by Don Martin                    6.10.2019

Below are the STLRacing.com Top 25 Dirt Late Model Rankings after the completion of the 25^th Annual Dream at Eldora Speedway last weekend.   What can you say about Brandon Sheppard and Mark Richards Racing.    BShepp was incredible tackling the cushion over the last 25 laps of the race just inches from the wall.   He had to be perfect with Dale McDowell reeling him in over the last ten laps losing by half a car length.   The win for Sheppard was worth $125,000 and joined Dennis Erb Jr as the only drivers from Illinois to win the event.      Sheppard proved to everyone why he is the best driver in the country aboard the Rocket Chassis / Durham Racing Engines mount.

Dale McDowell was probably one of the safest bets heading into Dream always a contender at Eldora and has had his share of glory at Eldora capturing the World 100 in the past.   Dale almost pulled it off with a late charge but just came up short.   It was a finish people will be talking about for a long time. Dale was driving a Sweet/Bloomquist Race Car.

Shane Clanton who has won the Dream before came home third in the finale, and Shane also won a Prelim on Friday night.    It was a great weekend for the Georgia driver in his Capital Chassis.

Chase Junghans is having his best season and came home 4^th Saturday night in his Rocket Chassis, and Tyler Erb finished 5^th in the Best Performance Rocket Chassis.     My surprise of the week had to be Chris Ferguson in his Sweet/Bloomquist race car.   Chris finished 4^th on Thursday, second on Friday, and wheeled it home Saturday to 6^th place what a week for the North Carolina driver.

After the preliminaries on Thursday and Friday most thought Ricky Weiss was the guy to beat.   He was fast every time he hit the track he won on Thursday and finished 3^rd on the Friday and was making it look easy.   Don’t forget he won the North/South last August so he can win a big race.    He ran most of the race in the top five and came home 7^th in the feature.   Great job to the Canada driver in his  Sweet/Bloomquist Race car.

Other Eldora notes that should be mentioned 92 cars were on hand for the event.   It has been over a decade since that many cars were on hand, and you can’t have a big race at Eldora without mentioning Scott Bloomquist.    It was his first race back since the motorcycle accident in February.    He hit the invert again right on the number after his finishes Thursday and Friday.  He had only one top ten, the invert was 30 and Scott started on the outside of the front row of heat number 5.   Scott was leading the heat race when rain hit the track and caused a red flat condition.   Before the red flag Scott hit the wall while leading, officials decided once back to racing they would let the sixth heat race hit the track giving the drivers time to fix some of the damage caused by the wet conditions on the race track.   Scott’s team thrashed with several other team members from Ricky Weiss team, and Dale McDowell’s.   They had to replace a spindle and the spoiler and deck had some heavy damage.   Scott dominated the heat race and of course the team was light at the scales for 4 pounds.   Scott was DQ’d and had to run the consolation race and did not make the show.   If he had made weight he would have started on the front row of the main event.

This week the UMP Hell Tour Summer Nationals kicks off.   It all starts Wednesday at Peoria Speedway before heading to Kankakee, Sycamore, Joliet, and Brownstown.

The World of Outlaws are idle, Lucas Series will be in Fayetteville, Gaffney, and Smoky Mountain for a triple header.   Also there is a $20,000 to win race at Virginia Motor Speedway.

STLRacing.com Top 25 Super Dirt Late Model Rankings 2019                        6.10.2019

1              Brandon Sheppard          4^th Dream Start First Dream WIN !!!!

2              Jonathan Davenport        10 Dream starts first and second in the prelims.

3              Tyler Erb                              2 Dream Start finished 5^th.

4              Ricky Weiss                         2^nd Dream Start finished 7^th also won a prelim.

5              Dale McDowell                  17 Dream Starts finished 2^nd

6              Ross Bailes                          1^st Dream start finished 13^th

7              Chase Junghans                                1^st Dream start finished 4^th.

8              Shane Clanton                   13^th Dream Start finished 3^rd

9              Chris Ferguson                  2 top 5’s in the Prelims and finished 6^th in the Dream.

10           Jimmy Owens                    12 Dream starts – 1 win

11           Darrell Lanigan                    20^th Dream Start finished 10^th also won a Prelim.

12           Bobby Pierce                     4^th Dream Start

13           Brandon Overton             4^th Dream Start

14           Tim McCreadie                 11 Dream Starts finished 12^th.

15           Mason Zeigler                   5^th Dream Start finished 8^th

16           Earl Pearson Jr.                 11^th Dream Start led the race midway.

17           Chris Madden                    14^th Dream Start

18           Mike Marlar                       Did not make the race.

19           Josh Richards                     Did not make the race.

20           Devin Moran                      Did not make the race.

21           Brian Shirley                       Made his 6^th Dream finished 3^rd on Thursday night Prelim.

22           Michael Page                     Did not make the race.

23           Don O’Neal                         Did not make the race.

24           Kent Robinson                  7^th Dream Start finished 2^nd Friday Prelim.

25           Shannon Babb                  15^th Dream Start finished 11^th.