Shepherd Craves SRL Cash and Championship at Stockton 99 Speedway
Bakersfield, CA – The last time the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series visited The New Stockton 99 Speedway, Buddy Shepherd came home third, after leading eight laps early in the race. He finished behind Derek Thorn Racing and Blaine Rocha in the 125-lap event. When he heads back to Stockton on August 14th, two more positions could garner the current championship runner-up and Rookie-of-the-Year leader nearly $30,000 for an evening’s work. The “JM Environmental Inc. Wild West Shootout – Touch Too Much 227 presented by 51 FIFTY LTM.” will see the series competing for $10,000-to-win, $2,750 for the Motor City Throwdown Challenge for beating Derek Thorn, $1,000 for leading at the lap-127 break, and $15,000 for the “To the Back Challenge” by JM Environmental Inc., for those qualifying in the top-eight, totaling $28,750.
Shepherd enters the event 43 championship points behind Thorn, after scoring five top-five and seven top-10 finishes in the first seven events. The three-time MAVTV televised Nut Up Madera Speedway Pro Late Model Champion led the standings through the fifth event of the season at ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA. Thorn was able to wrestle the lead from Shepherd at Kern County Raceway Park, however, in a thrilling battle between the two title combatants. A sixth-place effort at Irwindale Speedway allowed Thorn to lengthen the lead to the current 43 markers, but a win this weekend will help tighten the championship battle. The big money win would also help the small team’s budget.
“Yeah, I’m super pumped to get back in the seat and chase all that cash”, Shepherd exclaimed! “I can’t wait for the 14th.”
This will only be Shepherd’s second Late Model / Super Late Model start at the facility, but between his additional five SRL Legends starts, the Bakersfield, CA driver has grown fond of the facility as he admits. “The track is pretty sweet, and I really like it”.
Shepherd is thankful for the support he has received, vying for the championship and the Rookie-of-the-Year title in 2021.
“I can’t thank everyone who is involved and helps me out enough”, Shepherd declared. “I’d like to thank my mom and dad, as well as my sponsors; Martins Auto Color, PPG, Advanced Distribution, Schaeffers Racing Oil, Swift Springs and VanDoorn Racing Development.”
On August 14th , Shepherd will join a hungry field of Super Late Model drivers looking to beat Derek Thorn to the finish line at Stockton 99 Speedway, looking to score the $2,750 bonus in the Motor City Throwdown Challenge. The winner will also receive $10,000 for the victory thanks to JM Environmental Inc. Another $1,000 will be paid out to the leader at the lap 127 break. A whopping $15,000 is available to a winner who qualifies in the top-eight and elects to start in the rear in this third round of the Wild West Shootout. Those numbers add up to a monster $28,750 payday. It would be the second highest winner’s share in the series 21-year history, behind the 2021 All-Star Showdown. It is a testament to the support of such great sponsors such as JM Environmental Inc., John Moore, 51 FIFTY LTM with Carlos Vieira, as well as Motor City Buick GMC.
The Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services will also join the action with the Legends of the Pacific, B4 Cylinders, and Jr. B4 Cylinders also on the card. Qualifying will begin for the Legends at 4:30 pm (PST). The Pro Late Models and Super Late Models will follow at 5:15 pm (PST). Opening Ceremonies and the Feature Events will follow.
For those who cannot attend, the races can be followed LIVE on www.SpearsRacing.TV. It will be broadcast on MAVTV at a time and date to be named later.
Celebrating its twenty-first season in 2021, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.
