PARAGON, IN (April 17, 2026) – Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa first visited the Paragon Speedway in April of 2023 winning in his first appearance, he came back Friday night to lead every lap in winning the 2nd Annual Marvin O’Neal Memorial worth $10,071 for his first career Northern Allstars Late Model Dirt Series Powered by Sunoco Race Fuels.
Gustin also won his heat race worth $710 and led the most laps to take home an additional $710 bringing his winnings total to him and car owner Todd Cooney to $11.491 for his first feature win in 2026.
Gustin becomes the fourth different winner in four NALMS races run so far in 2026. Jason Jameson, the defending race winner at Paragon finished in sixth to take over the points lead.
Brandon Sheppard and Tyler Erb had a back-and-forth back after several restarts as Sheppard was able to hold off his fellow first-time visitor to the historic sprint-car stronghold in his family owned Rocket Chassis. Erb rounded out the Sunoco Race Fuels Podium with 3-time and reigning series champion Josh Rice finishing fourth. Devin Gilpin rounded out the top five drivers.
“It’s a heck of a race track. It’s a cool event. Thank obviously the Northern Allstars and the O’Neal Family, and all these fans for coming out,” Gustin said. “I feel like you could race all over it. It’s kind of top dominant, but the same for everybody, you know. It was a fun racy little joint.”
The winner’s Todd Cooney Motorsports Infinity by Wells is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by Alans Seamless Gutters, Custom Fabricating and Repair, Hoker Trucking, Karl Chevrolet, Murty Farms, Mel Hambelton Racing, Dynamic Drivelines, and Midwest Sheet Metal.
Completing the top ten were Jason Jameson, Derek Groomer, Hudson O’Neal, David Webb, and Trevor Landrum.
Bonus money of $710 were courtesy of MasterSbilt Race Cars, Professional Concrete, Cutting and Drilling, Arnold Tire Center, Pete Pottoff Garage Doors and Alan Acuff Concrete Construction, O’Neal’s Salvage and Recycling, Tarpy Trucking and Doug Cue.
Race Summary
Paragon Speedway
Paragon, Indiana
Friday, April 17, 2026
Entries: 28
Florence Winwater Fast Qualifier: Tyler Erb 15.051 seconds
Heat Race Winners: Tyler Erb, Ryan Gustin, Jason Jameson, Brandon Sheppard
B-Main Winner: Don O’Neal
Series Provisionals: Jake Leitzman (Series) and Shelby Miles (Fast Qualifier Prov)
Todd Steel Buildings Hard Charger of the Race: Jake Leitzman started 22nd and finished 14th-advanced 8 positions)
Arizona Sport Shirts Rookie of the Race: Derek Groomer
Lap Leaders: Ryan Gustin 1-50
KamaKazi Chassis Fastest Lap of the Race: Tyler Erb 15.519 seconds (Lap 5)
Race Summary
Position/Driver/Hometown/Winnings/BonusMoney
1. Ryan Gustin (Marshalltown, Iowa) – $11,491
2. Brandon Sheppard (New Berlin, Illinois) – $5,710
3. Tyler Erb (New Waverly, Texas) – $4,420
4. Josh Rice (Crittenden, Kentucky) – $2,000
5. Devin Gilpin (Columbus, Indiana) – $1.700
6. Jason Jameson (Lawrenceburg, Indiana) – $2,210
7. Derek Groomer (Bloomington, Indiana) – $1.200
8. Hudson O’Neal (Martinsville, Indiana) – $1,000
9. David Webb (Nicholasville, Kentucky) – $900
10. Trevor Landrum (Florence, Kentucky) – $850
11. Dustin Nobbe (Batesville, Indiana) – $800
12. Steve Peeden (Martinsville, Indiana) – $750
13. Blake Creech (Richmond, Indiana) – $750
14. Jake Leitzman (Paragon, Indiana) – $1,460
15. Shelby Miles (Bloomington, Indiana) – $750
16. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, Indiana) – $750
17. Frank Heckenast Jr. – (Frankfort, Illinois) – $750
18. Cody Mahoney (Madison, Indiana) – $750
19. Tucker Chastain (Mitchell, Indiana) – $750
20. Brian Shirley (Chatham, Illinois) – $750
21. Tyler Collins (North Vernon, Indiana) – $750
22. Cody Bauer (Farwell, Michigan) – $750
The Northern Allstars Series Powered by Sunoco Race Fuels would like to thank the following marketing partners including Allstar Performance, Arizona Sport Shirts, Brad Arthur Heating and Air, C&W Sales, Cain’s Tree Service, Cheap Cars, Coltman Farms Racing, Deatherage Racing Opticians, Delph Communications, Diamond Race Cars, Flag 2 Flag Media, Florence Winwater Company, Generations Custom Auto and Collision, Hellraizer Jacks, Hoosier Racing Tires, Indiana USSSA Fast Pitch Softball, Jason Grimes Construction, KamaKazi Chassis, Kendall Trucks and Parts, Ky. Clutch, Malvern Bank, Midwest Sheet Metal, PPM Racing Products, PopBit, Right Auto Parts, Rocket Chassis, Schaefer Trucking, Slicker Graphics, Stakt Products. Sunoco Race Fuels, SuperHeat Solutions, Swift Springs, The Bearded Hobo Brewery and Pub, The Bryan Bowman Family, Todd Steel Buildings, Travis Kern Racing Engines, Wheelman by Dasco, and Yakel Trucking and Hauling.
Those interested in becoming a marketing partner with the 2026 Northern Allstars Late Model and Modified Series can email series owner, director, and announcer James Essex at [email protected] for more information.
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