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Top 25: Richards still leads as rankings tighten
World of Outlaws Late Model Series points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., remains the only driver to hold the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt.com’s Top 25 power rankings, but voters are beginning to spread the wealth.
A season-high five other drivers received first-place votes in this week’s balloting with Richards (7) just edging out WoO rival Darrell Lanigan (6) of Union, Ky., who holds on to the second spot in the poll presented by JRi Shocks, five points behind Richards.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., remains third in the rankings with three first-place votes and Jimmy Owens, a Lucas Oil Series winner over the weekend at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas, moved up to fourth with two first-place votes.
Drivers receiving single first-place votes were No. 5 Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., and No. 9 Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who has a personal four-race Super Late Model win streak with Saturday’s Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series at 311 Motor Speedway near Madison, N.C.
Overall in the top 10, three drivers follow the World of Outlaws, four follow the Lucas Oil tour and three are independent, including Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, who moved into the top 10.
The poll’s lone newcomer was a significant one. Jason Feger (pictured) of Bloomington, Ill., who skipped February’s Georgia-Florida Speedweeks this year, got up to speed Saturday at his home-track Farmer City Raceway with a career-richest $20,000 victory in WoO’s Illini 100. Voters rewarded him with the 17th spot in the rankings, helping Illinois tie Tennessee with a poll-best four drivers in the top 25.
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. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: Loss of power steering hampers his run at Farmer City’s Illini 100 as he posts 12th-place finish. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Finishes a quiet seventh in Illini 100 at Farmer City, where he posted a runner-up finish a year earlier. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Flat tire knocks him out of the lead of Lucas Oil stop at Lone Star, but he soldiers on to fourth-place finish. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Muscles past Scott Bloomquist on rugged Lone Star Speedway surface for second Lucas Oil victory of 2013. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 5th (+1)
5. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Posts sixth-place finish at Lone Star and competes against unrelated Tyler Erb for the first time. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 5th (-1)
6. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Manhandles car in tough conditions at Lone Star, but can’t hold off Owens in settling for second place. Series points: 5th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 8th (+1)
7. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: His run for third Illini 100 victory falls one spot short to Jason Feger as he makes first start in almost a month. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 7th (-1)
8. Shane Clanton, Fayetteville, Ga.
Comment: Improves four positions to finish fourth in Illini 100 and pulls within two points of WoO points lead. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Fails to qualify in NASCAR Camping World Trucks debut at Martinsville, but nabs fourth dirt victory in as many weekends. Series points: 4th (Southern All Stars). Last week’s ranking: 10th (+1)
10. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: Starts on pole at Farmer City’s Illini 100 but settles into third early and stays third for another solid run. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 12th (+2)
11. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Always strong at North Georgia Speedway, home-state driver clicks off a $4,000 victory on Ultimate circuit. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 14th (+3)
12. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Avoids near-disaster in turn four when his car goes briefly airborne, finishes third at Lone Star. Series points: 5th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Broken fifth-coil shock runs a chance for a top-five finish at Farmer City; he settles for 17th instead. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 9th (-4)
14. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Spends weekend out of the driver’s seat but assists crew chief Josh Davis in a Late Model start at Ponderosa. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 13th (-1)
15. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Finishes ninth in World of Outlaws action at Farmer City as he tries to keep pace in points chase. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Scott James, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Comment: Warrior house car driver makes progress at Farmer City, climbing up to a fifth-place finish at checkers. Series points: 6th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 19th (+3)
17. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Home-track victory at Farmer City pays $20,000 and draws huge cheer from crowd on WoO circuit. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: Unranked
18. Steve Casebolt, Richmond, Ind.
Comment: He’ll go back to work with D&R Motorsports team in Spring Nationals action at Tri-County, Smoky Mountain. Series points: 1st (Spring Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 16th (-2)
19. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: His No. 23 gets banged up in Lucas Oil action at Lone Star but he manages to escape with eighth-place finish. Series points: 5th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 17th (-2)
20. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: Among the first victims at Lone Star as he runs second for 12 laps before being towed off the track. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Posts fifth-place finish in Lucas Oil action at Lone Star, the Texas track where he won in 2012. Series points: 5th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 25th (+4)
22. Bub McCool, Vicksburg, Miss.
Comment: Win streak ends with a thud as he wins consolation race at Farmer City, but never a factor in main. Series points: 10th-tie (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 18th (-4)
23. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Sets fast time at Lone Star, but poor start in heat race costs him. Salvages 10th-place finish in feature. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 23rd (nc)
24: Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Early retiree at Farmer City’s Illini 100; he’ll try to steady ship with upcoming regional events. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 21st (-3)
25. Randy Weaver, Crossville, Tenn.
Comment: Finishes second to Dale McDowell in Ultimate Super Late Model Series action at North Georgia Speedway. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 22nd (-3)
Dropped out: Tim Fuller.
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.
