Editing Morgan Shepherd (section)

====Late 1990s and career decline====
[[Image:MorganShepherd1997Pocono.jpg|thumb|left|1997 R+L Carriers car.]]
Shepherd signed for [[Butch Mock Motorsports]] to drive for them in the [[1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1996]] season, driving their No. 75 [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] with sponsorship from [[Remington Arms]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1995-11-12-9511120139-story.html|title=Remington Arms Takes Shot At Winston Cup Competition|publisher=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=November 12, 1995|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> Shepherd scored five top-tens during the season, with a best finish of fifth at the [[Brickyard 400]]. He also had a good run going at the [[Miller 400 (Michigan)|Miller 400]], where Shepherd led 44 laps in the early part of the race. Shepherd finished nineteenth in the final points standings.<ref name="1996Cup">{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/shephmo01/1996/W|title=Morgan Shepherd – 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref> Despite a solid season, Shepherd decided to leave the No. 75 team at the end of the season. 1996 would also turn out to be Shepherd's last season where he competed in every scheduled event.

Shepherd moved to [[Precision Products Racing]] for the [[1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1997]] season, driving the No. 1 [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greensboro.com/bob-zeller-s-winston-cup-scouting-report/article_7b9419f8-2c24-5bc0-863d-d51b2591b5eb.html|title=Bob Zeller's Winston Cup Scouting Report|publisher=[[Greensboro News and Record]]|date=February 8, 1997|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> Shepherd finished tenth at the [[Goodwrench Service 400]], scoring his first top-ten of the year. He had his best run of the season in [[Primestar 500 (Atlanta)|Atlanta]]. Shepherd looked strong all race and was a contender for the win, but eventually he finished the race in third place. This was Shepherd's last top-five finish in Winston Cup competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/race/1997_PRIMESTAR_500/W|title=1997 PRIMESTAR 500|publisher=Racing-Reference|access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref> Shepherd finished ninth at the [[Coca-Cola 600]]. This would turn out to be Shepherd's last top ten finish in Cup racing. After the [[Pocono Organics CBD 325|Pocono 500]], Shepherd left Precision Products Racing and switched to [[Jasper Motorsports]], driving their No. 77 Ford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/morgan-to-jasper-motorsports/1684554/|title=Morgan to Jasper Motorsports|publisher=[[Motorsport.com]]|date=May 8, 1997|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref>  Shepherd struggled at Jasper Motorsports and only managed to qualify for five of the eleven races he entered with the team. After failing to qualify for the [[Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400]], he departed and rejoined PPR, now with [[R+L Carriers]] sponsorship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/henry-s-ramblings-dover/1691870/|title=Henry's Ramblings--Dover|publisher=[[Motorsport.com]]|date=September 19, 1997|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> His best finish for the rest of the season was a twelfth place at [[Talladega Superspeedway]].<ref name="1997Cup">{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/shephmo01/1997/W|title=Morgan Shepherd – 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref>

After beginning [[1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1998]] without a ride, Shepherd brought out his own team to attempt the races at [[Goodwrench Service 400|Rockingham]], [[Primestar 500 (Atlanta)|Atlanta]] and [[TranSouth Financial 400|Darlington]], but his No. 05 Pontiac failed to qualify in all three races. In the following race at Bristol, Shepherd drove the No. 46 [[First Union]] Chevy for [[Team SABCO]], finishing 24th, before substituting for [[Mike Skinner (racing driver)|Mike Skinner]] for two races, finishing eleventh at Martinsville. Shepherd also had a good run at [[DieHard 500 (Spring Talladega)|Talladega]], where he qualified in fifth place. After another race for SABCO and a one-off deal for [[Stavola Brothers Racing]] at [[Michigan International Speedway]], where he finished 43rd, Shepherd spent most of the season with [[LJ Racing]], his best finish 15th at the [[Brickyard 400]]. He left the team late in the season and closed the year in the No. 8 Chevy for the Stavola Brothers. Shepherd had a good run and was running in the top ten, until he made contact with [[Jeff Gordon]] and wrecked, finishing 39th.<ref name="1998Cup">{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/shephmo01/1998/W|title=Morgan Shepherd – 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref>

Shepherd attempted the [[1999 Daytona 500]] for [[Pinnacle Motorsports]], but he failed to make the race. He made his only Cup start that season the following week at North Carolina in the No. 90 [[Ford Taurus]] for [[Donlavey Racing]], where he started 39th and finished 32nd, five laps down. In May 1999, Shepherd announced he was partnering with [[Rhea Fain]] to field the No. 05 [[Wendy's]] Pontiac. After the team failed to qualify for the [[Coca-Cola 600]], the partnership dissolved, and Shepherd failed in each of his attempts to qualify for a Cup race that season.<ref name="1999Cup">{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/shephmo01/1999/W|title=Morgan Shepherd – 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref>

Shepherd only attempted one race in [[2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|2000]], driving the No. 80 Ford for [[Hover Motorsports]] in the season finale at [[2000 NAPA 500|Atlanta]]. He failed to make the race as Shepherd set the 49th-fastest time in qualifying.<ref name="2000Cup">{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/shephmo01/2000/W|title=Morgan Shepherd – 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref> Shepherd returned to Hover Motorsports for the [[2001 Daytona 500]], but failed to qualify. Shepherd also attempted the season finale at [[New Hampshire 300|Loudon]] driving for his own team, but he failed to make the race.<ref name="2001Cup">{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/shephmo01/2001/W|title=Morgan Shepherd – 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jayski.com/teams/89.htm|title=#89 Team News and Links Page|publisher=Jayski.com|access-date=March 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308192924/http://www.jayski.com/teams/89.htm|archive-date=March 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>