Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Wins buoy top-ranked drivers
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Jonathan Davenport (heathlawsonphotos.com)
The top two drivers in DirtonDirt’s power rankings were the weekend’s big winners as Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., captured a pair of World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series features and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., swept the Nutrien Ag Solutions Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, Ark.
Pierce, 28, remained atop the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll for the 19th consecutive week after going 2-for-3 in WoO action, scoring wins worth $12,000 on Thursday at Spoon River Speedway in Banner, Ill., and $20,000 on Saturday at Maquoketa (Iowa) Speedway. He received all 10 first-place votes after pushing his overall 2025 victory total to 28.
The 41-year-old Davenport, the unanimous No. 2, kept his slot by shining on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at Batesville. He recorded a $5,000 semifeature triumph Friday and then led the final 63 laps en route to pocketing a $50,000 paycheck for winning Saturday’s 33rd annual Topless 100 for the second time in his career.
Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., stayed at No. 3 in the rankings following a sixth-place finish in the Topless 100. Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., moved up one position to No. 4 after winning a semifeature and finishing fifth in the Topless 100 (he led laps 1-37 before blowing a right-rear tire) and Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., slipped one spot to No. 5 after a flat tire contributed to his 11th-place finish in the Topless 100.
No one improved more than two spots in the poll. Those drivers were Josh Rice of Crittenden, Ky., who rose to No. 17 on the strength of a $12,059 Butterball Wooldridge Memorial win at Richmond (Ky.) Raceway, and Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., climbed to No. 20 following a Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series triumph at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn.
Joining the Top 25 was No. 21 Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C. (runner-up in Topless 100), No. 24 Tanner English of Benton, Ky. (WoO winner at Highland Speedway) and Gregg Satterlee of Indiana, Pa., who pulled into a tie for No. 25 after a Saturday victory at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway.
Drake Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., and Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., dropped out of the poll.
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: Goes 2-for-3 on WoO swing with victories at Spoon River and Maquoketa. Looks to continue win streak on tour with trip to Oklahoma’s Arrowhead Speedway. Series points: 1st (WoO). 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Enjoys perfect weekend at his team’s home track, winning prelim and second career Topless 100 at Batesville. Haulers pointed to Northeast next to chase $50,000 Lucas Oil prize at Port Royal. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Appears poised for top-five in Topless 100 until slipping in final laps to sixth-place finish. Returning to Port Royal where he won Lucas Oil’s late-April stop. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: After capturing Friday’s semifeature at Batesville, leads first 37 laps of Topless 100 before blown tire leaves him to battle from rear to finish fifth. Bids for Port Royal’s $50,000 check this weekend. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (+1)
5. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Flat tire hampers effort in Topless 100, saddling him with 11th-place finish. Hopes for better luck at Port Royal as he pursues second $50,000 triumph there in three years. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (-1)
6. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Rallies from mid-race pit stop to change tire for third-place finish in Topless 100. Port Royal on his agenda. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Saves best run of WoO swing for last, finishing third at Maquoketa after caution with four to go stops his bid for lead. Traveling west with WoO tour to Arrowhead. Series points: 2nd (WoO); T7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)
T8. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Forgettable Topless 100 weekend includes controversial prelim tangle with Cade Dillard and 13th-place finish in finale driving backup car. Visit to Port Royal will bring back memories of first-ever Lucas Oil win one year ago. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 9th (+1)
T8. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: First action since USA Nationals triumph is unspectacular with just a single top-10 in three WoO starts. WoO weekend at Arrowhead takes him to region where he enjoyed USMTS modified success. Series points: 3rd (WoO); T7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
10. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Runs top-five in Topless 100 until late fall to seventh-place finish. Eyeing Port Royal to snap Lucas Oil victory slump stretching back to May 2. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 11th (+1)
11. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Seventh at Maquoketa is his best finish in three WoO features. Ready for debut at Arrowhead. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: He’s among flat-tire victims in Topless 100, dropping him from potential top-10 finish to 16th in rundown. Schedule TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 12th (nc)
13. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Back-to-back WoO podiums topped by photo-finish runner-up to Bobby Pierce at Maquoketa. Looking to carry momentum to Oklahoma. Series points: 7th (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Following rare weekend off, planning trip to Oklahoma for WoO competition. Series points: 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 14th (nc)
15. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Puts up good fight against WoO regulars, placing fifth at Highland and second at Spoon River. Back to MARS circuit at Kankakee and Red Hill this weekend. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 1st (MARS). Previous ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Runs top-10 in all three WoO shows topped by sixth-places finishes at Highland and Spoon River. Oklahoma next on schedule. Series points: 5th (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 16th (nc)
17. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Posts $12,059 Butterball Wooldridge Memorial victory at Richmond, Ky. Expecting to take weekend off to begin prep for looming World 100 at Eldora. Series points: 1st (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: 19th (+2)
18. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Flat tire ends bid for Batesville prelim win, then another flat in Topless 100 contributes to 12th-place finish. Jumps back on Hunt the Front tour for Saturday stop at North Georgia. Series points: 1st (Hunt the Front); T2nd (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Absorbs DNF in Southern All Star show at Sugar Creek. Resumes Hunt the Front title chase on Saturday at North Georgia. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 18th (-2)
20. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Grabs first victory on smaller Smoky Mountain layout in Saturday’s Southern Thunder action. Hunt the Front competition at North Georgia coming up. Series points: 3rd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 22nd (+2)
21. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Continues strong crown jewel performances with pair of runner-up finishes in Batesville’s Topless 100 weekend. Expected for Lucas Oil action at Port Royal. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
22. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Stays close to home for Friday win at Tri-City, but Saturday’s trip to Port Royal to tune up for Lucas Oil weekend goes bad with mechanical trouble while leading feature. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 21st (-1)
23. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Rough Topless 100 weekend included involvement in Alberson-Dillard crash during prelim and smack of turn-four wall in finale that sends him gyrating in air. Regrouping for Port Royal. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 20th (-3)
24. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Snags first WoO victory of season at Highland to highlight Midwest swing. Looking for more success at Arrowhead events. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: Unranked
T25. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Gears up for Lucas Oil’s Port Royal invasion with Saturday victory at the Pennsylvania half-mile oval. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked.
T25. Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Comment: Idle weekend precedes Hunt the Front action this Saturday at North Georgia. Series points: 7th (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 23rd (-2)
Dropped out: Drake Troutman, Ashton Winger
Others receiving votes: Drake Troutman, Ashton Winger, Kyle Bronson, Cody Overton, Jason Jameson, Mason Zeigler, Shane Clanton, Dale McDowell, Dan Ebert, Ethan Dotson, Rusty Schlenk.
