CLEARING AN OBSTACLE: Brandon Sheppard Scores First World of Outlaws Win of 2023 in Quad Cities 150 Finale

Brandon Sheppard knew he’d face many challenges when he started Sheppard Riggs Racing in 2023. And on Saturday at Davenport Speedway, the four-time World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series champion overcame one of those obstacles.

After going winless in the first 28 races of 2023, the New Berlin, IL driver scored his first Series win of the season in the My Place Hotels Quad Cities 150 presented by Hoker Trucking finale.

Chris Madden led the field to the green in the 80-lap Feature, but four cautions slowed the field in the race’s first quarter—the fourth coming on Lap 16. That’s when the Gray Court, SC driver had his first challenge.

On the Lap 16 restart, Series points leader Bobby Pierce slid under Madden in Turn 1 and nosed out ahead of the #44 on the backstretch. Madden withstood that challenge, driving back around Pierce to keep the lead. Pierce then hounded Madden for the next 20 laps, keeping pace with “Smokey” as they battled around the 1/4-mile bullring,

Eventually, the long green-flag run played into Pierce’s hands, as he pulled even with Madden on the bottom as they clicked off Lap 35. But the next time around, the “Smooth Operator” found the burst of speed he needed, nosing ahead of Madden to complete Lap 36.

The Oakwood, IL driver pulled away, seeming destined for a weekend sweep until everything changed on Lap 58. Pierce’s right rear tire went flat, bringing out the caution and handing the lead to defending Series champion Dennis Erb Jr., who had just passed Madden for second.

Erb’s lead was short-lived, though. With the Carpentersville, IL driver choosing the outside lane, Sheppard found the opening he needed on the bottom. When the two Illinois drivers returned to the start/finish line, Sheppard’s momentum allowed him to inch past Erb’s #28 as he wrestled the lead away.

From there, not even a late-race restart could keep Sheppard’s #B5 out of Victory Lane, as he held on to win his first World of Outlaws Feature with Sheppard-Riggs Racing and first in a Longhorn Chassis.

“It feels awesome,” Sheppard said. “My team’s been working really hard. Everything has been starting to come our way a little bit. We’ve been starting to show consistency in the past couple of months, and Longhorn has been super easy to work with. It’s been a trying year with a bunch of ups and downs, but nobody’s given up on me one bit or questioned me one bit. It just feels good, and it means the world to be standing here.”

The $30,000 triumph is Sheppard’s 82nd World of Outlaws victory, and his fourth Series win at Davenport Speedway. It’s a win, “B-Shepp” said, came down to how well he conserved his tires, along with the knowledge of past races at the track.

“If you could roll the bottom right, which we could all weekend, I knew if it ever came in, we were going to be there,” Sheppard said. “I was able to keep my speed up good at the beginning of the race and not kill my tire. Not slip it too much up top, and not fall back. Once we were able to start moving around a little bit, that’s when I knew my tire wasn’t going to get hurt, and I could go wherever I needed to.

“I knew at the end of the day that the bottom is the place to be, and the top was just a little too dirty for me to be too tempted to go up there.  So, I went with my gut. And sure enough, Dennis went up there to race guys on the outside, and we were able to win the race.”

Tanner English finished second, his third podium in his last five World of Outlaws races at the track. The Benton, KY driver, who started 10th, used the same strategy that led him to victory in 2022, conserving his tires and keeping up his momentum on the bottom. But, he ultimately fell short.

“We were conserving the whole race and trying not to spin the tire,” English said. “I had that in the back of my mind the whole time. Just trying to conserve. We went with a hard tire this year, not the softer option like last year. This tire game is different now. But we were right there, and I can’t say enough about this team.”

English’s second-place finish also continues his streak of solid runs in long-distance races. In the five World of Outlaws races that were 60 laps or more, he’s finished on the podium four times.

“I wish every race was 100 laps,” English. “We’d spend more money on tires and motors, I think. But these long races are what I like. I like to conserve and be there at the end. And it just plays into my favor a little bit. I’m more conservative of a driver, and that’s where they pay the big money.”

Ryan Gustin, from Marshalltown, IA rounded out the podium after starting 11th. The “Reaper” made a late-race charge in the final 20 laps, moving from seventh to third on the outside lane.

“I saw everybody cut left on a restart, and I figured I didn’t have anything to lose,” Gustin said. “It was getting blacker and blacker up there. But on the flip side of things, that bottom got so, I think they got them tires pushed in or something where it was so short around the bottom where I had to carry a lot of speed.

“I thought we maybe had them there, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Hats off to Brandon and Tanner. They drove a hell of a race.”

Madden crossed the line fourth after falling as far back as sixth. He has two top fives in three nights racing a new Longhorn chassis.

He also gained on Pierce in the battle for the championship, cutting the lead to 116 points with eleven races remaining. Pierce rebounded to finish ninth after the flat tire.

Brian Shirley rounded out the top five—his seventh of the season.

Todd Cooney was the Germfree Rookie of the Race, finishing 13th. He was also Saturday’s Fox Factory Hard Charger, moving up 10 positions.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws CASE Late Models return to Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 1, for the Milton Hershey School Back to Class Showdown at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, WI. Then, the Series returns to Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, MN, for the Labor Day Duel.  Both Features will pay $20,000-to-win.

If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch every World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model race live on DIRTVision.

CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Feature (80 Laps): 1. B5-Brandon Sheppard[3]; 2. 96V-Tanner English[10]; 3. 19R-Ryan Gustin[11]; 4. 44-Chris Madden[1]; 5. 3S-Brian Shirley[9]; 6. 28-Dennis Erb Jr[2]; 7. 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr[16]; 8. 25S-Chad Simpson[13]; 9. 32-Bobby Pierce[4]; 10. 40B-Kyle Bronson[7]; 11. 97-Cade Dillard[6]; 12. 16-Tyler Bruening[17]; 13. 30-Todd Cooney[23]; 14. 25-Shane Clanton[8]; 15. B1-Brent Larson[21]; 16. 9-Nick Hoffman[5]; 17. 25F-Jason Feger[12]; 18. 14W-Dustin Walker[24]; 19. 32S-Chris Simpson[19]; 20. 32B-Cody Laney[18]; 21. 111-Matt Lux[20]; 22. 18-Shannon Babb[14]; 23. 11-Gordy Gundaker[22]; 24. 14G-Trevor Gundaker[15] FOX FACTORY HARD CHARGER: Todd Cooney [+10].

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My Place Hotels Quad Cities 150
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Davenport Speedway
2815 W Locust St
Davenport, Iowa 52804 

Event Description
The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models return to Davenport Speedway for another three-night tour on the banks of the Mississippi River. Saturday’s finale will pay $30,000-to-win.

Accompanying the World of Outlaws again this year are the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets with Practice on Thursday, followed by full $4K-to-win show on Friday and $5K-to-win show on Saturday.

Series Racing
DIRTcar Late Models, World of Outlaws Late Model Series

Support Divisions
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series

To Win Amount
$30,000.00

Total Purse
$208,600.00

Feature Laps Length
80

Event Schedule
2PM Pit Gates open
5PM Grandstand Gates open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying, Opening Ceremonies and Racing to Follow
*All times Central

Related Documents
 https://worldofoutlaws.com/schedule/event-info/?event=3513

Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Options And Prices
3-Day GA: $90
2- Day GA: $70 (Friday and Saturday)
Thursday GA: $30
Friday GA: $35
Saturday GA: $40
Child GA (12 & under): $10

3-day Pits - $100
2-day Pits - $80
Thursday Pits - $35
Friday Pits - $40
Saturday Pits - $45
Vehicle/ATV Pass - $30


Discounts
None

Grandstand Type
Bleachers

Reserved Seating
N/A

Family Section Location
N/A

Handicapped Seating Location
Front Row

Pit Pass Price
3-Day Pit: $100
2-day $80
Thursday $35
Friday $40
Saturday $45

Pit Age Requirement
none

Parking Cost
free

Handicapped Parking Location
Front gate

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite, sanitary facility, showers, waste services

Camping Cost
No reservations are being taken. First come, first serve. Fees will be collected upon arrival. Tent Camping - $60 for three days, $20 extra if arriving on Wednesday. Dry Camping - $90 for three days, $30 extra if arriving on Wednesday. Hook Ups - $150 for three days, $50 extra if arriving on Wednesday.

Support Divisions
Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series

To Win Amount
$30,000.00

Total Purse
$208,600.00

Reserved Seating
N/A

Type of Grandstand
Bleachers

Stadium Seating
Stadium seats are not allowed

Handicapped Seating
Front Row

Handicapped Parking
Front gate

Pit Age Limit
none

Personal Coolers
Coolers are prohibited.

ATMs
1

Credit Card Use
Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
No alcohol is allowed. Beer is available for purchase.

Smoking Policy
No smoking in the grandstands

Family Section
N/A

Parking Cost
free

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite, sanitary facility, showers, waste services

Camping Cost
No reservations are being taken. First come, first serve. Fees will be collected upon arrival. Tent Camping - $60 for three days, $20 extra if arriving on Wednesday. Dry Camping - $90 for three days, $30 extra if arriving on Wednesday. Hook Ups - $150 for three days, $50 extra if arriving on Wednesday.

Davenport Speedway
2815 W Locust St
Davenport, Iowa 52804 

Track Phone
(563) 349-5044

Ticket Phone
(844) 347-8849

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Type
0.250;

Late Model Track Record
13.207 seconds by Bobby Pierce on 8/25/22

Travel Tips
My Place Hotel: $122
20 minutes from Davenport Speedway, off I-74; pet friendly, free parking, all rooms include full-size refrigerator, two-burner cooktop, coffee maker, and microwave.
4653 Progress Drive, Davenport, IA (563) 424-1427

Best Western Plus Steeple Gate Inn: $119
Located right off I-80, just 15 minutes from the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.
100 West 76th Street Davenport IA (563) 386-6900

Comfort Inn & Suites Davenport: $120
Free parking, breakfast, and Wi-Fi.
8300Northwest Blvd. Davenport IA (563) 324-8300

Hilton Garden Inn: $109
Rate includes Wi-Fi and parking.
959 Middle Road Bettendorf IA (563) 265-2121

Isle Casino Hotel: $69-$94 (Thur $69 / Fri $89 / Sat $94 exclusive of $10 daily fee & 12% tax)
Rate includes $10 casino play for guests over 21.
1777 Isle Parkway Bettendorf IA
Book online or call direct (563) 441-7114

Quality Inn & Suites: $89.99-$99.99 ($89.99 when booking 3 or more nights)
Rate includes free hot breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking.
6605 Brady Street Davenport IA (563) 386-8336

Closest Airport
Moline

Other Airport
Mt. Joy

Track Map

Competitor Downloads
 https://www.dirtcarmembers.com/downloads.php

Tire Rules
Left Front Tire: Hoosier (Open)
Left Rear & Right Front Tire: Hoosier (90) NLMT3 Right Rear Tire: Hoosier (92) NLMT3, (92) NLMT4 **Grooving & Siping will be allowed**

Competitor Info
Tire Rule:
Hoosier tires on all 4 corners.
LR must be D12 or harder.
RR MUST be (SP3 Only)
(Grooving and Siping is Allowed)
Teams can have (1) new and (2) used tires marked before Drivers meeting.