 SPARTA, KY - Morgan Shepherd will be the first to admit that he wasn't happy about Saturday night's 25th place finish at Kentucky Speedway. But, he wouldn't trade it for a 35th place run either.
"It is encouraging on one hand to see that we are capable of running in the Top 20 or Top 25 every week, but it also is discouraging because we know we could have been so much better," Shepherd said.
After running out of gas as he was entering the pits, he got caught for exceeding the 45 mph pit road speed limit (as did about half of the field at one time during the night). Once he received fuel he was called back through the pits for his pass through penalty. The team decided to pit during the pass through penalty to change tires and was penalized again.
"We made the pass through, but they rule apparently is that you can not stop during a pass through penalty," he said.
 "We were under the impression that as long as you passed through you could stop and do what you wanted since you were in the pits anyway."
Regardless, the ordeal dropped the team three laps behind the leaders resulting in a 25th place run, five laps off the pace.
"We're encouraged because we know we should have been one or two laps down at the end had that not happened," Shepherd said. "Where would that have put in the finishing order?"
Shepherd said the Faith Motorsports team will attempt to secure another Top 25 this coming weekend at Milwaukee, home of team associate sponsor Lagina Plumbing.
"We want to run good for Mr. Lagina in his hometown this weekend," Shepherd said. "He has been a big supporter of our race team and ministry."
Front page photos compliments of Phil Cavali of The Hot Lap. To follow the Nationwide Series up close, log on to the TheHotLap.com.
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