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Brandon Sheppard Crowned LOLMDS Champion
DTWC Runner-up Secures $250,000 Championship Payday
SHINNSTON, W. Va. (Oct. 19, 2026) — For the first time in his career, Brandon Sheppard is a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion.
The five-time World of Outlaws Late Model Series champ clinched his first Big River Steel Championship with a runner-up finish in Sunday’s rain-delayed Dirt Track World Championship at West Virginia Motor Speedway.
The Shinnston, West Virginia-based Rocket1 Racing team secured the $250,000 payday, finishing the season 55 points ahead of 2025 series winner Devin Moran.
“It sounds so sweet, honestly,” Sheppard said. “It hasn't sunk in yet, for sure, Man, I just can't think (Rocket co-founders) Mark Richards and Steve Baker enough for taking a chance on me all them years ago.”
Weather played a role in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season finale, pushing the weekend’s schedule back a day at the newly reconstructed 3/8-mile oval.
During Saturday’s dual preliminary program, Sheppard won his heat race before delivering a consistent performance in his 25-lap feature, where he started and finished third.
Starting from the third row in Sunday’s $100,000-to-win Dirt Track World Championship, Sheppard made a late-race charge to help seal the championship. He advanced to third on lap 77 before moving into the runner-up position on lap 90, where he remained through the finish of the 100-lap affair.
Sheppard joined race winner Ricky Thornton Jr. and third-place finisher Devin Moran on the podium, capping the season with his first LOLMDS championship.
For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, visit www.LucasDirt.com.
Rocket1 Racing will have a short week to regroup following its championship celebration, returning to action Thursday with the FloRacing Night in America tour at Volunteer Speedway. Sheppard will compete for the $20,000 winner’s payday at the Tennessee oval.
Additional event information is available at www.VolunteerSpeedway.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://zc.vg/cwAwC.
PR Contact:
Jeremy Peters (jeremy.peters@myracepass.com)
DTWC Runner-up Secures $250,000 Championship Payday
SHINNSTON, W. Va. (Oct. 19, 2026) — For the first time in his career, Brandon Sheppard is a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion.
The five-time World of Outlaws Late Model Series champ clinched his first Big River Steel Championship with a runner-up finish in Sunday’s rain-delayed Dirt Track World Championship at West Virginia Motor Speedway.
The Shinnston, West Virginia-based Rocket1 Racing team secured the $250,000 payday, finishing the season 55 points ahead of 2025 series winner Devin Moran.
“It sounds so sweet, honestly,” Sheppard said. “It hasn't sunk in yet, for sure, Man, I just can't think (Rocket co-founders) Mark Richards and Steve Baker enough for taking a chance on me all them years ago.”
Weather played a role in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series season finale, pushing the weekend’s schedule back a day at the newly reconstructed 3/8-mile oval.
During Saturday’s dual preliminary program, Sheppard won his heat race before delivering a consistent performance in his 25-lap feature, where he started and finished third.
Starting from the third row in Sunday’s $100,000-to-win Dirt Track World Championship, Sheppard made a late-race charge to help seal the championship. He advanced to third on lap 77 before moving into the runner-up position on lap 90, where he remained through the finish of the 100-lap affair.
Sheppard joined race winner Ricky Thornton Jr. and third-place finisher Devin Moran on the podium, capping the season with his first LOLMDS championship.
For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, visit www.LucasDirt.com.
Rocket1 Racing will have a short week to regroup following its championship celebration, returning to action Thursday with the FloRacing Night in America tour at Volunteer Speedway. Sheppard will compete for the $20,000 winner’s payday at the Tennessee oval.
Additional event information is available at www.VolunteerSpeedway.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://zc.vg/cwAwC.
PR Contact:
Jeremy Peters (jeremy.peters@myracepass.com)