Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Pierce unanimous; Moran No. 2
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt.com managing editor
Devin Moran (heathlawsonphotos.com)
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., solidified his top spot in DirtonDirt.com's weekly power rankings by running his World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series winning streak to four in a row, including a $25,000 sweep of the Battle at the Border at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio. Pierce's 15th career No. 1 ranking came in unanimous fashion in the Keyser Manufacturing-backed balloting.
Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, after logging the second of back-to-back victories on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, inched up to No. 2 while Lucas Oil points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., slipped to No. 3 after his fourth-place debut in his new Koehler Motorsports ride at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, where Moran captured the $15,555 Slocum 50.
Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., held onto the fourth spot with WoO points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., at No. 5 after his runner-up finish to Pierce in the Sharon finale. Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, crept up one position to No. 6 after three DIRTcar Summer Nationals victories (giving him 11 total) secured his first touring championship.
A pair of Schaeffer's Southern Nationals winners, Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., and Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., improved two positions each in the rankings. McDowell is at No. 12 after his triumph at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., while Madden is 13th after grabbing a trophy at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Va., where McDowell's flat tire handed the lead to Madden.
Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., had the biggest jump in the polling, moving up four spots to No. 21 on the strength of his third career Summer Nationals Birthday Race victory at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio.
Balloting was completed before Monday's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Eagle (Neb.) Raceway, but updated Lucas Oil points are reflected below.
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, Josh James, 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 along with Aaron Clay.
Rankings appear Tuesdays through mid-November provided at least half of the drivers in the current rankings are in action in the previous weekend.
1. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Putting his four-race WoO winning streak on hold, he'll challenge Lucas Oil Series drivers in chasing $53,000 in the Silver Dollar Nationals at Huset's. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 2nd (Castrol); 4th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: His Slocum 50 victory at 34 Raceway gave him back-to-back Lucas Oil victories, extending a stretch of nine consecutive podium finishes. Busy Lucas Oil week on tap capped by Huset's. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 1st (XRSS). Previous ranking: 2nd (+1)
3. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: His first Koehler Motorsports start is solid with 13th-to-fourth run at 34 Raceway (amid a weekend of multidivision action). Shelby County and lucrative Huset's events up next on Lucas Oil circuit. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 3rd (Castrol); 2nd (XRSS). Previous ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Double L Motorsports driver is eighth at 34 Raceway for just second finish outside the top five since May. Shelby County, Huset's then Fairbury's Prairie Dirt Classic coming up. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: WoO points leader remains steady and posts runner-up finish in Sharon finale after losing lead to Pierce. He'll join Lucas Oil action in Midwest to defend his 2023 Silver Dollar Nationals triumph ahead of Prairie Dirt Classic. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Wins three of week's four Summer Nationals races in wrapping up his first touring title. He'll carry that momentum to Silver Dollar Nationals at Huset's. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 8th (Castrol); 6th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)
7. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Loses ground to B-Shepp in WoO points chase and flat tire spoils Summer Nationals bid at Wayne County. He'll take a weekend off before Fairbury's $50,000-to-win Prairie Dirt Classic. Series points: 2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Unhurt when car ends up on roof at Wythe. He's focused on Schaeffer's Southern Nationals for the next few weeks. Series points: 1st (HTF). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Runner-up finish in first start since rejoining SSI Motorsports at 34 Raceway a relief. He'll continue busy Lucas Oil stretch in Iowa and South Dakota. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (+1)
10. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Ninth at 34's Slocum 50 gives him three straight finishes outside top five. He'll get a chance to turn that around during busy week on Lucas Oil circuit. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 3rd (XRSS). Previous ranking: 9th (-1)
11. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: On a Super Late Model career-best run of eight consecutive top-five finishes after solid WoO weekend at Bedford and Sharon. Fairbury next on his publicized schedule. Series points: 6th (WoO); 5th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Flat at Wythe robs him of golden opportunity for two straight Southern Nationals victories. After Volunteer triumph, Shane McDowell Racing has eyes on series races at I-75, North Georgia and Tazewell. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 14th (+2)
13. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Schaeffer's Southern Nationals victory at Wythe marks his first since abandoning his WoO title chase because of diverticulitis, which he's learning to manage. I-75 and Senoia next on his dance card. Series points: 3rd (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: 15th (+2)
14. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Can't capitalize on pole starting spot at 34 Raceway as he logs third straight sixth-place finish. Rocket Chassis house car goes back to work in Midwest during flurry of Lucas Oil action. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 12th (-2)
15. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: After back-to-back fifth place runs at Lincoln (Castrol tour) and 34 Raceway (Lucas Oil), he's set for busy week at Shelby County and Huset's. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil); 4th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 13th (-2)
16. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Runner-up finish in Sharon opener best of Pennsylvania weekend on WoO tour. He'll park his Late Model until Fairbury's Prairie Dirt Classic. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 17th (+1)
17. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Logs second-place finishes to McKay Wenger at Farmer City and Fairbury, where he tunes up for Prairie Dirt Classic at month's end. MARS action at Farmer City, I-55 and Adams up next followed by XRSS events at Davenport. Series points: 3rd (Summer Nationals); 1st (Castrol); 2nd (MARS). Previous ranking: 16th (-1)
18. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: He's on Lucas Oil podium at 34 Raceway for first time since Memorial Day weekend. Rattliff Racing team on busy Midwest stretch with Lucas Oil Series. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil); 7th (Castrol); 10th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: Logs pair of top-fives at Sharon Speedway on WoO circuit. He plans a weekend off before Fairbury's Prairie Dirt Classic beckons. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: T19th (nc)
20. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Settles for 15th-place performance at 34 Raceway's Slocum 50. After wet Lucas Oil weekend he has a busy stretch with Huset's and the Silver Dollar Nationals on horizon. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: T19th (-1)
21. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Stays unbeaten in three trips to Oakshade's Birthday Race on the Summer Nationals, but breaks battling near front at Wayne County. Jeff Mathews-owned team points toward Southern Nationals race at Senoia. Series points: 3rd (HTF). Previous ranking: 25th (+4)
22. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Fourth at Bedford marks best run during WoO's nearby weekend. He'll tackle ULMS action at Path Valley and Latrobe next. Series points: Champion (Appalachian Mountain Speedweek). Previous ranking: 22nd (nc)
T23. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: After skipping last week of Summer Nationals, he'll head closer to Coltman Farms Racing territory with Southern Nationals events at I-75, Senoia and East Alabama. Series points: 4th (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 23rd (nc)
T23. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Continues string of top-10 runs with fourth-place finish in Sharon finale. Schedule lists a break ahead of Fairbury's Prairie Dirt Classic. Series points: 9th (WoO). Previous ranking: 24th (+1)
25. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: He's 19th at 34 Raceway and hasn't finish better than 10th in a full-field event since a ninth-place run at Show-Me 100. He'll try to right ship during weeknight Lucas Oil action. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 21st (-4)
Dropped out: None
Others receiving votes: Spencer Hughes (13), Ross Bailes (13), Ricky Weiss (9), Donald McIntosh (8), Dennis Erb Jr. (6), McKay Wenger (5), Cody Overton (5), Carson Ferguson (4), Drake Troutman (3), David Breazeale (3), Tyler Peterson (1), Dillon McCowan (1), Josh Rice (1).
