Shepherd Edges Marlin to Win NASCAR Race at Melbourne

Morgan Shepherd overcame Sterling Marlin to win Sunday’s $850,000 NASCAR Christmas 500 at the Calder Park Thunderdome.

Shepherd, of Conover, N.C., who drove a Pontiac, was treated for exhaustion and dehydration at the end of the 280-lap race, which was held in humid, 100-degree temperature.

“We had no air ducts on the car and it got hot in there,” Shepherd said. “I’ve got blistered feet, but the car handled great. It worked well all day.”

Marlin, from Columbia, Tenn., finished second in an Oldsmobile, with Harry Gant of Taylorsville, N.C., third in a Chevrolet in the 32-driver field competing on the banked 1.125-mile tri-oval super-speedway.

Shepherd earned $68,000, plus bonuses, Marlin got $55,460 plus bonuses and Gant got $51,000.

Trevor Boys of Canada was fourth in a Chevrolet. He was followed by Rick Wilson of Bartow, Fla., in a Pontiac and Rodney Combs of Lost Creek, W.Va., in a Buick.

Wilson was in contention for the lead, but he twice had punctured tires over the final 10 laps. The race had six caution flags after accidents, but Shepherd and Marlin managed to stay out of trouble.

Shepherd, who survived a slide into a wall late in the race, was timed in 2 hours, 48 minutes, 28.6 seconds, an average of 112.007 m.p.h. Marlin was 4 seconds behind him.