Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Thornton reigns as Feger climbs
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Jason Feger (joshjamesartwork.com)
Ricky Thornton Jr.’s status as the No. 1 driver in DirtonDirt’s power rankings continued for a second consecutive week despite a quiet single-start weekend during which he finished seventh in Thursday’s FloRacing Night in America-sanctioned Scott Bloomquist Memorial at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn.
While the 34-year-old star from Chandler, Ariz., raced only at Volunteer with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series idle for the weekend, his closest pursuers in the rankings didn’t produce enough to overtake him. Thornton received eight first-place votes in Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll while Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., split the two remaining first-place nods.
Pierce, 28, stayed in the No. 2 spot for the second straight week after seeing his 21-week reign as the top-ranked driver end following Thornton’s World 100 victory on Sept. 6. He finished second in Friday’s World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series feature at Needmore Speedway in Norman Park, Ga., but sandwiched it with two subpar outings, placing 13th in the FloRacing circuit’s midweek 50-lapper at Volunteer and 10th in Saturday’s WoO-sanctioned Billy Clanton Memorial at Senoia (Ga.) Raceway.
The 41-year-old Davenport, meanwhile, held strong to the No. 3 ranking following a $20,018 triumph at Volunteer that was his lone appearance of the weekend.
The three drivers who received first-place votes will battle head-to-head this weekend at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway in the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals, a $75,000-to-win crown jewel event that the each of the trio has won over the past three years. Pierce won last year’s race while Thornton won it in 2024 and Davenport captured it in ’23.
A swap of positions in the poll occurred behind the top three with Needmore WoO winner Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., rising one spot to No. 4 and Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, falling one rung to No. 5 despite tallying a $10,000 Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series victory in Saturday’s Jim Dunn Memorial at his family’s Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio.
The biggest advancement in the poll belonged to Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., who rose four spots to No. 12 after a $15,000 sweep of the MARS-sanctioned Corn State Nationals at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway and a runner-up finish in the tour’s Sunday show at Quincy (Ill.) Raceway. Another notable mover was Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., who climbed two spots to No. 9 following a fourth-place finish at Volunteer.
Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., was the lone newcomer to the rankings, rejoining the Top 25 at No. 22 on the strength of his $15,000 triumph in Saturday’s WoO feature at Senoia. It was the 25-year-old’s fifth career WoO victory but first since February 2022.
Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., 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. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Lone start during Lucas Oil Series off week is quiet one with seventh-place FloRacing finish at Volunteer. Geared up for Knoxville Nationals with eye on continuing stretch of big-money weekend wins. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Up-and-down Southeast trip includes runner-up at Needmore sandwiched by 13th-place run at Bulls Gap and 10th-place finish at Senoia. Ready to go for second straight Knoxville Nationals victory. Series points: 1st (WoO). 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Rips off $20,018 triumph in FloRacing tour’s Scott Bloomquist Memorial at Volunteer. Will he enjoy his trip to Knoxville Raceway? Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Ends Pierce’s four-race WoO win streak with $12,000 victory at Needmore, but tire gamble in next night’s stop at Senoia doesn’t pay off as he struggles to 15th-place finish. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (+1)
5. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Racing at family’s Muskingum County oval pays off with $10,000 victory in Jim Dunn Memorial, the fifth time he’s won the race in its last six running. Knoxville Nationals on tap. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (-1)
6. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Records second-place finish in Volunteer’s Scott Bloomquist Memorial before turning attention to Knoxville Nationals. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)
7. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: One appearance over dark Lucas Oil Series week is forgettable as he pilots Rocket1 machine to 16th-place finish at Volunteer. Striving to put Knoxville Nationals victory on both his and car owner Mark Richards’s resume for first time. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: After dismal 17th-place finish at Volunteer, makes overnight drive to Davenport, Iowa, and scores pair of top-five runs (third, fifth) in MARS doubleheader. Another weekend in Hawkeye State is next at Knoxville Nationals. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 9th (+1)
9. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Carries Eldora momentum to familiar Bulls Gap turf, finishing fourth in Scott Bloomquist Memorial driving a chassis designed by the late Hall of Famer. Next race is still to be announced. Series points: 9th (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 11th (+2)
10. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Three nights in Southeast yield just a single top-10 finish with an eighth at Needmore. Has big home-state weekend coming up at Knoxville. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (-2)
11. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Takes weekend off to prep for Knoxville Nationals. Series points: 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Sweeps MARS twinbill at Davenport (worth $15,000) and adds runner-up finish in circuit’s Sunday show in Quincy, Ill. More MARS action coming this weekend at Illinois’s Brownstown Bullring and Peoria. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 1st (MARS). Previous ranking: 16th (+4)
T13. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Tallies sixth-place finish in Volunteer’s Scott Bloomquist Memorial. Upcoming schedule is currently empty until Oct. 17-18’s Dirt Track World Championship at Eldora. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 12th (-1)
T13. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Slides backwards to 11th-place WoO finish at Needmore but bounces back with close runner-up placing at Senoia. Planning weekend close to Briggs Transport team’s shop with doubleheader at Eriez Speedway. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (+1)
15. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Runs WoO top-five streak to six with third- and fourth-place runs in Georgia. Unloads next at Knoxville, where he won the Late Model Nationals in 2006. Series points: 5th (WoO); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Struggles continue even in his native Southeast as he smacks wall at Volunteer, runs quiet 10th at Needmore and goes from early lead to seventh-place finish at Senoia. Will he turn around fortunes at Knoxville? Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 13th (-3)
17. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Shines at one of his home tracks, sweeping two-day show at New York’s Stateline Speedway. He’ll go for another backyard double this weekend at Eriez. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T19th (+2)
18. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Seventh at Needmore is his best during Southeast tripleheader. MARS shows at Brownstown Bullring and Peoria on the agenda. Series points: 6th (WoO); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Announces end of his two-year run driving for Skyline Motorsports and return to racing for former car owner Ronnie Delk, but likely making no more than a handful of starts over remaining months of 2025. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 18th (-2)
20. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Clinches third straight Northern Allstars title with victory in tour’s season finale at Lawrenceburg, Ind. Series points: 1st (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: T19th (+1)
21. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Logs fifth-place finish in Volunteer’s Scott Bloomquist Memorial. Headed to Mississippi for Comp Cams tour’s Cotton Pickin’ weekend at Magnolia. Series points: 1st (Hunt the Front); T2nd (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: T19th (-2)
22. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Celebrates emotional $15,000 victory in WoO tour’s Billy Clanton Classic at Senoia. No racing planned for weekend. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
23. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Leads early laps of Volunteer’s Scott Bloomquist Memorial but ultimately done in by flat tire. Planning visit to North Georgia Speedway for Southern Thunder action. Series points: 3rd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 22nd (-1)
24. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: WoO weekend in Peach State produces a fourth at Needmore and 11th at Senoia. Next racing listed on schedule is Sept. 26-27’s Jackson 100 at Brownstown. Series points: 9th (WoO). Previous ranking: 24th (nc)
25. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Blown tire results in 17th-place finish in ULMS-Fall Clash show at New York’s Outlaw Speedway, but rebounds with fifth in Selinsgrove’s National Open. Next action undecided. Series points: Champion (Appalachian Mountain Speedweek). Previous ranking: 25th (nc)
Dropped out: Zack Mitchell
Others receiving votes: Ethan Dotson, Zack Mitchell, Mason Zeigler, Camaron Marlar, Mark Whitener.
