Rocket Resurgence

"The Rocket" Rodney Sanders swept the USMTS Spring Classic from Hamilton County Speedway, while "Rocket Shepp", Brandon Sheppard, and the Rocket 1 took a stroll through Victory Lane at Farmer City Raceway capturing his fourth Illini 100. A former Rocketman found his footing, and a Skyrocket took flight at the High Banks.

Let's 'Dish on all the big 💸 races and noteworthy performances in Late Models, Modifieds, and Stock Cars from this past week, then set our sites on the weekend ahead 👇

👟💨 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏
🪶 🎩 The World of Outlaws Late Model Series rolled into the land of Lincoln 42 Super Late Models deep this weekend and delivered a pair of 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 winners. Friday saw Outlaw RoY contender Ethan Dotson inherit the lead following Devin Moran's calamitous encounter with a lapper and refuse to relinquish it, capturing his first ever Outlaw win and the $12,000 big check. Ricky Thornton Jr. pestered Dotson the best he could, coming home 2nd and "The Squirrel" Brian Shirly rounded out the podium. A pair Rockets, possibly in a bit of foreshadowing, in Brandon Sheppard and Tyler Erb completed the Top 5.

Saturday delivered it's own kind of 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 victory, one that shouldn't be but is, as BShepp and the Rocket 1 finally found Victory Lane on the season and marking the first win by a Rocket Chassis since the Reagan Administration (jkjk)! Sheppard turned on the afterburners a little after halfway and never looked back en route to picking up the $20,000 payday. Bobby Pierce came home a solid 2nd, while Outlaw rookie Drake Troutman finished off a very impressive weekend that saw him run up front both nights and lead the majority of Saturday's feature.

Next Up: 4/25 ($12,000) & 4/26 ($50,000) - Talladega Short Track - Alabama Gang 100

🎙️🎤 The MARS Modifieds provided the night cap at the Illini 100, and they didn't disappoint with 33 entries on hand. Friday was a good day to be a Mike, as Mike McKinney captured the $2,000 victory in a bit of a walk. All the same, Michael Long, Michael Ledford, Ray Bollinger, and Cole Falloway cut it up for the Top 5 before coming home in the order listed. I got a bit of a chuckle on Friday Night as Mike Norris was holding the mic interviewing McKinney, Long, and Ledford post race 🤣.

Saturday's night cap delivered a banger as Michael Ledford hunted down Cole Falloway in traffic, taking over the lead from the race long leader with only a handful to go and taking home the $2,000 payday. Falloway held on for 2nd, while last year's MARS Champ, Michael Long, came home 3rd. Chase Holland, 4th, and Kyle Hammer, 5th, completed the Top 5.

Next Up: 4/25 - Brownstown Bullring $2,000-to-win, 4/26 - Peoria Speedway $2,000-to-win.

🧹🧹 Keeping with the theme, former Rocket 1 pilot and Lucas Oil Champ, Hudson O'Neal dominated an unsanctioned, but very stout 43 car field at the 12th Annual Spring Nationals from Lucas Oil Speedway. The New Deal led all but one lap of Friday's feature cruising to the $7,000 victory, ahead of Superman, Jonathan Davenport, and 3rd place Big Sexy Brandon Overton. Mike Marlar and Mason Oberkramer completed the Top 5.

Saturday was bit more entertaining as Huddy tracked down 2nd finishing Overton for two-thirds of the race before finally getting by with 18-to-go and claiming the $20,000 dub. Mike Marlar rounded out the podium, while JD and The Triller, Cade Dillard, completed the Top 5.

🌟 The Northern Allstars Late Model and Modifieds were back in action at Florence Speedway. To nobody's surprise, Josh Rice claimed the $5,000 payday over 2nd-place Michael Chilton, Rod Conley rounded out the podium. On the Modified side of the ledger, Ben Harmon claimed the $1,200 check over Colin Green and Ryan Thomas.

Next Up: This weekend!! $10,071 Marvin O'Neal Memorial from Paragon Speedway, the Modifieds also compete for $1,500.

🚀🚀 As mentioned at the top, and all over the DirtInfo page and at DirtInfo.com, largely due to the contributions of Brad Gorman, Rodney Sanders swept the pair of $5,000 features this weekend at Webster City in entertaining fashion. Friday saw Sanders slide by the dueling Brandon Davis, 2nd, and Kyle Strickler, 3rd, in traffic, while Saturday saw Sanders inherit the lead following Tom Berry Jr's kerfuffle with a lapper. Zack VanderBeek was the runner-up Saturday, and Jim Chisholm rounded out the podium.

🫡 Hearty hat tip to Alex Williamson on a pair of top-5 finishes, both after a trip to the hot pit to replace a flat LR, nobody, anywhere in the country, passed more cars than Alex this weekend. I'm sure of it.

🫡 Also deserving of a mention are the USRA Stock Cars, with Derek Green taking the Friday feature. Saturday's feature was an absolute banger with Brandon Hare's last lap, last corner, hail Mary that stuck for the dub! With only at handful to-go, there was about a straight-away separating the leader and second running Hare, yet he somehow got to him and by him 👏

💛🌾 The Heartland Modified Tour returned to action and Shadren Turner stayed hot with the series, claiming Friday's $2,000 feature from Electric City Speedway over Tyler Davis (2nd), Ryan Middaugh (3rd), Troy Gemmil (4th), and Dustin Hodges (5th).

Saturday saw Dakota Dale capture the $2,000 dub over Brandon Givens, Bobby Williams, Tyler Hibner, and Tad Davis.

Next Up: 4/5 Salt City & 4/26 Cane Valley Speedway

👑☄️ Kelly Shryock is the back-to-back King of the High Banks, claiming the $5,000 IMCA Stock Car victory over the stout 35 car field from Marshalltown Speedway. Maguire DeJong was the runner-up, while Dallon Murty rounded out the podium. Cole Czarnesky and Jimmy Gustin completed the Top 5.

The IMCA Mods were also in attendance at MoTown, with Tripp Gaylord claiming Thursday's $1,000 over Cody Laney, Izac Mallicoat, Cayden Carter, and Tanner Black. Friday saw Kollin Hibdon top Tripp Gaylord, Logan Anderson, Cayden Carter, and Chaz Baca for the $1,500 dub.

🤑 Big Perm, Daulton Wilson, claimed the $50,000 XR 602 Nationals from Fayetteville Motor Speedway over Chase Blackwell, Kenny Collins, Kendal Tucker, and Beckham Malone.

👀 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅
🖐 The MARS Late Models return to action with a triple-header this weekend. Thursday sees the series visit Cedar County Raceway for the $5,000-to-win Hawkeye Land 40, before heading to 34 Raceway for the Brent Slocum Foundation hosted Slocum 50 paying $5,000 Friday and $10,555 Saturday. I suspect we'll see a very, very impressive field of cars for the Slocum 50 with both national touring series off and number guys in the general area between the Outlaws and Lucas Oil Speedway this past weekend.

💧🌪️ The Southern Nationals Series Spring Nationals return to action Friday for $10,053-to-win from I-75 Raceway. The series heads to Tazewell Speedway Saturday for the $21,000-to-win Lil' Bill Corum Memorial. If the MacDaddy, Dale McDowell, is in attendance Saturday, he's the heavy favorite to take home that fat payday.

💘 The COMP Cams Super Dirt Series heads to Arrowhead Speedway for the Fujita 50, paying $5,000 Friday and $10,000 Saturday. It wouldn't be too surprising to see The Thriller, Cade Dillard, in attendance and towards the front of this one.

🌩️ The Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series rolls into Southern Raceway on Saturday with $10,000 on the line. I'm guessing we'll see Joseph Joiner in attendance for this one and, if so, he'll be one of the favorites to keep the big check close to home.

💪🦾 The American Racer Modified Series gets their season fired in earnest with $1,500 on the line Friday and $2,000 up top Saturday from Ark-La-Tex Speedway.