Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Cedar Lake winner climbs to No. 7
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Ryan Gustin (Emily Schwanke/woolms.com)
As Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, vaulted into the top 10 following a $100,000 USA Nationals triumph, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., remained the unanimous No. 1 choice in DirtonDirt’s power rankings despite failing to score a third straight win in the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series-sanctioned event at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis.
The 34-year-old Gustin drove to the first crown jewel victory of his career in the 100-lap headliner at Cedar Lake, earning him increased support from voters to advance five spots to No. 7 in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll. He unloaded for the USA Nationals hot off a WoO victory on July 28 at Wilmot (Wis.) Raceway that came after last week’s voting was already completed.
Pierce, 28, experienced a rare non-contending weekend at Cedar Lake, struggling to a 17th-place finish in Thursday’s preliminary feature and placing 11th in Saturday’s finale after making a mid-race pit stop. He still received all 10 first-place votes in the poll to stand atop the rankings for the 17th consecutive week.
The balance of the top-five stayed status quo with Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., at No. 2 following a seventh-place finish in the USA Nationals and Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., in third after runs of fourth and eighth at Cedar Lake. Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who made a 17th-to-third advance in Cedar Lake’s century grind, remained at No. 4 while Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., kept the No. 5 ranking after placing sixth in the USA Nationals.
Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., was the poll’s biggest mover, jumping six spots to No. 12 on the strength of his runner-up finish from the 16th starting in the USA Nationals finale.
New to the rankings is No. 22 Sam Seawright of Rainsville, Ga., who recorded a $15,000 Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series win on Saturday at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn., and No. 25 Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., who tallied finishes of third and fifth at Cedar Lake.
Dropping out of the poll was Gregg Satterlee of Indiana, Pa., and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga.
Voting is done by a 10-member committee made up of staffers and contributors to determine the Top 25 power rankings: Richard Allen, Bryan Ault, Jeff Broeg, Kelley Carlton, Ryan Delph, Josh James, Kevin Kovac, Kyle McFadden, Mike Ruefer and Kyle Symons. Results are compiled and tabulated by Todd Turner, who serves as a voting alternate along with fellow staffer Aaron Clay.
Rankings appear Tuesdays through mid-November provided at least half of the drivers in the current rankings are in action in the previous week.
1. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Bid for USA Nationals threepeat fizzles out with quiet 11th-place finish after mid-race pit stop. He’ll aim for a third straight North-South 100 victory. Series points: 1st (WoO). 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: On fringe of making USA Nationals noise en route to seventh-place finish. Shooting for third career North-South 100 trophy. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: After fourth-place run in USA Nationals prelim, rebounds from engine-induced car switch during Friday hot laps to make 100-lapper and run eighth. Can he earn first North-South 100 triumph? Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Spins going for lead in USA Nationals prelim, but bounces back with 17th-to-third advance in finale. He’ll try to join his father as a North-South 100 winner. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Incorrect lane choice on late-race restart sees him fall from running second to a sixth-place finish at Cedar Lake. Eyeing first-ever North-South 100 glory. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Solid Cedar Lake visit yields runner-up finish in USA Nationals prelim and fourth-place result in finale after starting 25th. Chasing Florence’s big money next. Series points: 2nd (WoO); T7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Joins list of crown jewel winners with $100,000 USA Nationals checkered flag. Series points: 3rd (WoO); T7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 12th (+5)
8. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: March from 19th to sixth in USA Nationals short-circuited by run-in with wall that knocks him out late in distance. Looking for one more spot at North-South 100 after last year’s runner-up. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (-1)
9. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Flashes speed but experiences frustrating weekend at Cedar Lake, including 16th-place finish in 100-lapper after starting from pole. Aims for better results at Florence. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (-1)
10. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Opens USA Nationals weekend with first Cedar Lake win in 12 years in WoO prelim, then places 12th in finale. Next scheduled action is WoO Midwest swing beginning Aug. 13. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: T10th (nc)
11. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Cools off after huge Prairie Dirt Classic victory, finishing 18th and 27th at Cedar Lake. Taking weekend off for vacation with family. Series points: 7th (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 9th (-2)
12. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Shines at Cedar Lake with second-place finish from 16th starting spot. Hopes to carry momentum to Florence. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 18th (+6)
13. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Appears primed to contend with 14th-to-fourth climb in first half of USA Nationals 100, but slips back to ninth in finishing order. North-South 100 is next. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
T14. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: After failing to qualify for USA Nationals, eyes rebound at Florence. Series points: 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: T10th (-4)
T14. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Bags pair of top-fives in Hunt the Front’s doubleheader at Duck River. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 14th (nc)
16. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Stretch of consistency ends with finishes of 16th and 22nd at Cedar Lake. Staying close to home for MARS twinbill at Sycamore and Macon. Series points: 6th (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: T16 (nc)
17. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Up-and-down weekend at Duck River starts with $8,000 win, ends with 20th-place finish. Headed to Florence where he’s captured three North-South 100s. Series points: 1st (Hunt the Front); T2nd (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: 15th (-2)
18. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Cracks starting field at USA Nationals but finishes 14th. Back on MARS trail at Sycamore and Macon this weekend. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 1st (MARS). Previous ranking: T16th (-2)
19. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Registers third-place Northern Allstars finish at Brownstown, Ind., before shifting focus to chase of coveted North-South 100 victory. Series points: 1st (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: 19th (nc)
20. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Misses cut for both USA Nationals features. Hoping for better results at Florence. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Ends long winless slump with $10,000 Northern Allstars triumph at Brownstown. North-South 100 brings him to car owner James Rattliff’s home state. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 23rd (+2)
22. Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Comment: Celebrates $15,000 Deep Fried 75 finale victory with Hunt the Front at Duck River. Series points: 7th (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: Unranked
23. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Struggles at Cedar Lake, finishing 20th in prelim and 26th after early dropout from finale. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 21st (-2)
24. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Rebounds at Duck River with runner-up finish in finale after tough opener. Hauler pointed to Florence for North-South 100. Series points: 3rd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 22nd (-2)
25. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Takes Kale Green’s machine to Cedar Lake and contends, finishing third in prelim and fifth in finale. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Gregg Satterlee, Dale McDowell
Others receiving votes: Mason Zeigler, Dale McDowell, Ashton Winger, Tanner English, Cody Overton, Tyler Bare, Kyle Bronson, Gregg Satterlee, Hayden Cardwell.
