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MACON, IL (April 9, 2011) - Brandon Sheppard has won plenty of races in his very young career. His father Steve Sheppard, Jr., a former Macon Speedway Late Model track champion, has helped lead his racing career to one of the elite drivers in central Illinois. Saturday night, Sheppard was simply the best. Of the 19 qualifying Chevrolet Late Models, Brandon Sheppard set the fastest time of the night (10.365), which has been the closest to reach the track record, established on May 10, 2008, by Kyle Logue (10.311). Sheppard came out and blew through the heat race and set himself in position to take the feature. The competition was strong early for the top spot of the Chevrolet Late Model feature as Springfield’s Roger Brickler had the early lead but by the third lap of the 25-lap A-Main Sheppard was in control. Through the race, which featured four Agency One Insurance and Real Estate caution flags, Sheppard would not be denied his destiny of carrying the checkered flag and claiming his first feature of 2011. Brian Bielong of Summerfield, in southern Illinois, made the long trip to north to Macon Speedway in search of a feature win and he impressed the full grandstands with a terrific display in his Billingsley Towing Modified heat race. With former track champion Jeff Leka leading the way, Bielong pulled a slide job reminiscent of the POWRi Midgets in the fourth and final turn of the race to claim the heat and the pole for the feature. His pole position for the feature would continue to let him stay in the lead and take the victory as Mark Tullis finished a distant second and Leka placed third. It felt like déjà vu for the Touchstone Energy Sportsman class as Nick Mackin of Argenta once again took first place in the feature, besting Dave Crawley, Jr. A one-lap dash to the finish provided excitement for all fans as Macklin held on to become the only back-to-back feature winner of the early season. Blake Shelley, a former Street Stock track champion, once again found victory lane on a wild and unfortunate finish for Roy Magee. Magee was leading the race for the entire 10 laps of the show and then suddenly smoke poured from the car and the engine blew up to open the spot for Shelley. He was being chased by Justin Hill, who took second, and Gene Reed finished third. The Pro Hornets class was finished with Fred Reed, Jr., the defending Pro Hornet track champion, taking the feature. Jeremy Reed beat out Cory Ballinger for second and Heidi Hames placed fourth. The second night of 2011 ended with Zach Perryman winning the Amateur Hornet feature. Perryman was a winner in the High School Hornets class in the inaugural 2010 season. Another night of over 120 racecars piled onto the Speedway grounds for a beautiful and warm night of racing. A special evening involving the Kid’s Kastle Kid’s Club and driver autographs highlight the evening with another full show of racing.
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