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Top 25: Davenport, Birky make big jumps in poll
Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., still has the edge atop DirtonDirt.com’s Top 25 power rankings, but the chase is on as Jonathan Davenport (pictured) of Blairsville, Ga., and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, made big jumps on the poll presented by JRi Shocks.
Davenport’s third straight Super Late Model victory, a $30,000 triumph at Lancaster (S.C.) Speedway’s Carolina Crown, boosted him to 10th from 17th in the rankings while Birkhofer, fresh off a $10,000 Thaw Brawl victory at La Salle (Ill.) Speedway during his first racing weekend of 2013, advanced 11 positions to the No. 12 ranking.
Richards maintained his six-week lead in the regular-season poll with 11 first-place votes. Second-ranked Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., received five first-place votes while third- and fourth-ranked Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., and Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., received three votes apiece. No other drivers received first-place votes.
The top 10 includes four World of Outlaws Late Model Series regulars, four Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regulars and two independent drivers.
Returning to the poll was Scott James of Lawrenceburg, Ind., whose Spring 50 victory at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., gave him a $5,000 victory in the Warrior Race Cars house car.
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-two submitted ballots. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: Lengthy break on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series ends as he tackles Farmer City’s Illini 100. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Heads for Farmer City, where he posted a solid second-place finish in last year’s Illini 100. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader heads for series events at Jackson and Lone Star. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Wins preliminary feature at La Salle’s Thaw Brawl before settling for sixth-place finish in finale. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: His NDRL weekend spoiled by rain, back in action with Lucas Oil in search of first top-five since Feb. 16. Series points: 6th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: His journeys to Paducah and Pevely scuttled by rain, he has chance to gun for his third Illini 100 victory. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 7th (+1)
7. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Back to work on the Lucas Oil tour with trips to Mississippi and Texas as he looks for first victory since Speedweeks. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Shane Clanton, Fayetteville, Ga.
Comment: Previous winner at Farmer City returns to Illini 100 on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Will position himself in front of a TV on Saturday to watch Syracuse before tackling Illini 100 feature. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Grabs third straight Super Late Model victory at Carolina Crown; making NASCAR truck debut at Martinsville. Series points: 1st (Southern All Stars). Last week’s ranking: 17th (+7)
11. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Fresh off fourth-place finish at Carolina Crown, he’ll go back to work on the Lucas Oil Series. Series points: 6th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: Scores on season-opening weekend with $10,000 victory in ALMS-sanctioned Thaw Brawl at La Salle, Ill. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 23rd (+11)
13. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Throws everything but kitchen sink at Scott James, but settles for second-place finish at Florence’s Spring 50. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 12th (-1)
14. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: After early retirement at Lancaster’s Carolina Crown, he’ll stay close to home for Ultimate stop at North Georgia. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 11th (-3)
15. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Drove Paul Crowl’s Rocket Chassis to a pair of top-three finishes at Hagerstown and Winchester. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 13th (-2)
16. Steve Casebolt, Richmond, Ind.
Comment: After 15th-place run at Carolina Crown, he’ll take weekend off before Tri-County-Smoky Mountain doubleheader. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 16th (-2)
17. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: Finishes 11th at Carolina Crown and returns to Lucas Oil tour for events at Jackson and Lone Star. Series points: 6th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 16th (-1)
18. Bub McCool, Vicksburg, Miss.
Comment: His personal two-race win streak stretches back to early March as he tackle’s WoO’s Illini 100. Series points: 9th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Scott James, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Comment: Drives backup Warrior Race Cars house car to $5,000 victory at Florence Speedway’s Spring 50. Series points: 7th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: Unranked.
20. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: After ending long drought at Speedweeks, he’ll try for his first two-victory season on Lucas tour since 2010. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 19th (-1)
21: Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Things don’t go his way at La Salle, but he’ll try to right the ship at Farmer City’s Illini 100. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 15th (-6)
22. Randy Weaver, Crossville, Tenn.
Comment: He’ll head for Ultimate Super Late Model Series action at North Georgia Speedway on Saturday. Series points: 7th (Southern All Star). Last week’s ranking: 22nd (-2)
23. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Plans full-season run on Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series after winning $50,000 Champion Spark Plug sponsorship. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 22nd (-1)
24. Tim Fuller, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Kennedy Motorsports driver looking for first-ever top-10 finish at Farmer City’s Illini 100. Series points: 8th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 21st (-3)
25. Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Runs as high as fifth at Carolina Crown before settling for eighth-place finish at Lancaster. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 24th (-1)
Dropped out: Eric Wells.
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.
