Devin Moran set the fastest time overall last night ahead of five nights of racing at Ocala Speedway. However, he suffered a major setback when he lost a motor.

According to MyRacePass, Moran set the fastest in the third practice session with a pace of 14.196. However, he would only make it out for one other session before his engine expired.

Moran shared an update on Facebook that the team was up until after 1 am making an engine swap, “Fastest in practice before the unfortunate happened. Part of it. We’ll be ready for tomorrow!”

37 cars took part in the practice session last night. They included:

• Garrett Alberson
• Max Blair
• Adam Boyd
• Kyle Bronson
• Tyler Bruening
• Freddie Carpenter
• Dan Ebert
• Dennis Erb Jr.
• Carson Ferguson
• Jadon Frame
• John Garvin Jr.
• Clay Harris
• Frank Heckenast Jr.
• Cory Hedgecock
• Daniel Hilsabeck
• Cory Lawler
• Michael Leach
• Dave Loudin
• Preston Luckman
• Dillon McCowan
• Ryan Montgomery
• Devin Moran
• Dallon Murty
• Blair Nothdurft
• Hudson O’Neal
• Brandon Overton
• Cody Overton
• Josh Rice
• Ross Robinson
• Brandon Sheppard
• Brian Shirley
• Brenden Smith
• Brody Smith
• Garrett Smith
• Clay Stuckey
• Drake Troutman
• Justin Weaver

Notably absent from that list is Ricky Thornton Jr. Thornton returned to North Carolina following the Lucas Oil races at All-Tech Raceway after it encountered a “few challenges.” The team wanted to address “everything thoroughly.”

The team did depart for Ocala last night around 8 PM. It shared, “While most people are winding down, we’re just getting started. Loading up and putting in the work behind the scenes so we’re ready when the green flag drops. This team doesn’t clock out when it gets tough. We grind. We adjust. We prepare.”

While Moran set the fastest lap, other top laps came in from Brandon Sheppard. He was right behind Moran in Session 3 with a time of 14.204. In fact, there were five drivers within hundredths of each other during that session. Aside from Moran and Sheppard, Brandon Overton (14.245), Garrett Alberson (14.261), and Brian Shirley (14.285) were also very quick.

In Session 4, Kyle Bronson ran a 14.259. Sheppard was again fast with a 14.277 and Hudson O’Neal posted a lap of 14.285. Bronson went even faster in Session 5 with a lap of 14.225.

By the sixth session, the track started to slow down. Sheppard posted the fast time with a lap of 14.796. No one was faster than 15 seconds in session 7. Shirley was the fastest with a time of 15.150. The last session of the night only saw one car under 16 seconds and that was Brandon Sheppard. He ran a time of 15.849. Drake Troutman was second quick in that session with a time of 16.101.

Heading into tonight’s race Brandon Overton is atop the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points standings. He has a five point advantage over Hudson O’Neal. Moran is only 15 points behind and Brandon Sheppard just 40. Carson Ferguson and Clay Harris are tied for fifth. They are both 115 points back.

Racing action is expected to begin tonight at 6 PM. It can be watched on FloRacing.

NEXT: Mark Whitener Explains How He Let His First Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Win Get Away