Three-time Spears Southwest Tour Series winner Buddy Shepherd
Our next entry for the Spears Manufacturing SRL National Late Model / Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series “All-Star Showdown 200” in none other than three-time Spears Southwest Tour Series winner Buddy Shepherd. The 2021 SRL Rookie-of-the-Year will hope to make it two wins at Irwindale Speedway (CA), after capturing the victory back in September of 2022, over a 28-car entry. Shepherd added to his victory total in the series last event, capturing the “October Classic” at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (CA).
Shepherd is a three-time Madera Speedway Pro Late Model champion. He is a Late Model champion at Kern, sweeping the season in 2016. The Bakersfield, CA driver has numerous big wins in his career. Some of those include the “Short Track Shootout” at Madera Speedway and the “JM Environmental 100” at All American Speedway, both worth $10,000.
But a near win may be the one he is best known for, finishing second behind Kyle Busch in the 2018 version of the “Winter Showdown”. There, he outdueled NASCAR star Daniel Hemric to grab the runner-up spot in the 48-car entry, behind Busch. He also earned the Bobby Durrett Fast Time Award in the star studded event.
Shepherd will now look to add a $25,000 win to his impressive resume on February 3rd, and garner his first SRL National victory, and his fourth in the Spears Southwest Tour Series.