2/19/2026
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Sheppard Takes Wieland Winter Nationals Opener at All-Tech Raceway
LAKE CITY, FL (February 19, 2026) – Brandon Sheppard kicked off the 2026 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing season in winning fashion Thursday night, capturing the season opener during the Wieland Winter Nationals at All-Tech Raceway.
Sheppard, who started sixth, charged to the lead on lap 16, taking the top spot from Brandon Overton. From there, he paced the remainder of the race, holding off defending series champion Devin Moran in the closing laps to secure his 36th career Series victory.
Moran, who lined up alongside Sheppard in the third row, took over second on lap 30 and applied heavy pressure during the final ten laps. However, he fell just short at the finish line, crossing 0.544 seconds behind the winner. Hudson O’Neal completed the Big River Steel Podium in third after starting on the pole and rallying back from as far as sixth. Overton, who led the opening 15 circuits, finished fourth, while Hoker Trucking Hard Charger Carson Ferguson advanced from 19th to round out the top five.
Overton set the early pace from his outside front-row starting position as a spirited battle for second unfolded between O’Neal and Clay Harris. Harris, seeking his first career LOLMDS victory, moved into second on lap 13 and began pressuring Overton for the lead.
As Overton and Harris battled up front, Sheppard surged forward, slipping past both drivers on lap 16 to take command. Harris reclaimed second on lap 17 and continued his duel with Overton until misfortune struck. With 29 laps complete, Harris made contact with the wall in turn two, ending his night.
Following the final restart, Sheppard maintained control out front. Ferguson briefly moved into second on lap 30 after an impressive charge through the field, but Moran quickly powered from fourth to second using the high side of the racetrack.
Sheppard worked the low-to-middle groove while Moran rim-rode the cushion in pursuit. The final 11 laps ran caution-free, and Sheppard crossed the finish line to earn his first LOLMDS victory since August 15 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Arkansas.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane, Sheppard - back as a full-time tour competitor in 2026 - credited his team for the strong start to the season.
“It definitely feels good,” Sheppard said. “We’ve had a really fast race car all of Speedweeks. We just needed a few things to go our way. Mark and the guys have been tweaking on this thing, working hard to get it exactly how I like it. About halfway through last year, I knew coming into this season we were going to be pretty good. It was just a matter of putting the whole package together. We even changed the motor today just as a precaution.”
Moran, who made a late charge but could not mount a final-lap bid, noted the team’s recent improvements.
“We just have to keep working on the race car,” Moran said. “We struggled really bad at Volusia last week, so we’re trying to find the right balance. We’ve definitely picked up speed - now we just need to fine-tune the balance. Sheppy and those guys did a great job. It’s refreshing to get back on the podium. On that caution, I noticed how much grip was up top and thought there was something there. On the restart, I about split them and ran that floater line, and it worked really well.”
O’Neal, the 2023 series champion who finished fourth in last year’s championship standings, credited key restarts for his podium finish.
“I had some good restarts,” O’Neal said. “I might have been a little too conservative early in the race and put myself in some tough spots. At one point I fell back to sixth and thought I might not even salvage a top five after starting on the pole. But we were able to work through some guys on that last restart, and the car was really good at the end.”
Sheppard’s Mark Richards Racing Rocket Chassis is powered by a Durham Racing Engine and sponsored by Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ace Metal Works, Performance Grading, Petroff Towing, Franklin Enterprises, Fox Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Gunter’s Honey, Stiles Marine and Maintenance, and Collins Brothers Towing.
Rounding out the top ten were Josh Rice, Dan Ebert, Brian Shirley, Kyle Bronson, and Mark Whitener.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Wieland Winter Nationals
Thursday, February 19, 2026
All-Tech Raceway | Lake City, FL
Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Hudson O’Neal | 17.874 seconds (Overall)
Fast Time Group B: Brandon Overton | 17.977 seconds
Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 71-Hudson O'Neal[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[4]; 3. 111-Max Blair[2]; 4. 60-Dan Ebert[3]; 5. 93-Carson Ferguson[8]; 6. 44-Chris Madden[5]; 7. 79-Cory Hedgecock[6]; 8. 58-Garrett Alberson[7]; 9. 7-Ross Robinson[9]
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 32J-Justin Weaver[1]; 2. 5-Mark Whitener[2]; 3. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[4]; 4. 16-Tyler Bruening[9]; 5. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 6. 15-Clay Stuckey[5]; 7. 81F-Jadon Frame[8]; 8. 13-Dallon Murty[7]; 9. 12R-Ryan Payne[6]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 1-Brandon Sheppard[3]; 3. 388-Jackson Hise[2]; 4. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[4]; 5. 09-Michael Leach[5]; 6. 40B-Kyle Bronson[7]; 7. 8-Dillon McCowan[9]; 8. 31-Tyler Millwood[8]; 9. 4-Kale Green[6]
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[1]; 2. 3S-Brian Shirley[2]; 3. 11-Josh Rice[4]; 4. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[5]; 5. 77-Preston Luckman[7]; 6. 24-Tyler Wyant[3]; 7. 19M-Brenden Smith[6]; 8. C4-Freddie Carpenter[8]; 9. 6B-Adam Boyd[9]
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 44-Chris Madden[3]; 2. 93-Carson Ferguson[1]; 3. 79-Cory Hedgecock[5]; 4. 58-Garrett Alberson[7]; 5. 15-Clay Stuckey[4]; 6. 13-Dallon Murty[8]; 7. 7-Ross Robinson[9]; 8. 93L-Cory Lawler[2]; 9. 81F-Jadon Frame[6]; 10. (DNS) 12R-Ryan Payne
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (10 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 77-Preston Luckman[2]; 2. 40B-Kyle Bronson[3]; 3. 24-Tyler Wyant[4]; 4. 09-Michael Leach[1]; 5. 4-Kale Green[9]; 6. 19M-Brenden Smith[6]; 7. 8-Dillon McCowan[5]; 8. 31-Tyler Millwood[7]; 9. 6B-Adam Boyd[10]; 10. C4-Freddie Carpenter[8]
Wieland Winter Nationals Feature Finish (40 Laps):
Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Earnings
1 - 6 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $10,000
2 - 5 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $5,500
3 - 1 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $3,500
4 - 2 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $2,700
5 - 19 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $2,500
6 - 12 - 11 - Josh Rice - Crittenden, KY - $2,300
7 - 13 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $2,200
8 - 8 - 3S - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - $2,100
9 - 20 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - $2,050
10 - 7 - 5 - Mark Whitener - Middleburg, FL - $2,000
11 - 9 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - $1,600
12 - 21 - 79 - Cory Hedgecock - Loudon, TN - $1,400
13 - 23 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $1,200
14 - 16 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - $1,000
15 - 11 - 76N - Blair Nothdurft - Renner, SD - $950
16 - 18 - 77 - Preston Luckman - Coos Bay, OR - $925
17 - 14 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $900
18 - 26 - 8 - Dillon McCowan - Urbana, MO - $175
19 - 15 - 16 - Tyler Bruening - Decorah, IA - $850
20 - 25 - 19M - Brenden Smith - Dade City, FL - $125
21 - 24 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - $800
22 - 4 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $800
23 - 3 - 32J - Justin Weaver - Clearspring, MD - $800
24 - 10 - 388 - Jackson Hise - Ocala, FL - $800
25 - 22 - 24 - Tyler Wyant - Oil City, PA - $800
26 - 17 - 44 - Chris Madden - Gray Court, SC - $800
Race Statistics
Entrants: 36
Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Hudson O’Neal
MD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Overton (Laps 1-15); Brandon Sheppard (Laps 16-40)
Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Brandon Sheppard
Wieland Feature Winner: Brandon Sheppard
Margin of Victory: 0.544 seconds
Hellraizer Jacks Cautions: Chris Madden (Lap 14); Dillon McCowan, Jackson Hise (Lap 14 restart); Justin Weaver, Preston Luckman (Lap 16); Debris (Lap 19); Clay Harris (Lap 29)
MyRacePass Series Provisionals: Garrett Alberson; Cory Lawler
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisionals: Brenden Smith; Dillon McCowan
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal
Penske Shocks Top 5: Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, Brandon Overton, Carson Ferguson
Behrent’s White Flag One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Devin Moran, Hudson O’Neal
PEM 4th Place Feature: Brandon Overton
Diversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Carson Ferguson
Wilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Dan Ebert
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Max Blair
Velocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Garrett Alberson
XS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Blair Nothdurft
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Carson Ferguson (Advanced 14 positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Brandon Sheppard (25 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Devin Moran
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/a
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard | Lap 20 | 18.942 seconds
FK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Clay Harris
Victory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Devin Moran
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Danny White
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Race Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Hudson O’Neal |18.0329 seconds
Time of Race: 31 minutes 22 seconds
Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:
Pos - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Points - Earnings
1 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - 250 - $10,000
2 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - 230 - $3,500
3 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - 230 - $5,500
4 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - 220 - $2,700
5 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - 205 - $2,500
6 - 11 - Josh Rice - Crittenden, KY - 200 - $2,300
7 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - 195 - $2,200
8 - 3s - Brian Shirley - Chatham, IL - 190 - $2,100
9 - 40B - Kyle Bronson - Brandon, FL - 185 - $2,050
10 - 5 - Mark Whitener - Middleburg, FL - 180 - $2,000
11 - 111 - Max Blair - Centerville, PA - 175 - $1,600
12 - 79 - Cory Hedgecock - Loudon, TN - 170 - $1,400
13 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - 165 - $1,200
14 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - 160 - $1,000
15 - 76N - Blair Nothdurft - Renner, SD - 155 - $950
16 - 77 - Preston Luckman - Coos Bay, OR - 150 - $925
17 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - 145 - $900
18 - 8 - Dillon McCowan - Urbana, MO - 140 - $175
19 - 16 - Tyler Bruening - Decorah, IA - 135 - $850
20 - 19M - Brenden Smith - Dade City, FL - 130 - $125
21 - 44 - Chris Madden - Gray Court, SC - 125 - $800
22 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - 125 - $800
23 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - 125 - $800
24 - 388 - Jackson Hise - Ocala, FL - 125 - $800
25 - 24 - Tyler Wyant - Oil City, PA - 125 - $800
26 - 32J - Justin Weaver - Clearspring, MD - 125 - $800
27 - 15 - Clay Stuckey - Shreveport, LA - 120 - $100
28 - 9 - Michael Leach - Sun River, MT - 120 - $100
29 - 13 - Dallon Murty - Chelsea, IA - 115 - $100
30 - 4 - Kale Green - Pelion, SC - 115 - $100
31 - 7 - Ross Robinson - Georgetown, DE - 110 - $100
32 - 31 - Tyler Millwood - Kingston, GA - 110 - $100
33 - 81F - Jadon Frame - Winchester, TN - 105 - $100
34 - 6B - Adam Boyd - Riverview, FL - 105 - $100
35 - C4 - Freddie Carpenter - Parkersburg, WV - 100 - $100
36 - 12R - Ryan Payne - Pennsboro, WV - 50 - $0
Article Credit: James Essex
Submitted By: Jeremy Shields
