Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., will end his ultra-successful six-year run as driver of the Rocket Chassis house car at the end of the 2022 season, leaving the Shinnston, W.Va-based team on amicable terms to return full-time to his family-owned Dirt Late Model operation.

In turn, Rocket house car owner Mark Richards quickly announced that his iconic blue No. 1 will be driven in 2023 by Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who will replace Sheppard with the blessing of his current Double Down Motorsports owner Roger Sellers.

Sheppard, 29, said he felt departing the house car was the right move for him to be closer to his family, including wife Mikala and his three children — his youngest a son, Baylor, born last month — and go racing with his father, Steve Sheppard Jr., and grandfather, Steve Sheppard Sr.

“I will never be able to tell Mark enough how much I appreciate everything that he’s done for me and taught me,” said Sheppard, who had brief stints in the house car in 2012 and ’14 before replacing Mark’s son, Josh, on a full-time basis in 2017. “He exploded my racing career into what it is, so I’ll never be able to thank him enough.

“At the end of the day, it’s a decision that I’ve made for myself. It’s just time for me to come home and have my family be more involved. There’s gonna be some growing pains and there’s going to be a lot of work to be done over the winter to get ready to go, but I’ve got everything that I need to go race for the most part.”

Sheppard, who plans to hire full-time crew members and campaign his family’s Pro Power Engine-equipped Rocket No. b5 cars on a national tour in 2023, has enjoyed spectacular success with Richards’s team. His current tenure includes four World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series championships, a multitude of major victories and over $3.5 million in earnings, and he remains in contention for this year’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series title.

“I hate to see Brandon leave because he’s a great friend and a great asset to the legacy of Rocket1 Racing, but I also understand that he now has a family and wants to spend more time with them,” Richards said in a press release. “He’s grown a ton during his time here and I think the world of him. I’m going to miss having him as part of the team, but he will go on and do well and we wish him nothing but the best with his family’s team.”

A rising star who turns 22 on Sept. 5, O’Neal was contacted by Richard and, after discussing the situation with Sellers, a deal was reached for the multiple-time crown jewel winner and Lucas Oil Series regular to fill the house car’s vacant spot.

“As a racer this is the type of opportunity you dream of — to drive for the top team in Dirt Late Model racing,” said O’Neal, who will begin testing with the house car team this month in preparation for ’23. “I’m kind of shocked … and to have the full support from Roger in this move is just incredible. Without Roger and what he has done for me (over the past two seasons) I wouldn’t be getting this opportunity.”

“I think the world of Hudson and his whole family and I’m going to definitely miss him with our team, but I couldn’t be prouder for him,” remarked Sellers, who will release future plans for his race team in the near future. “He’s worked hard and the Rocket1 Racing ride is the pinnacle of our sport. I want it to be known that Rocket1 Racing didn’t steal Hudson from our team. Mark called me first to discuss, and we both agreed that this was the best opportunity for him to progress his career.”