Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Eldora-propelled Thornton grabs No. 1 spot
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Ricky Thornton Jr. (Zach Yost photo)
With a victory in Saturday’s 55th annual World 100 continuing a sizzling three-week stretch, Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., ascended to the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt’s power rankings that Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., had held since March 25.
Thornton, 34, broke through in crown jewel action at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, for the first time in his career, capturing Dirt Late Model racing’s most prestigious event after seizing control shortly before the race’s halfway mark. His $72,000 triumph came after he earned victories worth $50,000 on Aug. 23 at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway and $30,000 on Aug. 30 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., giving him a late-summer surge that carried him past Pierce in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll.
Receiving seven of 10 first-place votes, Thornton became the No. 1 driver in the rankings for the first time since July 2, 2024 — just days before he was released from his ride with SSI Motorsports.
The 28-year-old Pierce claimed the poll’s other three first-place votes to sit at No. 2 as a surprisingly quiet performance in the World 100 shifted support to Thornton. Pierce logged finishes of third and second in Eldora’s preliminary semifeatures but struggled in Saturday’s finale, starting 27th and not reaching the top 10 until lap 89 on his way to a ninth-place finish.
Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who swept his pair of preliminary features at Eldora before a deflating tire dive-bombed his bid for a record-tying sixth World 100 triumph, remained No. 3 in the poll after rallying for a late pit stop to finish seventh in Saturday’s century grind. Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, stayed at No. 4 after following a pair of semifeature top-fives with a 14th-place finish in the World 100 and Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., climbed two spots to No. 5 on the strength of three top-fives at Eldora topped by a career-best third in the World 100 finale.
Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., who scored two $12,000 semifeature victories at Eldora before making a stirring run for 19th to finish second in the World 100 headliner, burst into the rankings at No. 11. He was one of two drivers who moved into the Top 25 after being unranked last week, joining Tanner English of Benton, Ky., who finished 10th in the World 100.
Two drivers made significant jumps in the poll: Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, picked up five spots to reach No. 10 after finishing fourth in the World 100 while Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., gained four position to No. 12 following a solid Eldora weekend that included a runner-up semifeature finish and a contending run in the World 100 before a late scrape with Hoffman knocked him down to 13th in the finishing order.
Dropping out of the rankings was Ashton Winger, Kyle Bronson and Daulton Wilson.
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. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Joins list of World 100 winners, extending three-week hot streak that includes two other big-money victories. Thursday’s FloRacing Night in America stop at Bulls Gap on tap. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (+1)
2. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Starts Eldora weekend with pair of prelim podiums but doesn’t contend in World 100, finishing quiet ninth after starting 27th. Flo show at Bulls Gap and WoO doubleheader in Georgia coming up. Series points: 1st (WoO). 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (-1)
3. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Two prelim wins and outside pole start in World 100 finale puts weekend sweep in play, but deflating tire costs him lead before halfway and ultimately goes flat on lap 89. After rallying for seventh-place finish, he’ll head to Volunteer for midweek Flo program. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Second and fourth in World 100 prelims, he misses setup in World 100 finale with 14th-place finish. Running on familiar turf this weekend with Iron-Man event at his family’s Muskingum County Speedway. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Stamps himself as a bonafide Eldora contender with finishes of fifth and second in prelims and a third-place run in World 100. Back on WoO trail this weekend in Georgia. Series points: 2nd (WoO); T7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (+2)
6. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Steady weekend at Big E highlighted by sixth-place World 100 finish that matches his career-best result. Eyeing Flo show at Bulls Gap. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (+1)
7. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Fourth-place run in Friday prelim is his lone bright spot at Eldora, which culminates with 25th-place finish in World 100 after failing to even crack top 20 in running order. Schedule empty until Knoxville Nationals. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (-2)
8. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Enjoys best big-race performance of career at Eldora, finishing fifth in World 100. WoO doubleheader in Peach State on agenda. Series points: 3rd (WoO); T7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 10th (+2)
9. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Starts Eldora weekend with fifth in prelim, ends it with midrace retirement from World 100 following contact with Bobby Pierce. Traveling to Bulls Gap for Flo action. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (-1)
10. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Drives from 16th to fourth-place World 100 finish. Has trips to Bulls Gap and then Davenport, Iowa, for MARS doubleheader planned. Series points: 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 15th (+5)
11. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Nearly sweeps Eldora weekend with pair of prelim wins and 19th-to-second run in World 100. Looking to carry momentum to Bulls Gap’s Flo show. Series points: 9th (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: Unranked
12. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Threatens to break through in Eldora crown jewel event at Eldora before slipping backward and finishing 13th after late scrape with Nick Hoffman. Flo race at Bulls Gap and WoO twinbill in Georgia gives him shot at big wins on familiar turf. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 16th (+4)
13. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Shows brief flash reaching third early in World 100 before fading and ultimately retiring early. Could WoO shows in home state bring much needed success? Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 9th (-4)
14. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Pilots throwback car honoring his late father from rear after pit stop to top 10 before late mechanical woes stop World 100 run. Hauler heading to Georgia for WoO action. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 12th (-2)
15. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Cracks World 100 starting field with heat win but up-and-down feature run concludes with 16th-place finish. Returns to WoO trail this weekend. Series points: 7th (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 13th (-2)
16. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Makes second World 100 feature start in last eight years, finishing 17th. Goes for more MARS glory this weekend at Davenport. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 1st (MARS). Previous ranking: 14th (-2)
17. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Falls short of World 100 field quiet prelim performances. Bulls Gap’s Flo event gives him race in home state. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 11th (-6)
18. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Finishes 11th in 13th career World 100 feature start. Southeast excursion next for WoO events in Georgia. Series points: 6th (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: T18th (nc)
T19. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Eldora visits includes fourth-place finish in Thursday’s prelim and first-ever World 100 feature appearance, though 27th-place finish isn’t satisfying. Staying close to home for Stateline Speedway’s two-day Fall Brawl. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (+1)
T19. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Runs World 100 feature for 19th time but settles for 22nd-place finish. Has Flo race in his backyard at Bulls Gap. Series points: 1st (Hunt the Front); T2nd (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: 17th (-2)
T19. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Starts World 100 for fourth straight year but is first car out after slapping wall early. Lawrenceburg’s NALMS event is next. Series points: 1st (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: T18th (-1)
22. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Shines in Friday’s prelim with third-place finish but slips to 12th in World 100 finale. He’ll battle for Flo glory at Bulls Gap, where he just debuted new Longhorn Chassis on Aug. 30. Series points: 3rd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 21st (-1)
23. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Picks up confidence with fifth-place finish in Eldora prelim on Friday but misses World 100 finale after slapping wall in heat race. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 22nd (-1)
24. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Third straight World 100 feature yields 10th-place finish. WoO weekend in Georgia coming up. Series points: 9th (WoO). Previous ranking: Unranked
25. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Decides to make Eldora assault and logs pair of top-10 finishes in prelims but doesn’t make World 100 feature field. Next action undecided. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 24th (+1)
Dropped out: Ashton Winger, Kyle Bronson, Daulton Wilson.
Others receiving votes: Ashton Winger, Kyle Bronson, Chris Ferguson, Drake Troutman, Ethan Dotson, Daulton Wilson, Mark Whitener.
