Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Thornton has edge on rising J.D.
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt.com managing editor
Jonathan Davenport (heathlawsonphotos.com)
While Jonathan Davenport was the big winner at Eldora Speedway’s Dream XXIX in capturing Saturday's $129,000 paycheck, Ricky Thornton Jr.’s steady performances in Rossburg, Ohio, kept him atop this week's DirtonDirt.com’s power rankings.
Chandler, Ariz.’s Thornton received nine of 10 first-place votes in hanging onto the No. 1 spot for the third straight week after he finished no worse than fourth in two semifeatures and the 100-lap Dream. Blairsville, Ga.’s Davenport received the lone other first-place vote in moving up two spots in the rankings to No. 2 after adding another crown jewel to his spectacular career at the legendary Tony Stewart-owned oval.
Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who posted first- and second-place finishes in Dream semifeatures before settling for seventh in the 100-lapper, dropped one spot to third. The Keyser Manufacturing-presented balloting concluded, however, before O’Neal’s $100,000 XR Super Series victory Monday at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway. (XRSS points standings below don't reflect Kokomo's event.)
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., the third-place finisher in the Dream, dropped one position to No. 4 while moving into the top five was Dream runner-up Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., who finished second in Eldora’s six-figure showdown for the third time in a row.
While no drivers had dramatics jumps in the balloting, two first-time Dream starters made gains with Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C. up two spots to No. 13 and Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., up three spots and into a tie for 17th.
Rejoining the rankings was Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill, Pa., who was fifth in the Dream for his first top-five finish in an Eldora crown jewel.
Voting is done by a 10-member committee made up of staffers and contributors to determine the Top 25 power rankings: Richard Allen, Jeff Broeg, Kelley Carlton, Ryan Delph, Robert Holman, Derek Kessinger, Kevin Kovac, Kyle McFadden, Mike Ruefer and Kyle Symons. Results are compiled and tabulated by Todd Turner, who serves as a voting alternate.
Rankings appear Tuesdays through mid-November provided at least half of the drivers in the current rankings are in action in the previous week.
1. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Semifeature winner is never worse than fourth all weekend at Eldora's Dream XXIX. He'll chase $50,000 at Smoky Mountain. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 5th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Eldora crown jewel tally grows with $129,000 Dream XXIX victory. He'll get back to work on Lucas Oil Series at Smoky Mountain. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 4th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 4th (+2)
3. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: He's right in the mix in Dream prelims (first and second), but settles for seventh-place finish in 100-lapper. He wins $100,000 at Kokomo and heads for Smoky Mountain. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (XRSS); 1st (Castrol). Previous ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Impressive at Eldora with runner-up prelim finish and third place in Dream XXIX finale (not to mention raising $20,000 to help fight cancer). Tri-City and Fairbury up next. Series points: T2nd (WoO); 2nd (Castrol). Previous ranking: 3rd (-1)
5. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Eldora's most famous driver not to win a crown jewel falls one spot shy again with third straight runner-up in Dream. After DNS at Kokomo, he'll prepare for WoO stretch in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and Minnesota. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 6th (+1)
6. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Nabs Dream prelim but settles for 11th place in 100-lapper. He'll be among favorites at Smoky Mountain's Mountain Moonshine Classic on Lucas Oil tour. Series points: 8th (Castrol); 2nd (XRSS). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)
7. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Quest for fourth straight Dream spoiled by Eldora's brutal turn one, where Overton wrecks twice. Hopefully pains and aches will subside before Smoky Mountain. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 11th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 5th (-2)
8. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: First and third in Dream prelims, but he's not a factor in 100-lapper after heat race scrape and going to backup car. Smoky Mountain on tap. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 4th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Never quite in the mix at Eldora with fifth- and sixth-place finishes in prelims and 16th in Dream finale. He finished second at Kokomo with Smoky Mountain on the docket. Series points: 7th (WoO); 6th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Qualifies for current-best 16th straight Dream feature, but settles for 14th in capping a weekend where he's never better than 12th. Smoky Mountain next. Series points: 1st (XRSS). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Second in opening Dream semifeature, he settles for eighth in Dream's 100-lapper, one spot shy of his best in the event. Smoky Mountian next. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 9th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 12th (+1)
12. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Respectable in prelims with Team Zero car, flat tire in Saturday heat dooms chances to make 100-lapper. He's chasing a week of DIRTcar Summer Nationals next. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: First-time Dream starter posts respectable 13th-place finish for Tye Twarog operations, which girds up for WoO's Midwestern swing. Series points: T2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 15th (+2)
14. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Twice 11th in Dream prelims and 23rd in finale at Eldora. He's got a week of Summer Nationals races on his schedule through Sycamore. Series points: 9th (WoO); 7th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 13th (-1)
15. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Makes Dream XXIX lineup, but settles for 20th in quiet weekend at Eldora. Busy WoO stretch coming up closer to his home territory. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (-1)
16. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: After eighth- and ninth-place prelim finishes, he's an early retiree in Dream's 100-lapper, dulling his momentum from three straight WoO podium finishes. Series points: T2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 16th (nc)
T17. Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Comment: Making second Dream start, he’s 12th in 100-lapper after eighth- and 10th-place finishes in prelims. Upcoming schedule not publicized. Series points: Champion (Schaeffer's Spring Nationals). Previous ranking: 20th (+3)
T17. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Not competitive in Dream XXIX prelims and fails to make 100-lapper. He'll be on home turf for Lucas Oil visit to Smoky Mountain. Series points: Champion (CRUSA Winter Shootout). Previous ranking: 17th (nc)
19. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Salvages Dream XXIX weekend with solid sixth-place finish in 100-lapper after two difficult preliminary nights. Smoky Mountain up next. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil); 5th (XRSS); 13th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 19th (+2)
20. Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif.
Comment: With only two starts since April 22, NASCAR Cup driver's upcoming Dirt Late Model schedule remains up in the air. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 18th (-2)
21. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Eighth and 10th in prelims, he makes Dream main event for first time and settles for 18th-place finish. Viper Motorsports driver will tackle first seven races on DIRTcar Summer Nationals. Series points: 8th (WoO); 10th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 19th (-2)
22. Josh Rice, Verona, Ky.
Comment: Dream weekend gets off to good start with fourth-place in prelim, but goes south in scrape with Mason Zeigler and early retirement in 100-lapper. Lake Cumberland up next. Series points: 1st (Iron-Man South). Previous ranking: 22nd (nc)
23. Ricky Weiss, Headingley, Manitoba
Comment: Fails to crack Dream's 100-lapper after 13th- and 20th-place semifeature finishes at Eldora. His upcoming schedule is uncertain. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 23rd (nc)
24. Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.
Comment: Rebounds from crash in Friday’s semifeature to capture a Saturday heat race and score a career-best fifth-place crown jewel finish at Eldora. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
25. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Lone ranked driver to skip Eldora's Dream XXIX. Rained out at Freedom and finished second in Crate action in Knox, Pa., ahead of Smoky Mountain trip. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 24th (-1)
Dropped out: Chris Ferguson
Others receiving votes: Ashton Winger (15), Chris Ferguson (15), Shane Clanton (12), Gregg Satterlee (11), Daulton Wilson (8), Jason Feger (5), Spencer Hughes (3), Stormy Scott (1), Michael Norris (1).
