Brandon Sheppard staved off a last lap surge by Scot Bloomquist to win the UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Models feature at Plymouth Speedway Thursday night.
Sheppard never lost the lead as Tyler Erb and Bloomquist traded second and third place several times in the 40-lap race. Eventually, battling lapped traffic, it looked like Erb on the high side was putting some distance between he and Bloomquist, but Bloomquist wouldn’t give up and worked the bottom, sliding in and out of traffic to secure second. Giving fans a jolt of excitement, Bloomquist gave it one last effort on Turn 4 of the last lap to take the lead, falling short by less than half a second.
This was Sheppard’s first Summer Nationals win this season. Brian Shirley slid into third with Erb finishing fourth. Billy Moyer, Kyle Bronson, Bobby Pierce, Brent Larson, Billy Moyer, Jr., and Chase Junghans rounded out the Late Model top 10 in the 22-car field.
In a host of Summer Nationals Summit wheelmen, it was local Plymouth Speedway driver Jamie Lomax who dominated another 22-car field in the Modifieds. Lomax is no stranger to victory lane at the Playground of Power, as he’s won three races this season already. Lomax led all laps of the one-caution race.
“It was a great track tonight,” Lomax said. “A little bit of moisture if you could catch it on the bottom; it was slick, smooth everywhere else. We chose to go a little harder on tires than everyone else, and it paid off.”
Lomax said along with the Summer Nationals drivers, “We all know the weekly competition here is real tough, with Randy Lines and those guys. I knew (Nick) Hoffman was going to be tough. He races all over and he’s strong everywhere; Mike McKinney… he’s strong everywhere he goes and he’s been running real good. Me and Hoffman went about the first three laps side by side and never touched each other. It was a good race and I’m just glad we were able to get it done.”
McKinney was second and Frank Marshall was third, with Lines fourth. Fifth place was Todd Sherman, followed by David Mielke, Hoffman, Tony Anderson, Bobby Stremme and Charles Patrick completing the top 10.
“We’re blessed to be able to call Plymouth Speedway home,” said owner Ed Kennedy. “What a great night it was with all of these high-caliber drivers – both on this tour and our home-track guys. We’re looking forward to more exciting racing this weekend here.”
Saturday night, there will be a huge fireworks display at Plymouth Speedway, courtesy of R&B Car Company, with a regular night of racing, minus the 600s and mini wedge divisions. Gates open at 4 p.m.; hot laps at 6 and racing starting at 7. Tickets are $15 for adults; $5 for kids 6-12 and free for 5 and younger.
Visit Plymouth Speedway on Facebook for the latest event information, updates and photos.
