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Poll Position: Boen, Blair enter the power rankings
Welcome to one of the newest DirtonDirt.com features, Poll Position, as DirtonDirt.com staffers Michael Rigsby, Todd Turner and Joshua Joiner rank the nation's top 25 Dirt Late Model racers by consensus. Future rankings will appear every Tuesday at DirtonDirt.com.
1. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Owens’s great year got even better this weekend with a $50,000 Sunoco Race Fuels North-South 100 victory, his second consecutive and third overall triumph in the crown jewel event. Series points: First (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: He’s now finished second to Owens in two Lucas Oil-sanctioned major events. He’ll look to end that trend at the Comp Cams Topless 100 this weekend in Batesville. Series points: Second (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: He was looking good in Ernie Davis’s no. 25 Rocket, but a broken driveline while leading a heat race ended his North-South 100 chances. Series points: Second (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: The two-time Topless 100 runner-up plans to forgo the trip to Batesville this weekend and compete in WoO events in Michigan instead, according to his website. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 5th (+1)
5. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Posted a solid top-10 finish in the North-South, but he’s still winless in the event at his hometown track. Series points: Third (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 4th (-1)
6. Steve Shaver, Vienna, W.Va.
Comment: He started off the North-South weekend by setting fast time, but couldn’t parlay that into a main event starting spot thanks to a flat tire in his heat race. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 7th (+1)
7. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Babb’s Summernationals magic seems to have cooled off, but he’ll look to bounce back in Batesville, where he won the Topless 100 in ‘03. Series points: First (Summernationals). Last week's ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: A Comp Cams Series victory at West Plains could foreshadow something bigger this weekend in Batesville. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: The WoO points leader is looking good heading into the championship stretch, which takes a trip north this weekend for a Michigan doubleheader. Series points: First (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
Comment: Mars, the ’09 North-South 100 winner, was never a factor this year at Florence. He failed to make the main event lineup. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: After starting eighth, Madden’s shot at winning the North-South came to a screeching halt when he crashed into the turn-one wall. Series points: First (Southern Nationals). Last week's ranking: 12th (+1)
12. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: After failing to make the USA Nationals starting field last week, Davenport rebounded with a sixth-place effort at Florence. Series points: Seventh (Southern Nationals). Last week's ranking: 15th (+3)
13. Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: The pole-starting O’Neal led 22 laps in the North-South main event, but faded dramatically late in the race on his way to finishing 11th. Series points: Third (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 11th (-2)
14. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: A top-10 finish in the North-South 100 isn’t something to sneeze at, especially after the way Francis’s year has gone thus far. Series points: Fourth (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 17th (+3)
15. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: McCreadie will try to get back on track during the WoO trip to Michigan after three poor finishes during the tour’s swing through Wisconsin and Iowa two weeks ago. Series points: Fourth (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 13th (-2)
16. Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W.Va.
Comment: Carrier failed to meet expectations at Florence, where he’s normally pretty good. Series points: First (O'Reilly All Stars). Last week's ranking: 16th (-2)
17. Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, Iowa
Comment: Two subpar performances in Corn Belt Clash events last week have allowed younger brother Chris to sneak back into championship contention. Series points: First (Corn Belt Clash). Last week's ranking: 16th (-1)
18. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.
Comment: The two-time Three State Flyers champ appears destined for another series title after notching his fifth victory of the season Saturday at Roaring Knob. Series points: First (Three State Flyers). Last week's ranking: 22nd (+4)
19. Austin Hubbard, Seaford, Del.
Comment: What started off as a promising season on the WoO tour is looking more and more like a sophomore slump for the tour’s ’09 Rookie of the Year. Series points: Seventh (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 19th (nc)
20. Shane Clanton, Fayetteville, Ga.
Comment: If his up-and-down trend continues, Clanton will get at least one good finish this weekend in Michigan. Series points: Eighth (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 18th (-2)
21. Ronnie Johnson, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Comment: His winless streak will hit three months if he doesn’t win between now and Labor Day. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 20th (-1)
22. Ray Moore, Haughton, La.
Comment: Moore is slated to head back to Batesville this weekend, where he finished 20th last year in his first Topless 100 start. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 23rd (+1)
23. Robbie Blair, Titusville, Pa.
Comment: He needed a little luck to win Saturday at Sharon Speedway, but lucky victories pay just as good as the others. Series points: none. Last week's ranking: Not ranked.
24. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning, Mich.
Comment: A pair of WoO events in his home state could be a good opportunity for Van Wormer to grab his first series victory since ‘07. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 25th (+1)
25. Kelly Boen, Henderson, Colo.
Comment: A move back into his own equipment produced a sweep of Junction Motor Speedway’s doubleheader weekend. Series points: none. Last week's ranking: Not ranked.
DROPPED OUT: Scott James, Earl Pearson Jr.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN: Brad Looney, Scott James, Dave Hess Jr., Earl Pearson Jr., Jon Henry.
