Devin Moran Scores Biggest Win of Career at Prairie Dirt Classic

(Photo Credit: Fairbury American Legion Speedway)
Devin Moran Scores Biggest Win of Career at Prairie Dirt Classic
(Photo Credit: Fairbury American Legion Speedway)

A former World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series Rookie of the Year earned the biggest win of his career this weekend after overcoming defending Series Champion and Prairie Dirt Classic winner Brandon Sheppard at the 29th annual Prairie Dirt Classic presented by Bank of Pontiac.

At the fastest quarter-mile in Fairbury, IL, Fairbury American Legion Speedway, rising dirt late model racing star Devin Moran did what many fans may have thought was impossible – became the new David who defeated a rather large dirt racing Goliath for his first $30,000 win of the season.

Saturday night’s 100-lap Feature began with the No. 32 of Chris Simpson leading the way alongside defending event winner Sheppard. Although Simpson raced out to the lead early while the rest of the field settled in behind him, it didn’t take Sheppard long to rocket past the former race leader to take over this race. On Lap 42, Moran proved that he was the driver to beat after taking over the lead and leading the 29-car field to the halfway point of this race.

Moran began to feel the pressure on Lap 69, after Sheppard regained the runner-up spot and began to quickly catch up to the race leader. On Lap 72, Sheppard stole the lead away only to lose it a lap later. Sheppard tried one more time on lap 78 and again was denied his desire to lead the following lap. After, Moran began to put plenty of real estate between himself and the former victor to claim his first Prairie Dirt Classic win.

“This is so cool,” said Moran. “I got nervous there on that last restart and every time that we restarted, but the top of the track just kept getting faster and faster and helped me gain both the lead as well as this biggest win of my career.”

Current points leader Mike Marlar, who started 15th, passed Sheppard with two laps to go to claim the runner-up position.

“We had a really good race car, and it was a really good race track tonight,” said Marlar. “It was so congested early, but once it cleared out, I was able to get to the front. Congrats go out to Devin Moran and his team. He has been doing an awesome job, and I’m real proud of him. If we would have had a caution there we might have had a shot, but we had to really work to get by Sheppard for second, so we will take it.”

Earlier in the weekend, Bobby Pierce won his first PFC Brakes Fast Qualifier Award of the season and second of his career with a 13.188 qualifying time. Gordy Gundaker, three-time Series Champion Billy Moyer and Tyler Erb also won Saturday’s Last Chance Showdown qualifying races.

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series will head north and make their first-ever appearance at the 1/3-mile of Plymouth Dirt Track, located east of Fond du Lac in Plymouth, WI on Monday, July 30th. The $10,000-to-win Wisconsin Refrigerated 50 will see the track’s Grassroots Project Late Models waiting to challenge the Outlaw invaders, including four-time and defending track champion and current points leader Brad Mueller.

Stay tuned to RacingJunk.com for all of your World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series 2018 racing action.

About Ellen Richardson 491 Articles
Ellen Richardson is the author of Behind The Wheel for RacingJunk.com. This automotive sports junkie has a passion for telling an athlete's story while also covering various racing activities. Find out more about her at ellennrichardson.wordpress.com or follow Ellen on Twitter at @ellennrich or Instagram at elnrich33.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*


I agree to receive emails from RacingJunk.com. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy