July 13, 2025 | By Lyndal Scranton

Brandon Sheppard sails to Diamond Nationals victory at Lucas Oil Speedway

WHEATLAND, MO.—For Brandon Sheppard, Lucas Oil Speedway had been a long-time nemesis.

"This place has haunted me in my dreams numerous times," Sheppard said. "We ran second at the Show-Me (100) back in '21. I've been good here in the past, (but) it's been very hit and miss."

Sheppard hit it out of the ballpark Saturday night. The New Berlin, Ill., veteran seized the lead on a lap 15 restart and ran away from there to capture the 19th annual CMH Diamond Nationals Presented by Wieland. Sheppard's first Diamond Nationals triumph and 32nd career full-field Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph was worth $25,000.

Sheppard beat Hudson O'Neal - the driver that edged him out in the 2021 Show-Me 100 - by nearly four seconds in his Rocket chassis. He became the 12th different winner of the Diamond Nationals.

"This track is very tricky. It takes a lot of stuff than your average race track," Sheppard said in victory lane. "Hats off to Mark (car owner Mark Richards) and (crew members) Dan, Austin and Joel, all the guys back at Rocket chassis for building this new piece."

Sheppard's second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of the season started from the sixth spot after pole-starting Gordy Gundaker grabbed the lead at the drop of the green. Gundaker set the early pace over outside row-one starter Brandon Overton through five laps. Sheppard wasted no time moving from sixth into third with Thornton fourth.

Sheppard’s advance continued as he moved to second by lap 10, trailing Gundaker by 1.3 seconds. The first caution came out on lap 14 as Donald McIntosh spun in turn two, wiping out Gundaker’s 1.2-second cushion over Sheppard with Overton in third.

Sheppard took the lead on the restart, passing Gundaker on the outside coming out of turn four. Sheppard needed only four laps to open nearly a two-second lead and was 3.6 in front by the midway point on lap 25. O'Neal, of Martinsville, Ind., moved into second by lap 27 and gave chase, but there was no stopping Sheppard as action remained caution-free.

Sheppard, handling lapped traffic with no issues, took it home and beat O’Neal by 3.77 seconds at the checkers.

"It was an awesome track both nights this weekend," Sheppard said. "They did a heck of a job with it. We're just super happy and super thankful to be here in victory lane. Hopefully we can keep building off we've got here and have some consistency."

Sheppard said the challenge of winning on the series cannot be overstated. It made his second win in eight days even more special.

"Lucas Oil, we're racing against a tough crowd night in and night out," Sheppard said. "It is hard to win these races. To be able to stand up here two times in the last two weekends, it's really awesome. My crew has been working so hard and Mark has been working so hard."

O'Neal said he just didn't have enough to deal with Sheppard.

"Good job to them guys," O'Neal said. "We got out-tired a little bit, I think and he got out to too big of a lead at the end to be able to close in on him. But what an improvement from last night. The good thing is, we made the right adjustments."

Diamond Nationals Night One winner Ricky Thornton Jr. emerged from the battle to finish third, a half-car-length ahead of two-time Lucas Oil Speedway track champion Justin Wells of Aurora as those two swapped the position the final two laps. Garrett Alberson wound up fifth.

"I was a little too tight early," Thornton said. "Hats off to these guys. This race, the Show-Me (100), that's probably the best this place has raced in a long time. I needed to be a little bit better - a lot better - to beat Brandon. Congrats to them. He was in a league of his own tonight."

Jonathan Davenport finished eighth after taking a provisional and starting 23rd in a backup car. A failed harmonic balancer felled Davenport's primary car while leading his heat with one lap to go. Davenport, who also set the fast qualifying time, salvaged a decent points night as he remained in front of Thornton for the series championship battle by by 30 points.



Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
19th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals presented by Wieland | Night 2
Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, MO

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Allstar Performance Time Trials
Fast Time Group A: Jonathan Davenport | 15.049 seconds (Overall)
Fast Time Group B: Brandon Overton | 15.266 seconds

Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 11-Gordy Gundaker[3]; 2. 71-Hudson O'Neal[5]; 3. 98-Justin Wells[4]; 4. 1XM-Aaron Marrant[2]; 5. 58-Garrett Alberson[6]; 6. 0-Jake O'Neil[7]; 7. 65-Jon Binning[8]; 8. 4W-Tyler Wolff[9]; 9. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]

Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 19M-Spencer Hughes[2]; 2. 18D-Daulton Wilson[4]; 3. 8K-Tyler Kuykendall[1]; 4. 50-Kayden Clatt[3]; 5. 11T-Trevor Gundaker[6]; 6. 93-Carson Ferguson[5]; 7. 7J-Ryan Johnson[8]; 8. 60-Dan Ebert[7]

Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 76-Brandon Overton[1]; 2. 1-Brandon Sheppard[2]; 3. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 4. 56-Tony Jackson Jr[4]; 5. 1/4J-Jaxon Ertel[5]; 6. 79-Donald McIntosh[6]; 7. 15L-Payton Looney[7]; 8. 805-Rob Hough[9]; 9. (DNS) 3W-Brennon Willard

Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[1]; 2. 97-Cade Dillard[3]; 3. 96-Dalton Imhoff[2]; 4. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[4]; 5. 93L-Cory Lawler[5]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[6]; 7. 87-Darron Fuqua[7]; 8. 15-Clay Stuckey[8]

Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 58-Garrett Alberson[1]; 2. 11T-Trevor Gundaker[2]; 3. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 4. 0-Jake O'Neil[3]; 5. 4W-Tyler Wolff[7]; 6. 7J-Ryan Johnson[6]; 7. 60-Dan Ebert[8]; 8. 65-Jon Binning[5]; 9. 49-Jonathan Davenport[9]

UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 3 Transfer): 1. 1/4J-Jaxon Ertel[1]; 2. 79-Donald McIntosh[3]; 3. 93L-Cory Lawler[2]; 4. 6-Clay Harris[4]; 5. 15L-Payton Looney[5]; 6. 87-Darron Fuqua[6]; 7. 15-Clay Stuckey[8]; 8. 805-Rob Hough[7]; 9. (DNS) 3W-Brennon Willard


19th Annual CMH Diamond Nationals presented by Wieland | Night 2 Feature Finish (50 Laps):

Pos - Start - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Pay
1 - 6 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - $25,800
2 - 5 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - $10,800
3 - 4 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - $7,100
4 - 9 - 98 - Justin Wells - Aurora, MO - $4,000
5 - 17 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - $4,200
6 - 7 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - $3,400
7 - 1 - 11 - Gordy Gundaker - St. Charles, MO - $2,500
8 - 23 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - $3,500
9 - 2 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - $2,900
10 - 15 - 50 - Kayden Clatt - Edina, MO - $2,100
11 - 8 - 97 - Cade Dillard - Robeline, LA - $2,000
12 - 25 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - $1,200
13 - 3 - 19M - Spencer Hughes - Meridian, MS - $2,500
14 - 21 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - $2,400
15 - 10 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - $2,600
16 - 19 - 11T - Trevor Gundaker - St. Charles, MO - $1,500
17 - 16 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - $2,300
18 - 13 - 1XM - Aaron Marrant - Richmond, MO - $1,500
19 - 24 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - $2,200
20 - 11 - 8K - Tyler Kuykendall - Warsaw, MO - $1,500
21 - 22 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - $2,200
22 - 20 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - $2,200
23 - 12 - 96 - Dalton Imhoff - Jamestown, MO - $1,500
24 - 18 - 1/4J - Jaxon Ertel - Neosho, MO - $1,500
25 - 14 - 56 - Tony Jackson Jr - Lebanon, MO - $1,500


Race Statistics 

Entrants: 34

Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Gordy Gundaker

MD3 Lap Leaders: Gordy Gundaker (1-14), Brandon Sheppard (15-50)

Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Brandon Sheppard
Wieland Feature Winner: Brandon Sheppard

Margin of Victory: 3.775 seconds

Coltman Farms Racing Cautions: Donald McIntosh (Lap 14)
Series Provisionals: Jonathan Davenport, Dan Ebert
Fast Time Provisional: n/a
Emergency Provisional: Clay Harris
Track Provisional: n/a
Big River Steel Podium Top 3: Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O’Neal, Ricky Thornton Jr.
Penske Shocks Top 5: Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O’Neal, Ricky Thornton Jr., Justin Wells, Garrett Alberson
PEM 4th Place Feature: Justin Wells
DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Garrett Alberson
Wilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Gordy Gundaker
Wehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Cade Dillard
Deatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Spencer Hughes
MD3 24th Place Feature: Jaxon Ertel
Hoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Advanced 15 Positions)
MD3 Most Laps Led: Brandon Sheppard (36 Laps)
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Brandon Sheppard
Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Jonathan Davenport
O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: Daniel Hilsabeck
Pro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard | Lap 18 | 15.504 seconds
Slicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Brandon Sheppard
Fresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Jonathan Davenport
Outerwears Crew Chief of the Race: Danny White
ARP Engine Builder of the Race: Durham Racing Engines
Miller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Dirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Tony Jackson Jr. | 15.724 seconds

Time of Race: 17 minutes 14 seconds


Big River Steel Chase for the Championship Presented by ARP Point Standings:

Pos - Car # - Competitor - Hometown - Points - Pay
1 - 49 - Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA - 5485 - $261,900
2 - 20RT - Ricky Thornton Jr - Chandler, AZ - 5455 - $288,650
3 - 71 - Hudson O'Neal - Martinsville, IN - 5175 - $157,275
4 - 99 - Devin Moran - Dresden, OH - 5135 - $193,049

5 - 58 - Garrett Alberson - Las Cruces, NM - 4975 - $118,550
6 - 1 - Brandon Sheppard - New Berlin, IL - 4895 - $148,300
7 - 76 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA - 4760 - $101,600
8 - 18D - Daulton Wilson - Fayetteville, NC - 4505 - $83,725
9 - 93 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC - 4275 - $70,325
10 - 79 - Donald McIntosh - Dawsonville, GA - 4085 - $56,200
11 - 22 - Daniel Hilsabeck - Earlham, IA - 4000 - $52,025
12 - 19M - Spencer Hughes - Meridian, MS - 3725 - $50,125
13 - 60 - Dan Ebert - Lake Shore, MN - 3660 - $42,900
14 - 6 - Clay Harris - Jupiter, FL - 3565 - $44,650
15 - 93L - Cory Lawler - Hanover, PA - 3235 - $32,925


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SCHULTZ EARNS HICKAMO SUPER STOCKS WIN

Schultz earns Hickamo Super Stocks win: Terry Schultz of Sedalia grabbed the lead on lap seven and went on to capture the 20-lap, $1,000-to-win Hickamo Super Stocks feature. Schultz finished in front of J.T. Carroll by nearly a second.

"They had a good track," Schultz said. "We got to watch the Late Model race and it was a good race and they did a good job all weekend and put on a good show for the fans."

Tim Brown went from fourth to first on the opening lap and was leading Carroll when fourth-running Kyle Davis spun to bring out a lap-two caution. Schultz, who started fifth, took away the lead by going past Brown on the inside of turn one. Carroll grabbed second from Brown on lap nine when caution flew, a lap before the halfway point.

Schultz expanded the lead to 1.1 seconds by lap 13 when another caution slowed the action. After the restart, the final seven laps ran caution free and Schultz won by a .908-second margin.

Tony Anglin finished third with Jared Hays fourth and Brown fifth.


Hickamo Super Stocks

A Feature - 1. B4-Terry Schultz[5]; 2. 94C-JT Carroll[2]; 3. G1-Tony Anglin[1]; 4. 4-Jared Hays[11]; 5. 111-Tim Brown[4]; 6. 21-Johnny Fennewald[17]; 7. 2-Colton Bourland[12]; 8. 8N-Colby North[8]; 9. 94-Kenny Carroll[6]; 10. KEG1-Jeremy Russell[18]; 11. 35-Johnny Coats[16]; 12. 164-Michael Muskrat[7]; 13. 25-Aaron Murry[19]; 14. 10K-Kyle Davis[3]; 15. 73-Francisco Escamilla[9]; 16. 23N-Jase Nelson[14]; 17. 27S-Will Smart[23]; 18. 18-Jon Hays[22]; 19. 08-Scott Pullen[25]; 20. 27B-Jerett Evans[20]; 21. (DNF) 7B-Chad Lyle[10]; 22. (DNF) 04-Blaine Ewing[13]; 23. (DNF) 64-Luke Leatherman[15]; 24. (DNF) 22W-Craig Wiggens[24]; 25. (DNS) 06-Morgan Campbell

B Feature - 1. 21-Johnny Fennewald[18]; 2. KEG1-Jeremy Russell[12]; 3. 25-Aaron Murry[1]; 4. 27B-Jerett Evans[11]; 5. 06-Morgan Campbell[5]; 6. 18-Jon Hays[13]; 7. 27S-Will Smart[8]; 8. 22W-Craig Wiggens[14]; 9. 08-Scott Pullen[4]; 10. 61R-Randi Goins[15]; 11. 77-Jeff Douty[16]; 12. 69T-Tony Bowman[17]; 13. 10C-Jacob Combs[10]; 14. (DNF) 3P-Aaron Poe[3]; 15. (DNF) 28-Chris Kircher[2]; 16. (DNF) X15-Bobby Ruff II[9]; 17. (DNF) 4G-Gary Clark[7]; 18. (DNF) 26M-Donnie Miller[6]

Heat 1 - 1. B4-Terry Schultz[1]; 2. 73-Francisco Escamilla[2]; 3. 2-Colton Bourland[3]; 4. 25-Aaron Murry[4]; 5. 28-Chris Kircher[6]; 6. 06-Morgan Campbell[7]; 7. X15-Bobby Ruff II[8]; 8. (DNF) 69T-Tony Bowman[5]

Heat 2 - 1. 94-Kenny Carroll[1]; 2. 7B-Chad Lyle[2]; 3. 111-Tim Brown[8]; 4. 04-Blaine Ewing[6]; 5. 3P-Aaron Poe[4]; 6. 4G-Gary Clark[5]; 7. 27B-Jerett Evans[3]; 8. 22W-Craig Wiggens[7]; 9. 61R-Randi Goins[9]

Heat 3 - 1. 94C-JT Carroll[2]; 2. 8N-Colby North[3]; 3. 164-Michael Muskrat[7]; 4. 64-Luke Leatherman[1]; 5. 23N-Jase Nelson[8]; 6. 27S-Will Smart[5]; 7. KEG1-Jeremy Russell[4]; 8. 18-Jon Hays[6]

Heat 4 - 1. 10K-Kyle Davis[2]; 2. G1-Tony Anglin[6]; 3. 4-Jared Hays[5]; 4. 35-Johnny Coats[1]; 5. 08-Scott Pullen[4]; 6. 26M-Donnie Miller[7]; 7. 10C-Jacob Combs[8]; 8. (DNF) 77-Jeff Douty[3]; 9. (DNS) 21-Johnny Fennewald



Motorcycles, Off Road, Dirt Track action next: It's a busy weekend ahead at Lucas Oil Speedway with American Progressive Flat Track making its first appearance on the dirt oval on Friday, in a makeup of a rainout from earlier this season. Gates open at 2:30 p.m. with opening ceremonies at 7. Tickets are available online. For info on the series visit americanflattrack.com.

UTV Short Course also is set for practice on Friday before racing on Saturday. Race classes will include 200 stock: ages 5-12, 200 limited: ages 5-12, 250 modified: ages 7-12, 700cc and under: ages 10-15, youth 1k: ages 13-17, sportsman na: ages 14 and up, sportsman turbo: ages 14 and up, women's na: ages 13 and up, women's fi: ages 13 and up, vet na: ages 40 and up, vet fi: ages 40 and up, pro-am na: ages 18 and up, pro-am turbo: ages 18 and up, pro na: ages 18 and up, pro turbo: ages 18 and up.

The Pitts Homes and Realty Weekly Racing Series on Saturday night will be Horton Supply Company Veterans and Military Appreciation Night at the races. All veterans and military personnel with ID will be admitted free. The 4 State Dirt Late Model Series will make their second appearance this season with a $1,250-to-win feature, $400-to-start main event. Other classes in action will be the Arctic Food Equipment Modifieds, O'Reilly Auto Parts Stock Cars and the Clear Creek Golf Car B-Mods.

For information on admission or camping for any Lucas Oil Speedway event in 2025, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-6119 or (417) 295-6043 or email her at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.