Brandon Sheppard was invited to the front stretch, where Dobson presented him with a sign honoring this accomplishment to hang in his race shop, much to the delight of the large crowd. He alluded to the fact that Brandon had cut his racing teeth at the Sheppard family owned 1/4 mile bullring just down the road known as Shepps Speedway. The facility has since closed, but Dobson acknowledged the tracks brief history by naming the dashes after the track.
   With all preliminaries out of the way, it was now time for regular racing. A pair of eight lap modified heats saw Bollinger and Mike Harrison take wins from the pole position. The first of two ten lap late model qualifiers saw polesitter Pierce get the jump on Heckenast and hang on for the win. Shannon Babb ran third ahead of Bob Gardner. Jose Parga was running fifth on the final circuit when he smacked the wall between turns three and four so hard that he knocked the right rear end suspension from the car.  After a bit of a delay while the wrecker crew and Pargas crew worked to get the car to the pits, it was time for heat race two. Sheppard shot from the pole, battling Brian Shirley before taking the win. Jason Feger and Michael Kloos completed the top four. Kloos returned to the scene of the accident in June which resulted in him spending a few hours in the Jacksonville hospital. Following a pair of street strock heats and an intermission during which the track crew worked on the slickened surface, it was feature time.
  All but one of the 15 cars took the green for 25 laps of modified racing. Bollinger grabbed the lead from the pole to pace lap one ahead of a five car pile up on lap two. With all cars remaining in competition, Harrison powered to the front as racing resumed. Michael Long jumped to the top side of the 1/4 mile oval, slipping around Conoyer for third. Following another quick caution, Long took advantage of the Delaware restart to move in front of Bollinger for second. On a restart following a lap seven yellow, Bollinger retook the runner up spot. One more caution for a multi car scrum saw fourth running Donovan Lodge headed to the tail. Long once again grabbed second back under green, but he could not run down Harrison, and settled for second. Bollinger, Conoyer, and Brian Lynn completed the top five.
  The 16 late models still in action lined up for 40 laps. Pierce and Sheppard sat in row one, and it was Sheppard out front as lap one was scored, followed by Shirley, Pierce, Heckenast, Feger, and Babb. The top six quickly broke away from the pack, with Feger moving to fourth on lap four. The leaders quickly caught slower traffic, and by the half way point, Sheppard, Shirley, and Pierce had pulled away in a three car pack. Pierce worked hard on Shirley, taking over second on lap 24. Three laps later, he was knocking on the door of the #B5. Sheppard was masterful in traffic, by lap 30 he was out front by several car lengths. Three more circuits and Pierce was ready to pounce after dueling with a lapped car. With the leaders now nose to tail and Pierce ready to make his move, the only caution of the race came on lap 37, as Daniel Flesner looped his #9D. With a clear track on the restart, Sheppard made it a flag to flag win in front of the roaring crowd. Pierce came home second in front of Shirley. Heckenast was fourth, and after that things were a bit muddled. Babb crossed the line fifth, but I believe he was lapped, giving the spot to Feger. I have not yet seen an official rundown, however I had Kloos in seventh, followed by Rusty Griffaw, Gardner, and Brian Diveley. Again, spots five through ten are unofficial.
  During the post race interview, we headed for the car ahead of the street stock feature. If there were no long delays in the final race, the action should have been over about 9:00.
  Thanks to Dobson and the Jacksonville staff for their hospitality.
   Next on the schedule for this race chaser is this Friday night at the Lee County Speedway, where the Sprint Invaders will join the regular five classes. Hope to see you there!