DirtonDirt.com exclusive
T-Mac grabs third spot in Top 25 power rankings
By Andy Savary
DirtonDirt.com
Following his $50,000 triumph in Saturday's USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., has climbed two spots and joined Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., and Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., in a fray atop DirtonDirt.com’s latest Top 25 power rankings presented by JRi Shocks.
With nine out of a possible 20 first-place votes, Richards, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series points leader, maintained his grip on the No. 1 spot once again this week, but Owens and McCreadie are within striking distance.
Owens, who tops the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series standings, garnered two first-place votes and holds the No. 2 ranking in the weekly poll, while the richest victory of McCreadie's career helped him snag five first-place votes and the No. 3 position. Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., dropped one slot for the second consecutive week and lands at No. 4, with John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., rounding out the poll’s top five.
Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., made the biggest splash on a week that saw no new pilots enter the rankings and 17 of the 25 ranked drivers enter Cedar Lake's USA Nationals. After scoring a pair of top-five finishes at Cedar Lake, including a runner-up in the 100-lap finale, O'Neal moved up five spots to No. 12 in the power rankings. Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who won Thursday's USA Nationals opener at Cedar Lake, and York, Pa., driver Rick Eckert each ascended three spots to No. 9 and No. 13 respectively.
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 this week. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: Extends his WoO points lead Thursday with a runner-up finish, takes fourth in the 100-lap USA Nationals finale. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Three-time North-South 100 winner heads to Florence (Y'all) as a heavy favorite once again this weekend. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Picks up $50,000 and his first crown jewel victory since 2008 in Cedar Lake's USA Nationals. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 5th (+2)
4. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Finds speed on the bottom that few others could en route to a third-place finish on Saturday at Cedar Lake. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 3rd (-1)
5. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: Needs to rebound strong in this weekend's North-South 100 after losing the Lucas Oil points lead at Roaring Knob. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 4th (-1)
6. Shane Clanton, Zebulon, Ga.
Comment: An uneventful weekend at Cedar Lake, but salvages sixth on Thursday in the only WoO points event. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 6th (+1)
7. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Puts on a memorable show at Cedar Lake before mechanical gremlins end his bid for another big payday. Series points: 3rd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 8th (+1)
8. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Sits out the first week of August in preparation for upcoming crown jewels at Florence and Batesville. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 6th (-2)
9. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Runs away from the field on USA Nationals opening night and collects a top-five finish in the 100-lap finale. Series points: 1st (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 12th (+3)
10. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Will he carry momentum from the best month of his young career through the rest of the season? Series points: 2nd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 9th (-1)
11. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: Former USA Nationals winner fails to crack the finale's starting field while hampered by a broken right hand. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Can't catch T-Mac, but tops Lanigan for second in the most thrilling battle of the USA Nationals main event. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 17th (+5)
13. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Ultimately finds Cedar Lake's track surface more to his liking and quietly bags a pair of top-ten finishes. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 16th (+3)
14. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Engages in a lengthy, side-by-side battle with Bobby Pierce to headline Friday's USA Nationals heat race action. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 14th (nc)
15. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Passes up Thursday's opener at Cedar Lake in favor of testing elsewhere and never gets up to speed on the weekend. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 11th (-4)
16. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Fans Fund steers the Georgia driver back north to Cedar Lake and offers him a provisional starting spot on Saturday. Series points: 1st (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 13th (-3)
17. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: His August gets off to a rocky start at Cedar Lake, where he failed to qualify for Saturday's 100-lapper. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 15th (-2)
18. Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon, Mo.
Comment: Tri-sanctioned MARS-MLRA-NCRA doubleheader at Nebraska's Junction Motor Speedway is next on tap for the points leader. Series points: 1st (MARS and MLRA). Last week’s ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Unsure when or where he'll return to the track next with the Southern Nationals in the rear-view mirror. Series points: 3rd (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 19th (nc)
20. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Emerges uninjured after his fuel pressure gauge malfunctions and flames creep into his cockpit during Cedar Lake's opener. Series�points: None. Last week's ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Off to Florence for the North-South 100 after collecting $4,000 in the Ultimate Series' stop at North Georgia. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 22nd (+1)
22. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Qualifies for both shows at Cedar Lake in making his long-awaited return to World of Outlaws-UMP DIRTcar action. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 23rd (+1)
23. Chris Simpson, Oxford, Iowa
Comment: Wins a stout USA Nationals consolation race, but retires early and takes 24th in Saturday's 100-lap finale. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 21st (-2)
24. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: A week off from Lucas Oil action allows his Bobby Labonte Racing team to regroup for upcoming crown jewels. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 24th (nc)
25. Doug Drown, Wooster, Ohio
Comment: Taking off the beginning of August following a successful July that featured three victories at three Ohio tracks. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 25th (nc)
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.
