Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: T-Mac, Shirley climb and posthumous tribute
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt.com senior writer
Brian Shirley (heathlawsonphotos.com)
A rare winless week wasn’t much of a hiccup for Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., who still made his presence known sufficiently on a three-race World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series swing through the Midwest to remain firmly on top of DirtonDirt.com’s Top 25 poll presented by Keyser Manufacturing while national touring weekend winners made significant gains.
The 27-year-old Pierce earned the No. 1 spot in the rankings for the 20th time in his career following a stretch that saw him finish second on Wednesday at Highland (Ill.) Speedway and fourth and 12th at Maquoketa (Iowa) Speedway’s Hawkeye 100. He appeared headed to victory in Maquoketa’s $20,000-to-win finale before a late-race flat tire doomed his bid.
Pierce received nine of 10 first-place votes, falling short of unanimous recognition only because all-time great Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., was honored by a panelist with a first-place nod as a tribute following his tragic death in a vintage plane crash on Friday at the age of 60. Bloomquist, who also appeared on another voter’s ballot, became the first driver to earn posthumous recognition in the poll as he appeared in the No. 25 slot.
Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., moved up one spot to No. 2 after a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Series weekend at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, Ark., that saw him win Friday’s $5,000 preliminary feature and finish fifth in the Topless 100 finale. Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, slipped a position to No. 3 following a quiet Batesville visit while Topless 100 runner-up Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., and WoO points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., remained fourth and fifth.
Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., jumped four spots to No. 7 following his elusive first triumph in five months of competition with the Rocket Chassis house car team. He mastered the outside line around Batesville’s 3/8-mile oval in earning $50,000 for his second career Topless 100 checkered flag.
The biggest mover was Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., who vaulted nine spots to No. 12 after rolling to three straight WoO victories with a $10,000 score at Highland and back-to-back Hawkeye 100 triumphs worth $30,000 at Maquoketa.
Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., was the lone driver to drop out of the Top 25.
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, Josh James, 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: Goes winless in three-race WoO swing, but he’s right in mix with finishes of second, fourth and 12th (after popping a tire while leading). Eastern trip next for Castrol tour at Lernerville and WoO at Atomic. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 2nd (Castrol); 2nd (XRSS). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Solid Topless 100 weekend includes $5,000 prelim victory and fifth-place run in finale. Heads to Keystone State for Castrol at Lernerville and Lucas Oil at Port Royal. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 1st (Castrol); 4th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 3rd (+1)
3. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Can’t break through at Batesville, finishing seventh in rubber-up prelim and 10th in Topless 100 after being slowed by two flat tires. Lernerville and Port Royal on his dance card. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 1st (XRSS). Previous ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Caps Batesville trip with runner-up finish in Topless 100. Focused this weekend on $50,000-to-win Port Royal check. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Maintains WoO points lead with two top-fives in three nights of WoO action. Hitting Castrol at Lernerville and WoO at Atomic. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Fifth in prelim and sixth in Topless 100 finale at Batesville. Pointed toward Lernerville and Port Royal. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 8th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Finally ends five-month pursuit of victory in Rocket1 entry with $50,000 Topless 100 triumph. Looking to start a hot streak at Lernerville and Port Royal. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil) 10th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 11th (+4)
8. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Rebounds from two poor finishes (14th, 21st) to cap WoO Midwest swing with bridesmaid run in headliner of Hawkeye 100 at Iowa’s Maquoketa. WoO weekend at Atomic in car owner Tye Twarog’s home state of Ohio on his agenda. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 9th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 7th (-1)
9. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Strong WoO results in Midwest (sixth, second, fourth) send him to Atomic doubleheader with momentum. Series points: 6th (WoO); 5th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 8th (-1)
10. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Goes 14th-to-fourth in Sunday afternoon’s held-over Hunt the Front show at Senoia, Ga. HTF visit to Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland comes up this weekend. Series points: 1st (HTF). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: After weekend off, eyes Castrol at Lernerville and WoO at Atomic. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 6th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 9th (-2)
12. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Catches first with sweep of WoO Midwest swing, earning $10,000 at Highland and $30,000 total for two wins at Maquoketa. Looks to keep good times rolling at Atomic. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 21st (+9)
13. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Finishes fourth in Batesville’s prelim before engine woes knock him from top-five late in Topless 100. Big money at Port Royal on his mind. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil); 3rd (XRSS). Previous ranking: 12th (-1)
14. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Stands on podium at Batesville after third-place finish in Topless 100. Lernerville and Port Royal up next. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 6th (Castrol). Previous ranking: 16th (+2)
T15. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Fourth in Maquoketa’s opener is best run of three WoO shows in Midwest. Makes rare Pennsylvania start Wednesday at Lernerville before coming home for MARS twinbill at Tri-City and Red Hill. Series points: 1st (MARS); 3rd (Summer Nationals); 3rd (Castrol). Previous ranking: 14th (-1)
T15. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Finishes second in Batesville’s prelim but settles for ninth after flat tire in Topless 100. No racing scheduled until Labor Day weekend. Series points: 6th (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: 15th (nc)
17. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Following rough weekend at Batesville (19th, 20th), looks to bounce back at Lernerville and Port Royal. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil); 4th (Castrol); 7th (XRSS). Previous ranking: 13th (-4)
18. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: Moves on to Atomic after quiet-but-steady WoO stretch (eighth, sixth, eighth). Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 17th (-1)
19. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Satisfactory WoO stretch yields two fifths and a ninth. Atomic comes up next. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Falls short of top 10 at Batesville. Gets four home-state shows this week with special at Stateline, Castrol at Lernerville and Lucas Oil at Port Royal. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 19th (-1)
21. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Idle for weekend while gearing up for HTF doubleheader at Lake Cumberland. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (-1)
22. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Spends weekend gearing up for big shows in backyard at Lernerville and Port Royal. Series points: Champion (Appalachian Mountain Speedweek). Previous ranking: 22nd (nc)
23. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: After runner-up HTF finish on home turf at Senoia, points toward Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland for more action on regional tour. Series points: 3rd (HTF). Previous ranking: 24th (+1)
24. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Hopes to put forgettable Topless 100 in rear-view mirror with Lernerville and Port Royal racing in home state. Series points: 11th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 23rd (-1)
25. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: All-time great receives posthumous tribute votes to crack Top 25 after vintage plane crash on Friday shockingly claims his life at the age of 60. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Ross Bailes
Others receiving votes: Ross Bailes (12), Tyler Bruening (8), Dennis Erb Jr. (7), Jimmy Owens (6), Shane Clanton (5), Ryan Unzicker (5), Ben Watkins (4), Dustin Sorensen (3), Ethan Dotson (2), Spencer Hughes (2), Sam Seawright (2), Carson Ferguson (1), Tyler Carpenter (1), Zack Mitchell (1).
Correction: Fixes Erb's previous ranking to 9th sted 19th.
