2/8/2025
Fourth-Place Finish Marks Highlight of Rocket1’s Week at Ocala Speedway
Rocket1 Racing Readies for DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia
SHINNSTON, W.Va. (02/10/25) – Brandon Sheppard scored his best finish of the 2025 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Speedweek on Thursday with a fourth-place outing in the third round of the Wieland Winter Nationals at Ocala Speedway aboard the Valvoline / Seubert Calf Ranches No. 1 Rocket1 Racing / Ace Metal Works / XR1 Rocket Chassis / Durham Racing Engine Super Late Model.
A pair of flat tires in Saturday’s Winter Nationals finale at the 3/8-mile oval derailed Sheppard’s bid for his first win of the season in his return with Rocket1 Racing.
“We’re getting better,” Sheppard said. “The layout of this track makes it pretty tricky, but as the week went on we were starting to figure things out. Thursday night was a good boost for us, we were running with JD for a bit but started to fade. I am bummed about the flat tires on Saturday but I think we’re heading in the right direction. Big shout out to Mark and everyone at Rocket, I can’t thank them enough for everything they do at the track and at the shop.”
Rocket1 Racing and Sheppard joined 37 teams at Ocala Speedway (Ocala, Fla.) on Tuesday evening for the opening round of the Wieland Winter Nationals.
With Tuesday's program designated as a non-points event, Sheppard advanced into the opener with a consolation victory. Chasing a $7,000 preliminary payday, Brandon posted a 19th-place outing.
After getting off to a better start on Wednesday, contact with the turn four wall on the fourth lap of the feature dropped Sheppard back to 16th at the finish.
On Thursday, Brandon outran Devin Moran in his heat race to pick up the win. Starting in third, Sheppard challenged Jonathan Davenport for the lead early before ultimately finishing fourth in the 40-lapper. He chased Davenport, Brandon Overton, and Kyle Bronson to the checkers with Moran finishing fifth.
Following a ninth-place finish on Friday, Sheppard raced his way into Saturday’s $25,000-to-win Wieland Winter Nationals finale with a heat race triumph. However, his night took a dramatic turn on lap 18 when he suffered a pair of flat tires. After taking a trip into the infield hot pit to replace both flats, the New Berlin, Illinois native rebounded to finish 17th.
Full results from the Wieland Winter Nationals can be found at www.LucasDirt.com.
Rocket1 Racing and Sheppard now turn their attention to the 54th annual DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park. The event kicks off with three DIRTcar-sanctioned rounds starting Monday, followed by three nights of racing under the World of Outlaws Late Model Series banner.
Full details for the entire week can be found at www.DIRTcar.com or www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
Rocket1 Racing would like to thank all of their marketing partners, which include Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Rocket Chassis, Ace Metal Works, Durham Racing Engines, Five Star RaceCar Bodies, Gunter’s Honey, Performance Grading, Stiles Marine & Maintenance, Hoosier Racing Tire, Fox Racing Shox, Keyser Manufacturing, Petroff Towing, On Time Body & Graphic, Franklin Enterprises, Bubba Army, Sweet Manufacturing, Sunoco Race Fuels, Accu-Force Shock Service, ATL Fuel Cells, Aurora Rod Ends, Barnes Dry Sump Oil Systems, Bazell Race Fuels, Beyea Custom Headers, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Brinn Transmissions, Sharp Advantage Safety Products, CP Carrillo, Dohm Cycles, Fibreworks Composites, Hardrock Powder Coating, Howe Racing Enterprises, Jones Racing Products, Kenny’s Components, MSD, E3 Spark Plugs, Tel Tac, Performance Bodies, Peterson Fluid Systems, Powers Performance, Performance Rod & Custom, QuickCar Racing Products, MatMan Designs, Allgaier Performance Parts, Rocket Pre-Owned Motors, Show Trucks Unlimited, Simpson, Stealth Carburetors, Strange Oval, Suave Talk, Total Power Valvoline Pro-V Racing, Walker Performance Filtration, Wiles Driveshafts, Wilwood Brakes, Winters Performance Products, Wrisco Aluminum, Xceldyne Valvetrain, and MyRacePass Marketing Services.
Article Credit: Heath Lawson image
Article Media
