5/6/2026
FloRacing Night in America
Brandon Sheppard Scores FloRacing Night in America Feature Win
Lincoln Speedway Takes Center Stage on Thursday
BANNER, Ill. (May 6, 2026) — FloRacing Night in America’s 2026 season opened on Wednesday night at Spoon River Speedway, where Brandon Sheppard wired the field to bank a $20,000 victory.
Sheppard staved off a hard-charging Hudson O’Neal in the late stages for his third-career series win and second at the high-banked oval.
"I'm 50-50 here, I feel like. Sometimes I'm good and sometimes I run about 16th," Sheppard said. "Our car's been phenomenal all year long. We've just had a good balance. The guys give me a great race car every time we unload and that put it back in my hands. Late in the race I knew I was struggling a bit off of turn two and if I could find the right line that I’d be in good shape, and that’s what I was able to do and we got the win."
While Sheppard, who won at the 3/8-mile oval in 2022 – the same year he won the series championship – was able to keep the field at bay, great battles raged behind him. Hudson O’Neal, Bobby Pierce, Tyler Erb, and Devin Moran diced for positions in the Top 5 throughout.
Ultimately O’Neal finished second with Pierce, Erb, and Moran completing the Top-5 finishers.
New for 2026 with FloRacing Night in America, an angel donor is sponsoring a nightly donation to the charity of choice for the feature winner. Sheppard chose St. John’s Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. The hospital will receive a $2,000 donation in Brandon Sheppard’s name.
The FloRacing Night in America 2026 Illinois Speedweek rolls into Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway on Thursday, May 7 for another $20,000-to-win / $1,000-to-start event.
DIRTcar Modifieds will accompany the program.
2026 FloRacing Night in America Standard Purse
1)$20,000 2)$10,000 3)$5,000 4)$4,000 5)$3,000 6)$2,750 7)$2,500 8)$2,300 9)$2,200 10)$2,000 11)$1,500 12)$1,250 13)$1,100 $14)1,050 15-24)$1,000
Total - $68,650
Entry Fee: $100 | Non-Qualifier Money: $100
The tire rule for May 7 will be as follows:
Left Front: Any tire
Right Front: Hoosier NLMT2 (90), NLMT3 (90)
Left Rear: Hoosier NLMT2 (90), NLMT3 (90)
Right Rear: Hoosier NRM NLMT3 (92), NRM NLMT4 (92)
**No 29.0 / 92.0 tires allowed on Left Rear or Front Tires at any event
On Thursday, May 7 at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway the pit gate opens at 12 p.m. CT with the grandstand gate opening at 3 p.m. The driver’s meeting is at 5:30 p.m with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing action to follow.
Advanced tickets for Lincoln Speedway on May 7 are available for purchase online at www.myracepass.com/tracks/1855/tickets/1504899 .
The two-race, season-opening swing precedes the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) Illinois Speedweek events at Farmer City (Ill.) Speedway and Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway, which are set for Friday and Saturday, May 8 – 9.
For more information on FloRacing Night in America sponsors, visit the company websites at integrashocksandsprings.com; keysermanufacturing.com; www.k1racegear.com; www.buzzeracing.com; www.eibach.com; www.sweetmanufacturing.com; www.md3race.com; www.deatherageopticians.com; www.sunocoracefuels.com; www.poske.com; www.rocketchassis.com; www.dirtdraft.com; www.impactracegear.com; www.hoosiertire.com; www.msmfab.com; www.allgaierperformance.com; willyscarbs.com; horsepowerhydration.com; racecareng.com; and www.fkrodends.com.
For complete FloRacing Night in America details, visit the series website at www.FloSeries.com.
FloRacing Night in America
Spoon River Speedway (Banner, Ill.) – May 6, 2026
A Feature (50 Laps): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 71-Hudson O'Neal[3]; 3. 32-Bobby Pierce[5]; 4. 1T-Tyler Erb[6]; 5. 99-Devin Moran[4]; 6. 9-Nick Hoffman[9]; 7. 76-Brandon Overton[2]; 8. 96-Tanner English[12]; 9. 18-Shannon Babb[13]; 10. 40B-Kyle Bronson[11]; 11. 19R-Ryan Gustin[17]; 12. 93-Carson Ferguson[14]; 13. 11R-Josh Rice[23]; 14. 3S-Brian Shirley[7]; 15. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[18]; 16. 25-Jason Feger[22]; 17. 58-Garrett Alberson[10]; 18. 60-Dan Ebert[15]; 19. 09-Michael Leach[24]; 20. 74X-Ethan Dotson[16]; 21. 24-Ryan Unzicker[19]; 22. 8-Dillon McCowan[8]; 23. 6-Clay Harris[20]; 24. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[21]
B Feature 1 (10 Laps): 1. 19R-Ryan Gustin[4]; 2. 24-Ryan Unzicker[1]; 3. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[3]; 4. 11R-Josh Rice[5]; 5. 75-Daniel Adam[7]; 6. 11G-Gordy Gundaker[2]; 7. 16-Sam Seawright[6]; 8. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[9]; 9. 4G-Bob Gardner[12]; 10. 14S-Collen Winebarger[8]; 11. 77-Carson Hocevar[10]; 12. (DNS) 21-Mario Gresham
B Feature 2 (10 Laps): 1. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[3]; 2. 6-Clay Harris[1]; 3. 25-Jason Feger[4]; 4. 09-Michael Leach[6]; 5. 5S-Kolby Vandenbergh[7]; 6. 15-Justin Duty[8]; 7. 15S-Clay Stuckey[5]; 8. 45-Kyle Hammer[10]; 9. 19M-Brenden Smith[9]; 10. 48-Tim Lance[11]; 11. 38J-Jake Little[2]
Entries: 39
Dirt Draft Hot Laps Fastest Lap: Garrett Alberson (12.762 sec.)
Sunoco Race Fuels Fast Qualifier Group A (& Overall): Bobby Pierce (13.100 sec.)
Sunoco Race Fuels Fast Qualifier Group B: Brandon Overton (13.480 sec.)
Integra Racing Shocks Heat Race #1 Winner: Brandon Sheppard
K1 Race Gear Heat Race #2 Winner: Hudson O’Neal
Buzze Racing Heat Race #3 Winner: Brandon Overton
Eibach Springs Heat Race #4 Winner: Devin Moran
B-Main Winners: Ryan Gustin, Dennis Erb Jr.
Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (1-50)
Hoosier Tire Winners: Bobby Pierce, Ricky Thornton Jr.
$150 Drawing Winners: Shannon Babb, Ethan Dotson
Article Credit: Josh James Artwork image
Submitted By: Ben Shelton
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