Morgan Shepherd’s involvement in the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season was halted after four races due to reduced purses for the team’s in the bottom portion of the results and by lack of qualifying (something Shepherd’s team has excelled at with Landon Cassill driving their No. 89 machine).
The 79-year old still has plans to return his No. 89 team to the track in 2021, but Shepherd announced on his website that he is undergoing a new challenge in his life. After a lengthy bout of health issues in 2020, Shepherd has been diagnosed to be in the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease.
As a driver, Shepherd has scored four wins in the NASCAR Cup Series as well as 15 wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series through a career that spans roughly 40 years.
As an owner, Shepherd has been one of the hardest working underdogs in the sport for decades. Whether it was getting out of his vehicle to change his own tires, like he did in a 2001 NASCAR Truck Series race. Or being on a creeper underneath the No. 89 car turning wrenches on the machine himself in hopes of passing inspection, Shepherd has done it all.
Landon Cassill, who drove the four NXS events for Shepherd Racing Ventures in 2020, posted a tweet to explain how much Shepherd has meant to him and his family over the years.
Morgan Shepherd has been a special person to me and my family over the past couple years. We are keeping in touch and keeping him in our prayers as he battles Parkinson’s. I spoke to him this morning and he sounded great, and just wants to get to the track soon. pic.twitter.com/U1woBmpfTH
— landon cassill (@landoncassill) November 23, 2020
We extend our best wishes for Shepherd’s health.
If you would like to become involved as a sponsor in helping Shepherd’s team getting back on track in 2020, please visit his team’s website.
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