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By Brett Zerfowski

(Macon, IL) Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin has quickly risen to the top of the Late Model circuit in the Midwest. Following in his father’s (Steve Sheppard, Jr.) footsteps, Brandon has finished many nights with checkered flag in hand and the victory photo. On Memorial Day, he would once again claim the top honor in front of NASCAR stars Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace and Justin Allgaier.

As those three signed autographs for their fans, Sheppard led an uncautioned 30-lap feature and picked up the $2,000 top prize. Although he led the entire race, Mark Voigt of Marine finished by a matter of inches. Along with the feature, Sheppard was also the fastest of 28 Northern All-Star Late Model Series competitors and a heat winner, finishing ahead of his father. The feature sealed the sweep, his second sweep at Macon Speedway in 2011 with the first coming in the season’s second week (April 9).

Steve Sheppard, Jr. would enjoy watching his son win his second Northern All-Star Late Model Series feature in as many attempts from the infield as he pulled off on the 13th lap. Ryan Unzicker, native of El Paso and feature winner during the Spring Fling 2011 Opener, took third with Dillan White from Kentucky in fourth and Donny Walden of Towanda placing in the top five.

Macon Speedway co-owner Ken Schrader would lay claim to the Billingsley Towing Modified 20-lap feature, having first place for the entire race. Fellow co-owner and racing buddy Kenny Wallace ran second to Schrader for the majority of the race before Springfield’s Guy Taylor jumped between the two and would finish ahead of Wallace. Danny Smith of Argenta was fourth and Brian Diveley, doing double duty in both of the Chevrolet Late Models and Billingsley Towing Modifieds, was the fifth place finisher.

The Street Stock 12-lapper would go to Tyler Blankenship. Outdueling Larry Russell, Jr. for the race and checkered flag, Blankenship would lead them all and cruise to the victory. During the Street Stock heat race, Mike Pundt, Jr. won the race and opted not to carry the checkered flag on Memorial Day. Instead, Pundt requested the much larger American flag to wave during his parade lap. “I’ve always wanted to win on Memorial Day or the 4th of July so I could carry the American flag. Nobody’s every done that before.” Very patriotic and well deserved.

Macon Speedway will bounce back with a full show this Saturday, June 4, with the annual Faster Pastor race with area church leaders behind the wheel of racecars in the attempt to be the Faster Pastor. Also, High School Hornets are slated to be apart of the full show.

UMP Late Model – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, Il 50.00
2 3 30V Mark Voigt Marine , Il 48.00
3 5 24U Ryan Unzicker El Paso, Il 46.00
4 2 54 Dillan White – 44.00
5 7 1W Donny Walden Towanda , Il 42.00
6 8 6K Michael Kloos – 40.00
7 9 89 Mike Spatola Manhattan , Il 38.00
8 4 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 36.00
9 13 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 34.00
10 10 91S Rusty Schlenk Jackson , Mi 32.00
11 12 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 30.00
12 15 38L Ryan Little Springfield , Il 28.00
13 18 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 26.00
14 14 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 24.00
15 16 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 22.00
16 11 7M Adam Mefford Jacksonville , Il 20.00
17 20 782 Mark Larson – 18.00
18 19 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 16.00
19 6 5S Steve Sheppard New Berlin, Il 14.00
20 17 91 Jeremy Nichols , Il 12.00

UMP Late Model – Consolation
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 91 Jeremy Nichols , Il 0.00
2 2 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
3 5 24S Steve Phillips Neoga , Il 0.00
4 6 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 0.00
5 8 1C Chad Evans Mattoon , Il 0.00
6 11 7MX Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 0.00
7 7 DC3 Don Cisco Blue Mound, Il 0.00
8 10 782 Mark Larson – 0.00
9 9 38J Jake Little Springfield , Il 0.00
10 3 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
11 4 32 Vince Grondzki – 0.00
12 12 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 0.00 DNS

UMP Late Model – Heat 4
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
2 1 6K Michael Kloos – 0.00
3 3 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 0.00
4 4 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 0.00
5 6 32 Vince Grondzki – 0.00
6 5 1C Chad Evans Mattoon , Il 0.00
7 7 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 0.00

UMP Late Model – Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 54 Dillan White – 0.00
2 3 1W Donny Walden Towanda , Il 0.00
3 2 7M Adam Mefford Jacksonville , Il 0.00
4 4 38L Ryan Little Springfield , Il 0.00
5 6 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00
6 5 DC3 Don Cisco Blue Mound, Il 0.00
7 7 7MX Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 0.00

UMP Late Model – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00
2 2 5S Steve Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00
3 5 91S Rusty Schlenk Jackson , Mi 0.00
4 3 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 0.00
5 7 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
6 4 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 0.00
7 6 782 Mark Larson – 0.00

UMP Late Model – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 30V Mark Voigt Marine , Il 0.00
2 3 24U Ryan Unzicker El Paso, Il 0.00
3 1 89 Mike Spatola Manhattan , Il 0.00
4 4 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 0.00
5 7 91 Jeremy Nichols , Il 0.00
6 6 24S Steve Phillips Neoga , Il 0.00
7 5 38J Jake Little Springfield , Il 0.00

UMP Late Model – Qualifying 4
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 5 54 Dillan White – 0.00
2 6 6K Michael Kloos – 0.00
3 2 91S Rusty Schlenk Jackson , Mi 0.00
4 3 7M Adam Mefford Jacksonville , Il 0.00
5 1 11D Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
6 4 38J Jake Little Springfield , Il 0.00
7 7 21 Kyle Logue Cisco , Il 0.00

UMP Late Model – Qualifying 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 5S Steve Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00
2 3 1W Donny Walden Towanda , Il 0.00
3 4 38L Ryan Little Springfield , Il 0.00
4 2 DC3 Don Cisco Blue Mound, Il 0.00
5 6 1C Chad Evans Mattoon , Il 0.00
6 7 32 Vince Grondzki – 0.00
7 5 7MX Kevin Moffett Moweaqua , Il 0.00

UMP Late Model – Qualifying 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 B5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, Il 0.00
2 7 89 Mike Spatola Manhattan , Il 0.00
3 3 30V Mark Voigt Marine , Il 0.00
4 5 12 Rick Standridge Collinsville , Il 0.00
5 6 27 Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains, Il 0.00
6 2 28 Rodney Standerfer Germantown , Il 0.00
7 4 7S Ethan Schnapp Springfield , Il 0.00

UMP Late Model – Qualifying 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 24U Ryan Unzicker El Paso, Il 0.00
2 2 82 Roger Brickler Springfield , Il 0.00
3 7 782 Mark Larson – 0.00
4 1 16H Mike Hammerle St Charles, Mo 0.00
5 6 24S Steve Phillips Neoga , Il 0.00
6 5 91 Jeremy Nichols , Il 0.00
7 4 11K Terry Reed Decatur , Il 0.00

UMP Modified – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 9 Ken Schrader Concord , Nc 50.00
2 7 77 Guy Taylor – 48.00
3 4 36 Kenny Wallace – 46.00
4 2 9X Danny Smith Argenta , Il 44.00
5 6 29W Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 42.00
6 11 44 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 40.00
7 10 T2 Mark Tullis Macon , Il 38.00
8 13 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 36.00
9 14 47C Wendell Zulauf Jr Springfield , Il 34.00
10 23 0H Tim Hancock Mt. Olive, Il 32.00
11 16 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 30.00
12 19 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 28.00
13 9 01 Jeremy Nichols , Il 26.00
14 15 28X Tom Smallwood – 24.00
15 21 58 Larry Ferguson Arcola , Il 22.00
16 22 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 20.00
17 17 33 Dave Eckel Lovington , Il 18.00
18 3 22 Scott Jones Macon , Il 16.00
19 18 35S Randy Spaugh Decatur , Il 14.00
20 12 1 Troy Page Decatur , Il 12.00
21 20 71 Jeff Graham Stonington , Il 10.00
22 5 M41 Steve Maisel – 10.00
23 8 23 Andrew Barnes – 10.00

UMP Modified – Consolation
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 0.00
2 5 71 Jeff Graham Stonington , Il 0.00
3 3 58 Larry Ferguson Arcola , Il 0.00
4 1 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 0.00
5 4 0H Tim Hancock Mt. Olive, Il 0.00

UMP Modified – Heat 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 36 Kenny Wallace – 0.00
2 6 9X Danny Smith Argenta , Il 0.00
3 7 29W Brian Diveley Springfield , Il 0.00
4 3 28X Tom Smallwood – 0.00
5 8 28 Joe Strawkas Buffalo , Il 0.00
6 1 35S Randy Spaugh Decatur , Il 0.00
7 5 35 Clark Robertson Shelbyville , Il 0.00
8 4 0H Tim Hancock Mt. Olive, Il 0.00

UMP Modified – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 6 9 Ken Schrader Concord , Nc 0.00
2 2 77 Guy Taylor – 0.00
3 1 T2 Mark Tullis Macon , Il 0.00
4 7 23 Andrew Barnes – 0.00
5 8 1 Troy Page Decatur , Il 0.00
6 5 33 Dave Eckel Lovington , Il 0.00
7 3 71 Jeff Graham Stonington , Il 0.00 DNS
8 4 11 Cale Chandler Decatur , Il 0.00 DNS

UMP Modified – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 22 Scott Jones Macon , Il 0.00
2 5 M41 Steve Maisel – 0.00
3 3 01 Jeremy Nichols , Il 0.00
4 4 47C Wendell Zulauf Jr Springfield , Il 0.00
5 9 44 Aaron Burcham Decatur , Il 0.00
6 7 16H Eric Hamilton Macon , Il 0.00
7 1 19 James Hankins Taylorville , Il 0.00
8 6 58 Larry Ferguson Arcola , Il 0.00
9 8 47 Dustin Pryde Decatur , Il 0.00

UMP Street Stock – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 3B Tyler Blankenship Vandalia , Il 50.00
2 1 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 48.00
3 5 29 Bobby Beiler Decatur , Il 46.00
4 7 OO Roy Magee Ii Springfield , Il 44.00
5 9 33 Justin Hill Lovington , Il 42.00
6 11 61 Gene Reed Shelbyville , Il 40.00
7 10 42 Travis Wallbaum Ashland , Il 38.00
8 13 57R Thomas Riech Springfield , Il 36.00
9 6 23 Jason Hazlet Moweaqua , Il 34.00
10 14 67 Dennis Vandermeersch Springfield , Il 32.00
11 8 21C Coleman Scott Brownstown , Il 30.00
12 15 4M David Mowry Ashland , Il 28.00
13 3 918 Michael Pundt Jr. Decatur , Il 26.00
14 4 36 Nick Justice Harristown , Il 24.00
15 12 52R Jeffery Reed Jr. Blue Mound, Il 22.00

UMP Street Stock – Heat 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 918 Michael Pundt Jr. Decatur , Il 0.00
2 4 36 Nick Justice Harristown , Il 0.00
3 2 OO Roy Magee Ii Springfield , Il 0.00
4 5 21C Coleman Scott Brownstown , Il 0.00
5 3 42 Travis Wallbaum Ashland , Il 0.00
6 7 61 Gene Reed Shelbyville , Il 0.00
7 6 67 Dennis Vandermeersch Springfield , Il 0.00

UMP Street Stock – Heat 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 3B Tyler Blankenship Vandalia , Il 0.00
2 6 X7 Larry Russell Jr. Harristown , Il 0.00
3 2 23 Jason Hazlet Moweaqua , Il 0.00
4 7 29 Bobby Beiler Decatur , Il 0.00
5 4 33 Justin Hill Lovington , Il 0.00
6 3 52R Jeffery Reed Jr. Blue Mound, Il 0.00
7 5 57R Thomas Riech Springfield , Il 0.00
8 8 4M David Mowry Ashland , Il 0.00