DirtonDirt.com exclusive
Owens edges Richards in rankings for No. 1 spot
There’s a new driver in the No. 1 position atop DirtonDirt.com’s Top 25 power rankings — by a whisker. Reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., knocked Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., out of the top spot for the first time in the regular-season rankings, although it was nearly too close to call.
Both received 464 points in balloting presented by JRi Shocks, but Owens had 11 first-place votes compared to eight for Richards, giving him the tiebreaker after a weekend when Owens scored a Lucas Oil victory at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway. The swap atop the polls comes one weekend after Richards and Owens split victories during the inaugural weekend for the National Dirt Racing League.
Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., tied with Owens atop Lucas Oil Series points, retained the third position while Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., is fourth after a breakdown in World of Outlaws Late Model Series at 311 Motor Speedway near Madison, N.C.
Three drivers joined the rankings, most notably a pair of drivers with two victories last weekend. Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., ended a 38-race winless streak with a Spring Nationals victory at 201 Speedway in his native Kentucky, then followed that with a $10,000 Lucas Oil triumph at West Virginia Motor Speedway. He’s ranked 16th.
Three-time Corn Belt Clash champion Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, also entered the rankings for the first time this season after back-to-back victories at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, and Quincy (Ill.) Raceway in events tri-sanctioned by the Corn Belt Clash, Sunoco American Late Model Series and MARS DIRTcar Series. Simpson is 21st.
Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., a $5,000 Spring Nationals winner at Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway, rejoined the rankings in the 24th spot.
Dropping out of the poll were Brian Shirley, Jared Landers and Bub McCool while Jason Feger fell from 17th to 25th. The World of Outlaws announced Monday, the day most ballots were cast, that Feger was being stripped of his Illini 100 victory at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway, pending appeal.
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. Nineteen submitted ballots this week. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Has victories in three of last five starts; dominated Stanley Schetrompf Memorial for first Hagerstown triumph. Series points: 1st-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 2nd (+1)
2. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: Third-place run in WoO action at 311 Motor Speedway and impressive rally to second on Lucas Oil Series at WVMS. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 1st (-1)
3. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Shakes off miserable outing at Hagerstown with solid third-place finish at West Virginia Motor Speedway. Series points: 1st-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Mechanical woes knock him out at 311 Motor Speedway; finishes five laps down in 15th in WoO action. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 2nd (nc)
5. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: He’s not a factor in Lucas Oil Series action at Hagerstown and WVMS; planning for a rare weekend off. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Stays close to home on Comp Cams Series at I-30 Speedway near Little Rock, but manages only a sixth-place finish. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Lackluster finishes on Lucas Oil Series with 13th place at Hagerstown and a seventh-place run at WVMS. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: Not a factor at Hagerstown but leads 32 laps at West Virginia Motor Speedway before settling for fourth. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 9th (+1)
9. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Fifth-place at WoO’s 311 show after running as high as second; finishes 10th in Lucas Oil action at WVMS. Series points: 4th (Southern All Stars). Last week’s ranking: 8th (-1)
10. Shane Clanton, Fayetteville, Ga.
Comment: Salvages WoO outing at 311 Motor Speedway with eighth-place finish after flat tire in heat race hampers him. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Goes flag-to-flag at 311 Motor Speedway for second straight WoO victory at the track near Madison, N.C. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 11th (+2)
12. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Gets the worst of a frontstretch scramble on a lap-33 restart in Lucas Oil action at WVMS. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Scores solid second-place finish in WoO action at 311 Motor Speedway after starting in the fifth row. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 15th (+2)
14. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Team decides to sit out Spring Nationals races but will tackle World of Outlaws for Tennessee tripleheader. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 12th (-2)
15. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Finishes second (again) to Randy Weaver at Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway; WoO action up next. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 14th (-1)
16. Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W.Va.
Comment: Ends 38-race winless streak with a bang by scoring Spring Nationals victory at 201 and Lucas Oil triumph at WVMS. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: Unranked
17. Steve Casebolt, Richmond, Ind.
Comment: Seventh-place run at Cleveland keeps him atop the points on Ray Cook-promoted Spring Nationals. Series points: 1st (Spring Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 16th (-1)
18. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: Can’t rekindle magic at Hagerstown in finishing ninth; fast time at WVMS but just misses top-five finish. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 20th (+2)
19. Scott James, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Comment: Mechanical woes lead to early retirement in WoO event at 311; three-race WoO weekend up next. Series points: 7th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
Comment: Taking a few weekends off before returning to action May 3-4 on Lucas Oil Series at Tri-City, Paducah. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 21st (+1)
21. Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, Iowa
Comment: Sweep of tri-sanctioned Clash for Cash at 34 Raceway and Quincy gives him personal three-race win streak. Series points: 1st (Corn Belt Clash). Last week’s ranking: Unranked
22. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: Runner-up finish at Hagerstown and 11th-place run at WVMS give him big jump in Lucas Oil points chase. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 24th (+2)
23. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Tough weekend with 19th at Hagerstown and 13th at WVMS; hauler breakdown forced him into Austin Hubbard’s backup car at WVMS. Series points: 8th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 19th (-4)
24. Randy Weaver, Crossville, Tenn.
Comment: Rebounds from poor outings in NDRL action with Spring Nationals victory at Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: Unranked
25. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Pending appeal, World of Outlaws strips him of $20,000 Illini 100 victory because tire failed lab tests. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 17th (-8)
Dropped out: Brian Shirley, Jared Landers, Bub McCool.
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.
