DirtonDirt.com exclusive
Richards back to No. 1 spot in power rankings
By Andy Savary
DirtonDirt.com
After winning Saturday’s World of Outlaws World Finals finale to cap off his third World of Outlaws championship in five seasons, Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., returned to the top spot in DirtonDirt.com’s Top 25 power rankings presented by JRi Shocks.
Richards (pictured), snapped the seven-week streak of fellow World of Outlaws Series regular and World Finals Friday winner Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., atop the rankings in the final voting week of the 2013 season. Lanigan dropped one spot to second, while Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., World 100 winner John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., and UMP DIRTcar weekly and Summernationals champion Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., completed the top five.
Along with Blankenship and Sheppard, Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill, were among drivers who ascended in the poll following strong World Finals runs at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C. Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., was the lone driver to join the weekly rankings following his $3,000 triumph in the Southern Regional Racing Series’ season-ending Harvest 100 at Boyd’s Speedway in Ringgold, Ga.
The Top 25 is the final power rankings vote of the season. DirtonDirt.com staffers will arrive at a consensus for Driver of the Year in listing the season’s top five drivers among year-end coverage.
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 this season’s rankings. Twenty-two submitted ballots this week. Polling will return in February 2014 with next season’s preseason rankings.
1. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: Caps off his third World of Outlaws championship with a victory in the World Finals finale. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 2nd (+1)
2. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Collects his 12th World of Outlaws win of the season in Friday’s World Finals opener. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 1st (-1)
3. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: A jumped start and turn-one shuffle ruin his chances for another victory in Saturday's World Finals finale. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: Fourth-place finish on Saturday caps off a strong World Finals weekend for the World 100 winner. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 5th (+1)
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Youngster hustles the cushion, rallying from 21st to seventh in Saturday’s World Finals finale. Series points: 1st (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 6th (+1)
6. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Tough weekend in Concord ends in a tangle with Tyler Reddick during Saturday’s main event. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 4th (-2)
7. Shane Clanton, Zebulon, Ga.
Comment: Falls just two points short of Darrell Lanigan in the final World of Outlaws standings. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 8th (+1)
8. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Sweeps World Finals qualifying before a hard-impact Friday crash ends his weekend early. Series points: 1st (NDRL). Last week’s ranking: 7th (-1)
9. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Most memorable moment of the World Finals comes in the form of retaliation during Friday’s big-block modified feature. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 10th (+1)
10. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Continues his last-season success with a pair of top-five finishes in the World Finals. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 11th (+1)
11. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Runner-up Friday during the World Finals slams the turn-four wall in Saturday’s main event. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Struggles the first two nights in Concord, but makes his first visit memorable with an impressive 17th-to-3rd rally Saturday. Series points: 2nd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 14th (+2)
13. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Makes a rare World Finals appearance in the Childress-owned No. 71 MasterSbilt. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 12th (-1)
14. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Never a factor at the World Finals, a place where he usually finds nothing but success. Series points: 3rd (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 13th (-1)
15. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Suffers a disappointing weekend in Charlotte, where he fails to crack the feature lineup on either night. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Recent slide continues with two DNS at Charlotte; he’ll enter the Blue Gray 100 this weekend. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 16th (nc)
17. Gregg Satterlee, Rochester Mills, Pa.
Comment: Concludes his nine-win season with a 16th-place finish in the World Finals finale. Series points: 1st (Appalachian Mountain Speedweek). Last week's ranking: 17th (nc)
18. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Illinois veteran has packed up for the winter and called it a season with ten total victories. Series points: 3rd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 19th (+1)
19. Jackie Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
Comment: Likely done for the season, one that included special event victories at seven different tracks. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
Comment: Sticking with his modified to close out the season; he had four Late Model victories in 2013. Series points: 3rd (MLRA). Last week's ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Can’t keep up during the World Finals; he’ll try his luck at Cherokee this weekend. Series points: 1st (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 22nd (+1)
22. Ray Cook, Brasstown, N.C.
Comment: Southern specials at Duck River, Bubba Raceway Park and Swainsboro will close his season. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 21st (-1)
23. Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon, Mo.
Comment: Up-and-comer appears to be done for the year following his first MARS and MLRA championships. Series points: 1st (MARS and MLRA). Last week’s ranking: 23rd (nc)
24. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Not up to speed during the World Finals and unsure whether he’ll race again this season. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 24th (nc)
25. Randy Weaver, Crossville, Tenn.
Comment: Leaves Concord after mechanical issues hamper his qualifying, but rebounds with $3,000 payday at Boyd's. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Dennis Franklin
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.
