Shane Clanton Claims Second Series Win of Season at Cherokee
Clanton Holds Off Late Charge From Sheppard

GAFFNEY, SC- May 5, 2017- Shane Clanton wheeled his way into Victory Lane for the second time this season during the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series first-ever visit to Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC. Clanton was able to lead all 50 laps of the feature in front of a packed house at the 3/8-mile red clay oval.

"This is a testament to my crew guys, as well as Marshall Green and Clements House of Power and everyone at Capital [Race Cars]," said Clanton. "This is special. We have worked awfully hard to get back to Victory Lane and luckily we held him off."

The current Series points leader, Brandon Sheppard made a late charge at Clanton hoping to steal the show and the $10,000 prize. With five laps to go, Sheppard took the high line on the track to pass Eric Wells who had held the position from a battling Sheppard since lap 28. Sheppard then quickly closed a five-car-length gap between him and Clanton to challenge the Series-veteran for the lead. The pair stayed side-by-side until the turn-four on the final lap but the Rocket1 ultimately ran out of time.

"We had a really awesome racecar once again," said Sheppard. "I knew I had a little bit of an edge on [Wells] there at the end, I just didn't make my move early enough I guess. I should have been moving around a lot earlier... I thought about it and thought about it and I just thought about it too long. At the end of the day we had a really good racecar. I wish it would have been the other way around but congratulations to Shane. He had a little bit of a rough start [to the season] so he did a good job."

Wells explained that he was racing conservatively towards the end of the 50-lap race due to tire troubles.  

"I could feel that we were about to have some trouble but we just tried to hold on and finish in the top five since we were running third," said Wells. "I was a little concerned there at the end but it held out. Overall a pretty good night for us. Just glad to be here."

Cherokee Speedway fan-favorites Chris Madden and Chris Ferguson also ran into some trouble during the feature. Ferguson pulled off the track after lap one due to engine trouble. As for Madden, he had a right rear flat after running too high on turn two on Lap 28 which sent him to the pits and to the back of the field.

With his win tonight, Clanton joins Sheppard as the only drivers so far this season to claim a second Series win. The World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series heads to Fayetteville Motor Speedway for another night of action on May 6.

Craftsman Club Feature:  1. 25- Shane Clanton[2]; 2. 1- Brandon Sheppard[5]; 3. 18- Eric Wells[4]; 4. 49- Jonathan Davenport[8]; 5. 1*- Chub Frank[1]; 6. 7- Rick Eckert[11]; 7. 101- Casey Roberts[9]; 8. 91- Tyler Erb[16]; 9. 3s- Brian Shirley[7]; 10. 24D- Michael Brown[14]; 11. 9- Devin Moran[13]; 12. 2c- Joey Coulter[17]; 13. 2- Dennis Franklin[19]; 14. 93- Donald Bradsher[12]; 15. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr[23]; 16. 44- Chris Madden[3]; 17. 4- Brian Ligon[10]; 18. 9- Johnny Pursley[20]; 19. 25z- Mason Zeigler[21]; 20. 116- Brandon Overton[18]; 21. 14m- Morgan Bagley[24]; 22. 421- Anthony Sanders[22]; 23. 42- Doug Sanders[15]; 24. 22- Chris Ferguson[6]

Last Chance Showdown: 1. 2- Dennis Franklin[2]; 2. 9- Johnny Pursley[5]; 3. 25z- Mason Zeigler[1]; 4. 421- Anthony Sanders[4]; 5. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr[8]; 6. 14m- Morgan Bagley[11]; 7. 39- Jay Sessoms[10]; 8. 7L- Josh Langley[3]; DNS. 72- Jason Covert; DNS. 79- Ross Bailes; DNS. 89- Justin Williams[9]; DNS. 5- Don O'Neal; DNS. 14- Darrell Lanigan

Heat 1: 1. 1- Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 18- Eric Wells[3]; 3. 3s- Brian Shirley[5]; 4. 4- Brian Ligon[4]; 5. 9- Devin Moran[6]; 6. 91- Tyler Erb[7]; 7. 25z- Mason Zeigler[9]; 8. 421- Anthony Sanders[8]; 9. 79- Ross Bailes[2]; 10. 39- Jay Sessoms[10]; DNS. 14- Darrell Lanigan[DNS]

Heat 2:  1. 22- Chris Ferguson[1]; 2. 44- Chris Madden[4]; 3. 49- Jonathan Davenport[2]; 4. 7- Rick Eckert[6]; 5. 24D- Michael Brown[5]; 6. 2c- Joey Coulter[3]; 7. 2- Dennis Franklin[9]; 8. 9- Johnny Pursley[8]; 9. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr[10]; 10. 14m- Morgan Bagley[7]

Heat 3: 1. 25- Shane Clanton[1]; 2. 1*- Chub Frank[5]; 3. 101- Casey Roberts[2]; 4. 93- Donald Bradsher[6]; 5. 42- Doug Sanders[7]; 6. 116- Brandon Overton[4]; 7. 7L- Josh Langley[3]; 8. 72- Jason Covert[8]; 9. 89- Justin Williams[9]; DNS. 5- Don O'Neal[10]

Qualifying:  1. 1- Brandon Sheppard, 14.96; 2. 22- Chris Ferguson, 15.07; 3. 25- Shane Clanton, 15.074; 4. 79- Ross Bailes, 15.194; 5. 49- Jonathan Davenport, 15.251; 6. 101- Casey Roberts, 15.251; 7. 18 -Eric Wells, 15.292; 8. 2c- Joey Coulter, 15.327; 9. 7L- Josh Langley, 15.333; 10. 4- Brian Ligon, 15.36; 11. 44- Chris Madden, 15.382; 12. 116- Brandon Overton, 15.383; 13. 3s- Brian Shirley, 15.386; 14. 24D- Michael Brown, 15.399 15. 1*- Chub Frank, 15.41; 16. 9- Devin Moran, 15.454; 17. 7- Rick Eckert, 15.462; 18. 93- Donald Bradsher, 15.482; 19. 91- Tyler Erb, 15.509; 20. 14m- Morgan Bagley, 15.524; 21. 42- Doug Sanders, 15.555; 22. 421- Anthony Sanders, 15.608; 23. 9- Johnny Pursley, 15.682; 24. 72- Jason Covert, 15.685; 25.  25z- Mason Zeigler, 15.751; 26. 2- Dennis Franklin, 15.784; 27. 89- Justin Williams, 15.837; 28. 39- Jay Sessoms, 15.978; 29. 99jr- Frank Heckenast Jr, 16.271; DNS. 5- Don O'Neal; DNS. 14- Darrell Lanigan

CONTINGENCY WINNERS: Craftsman/Sears ($200 Cash): Shane Clanton, Brandon Sheppard, Eric Wells, Chub Frank, Rick Eckert; Craftsman/Sears ($100 Cash): Jonathan Davenport; Comp Cams ($50 product certificate): Brandon Sheppard; MSD Ignition ($50 Cash): Brandon Sheppard; Quarter Master ($100 Product Certificate): Rick Eckert ; Wrisco (Three Sheets of aluminum): Brandon Sheppard;  Penske Racing Shocks ($50 Product Certificate): Eric Wells; JE Pistons ($50 Cash): Rick Eckert; VP Racing Fuels ($50 Cash): Brian Shirley; Edelbrock ($50 Cash): Johnny Pursley.; Comp Cams ($50 Cash): Johnny Pursley; ;Cometic ($50 Cash): Johnny Pursley; JRI Shocks ($50 Cash): Joey Coulter ;Superflow Dyno's ($50 Cash): Dennis Franklint; Quartermaster ($25 Product Certificate): Donald Bradsher; JE Pistons (One set of piston rings): Chris Madden; Quartermaster ($50 Product Certificate): Doug Sanders; Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 Product Certificate):Eric Wells; JE Pistons (One set of piston rings): Morgan Bagley; MSD Ignition ($25 Cash):Brandon Sheppard; QA-1 ($50 Cash): Ross Bailes; Rookie Bonus: Devin Moran; Bonus Bucks: Michael Brown

SEASON WINNERS
Shane Clanton- 2 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 24, Cherokee Speedway on May 6)
Brandon Sheppard- 2 (Whynot Motorsports Park on March 24, Farmer City Raceway on April 1)
Rick Eckert- 1 (Screven Motorsports Complex on Feb. 17) 
Chris Madden- 1 (Screven Motorsports Complex on Feb. 18)
Don O'Neal- 1 (Volusia Speedway Park on Feb. 25)
Timothy Culp- 1 (LoneStar Speedway on March 26)
Brian Shirley-1 (Farmer City Raceway on April 2)

Unofficial World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series Championship Standing


Pos.

Car #

Driver

Points

Trail By

1

1

Brandon Sheppard

1202

0

2

91

Tyler Erb

1128

74

3

3S

Brian Shirley

1124

78

4

44

Chris Madden

1120

82

4

18

Eric Wells

1118

84

5

7

Rick Eckert

1112

90

6

9

Devin Moran

1092

110

7

25

Shane Clanton

1088

114

8

99JR

Frank Heckenast Jr.

1074

128

9

1*

Chub Frank

1068

134

10

14M

Morgan Bagley

992

210

11

2C

Joey Coulter

982

220

12

21JR

Billy Moyer Jr.

952

250

13

93

Donald Bradsher

890

312

14

18C

Chase Junghans

826

376

15

4-D's

Chad Hollenbeck

572

630

16

116

Brandon Overton  

558

644

17

21

Billy Moyer  

538

664

18

B1

Brent Larson

516

686

19

2F

Dennis Franklin

464

738

20

C9

Steve Casebolt

444

758

21

101

Casey Roberts

410

792

22

21

Ivedent Lloyd Jr.

374

828

23

17M

Dale McDowell

320

882

24

16T

Tyler Bruening

310

892

25

0F

Coleby Frye

300

902