GEORGETOWN — An action-packed Friday night of racing at Georgetown Speedway dedicated to the late Gary Simpson ended in victory for Matt Sheppard, one of the East Coast’s top modified talents.

Sheppard outdueled Milford’s own Jordan Watson during two late restarts to pull away and claim the win and the $12,000 grand prize in the 32-lap modified feature. Despite starting from seventh, Sheppard led nearly every lap.

“Everything went our way tonight,” Sheppard said in victory circle on the half-mile clay track. “Lady luck was on our side.”

Watson started fifth, with his brother, Joseph, taking the green flag in sixth. While his younger brother faded back, Jordan made his way up to the front. But Sheppard climbed the leaderboard even faster, pacing the field after the second caution period by taking the lead from outside polesitter Ryan Watt.

Sheppard opened a sizable lead on Watson and worked his way through lapped traffic during the next two green flag runs, with cautions intermittent. Pressure from Watson came during the penultimate restart, as the eventual runner-up was able to hang within three car lengths of Sheppard for two laps by using the upper lane.

But a sixth caution halted the field with eight laps to go, and on what would be the final restart, Sheppard used the bottom lane to gap Watson.

“My car could roll the bottom pretty good,” said Sheppard. “Thirty-two laps is not a very long race, so I just wanted to keep my nose clean and stay up front.

“Matt is one of the best in the business,” said Watson. “You’re doing pretty good anytime you can see him.”

Watson came into the night having won the past two modified features at Georgetown this summer, making him the odds-on favorite to give Sheppard a run for his money. He maintains the Speedway’s points lead with two wins and now a second place to his name.

Alex Yankowski, a former driver for Simpson, rounded out the podium in third. Ryan Godown raced his way up to fourth from a 21st starting spot, earning a bonus as the race’s biggest mover.

An entire night of modified heat races and several support series honored the contributions of Gary Simpson to the racing community, following his passing last year to pancreatic cancer.

Simpson, a former driver, car owner and Delaware native, was always willing to donate his resources and time to fellow drivers and the Georgetown facility, according to Brett Deyo, the track’s promoter. Deyo also said the Simpson family was supportive of the efforts to commemorate Simpson’s legacy.

“He was one of the nicest people I knew,” said Watson after the race.

Pancreatic cancer fundraisers were held before the race for a crowd that packed the grandstands end to end. Many fans were adorned in Gary Simpson Memorial T-shirts, and a dunk tank with drivers helped raised money before the event.

Special bonuses were given out to the 12th place finishers to honor Simpson’s No. 12k racecar. The record purse amounted to $36,000 for the modified feature, in addition to the winnings for support series than ran throughout the night.

The next event at the speedway is Aug. 30 as the track hosts the ‘Blast at the Beach,’ featuring the Short Track Super Series in a 35-lap, modified main event with a $6,000 winning prize. Grandstands will open at 5 p.m. and racing will begin at 7:15 p.m.

Race Results

J.W. Brown Logging Modified Feature Finish (32 laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Jordan Watson, Alex Yankowski, Ryan Godown, Danny Bouc, Matt Stangle, Mike Gular, Brandon Grosso, Joseph Watson, HJ Bunting, Billy Pauch Jr., Jeff Strunk, Jimmy Horton, Richie Pratt Jr., Ryan Riddle, John Willman, Carson Wright, Matt Smith, Norman Short Jr., Austin Hubbard, Danny Hieber, Rick Laubach, Wade Hendrickson, Beau Williams, Scott Hitchens, Ron Myers, James Hill, Ryan Watt, Kevin Sockriter, Sean Weiss.

Blue Hen Dispose-All Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (22 laps): RYAN GODOWN JR., Joe Toth, Steve Kemery, Ryan Simmons, Jordn Justice, Adam White, Eric Kormann, Greg Humlhanz, Tom Sherby, Bobby Watkins, Scott Hitchens, Sean Metz, Nick Van Wickle, Brian Hughes, Shawn Ward, Tom Moore Jr., Jason Musser, Howard Huepfel, Brian Rogers, Brandon Watkins, Aaron Headley, Freddy Massey, Matt Ellery, Chris “Tippy” Martinez, Richie Walls Jr., Jacob King, Jeff Marker

Southern Delaware Vintage Modified/ Sportsman Combined Feature Finish (12 laps): KERRY KING – Modified Winner, DJ Cameron (M), CALE PETTYJOHN – Sportsman Winner, Roscoe Clough, Maddy Jefferson, Terry Chaney, Chris Killen, Dave Schamp, Nathan Austin, Garritt Reagan, Jason Dean (M), Brayden Ritter (M), Todd Miller, Mike Harmon, Jamie Schirmer, Robert Blann, Glenn Lyon

Little Lincoln Feature Finish (12 laps): KIRK LAWSON, Dylan Betts, Mel Joseph, Jr., Eric Reed, Matt Jester, Jordan Herbert, Todd Sammons, Wayne Seaton, Scott Calhoun, Bryan Piercy, MJ White, Ryan Walsen, Bunky White, James Harmon

Delaware Super Truck Feature Finish (12 laps): ROBERT SMITH, Matt Smith, Zack Phillips, Tony Guinta, David Smith, DJ, Wayne Gwaltney, Steve Portillo, Troy Hopkins, Bruce Cornelius, Jerry Hill, Dan Streebig, Angel Carroll, Jesse West, Scott Trice, Bill Dean, Cameron Benson.

Delmarva Charger Feature Finish (12 laps): JOE WATERS, Jay Lowman, Ashley Merritt, Garrett Smith, Robert Strain, Jonathan Pitcher, Tyler Hottle, Randy Merritt, Billy Cummings, John Bailey, Paul Gary.