Drake Troutman Storms to Gateway Dirt Nationals Modified Triumph
Wild West Shootout at Vado Speedway Park Up Next on Jan. 6-14

HYNDMAN, Pa. (12/18/23) – Drake Troutman stormed to the $10,000 triumph in the seventh annual Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts on Saturday evening aboard the Jerry’s Siding Roofing & Doors / CertainTeed / All About Doors No. 5 Wheeler Fleet Solutions / ABC Supply Co. Inc. Modified.

“Man, what a weekend. So very thankful to have the amazing opportunity to run these big events and being put in the equipment capable to win. I can’t thank all of my hard-working crew, awesome sponsors, and of course Jerry Foster for letting me wheel this awesome racecar,” Troutman said. “On Friday night we led early but (Jordan) Grabouski was plain-and-simple better than us, and we ended up second. Drawing the outside-front-row starting spot for Saturday’s finale was key, and I was able to capitalize and got the win.

“I won my prelim last year at the Dome, but just messed up in the feature, so this was great redemption. Just an all-around fantastic weekend for our team.”

Drake Troutman returned to the driver’s seat of the Jerry Foster-owned No. 5 Modified on Friday evening to compete in his preliminary night at The Dome at America’s Center (St. Louis, Mo.) for the seventh annual Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts.

With 30 Modified invitees entered for Friday’s program, Troutman followed up the fast time honors in qualifying with a flag-to-flag victory in his heat race. Starting on the pole for the 20-lap prelim feature, Drake paced the opening 11 circuits before surrendering the lead to Jordan Grabouski and ultimately finishing second.

Starting in the second position for Saturday’s Gateway Dirt Nationals finale via the redraw, Drake outdueled Ricky Thornton Jr. and Mike Harrison in the 30-lapper to capture the thrilling $10,000 victory.

He notched his 21st overall win of the 2023 season ahead of Harris, Jordan Grabouski, Michael Ledford, and Kyle Steffens.

Full results from the event are available at www.GatewayDirt.com .

Drake ends the 2023 season with 21 victories, 53 Top-5 finishes, and 66 Top-10 finishes in 128 starts.

Troutman is now busily preparing for the 2023 campaign, which will begin on Jan. 6-14 with the 18th annual Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at FK Rod Ends Vado (N.M.) Speedway Park.

The six-race series includes five $10,000-to-win programs along with a $25,000-to-win finale. He’ll be behind the wheel of the Chris Bragg Racing / Wheeler Fleet Solutions / Cliff’s Goodyear Auto Service No. 7 RFI Resources / Finishline Outdoors / Contractor’s Support Group / Longhorn Race Car / Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model.

Full event details are available at www.WildWestShootout.net .

Drake Troutman and Chris Bragg Racing would like to thank their marketing partners, which include Wheeler Fleet Solutions, RFI Resources, Cliff’s Auto Service, Finishline Outdoors, Contractor’s Support Group (CSG), Midwest Sheet metal, Clements Racing Engines, XS Batteries, Base Racing Fuels, Shaffer Construction, Industrial Dock & Door Company, Shoe's Diesel Performance, Stone Natural Resources, Glassmere Fuel Service, D&R Trucking, Thunderhill Trucking, Rice Tire, Smith Warehouse, Claar's Notary, ABC Supply Company, CertainTeed, Jerry's Siding, Roofing & Widows, Longhorn Chassis, Bilstein, Slicker Graphics, Arizona Sports Shirts, and MyRacePass.com Website & PR Services.

For the latest information on Drake Troutman Racing, please visit the team website at  www.DrakeTroutmanRacing.com .

PR Contact:
Ben Shelton ( ben.shelton@myracepass.com )

Brandon Sheppard Tops Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals Thriller
Collects $30,000 for First Event Title in Indoor Mega Event

NEW BERLIN, Ill. (Dec. 18, 2023) — Brandon Sheppard crossed another victory off the bucket list on Saturday night. The Illinois hot shoe piloted his Black Rifle Coffee / Veteran’s Golfer’s Association / Realtree Outdoors No. B5 Sheppard Riggs Longhorn Factory / Valvoline / Riggs Drilling Solutions / Bilstein / Z Speed Shop Super Late Model to the $30,000 triumph in the seventh running of the Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts.

Sheppard withstood a valiant last-lap challenge from Ricky Thornton Jr. to snare the five-figure payday at The Dome at America’s Center.

“It feels good man. I've been trying a long time,” said Sheppard, who had three Top-5 finishes at the Gateway Dirt Nationals in six previous starts. “Every year I come here, I either run top four or get a flat tire. So, I guess this year was my year finally. Luck kinda fell my way a little bit. The redraw (for an outside front-row starting position) really helped. Out front, Ricky would have been really hard to pass, too.

“An awesome clean race. It was nice and rough out there, just like the Dome likes it. So how about St. Louis? What did you think about that?” Sheppard asked the event’s biggest-ever crowd. “This crowd is phenomenal. Oh my God. I’ve never seen anything like it at a dirt track race. It's crazy to see all you fans in here, inside the Dome like this, it means the world to us drivers.”

Brandon dedicated the win to his grandmother, who passed away earlier in the week.

“I was able to go visit her this week while I was home, so that really was awesome and just got to see some of the family,” he said. “They knew that the Dome was this weekend, so I know this is where she would’ve wanted me to be, for sure.”

Brandon Sheppard unloaded his Black Rifle Coffee Company No. B5 Longhorn Chassis Late Model at The Dome at America’s Center (St. Louis, Mo.) over the weekend as his Gateway Dirt Nationals preliminary night kicked off on Friday.

With 64 cars entered for Friday’s program, Brandon clocked in ninth-fastest in his group before going third-to-first in his heat race. Chasing a $5,000 payday in his prelim, Sheppard advanced two spots in the 25-lapper to register a third-place finish.

With Friday’s result locking him into the redraw, Sheppard took the green in second for the Gateway Dirt Nationals finale and led all 40-laps to claim his seventh win of the season in the seventh annual event.

He fended a hard-charging Ricky Thornton Jr. in the closing laps to secure the $30,000 top prize. Tanner English, Devin Moran, and Chris Simpson completed the Top-5 finishers.

Full results from the event are available at www.GatewayDirt.com .

Brandon has put a wrap on a successful 2023 campaign for his new team, which included seven wins in 106 starts. He collected 48 Top-5 finishes and 73 Top-10 finishes. Additionally, he finished third in the final World of Outlaws (WoO) Case Late Model Series standings.

Sheppard Riggs Racing (SRR) would like to thank their marketing partners, which include Valvoline, Realtree Outdoors, Longhorn, Bilstein, WYLD GEAR, Riggs Drilling Solutions, Sheppard Salvage, Denny Woodworth Attorney At Law, Allgaier Performance, Keyser Manufacturing, Aftershock Graphics, Sunoco Race Fuels, Corrigan Race Fuels, SpeedStampz, Veteran Golfers Association, Guse’s Pub & Eatery, Simpson Race Products, Silo USA, FK Rod Ends, Ultra Shield, Stussy Construction / Paulson Rock Products, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, Speedwerx, COAST, Storm Auto, Wilwood Disc Brakes, 34 Raceway, Hoosier by Zoo, Bert by Budda, Accu-Force, Nightowl Designs, Off Axis Paint, and MyRacePass.com PR & Website Services.

For more information and updates on Brandon Sheppard and Sheppard Riggs Racing, please visit www.sheppardracing.com, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or Twitter.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Ben Shelton, My Race Pass, ben.shelton@myracepass.com

TEAM CONTACT:
Justin Cook, Justin Cook Management, justin@jcookmgmt.com

Ricky Thornton Jr. Bags Pair of Gateway Dirt Nationals Prelims
Victorious in Both Super Late Model and Modified Competition

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (12/18/23) – While he fell short of conquering either finale during the seventh annual Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals, Ricky Thornton Jr. did race to a $5,000 Super Late Model prelim win and a $3,000 Modified prelim victory.

With the victories he increased his 2023-win tally to 40.

“We didn’t get the two big wins, but man we had a good time. We were running like sixth with 11 laps remaining in the Late Model feature, and I’m like, ‘Man, we didn’t come all the way here to run sixth.’ So I figured it was time to pony up and just get after it,” Thornton Jr. said. “I had a good shot. I tried to (pull off a) slider on that last lap (for the lead), but I knew I was gonna destroy him. I had to just kind of park it, and that kind of ruined any shot of winning it. Still was a lot of fun.

“In the Modified we were a little off in the feature and were running in the Top 5 in the feature, when (Mike) Harrison got sideways in front of me. He kinda pinballed off me and it got him straightened. We kept going for a few laps there before it ultimately threw the driveshaft out, ending our night. I hate it ended that way, but I greatly appreciate the Learman family for having me drive their Modified again.”

Taking part in his preliminary night for the seventh annual Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, Ricky Thornton Jr. visited The Dome at America’s Center (St. Louis, Mo.) on Thursday to pilot the Mike and Lauren Learman-owned No. 20RT Royal Race Cars Modified.

After picking up a heat race victory over Trevor Neville, Thornton powered ahead of pole-starting Dave Hess Jr. on the opening circuit and led flag-to-flag to secure the $3,000 payday.

Meanwhile, Friday found Ricky aboard the SSI Motorsports / Coltman Farms / Hoker Trucking No. 20RT Dyno One Inc. / Excel Floor Covering / Sub-Surface of Indiana / Longhorn Chassis / Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model. He backed up an eight-lap heat race victory with a fourth-to-first run in the feature.

In the main event, Thornton Jr. recorded his 40th overall victory of the 2023 campaign ahead of Chris Simpson, Brandon Sheppard, Josh Rice, and Tanner English.

Starting Saturday night’s $30,000-to-win Super Late Model feature in third via the redraw, Thornton lost ground early before making an impressive charge to the front. He nearly nosed ahead of race-long pacesetter Brandon Sheppard with a last-lap slider but came up short, marking him second in the final rundown.

In the Modified main event, Ricky suffered a mechanical issue while challenging for the lead that sidelined him with eight laps remaining. He was credited with a 16th-place finish.
Full results from the event are available at www.GatewayDirt.com .

Ricky still has a bevy of events left on the 2023 race docket as he returns to Micro Sprint action during the 39th annual American Waste Control Tulsa Shootout on Dec. 27 – 31 at the Sagenet Center at Expo Square (Tulsa, Okla.).

Full event details are available at www.TulsaShootout.com .

Ricky Thornton Jr. would like to thank all of his marketing partners, which include: SSI Motorsports, Dyno One, Excel Floor Covering, Coltman Farms, Hoker Trucking, Certified Inspection Service (CSI), High Performance Lubricants, Big River Steel, Van Meter Insurance Group, Varsitee Screen Printing, West Side Tractor Sales Co., Sub-Surface of Indiana, Midwest Sheet Metal, D&E Outside Services, Lethal Chassis, Dylan Earven Foundation, EMD Wraps, Brembo, Keyser Manufacturing, Wiles Driveshafts, Barnes Systems, Strange Oval, Schoenfeld Headers, The Joie of Seating, Earnhardt Technologies, FK Rod Ends, BMRS, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Hoosier Tire, Performance Bodies, Jones Racing Products, Simpson Racing Products, NAPA (Morgantown – Bargersville), Swift Springs, Bilstein, Winning Edge Carburetion, Longhorn Chassis, Clements Racing Engines, and MyRacePass Marketing Services.

Visit the team’s official website at www.TwentyRT.com often for the latest team information. You can also stay connected with Ricky Thornton Jr. on social media at https://www.facebook.com/rickythorntonjrracing on Facebook, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RThornton20rt .

PR Contact:
Ben Shelton ( ben.shelton@myracepass.com )

Nick Hoffman Visits Victory Lane in Dome Prelim
2024 Season Opens with 38th annual Chili Bowl

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (12/18/23) – Nick Hoffman collected his sixth win of the 2023 season on Friday night during preliminary action for the seventh edition of the Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at the Dome at America’s Center (St. Louis, Mo.).

Hoffman enjoyed a clean sweep of his qualifying night aboard his Tye Twarog Racing / NOS Energy Drink No. 9 C&W Trucking / Longhorn Chassis / Clements Racing Engine Super Late Model. The win was worth $5,000.

A flat tire on the last lap of Saturday night’s $30,000-to-win feature thwarted his chances of a podium finish in the weekend finale.

“We had a fast car from the time we unloaded Thursday night and made a clean sweep of the show and got the win, which locked us into Saturday’s finale,” Hoffman said. “We ran in third until late, when I started having a tire go down. It exploded there on the last lap, and I was able to limp it home to a ninth-place finish. A little disappointing to not have a better finish to show in the finale, but it was still a really good weekend for our team with a lot of friends and family there with us.

“As always, a million thanks to everyone, who supports this program.”

Nick Hoffman took the Tye Twarog Racing No. 9 Super Late Model into battle at The Dome at America’s Center (St. Louis, Mo.) on Thursday to kick off his preliminary night for the seventh annual Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts.

Pulling off a clean sweep in Friday's prelim, Hoffman backed up the fastest lap overall in a stout field of 62 cars with a flag-to-flag victory in his heat and the feature. He claimed his sixth win of the season and the $5,000 payday ahead of Jason Welshan, Jadon Frame, Freddie Carpenter, and Mike Harrison.

With the redraw placing him on the second row for Saturday night’s $30,000-to-win Gateway Dirt Nationals finale, Nick stalked frontrunner Brandon Sheppard early before suffering a flat right-rear in the final laps, while running third that ultimately dropped him to a ninth-place finish.

Full results from the event are available at www.GatewayDirt.com .

Nick ends the 2023 campaign with six triumphs in 75 starts along with 22 Top-5 finishes and 37 Top-10 performances. He claimed the 2023 World of Outlaws (WoO) Case Late Model Series Rookie of the Year title en route to a fifth-place finish in the final series standings.

Hoffman will open the 2024 campaign during the 38th annual Chili Bowl Nationals at the Sagenet Center (Tulsa, Okla.) aboard the RAMS Racing No. 2H NOS Energy Drink / Rockwell Security / King Midget.

Full event details are available at www.ChiliBowl.com .

Nick Hoffman and Tye Twarog Racing would like to thank all their marketing partners, which include NOS Energy Drink, C&W Trucking, Haulin’ Haskells, Tri-Valley Equipment Sales, LSR, Bilstein, Eibach, Petroff Towing XS Power Batteries, Earnhardt Technologies, Allgaier Performance Parts, Lincoln Smith Racing, Allstar Performance, Fast Shafts, QuickCar Racing Products, VP Race Fuels, Maxima Oil, Walker Filtration, Schoenfeld Headers, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Strange Oval, Performance Bodies, Winters Rearends, Rockwell Security, Keyser Manufacturing, Sweet Manufacturing, Jerico, DirtCarLift.com, Stakt, Vexil, FK Rod Ends, Blue Deuce Tavern, Bell Helmets, MPI Performance, Elliott’s Custom Trailers, MWD Designs, K1 Racing Gear, The Joie of Seating, Outerwears, Willy’s Carb & Dyno Shop, Wrisco, and MyRacePass.com Marketing & PR Services.

Keep track of the latest team news by visiting www.NickHoffman2.com and by following his social channels at:
Facebook: @EliteChassis
Twitter: @Nick_Hoffman2
Instagram: @Nick_Hoffman2

PR Contact:
Ben Shelton (ben.shelton@myracepass.com)