5/3/2026
Brandon Sheppard Finishes Fourth in Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway
Illinois Speedweek Up Next with Five Races in Five Nights
SHINNISTON, W. VA. (May 4, 2026) — Brandon Sheppard and the Rocket1 Racing team turned in another consistent weekend with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in Saturday’s Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway.
After opening the weekend with an eighth-place run at Circle City Raceway, Sheppard elevated his performance in Kentucky, piloting the Valvoline / Seubert Calf Ranches No. 1 Late Model to a top-five result.
“Hats off to my guys,” Sheppard said. “We were a little off in qualifying, but we made the right adjustments as the night went on. We’re really consistent right now, and I feel like a win is right around the corner. Big thanks to my crew and everyone back at the shop in West Virginia who keep this thing rolling.”
The weekend opened Friday at Circle City Raceway near Indianapolis, where Sheppard was consistent throughout the night. After a third-place finish in his heat race, he slipped one position in the feature to record an eighth-place result.
He took a step forward Saturday at Florence Speedway, powering from third to a heat race win and backing it up with a strong fourth-place finish in the 50-lap, $25,000-to-win finale.
Sheppard sits fourth in the latest Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point standings.
For the latest news, results, and championship standings, visit www.LucasDirt.com.
Sheppard and the Rocket1 Racing team now turn their focus to a demanding Illinois Speedweek, featuring five races in five nights across the Midwest beginning Tuesday:
May 5 – La Salle Speedway – FloRacing Night in America
May 6 – Spoon River Speedway – FloRacing Night in America
May 7 – Lincoln Speedway – FloRacing Night in America
May 8 – Farmer City Raceway – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
May 9 – Fairbury Speedway – Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Additional event information is available at www.FloSeries.com and www.LucasDirt.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://pages/Rocket1Racing.
Article Credit: Photo by Heath Lawson