March 10, 2010, 6:17 am
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Shepherd 22nd at Daytona, even with troubles
02-15-10
DAYTONA, FL - It isn't often that you can go behind the wall before the green flag waves and still end the day with a Top 25 finish. But then again, every driver isn't Morgan Shepherd.
Beginning the race two laps down after a throttle linkage problem, Shepherd clawed his way back in the Drive4COPD300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, finishing the day in 22nd place.
The wiley 68-year-old driver managed to miss a near-record number of incidents on the track to record a Top 25 run in the season opener.
"We were real fortunate with all that we had go wrong that we were able to overcome and finish as well as we did," Shepherd said. "That car was a rocket. I wish we could have had a day with no mishaps to see what it could have done."
While Shepherd initially went two laps down because of the throttle linkage problem, he got one Lucky Dog pass to get back to within one lap. Another mishap then put the team right back to two laps off the pace.
"We were scheduled for fuel after 45 laps. We took fuel on Lap 9 but they called me in on Lap 45. They were just thinking about 45 and didn't think to take into consideration the math," Shepherd said. "First race jitters. Those things happen."
Shepherd said despite the human error issues which ended up costing three laps in the race, the team was pleased with the result.
"To have a limited crew like we did and to leave Daytona with a Top 25 was pleasant," Shepherd said.
After missing the race themselves, Herd Racing's crew stayed to help its Faith teammates on Saturday as Brett Rowe, Brian Rowe, Kenny Black and Miquel Miglioglo helped pit the car.
Shepherd said the team owes its success at Daytona to its fans.
"The fans who donated to our Fans for Faith effort are the ones who got us here," he said.
Shepherd's car also carried associate sponsorship from Lockman's Body Shop, Lagina Plumbing, ECO-FIRST, Brown Services, and TA Service Centers, as well as several product sponsors who provided parts and services to the team.
Photos taken during Wednesday practice by Rick Adkins of Herd Racing.
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