DirtonDirt.com exclusive
O'Neal climbs to No. 6 in Top 25 power rankings
By Andy Savary
DirtonDirt.com
Fresh off his second straight victory in Florence Speedway's famed North-South 100, Don O'Neal (pictured) is rapidly ascending in DirtonDirt.com's latest Top 25 power rankings presented by JRi Shocks. The Martinsville, Ind., driver soared six spots in this week's poll following his $50,000 triumph at the King family oval and sits just outside the top five at No. 6.
World of Outlaws Late Model Series points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., continues to reign atop the poll and bagged half of the 24 first-place votes this week, but he has company in the form of North-South 100 runner-up Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. With eight first-place votes in the latest rankings, McCreadie climbed one spot to No. 2 and sits only 11 overall points behind in Richards' rear-view mirror.
Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., collected a trio of first-place votes after extending his Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points lead with a 23rd-to-fifth run at Florence and polls in third, while Darrell Lanigan, of Union, Ky., notched the final first-place vote and ranks fourth following his fourth-place finish in the North-South 100. John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., completes this week's top five.
The weekly power rankings saw only one newcomer, with Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, joining for the first time since June 4 and securing the No. 24 spot. Simpson swept the weekend's Corn Belt Clash events at Iowa's Fayette County Speedway in West Union, and Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, and lands two spots behind brother Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, who ranks 22nd.
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-four submitted ballots this week. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: Skips the North-South 100 after recording his worst World of Outlaws finish of the season at Independence. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: USA Nationals winner comes up one spot short of a second $50,000 payday in as many weeks at Florence. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 3rd (+1)
3. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Rallies from the 12th row to claim a top five at Florence despite a heat race tangle that buried him in the back. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Runs a steady fourth at Florence four days after picking up his series-leading eighth World of Outlaws victory at Independence. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 4th (nc)
5. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: Suffers a demoralizing ending to a strong North-South 100 run when his rear-end breaks with four laps to go. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Despite a close call, he ends his six-month victory lane drought at Florence with his second straight North-South 100 triumph. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 12th (+6)
7. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Just a bit off at Florence, but shuffles to a sixth-place finish when other drivers experience late-race misfortune. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 8th (+1)
8. Shane Clanton, Zebulon, Ga.
Comment: Leads almost half of the feature at Independence, but can't keep up with Lanigan down the stretch. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 6th (-2)
9. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Takes a week off to regroup after multiple mechanical issues slowed his furious USA Nationals charge. Series points: 3rd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 7th (-2)
10. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Finishes second, third and seventh during the ALMS triple-header at Kankakee, Fairbury and Quincy. Series points: 1st (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 9th (-1)
11. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Rebounds from a bizarre final lap incident at I-55 on Saturday with an ALMS victory at Quincy on Sunday. Series points: 2nd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: Still struggling with his broken right hand, but makes the short haul to West Liberty and races to a runner-up finish. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Seeking his fifth Topless 100 title this weekend, but has only one top-five finish since winning his last in 2005. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 14th (+1)
14. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Scores a runner-up finish in Paul Crowl's No. 7 Rocket machine during Three State Flyers action at Hagerstown. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 14th (-1)
15. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Doesn't find the same success at the North-South that he experienced during the Summernationals' stop at Florence. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Will return to Batesville after mechanical issues sidelined what appeared to be the car to beat in May's Bad Boy 98. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 17th (+1)
17. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Plans to park his Super Late Model in favor of his Crate Late Model for many of his upcoming events. Series points: 1st (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 16th (-1)
18. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Off to Arkansas for the Topless after happily rounding out the podium on an unfamiliar Florence track surface. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 20th (+2)
19. Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon, Mo.
Comment: Continues his summer to remember with a win and a runner-up finish in Junction's King of the Hill Late Model Shootout. Series points: 1st (MARS and MLRA). Last week’s ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Has flirted with major victories multiple times at Batesville, but may elect to skip this weekend's Topless 100. Series points: 3rd (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 19th (-1)
21. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: A broken brakeline brings an early end to his North-South 100 run; headed for Batesville this weekend. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 21st (nc)
22. Chris Simpson, Oxford, Iowa
Comment: Bags a pair of top fives in Corn Belt Clash action at Fayette County and Jackson County, but no match for brother Chad. Series points: 3rd (Corn Belt Clash). Last week’s ranking: 23rd (+1)
23. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Home-state driver makes his first appearances of the season at Kankakee and Fairbury in ALMS-sanctioned events. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 22nd (-1)
24. Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, Iowa
Comment: Breaks out the broom on fellow Corn Belt Clash competitors; now primed for his fourth straight series crown. Series points: 1st (Corn Belt Clash). Last week's ranking: Unranked
25. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: Victim of an peculiar incident while being lapped by O'Neal at Florence; ends up 17th in the final rundown. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 24th (-1)
Dropped out: Doug Drown.
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.
