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Poll Position: Weaver joins rankings at No. 15
While Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., held firm in the top spot, $10,000 weekend winners Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., and Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., joined DirtonDirt.com’s Top 25 power rankings today.
Weaver, who outdueled Billy Ogle Jr. to win the Southern All Star-sanctioned Shamrock at Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway, and McCool, who edged Billy Moyer and Terry Phillips at ArkLaTex Speedway’s Pelican 100, made their first 2013 appearances in the newly expanded poll presented by JRi Shocks.
Weaver (pictured), who hasn’t finished worse than third in four 2013 starts, jumped to 15th in the rankings while McCool joined the poll in the 21st position.
Richards, who received 15 of 20 first-place votes, was idle along with second-ranked Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who received the other five first-place votes.
Don O’Neal, the MasterSbilt house car driver from Martinsville, Ind., making a guest appearance for Louisiana-based Childress Racing to finish fourth at the Pelican 100, maintained his third spot in the rankings.
Although neither driver was a factor at Cleveland, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., and Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga., retained their positions at fourth and fifth in the poll. The driver making the biggest jump was Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill. Ranked 24th last week, he's up to No. 13 after a runner-up finish and $5,000 victory in the MARS DIRTcar Series series-opening Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic in Clarksville, Tenn.
After restricting poll voting to staffers the previous two seasons, DirtonDirt.com invited more than 30 media members and drivers along with track, series and manufacturer representatives to vote in 2013’s rankings. Twenty submitted ballots for the second regular-season voting of the season. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: He’ll try to maintain top spot while making debut at three tracks (I-30, Whynot, Duck River) on March 22-24. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Doesn’t plan on running Spring 50 at hometown Florence Speedway with WoO tripleheader coming up. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: In the middle of the back-and-forth battle up front at ArkLaTex Speedway’s Pelican 100 in Childress Racing entry. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Not a factor at Cleveland’s Shamrock, but sticks around to do a little testing at the conclusion of the evening. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Shane Clanton, Fayetteville, Ga.
Comment: Bitten by frontstretch concrete at Cleveland’s Shamrock while battling up front in a heat race. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Finishes a close second to Bub McCool at ArkLaTex Speedway’s Pelican 100 on a racy track surface. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 8th (+2)
7. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Lowers track record at Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedweek, then goes backward in his heat race. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Never a factor during Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway’s Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic weekend. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 7th (-1)
9. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Confident team heading in “positive direction” after season’s slow start that has gotten better and better. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws. Last week's ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Following runner-up finish at Cherokee Speedway’s March Madness, Kentuckian takes a weekend off. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: The 2011 World of Outlaws champion preparing to tackle three bullrings as WoO hits mid-South. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Solid eighth-to-second run at Cleveland’s Shamrock followed by third-place Ultimate finish at Lavonia. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 12th (+1)
13: Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Solid opening weekend with runner-up finish and $5,000 victory in MARS DIRTcar action at Clarksville. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 24th (+11)
14. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: Addition of engineer Kevin Rumley and redesigned Longhorn Chassis helps team get back on track. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 12th (-2)
15. Randy Weaver, Crossville, Tenn.
Comment: Wins wild back-and-forth battle at Cleveland’s Shamrock; not worse than third in four 2013 starts. Series points: 1st (Southern All Star). Last week’s ranking: Unranked.
16. Tim Fuller, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: So-so Speedweeks for Kennedy Motorsports driver ends on a high note with top-five finish at Volusia. Series points: 8th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 14th (-1)
17. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: After $4,000 victory at Boyd’s, leads early at Cleveland’s Shamrock but finishes fourth in Southern All Star affair. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 21st (+7)
18. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: After sitting out Speedweeks as he customarily does, Birky plans to open season in March at Brownstown, Ind. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 18th (-3)
19. Steve Casebolt, Richmond, Ind.
Comment: Engine woes spoil run in Cleveland’s Shamrock heat after fourth row starting spot appears likely. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Scott James, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Comment: Warrior house car driver will balance family life with plans for full-time run with the World of Outlaws. Series points: 7th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 16th (-4)
21. Bub McCool, Vicksburg, Miss.
Comment: Valiantly fights off flurry of challenges (and late engine woes) to capture ArkLaTex Speedway’s Pelican 100. Series points: 9th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: Unranked.
22. Eric Wells, Hazard, Ky.
Comment: Jumps to top of WoO rookie class with solid runs at Volusia, including runner-up finish and leading 46 feature laps. Series points: 6th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 19th (-3)
23. Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Rises to top of heap late for Waycross victory, adds two more top-five finishes during busy Speedweeks. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 17th (-6)
24. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: The 16-year-old, along with Jason Feger, in contention for $50,000 sponsorship from Champion Spark Plugs. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 20th (-4)
25. Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Coming off $10,000 victory at Cherokee, he’ll tackle Spring Nationals doubleheader at Volunteer Speedway. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 22nd (-3).
Dropped out: John Blankenship, Jimmy Mars.
Editor’s note: The top 25 drivers are determined by a points system with 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 points for a second-place vote and so on through a single point for a 25th-place vote. The voting panel is made up of media members, drivers, and track, series and manufacturer representatives.
