 |
| BROWNSTOWN, IN (March 28, 2026) – Devin Moran captured his third consecutive Indiana Icebreaker on Saturday night at Brownstown Speedway. The defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion earned $25,000 for his fourth series victory of the season. With the win, Moran now holds the series points lead heading into Sunday night’s race at Atomic Speedway. Ricky Thornton Jr., the defending Jackson 100 champion at Brownstown, passed Max Blair late in the race to finish second. Blair rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third after starting eighth. Josh Rice, in his first full season with the series, charged from 17th to finish fourth, while Brandon Sheppard completed the top five. Sheppard, a two-time Indiana Icebreaker winner, jumped to the lead at the start of the 50-lap feature and led the opening 14 laps. Moran, who started outside the front row, moved into second on lap six and stayed within striking distance. Following a caution on lap 12, Moran closed in and overtook Sheppard three laps later, then led the remainder of the race. Moran, now a 28-time winner in Lucas Oil Victory Lane, drove from the fourth starting position to secure the victory. “You never really know where to be on the track sometimes,” Moran said. “I felt like I had a really good car on that first run and was closing in on Sheppard, but we never got to lapped traffic. On restarts, he was kind of gapping me, so I knew I needed to make a move there. Once I had open air, I felt like we were going to be fine. I could see Ricky looking underneath me on restarts, but that’s about it.” “In turns three and four, the top was completely gone – it was up over the edge. In turns one and two, there was still a lot left if you entered just right. It was a little choppy, so if you hit it correctly, it might have been faster, but it was also very treacherous. Once I built a gap, there was no reason to take that risk.”Thornton, who won in his last appearance at Brownstown last September, slipped past Blair in the closing laps to secure the runner-up finish. “He (Moran) was really good – he could go wherever he needed to,” Thornton said. “I felt like I needed clean air and had to try something different. It seems like he has a lot more side bite than we do. Their program has been really strong the last couple of years, and now they’re clicking off wins. Hopefully we can improve tomorrow at Atomic.” Blair, who held second from lap 33 until Thornton’s late pass, now has finishes of second and third in his last two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races. “I felt like I had a good car today—one we could have won with,” Blair said. “I got to Devin and then just started making mistakes. I think I got out-experienced a little bit. We’ve got a strong race car, so hopefully we can keep the momentum going. I really think I had something for him. He made a great move in lapped traffic, splitting a couple of cars, and I felt like that was the turning point. I probably should have settled back in, but I kept pushing. It seems like Ricky has passed me late for a podium spot a few times this year.” The winning Double Down Motorsports-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Millwood Plumbing, C&W Trucking, Phillips CPA, Bomag, Haulin’, Haskell’s, CarSourceAuto.com, Hazen Services, Anthony’s Pizza, Advantage Lawn Care, Red Oak Pub, McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Elliott Farms, and Pee Wee’s Wrecker Service. Completing the top ten were Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Overton, Brenden Smith, Brian Shirley, and Garrett Alberson. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 29th Annual Indiana IcebreakerSaturday, March 28, 2026Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, IN Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Dan Ebert | 12.773 secondsFast Time Group B: Brandon Sheppard | 12.638 seconds (Overall) Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[1]; 3. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 4. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[5]; 5. 11-Josh Rice[4]; 6. 38JU-Jake Little[7]; 7. 1C-Chad Stapleton[6] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[4]; 4. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[1]; 5. 89-Mike Spatola[5]; 6. (DNS) 48J-Jug Wethington; 7. (DNS) 40B-Kyle Bronson Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 3. 13-Dallon Murty[2]; 4. C4-Freddie Carpenter[6]; 5. 1G-Devin Gilpin[5]; 6. 11C-Tyler Collins[7]; 7. 19M-Brenden Smith[4] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[2]; 2. 111-Max Blair[3]; 3. 8-Dillon McCowan[6]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 5. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 6. 14M-Willie Madison[7]; 7. 12J-Jason Jameson[1] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 11-Josh Rice[1]; 2. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 3. 1G-Devin Gilpin[2]; 4. 89-Mike Spatola[3]; 5. 11C-Tyler Collins[6]; 6. 40B-Kyle Bronson[11]; 7. 1C-Chad Stapleton[9]; 8. 48J-Jug Wethington[7]; 9. 38JU-Jake Little[5]; 10. 19M-Brenden Smith[10]; 11. 14M-Willie Madison[8]; 12. 12J-Jason Jameson[12] 29th Annual Indiana Icebreaker Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 4 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $26,3002 – 1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $11,3003 – 8 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $6,9004 – 17 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $4,9005 – 2 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $4,4006 – 11 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $4,1007 – 6 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $3,4008 – 23 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $3,2009 – 16 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $3,10010 – 7 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $3,00011 – 20 – 89 – Mike Spatola – Manhattan, IL – $2,00012 – 22 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $2,80013 – 3 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $2,70014 – 18 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $2,60015 – 24 – 12J – Jason Jameson – Lawrenceburg, IN – $1,60016 – 14 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – $1,50017 – 10 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $1,50018 – 5 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $2,40019 – 9 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $1,50020 – 12 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $2,40021 – 13 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,50022 – 19 – 1G – Devin Gilpin – Columbus, IN – $1,50023 – 21 – 11C – Tyler Collins – North Vernon, IN – $1,50024 – 15 – 4G – Tripp Gerrald – Versailles, KY – $1,500 Race Statistics Entrants: 28Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton, Jr.MD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Laps 1-14); Devin Moran (Laps 15-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Devin MoranWieland Feature Winner: Devin MoranMargin of Victory: 1.633 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Tyler Collins (Initial Start); Tripp Gerrald, Tyler Collins (Lap 7); Cory Lawler, Brian Shirley, Tyler Collins, Freddie Carpenter (Lap 8); Tripp Gerrald, Tyler Collins, Kyle Bronson, Daniel Hilsabeck (Lap 9); Dillon McCowan (Lap 12); Cory Lawler (Lap 17); Dan Ebert, Dillon McCowan, Daniel Hilsabeck (Lap 31)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Brenden SmithFast Time Provisional: Jason JamesonEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max BlairPenske Shocks Top 5: Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max Blair, Josh Rice, Brandon SheppardBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max BlairPEM 4th Place Feature: Josh RiceDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Brandon SheppardWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Brandon OvertonWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Mike SpatolaVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Clay HarrisXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Jason JamesonHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Brenden Smith (Advanced 15 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Devin Moran (36 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Hudson O’NealO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard | Lap 1 | 14.858 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Clay HarrisVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Devin MoranOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Chuck KimbleARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brandon Sheppard | 12.782 secondsTime of Race: 38 minutes 36 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1440 – $103,9002 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1410 – $81,5003 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 1310 – $34,8504 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 1275 – $34,0505 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 1245 – $30,9006 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 1215 – $32,6007 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1210 – $40,9008 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 1145 – $26,5009 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 1145 – $18,17510 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 1100 – $20,55011 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1065 – $18,60012 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 1050 – $16,32513 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 1030 – $18,97514 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 935 – $13,00015 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 915 – $9,47516 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 865 – $13,12517 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – 815 – $7,95018 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 775 – $9,22519 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 725 – $2,600 |
| Moran Wins Third Straight Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown |
|
| BROWNSTOWN, IN (March 28, 2026) – Devin Moran captured his third consecutive Indiana Icebreaker on Saturday night at Brownstown Speedway. The defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion earned $25,000 for his fourth series victory of the season. With the win, Moran now holds the series points lead heading into Sunday night’s race at Atomic Speedway. Ricky Thornton Jr., the defending Jackson 100 champion at Brownstown, passed Max Blair late in the race to finish second. Blair rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third after starting eighth. Josh Rice, in his first full season with the series, charged from 17th to finish fourth, while Brandon Sheppard completed the top five. Sheppard, a two-time Indiana Icebreaker winner, jumped to the lead at the start of the 50-lap feature and led the opening 14 laps. Moran, who started outside the front row, moved into second on lap six and stayed within striking distance. Following a caution on lap 12, Moran closed in and overtook Sheppard three laps later, then led the remainder of the race. Moran, now a 28-time winner in Lucas Oil Victory Lane, drove from the fourth starting position to secure the victory. “You never really know where to be on the track sometimes,” Moran said. “I felt like I had a really good car on that first run and was closing in on Sheppard, but we never got to lapped traffic. On restarts, he was kind of gapping me, so I knew I needed to make a move there. Once I had open air, I felt like we were going to be fine. I could see Ricky looking underneath me on restarts, but that’s about it.” “In turns three and four, the top was completely gone – it was up over the edge. In turns one and two, there was still a lot left if you entered just right. It was a little choppy, so if you hit it correctly, it might have been faster, but it was also very treacherous. Once I built a gap, there was no reason to take that risk.”Thornton, who won in his last appearance at Brownstown last September, slipped past Blair in the closing laps to secure the runner-up finish. “He (Moran) was really good – he could go wherever he needed to,” Thornton said. “I felt like I needed clean air and had to try something different. It seems like he has a lot more side bite than we do. Their program has been really strong the last couple of years, and now they’re clicking off wins. Hopefully we can improve tomorrow at Atomic.” Blair, who held second from lap 33 until Thornton’s late pass, now has finishes of second and third in his last two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series races. “I felt like I had a good car today—one we could have won with,” Blair said. “I got to Devin and then just started making mistakes. I think I got out-experienced a little bit. We’ve got a strong race car, so hopefully we can keep the momentum going. I really think I had something for him. He made a great move in lapped traffic, splitting a couple of cars, and I felt like that was the turning point. I probably should have settled back in, but I kept pushing. It seems like Ricky has passed me late for a podium spot a few times this year.” The winning Double Down Motorsports-owned Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Big River Steel, Millwood Plumbing, C&W Trucking, Phillips CPA, Bomag, Haulin’, Haskell’s, CarSourceAuto.com, Hazen Services, Anthony’s Pizza, Advantage Lawn Care, Red Oak Pub, McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Elliott Farms, and Pee Wee’s Wrecker Service. Completing the top ten were Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O’Neal, Brandon Overton, Brenden Smith, Brian Shirley, and Garrett Alberson. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 29th Annual Indiana IcebreakerSaturday, March 28, 2026Brownstown Speedway | Brownstown, IN Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Dan Ebert | 12.773 secondsFast Time Group B: Brandon Sheppard | 12.638 seconds (Overall) Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[2]; 2. 60-Dan Ebert[1]; 3. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 4. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[5]; 5. 11-Josh Rice[4]; 6. 38JU-Jake Little[7]; 7. 1C-Chad Stapleton[6] Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 2. 58-Garrett Alberson[3]; 3. 71-Hudson O’Neal[4]; 4. 4G-Tripp Gerrald[1]; 5. 89-Mike Spatola[5]; 6. (DNS) 48J-Jug Wethington; 7. (DNS) 40B-Kyle Bronson Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 1-Brandon Sheppard[1]; 2. 76-Brandon Overton[3]; 3. 13-Dallon Murty[2]; 4. C4-Freddie Carpenter[6]; 5. 1G-Devin Gilpin[5]; 6. 11C-Tyler Collins[7]; 7. 19M-Brenden Smith[4] Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (8 Laps, Top 4 Transfer): 1. 99-Devin Moran[2]; 2. 111-Max Blair[3]; 3. 8-Dillon McCowan[6]; 4. 3S-Brian Shirley[5]; 5. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 6. 14M-Willie Madison[7]; 7. 12J-Jason Jameson[1] Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (10 Laps, Top 6 Transfer): 1. 11-Josh Rice[1]; 2. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 3. 1G-Devin Gilpin[2]; 4. 89-Mike Spatola[3]; 5. 11C-Tyler Collins[6]; 6. 40B-Kyle Bronson[11]; 7. 1C-Chad Stapleton[9]; 8. 48J-Jug Wethington[7]; 9. 38JU-Jake Little[5]; 10. 19M-Brenden Smith[10]; 11. 14M-Willie Madison[8]; 12. 12J-Jason Jameson[12] 29th Annual Indiana Icebreaker Feature Finish (50 Laps):Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Earnings1 – 4 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $26,3002 – 1 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $11,3003 – 8 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – $6,9004 – 17 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – $4,9005 – 2 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $4,4006 – 11 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $4,1007 – 6 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $3,4008 – 23 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – $3,2009 – 16 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $3,10010 – 7 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $3,00011 – 20 – 89 – Mike Spatola – Manhattan, IL – $2,00012 – 22 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – $2,80013 – 3 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $2,70014 – 18 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $2,60015 – 24 – 12J – Jason Jameson – Lawrenceburg, IN – $1,60016 – 14 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – $1,50017 – 10 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – $1,50018 – 5 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $2,40019 – 9 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – $1,50020 – 12 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – $2,40021 – 13 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,50022 – 19 – 1G – Devin Gilpin – Columbus, IN – $1,50023 – 21 – 11C – Tyler Collins – North Vernon, IN – $1,50024 – 15 – 4G – Tripp Gerrald – Versailles, KY – $1,500 Race Statistics Entrants: 28Bilstein Shocks Pole Sitter: Ricky Thornton, Jr.MD3 Lap Leaders: Brandon Sheppard (Laps 1-14); Devin Moran (Laps 15-50)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Devin MoranWieland Feature Winner: Devin MoranMargin of Victory: 1.633 secondsHellraizer Jacks Cautions: Tyler Collins (Initial Start); Tripp Gerrald, Tyler Collins (Lap 7); Cory Lawler, Brian Shirley, Tyler Collins, Freddie Carpenter (Lap 8); Tripp Gerrald, Tyler Collins, Kyle Bronson, Daniel Hilsabeck (Lap 9); Dillon McCowan (Lap 12); Cory Lawler (Lap 17); Dan Ebert, Dillon McCowan, Daniel Hilsabeck (Lap 31)MyRacePass Series Provisional: Brenden SmithFast Time Provisional: Jason JamesonEmergency Provisionals: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max BlairPenske Shocks Top 5: Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max Blair, Josh Rice, Brandon SheppardBehrent’s One-Lap-to-Go Top 3: Devin Moran, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Max BlairPEM 4th Place Feature: Josh RiceDiversified Machine 5th Place Feature: Brandon SheppardWilwood Brakes 7th Place Feature: Brandon OvertonWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Mike SpatolaVelocity Manufacturing 13th Place Feature: Clay HarrisXS Power Batteries 15th Place Feature: Jason JamesonHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Brenden Smith (Advanced 15 positions)MD3 Most Laps Led: Devin Moran (36 Laps)Sunoco Race Fuels Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Ricky Thornton, Jr.Midwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Hudson O’NealO’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Brandon Sheppard | Lap 1 | 14.858 secondsFK Rod Ends Hard Luck Award: Clay HarrisVictory Fuel Power Move of the Race: Devin MoranOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Chuck KimbleARP Engine Builder of the Race: Cornett Race EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Brandon Sheppard | 12.782 secondsTime of Race: 38 minutes 36 seconds Big River Steel Championship Standings Presented by ARP:Pos – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Points – Earnings1 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – 1440 – $103,9002 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – 1410 – $81,5003 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – 1310 – $34,8504 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – 1275 – $34,0505 – 111 – Max Blair – Centerville, PA – 1245 – $30,9006 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – 1215 – $32,6007 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – 1210 – $40,9008 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – 1145 – $26,5009 – 40B – Kyle Bronson – Brandon, FL – 1145 – $18,17510 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – 1100 – $20,55011 – 3s – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – 1065 – $18,60012 – 11 – Josh Rice – Crittenden, KY – 1050 – $16,32513 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – 1030 – $18,97514 – 19M – Brenden Smith – Dade City, FL – 935 – $13,00015 – 8 – Dillon McCowan – Urbana, MO – 915 – $9,47516 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – 865 – $13,12517 – 13 – Dallon Murty – Chelsea, IA – 815 – $7,95018 – 93L – Cory Lawler – Hanover, PA – 775 – $9,22519 – C4 – Freddie Carpenter – Parkersburg, WV – 725 – $2,600 |