3/29/2026
Brandon Sheppard Finishes Second in Atomic Speedway’s Buckeye Spring 50
Rocket1 Racing Turns Focus to Illini 100
SHINNISTON, W. VA. (March 30, 2026) — Brandon Sheppard turned in a strong weekend amid shifting weather conditions, backing up a fifth-place finish in Saturday’s Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway with a runner-up result in Sunday’s Buckeye Spring 50 at Atomic Speedway.
Sheppard led portions of both events, including pacing the opening 45 circuits of Sunday’s rescheduled finale in the Rocket1 Racing / Valvoline / Seubert Calf Ranches No. 1 Late Model, before relinquishing the top spot to a late charge from Ricky Thornton Jr.
“We had a really good car - definitely capable of winning,” Sheppard said. “I got to the 19M and the 6, and they were running side-by-side and entering a little low. I couldn’t get enough of a run to make a move and got stuck there for too long. I knew someone had to be right behind me. Congrats to Ricky—he capitalized on my mistake. I’m disappointed in myself because my crew works their tails off and gives me a great race car every night. Still, this is the best we’ve been in the slick here in a long time, so we’re happy with the car.”
With Friday’s program postponed to Sunday due to inclement weather, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) weekend opened Saturday at Brownstown Speedway in Indiana. Sheppard set fast time in qualifying to earn the Allstar Performance Fast Time Award, followed with a heat race victory, and led the opening 14 laps of the feature before finishing fifth.
He closed the weekend with a runner-up finish in Sunday’s $20,000-to-win Buckeye Spring 50 at Atomic Speedway. After leading 45 of the 50 laps, Sheppard joined race-winner Ricky Thornton Jr. and third-place finisher Brandon Overton on the podium.
Sheppard leaves Ohio sixth in the latest LOLMDS point standings.
Complete results from the doubleheader weekend can be found at www.LucasDirt.com.
Sheppard is expected to return to action this weekend in the No. B5 in Iowa before rejoining Rocket1 Racing on April 10–11 at Farmer City Raceway for the annual Illini 100. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series event is one where he has historically excelled, entering as the defending winner with four victories to his credit.
Full event details are available at www.WorldofOutlaws.com.
Rocket1 Racing would like to thank all of their marketing partners, which include Valvoline, Seubert Calf Ranches, Collins Brothers Towing Of St.Cloud, 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.
For the latest news and team updates, visit Rocket1 Racing’s official website at www.Rocket1Racing.com. Fans can also stay connected by subscribing to the official Rocket1 Racing mailing list at https://pages/Rocket1Racing.
Article Credit: Photo by Heath Lawson
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