Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: RTJ's grip loosened, winners climb
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
No. 10 Tim McCreadie (Emily Schwanke/woolms.com)
Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., extended his run atop DirtonDirt’s power rankings to five consecutive weeks, but his unanimous No. 1 status ended as Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., gained support with a $50,000 triumph in Saturday’s Pittsburgher 100 finale.
As Thornton, 35, collected seven first-place votes in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll, the 41-year-old Davenport received the other three nods following a dominant performance in the 70-lap event at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in Imperial. Davenport, who led the race’s entire distance for the second straight year after finishing fifth in Friday’s 30-lap preliminary feature that kicked off the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned weekend, rose one spot to No. 2 in the rankings.
The Pittsburgher 100 doubleheader was frustrating for Thornton, who entered the second weekend of the Lucas Oil Series Big River Steel Chase for the Championship leading the points standings but ended it trailing Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, by 15 points. Thornton finished ninth in Friday’s 30-lapper after a mid-race blown tire knocked him from the lead and finished fourth in Saturday’s headliner.
Moran, who won Friday’s $10,000 feature and finished third Saturday, moved up one spot in the voting to No. 3 following a weekend that saw him take over the Lucas Oil Series points lead heading to Oct. 17-18’s season-ending Dirt Track World Championship at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill, fell two spots to No. 4 after his World of Outlaws Real American Beer Lake Series trip to Kansas saw him remain winless since Aug. 23. He finished fourth in Friday’s stop at Humboldt Speedway and 11th on Saturday at 81 Speedway in Park City, where he was scheduled to start from the pole position but was penalized to the rear of the field because his crew made a tire pressure change to his car in the staging area.
Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., remained No. 5 in the poll after registering finishes of eighth and third in the WoO twinbill.
The week’s most prolific upward movers were No. 10 Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and No. 20 Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., who each rose four spots in the poll on the strength of triumphs in the Midwest. McCreadie earned a $20,000 WoO victory at 81 Speedway while Winger pocketed $12,000 for capturing Saturday’s MARS-sanctioned FALS Frenzy finale at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway.
Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., rejoined the rankings at No. 25 after a successful trip to PPMS that included a pair of sixth-place finishes in Lucas Oil action and a RUSH Crate Late Model triumph in a pickup ride. Daulton Wilson of Fayetteville, N.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: After a blown tire cost him a potential Pittsburgher preliminary victory, rebounds with fourth-place finish in finale but falls from Lucas Oil points lead. Taking weekend off to prep for Oct. 17-18’s title-deciding DTWC at Eldora. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Dominates 70-lap Pittsburgher 100 finale from flag-to-flag for second year in a row. DTWC at Eldora next on hit list. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (+1)
3. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Seizes Lucas Oil points lead at PPMS with $10,000 prelim victory and third-place run in finale. Off to gear up for DTWC. PPMS next. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (+1)
4. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Winless stretch extends into October after fourth- and 11th-place WoO finishes in Kansas, where he loses pole start in Saturday’s feature at 81 Speedway to penalty for changing tire pressure in staging area. Heading south to Louisiana’s Boothill for doubleheader. Series points: 1st (WoO). 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (-2)
5. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Caps WoO trip to Kansas with third-place finish in 81 Speedway’s feature. Eyeing Boothill’s $50,000 top prize. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Solid Pittsburgher weekend yields second- and fifth-place finishes. Planning haul to Louisiana to chase WoO money. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)
7. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Frustrating Lucas Oil chase continues with finishes of eighth and 21st at PPMS. Hoping to bounce back at Eldora’s DTWC. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Runs fourth in Pittsburgher prelim before settling for seventh in finale. Tackling Wheatland’s unsanctioned doubleheader next. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Treks to Mississippi for Greenville’s Gumbo Nationals and grabs $15,000 sweep. Remaining on Gulf Coast to battle WoO foes in Louisiana. Series points: 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Puts Barefoot Bob throwback wrap in victory lane for first time with $20,000 WoO triumph at 81 Speedway. More WoO action on tap in Louisiana. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (+4)
11. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Runs WoO top-five streak to eight with third- and second-place finishes in Kansas. Looking to continue consistent stretch with a victory in Louisiana. Series points: 5th (WoO); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 13th (+2)
12. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Posts quiet seventh- and 10th-place finishes during WoO excursion to Kansas. Seeking better results in Louisiana. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Caps MARS championship season with fourth- and second-place finishes in twinbill at Fairbury. Eldora’s DTWC next event on schedule. Series points: Champion (MARS and Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 12th (-1)
14. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Climbs as high as third in Pittsburgher finale before flat tire sends him to pits and disappointing 10th-place finish. Will chase $35,000 Hunt the Front paycheck at Cherokee. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 15th (+1)
15. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Snaps WoO winless streak dating back to June 2023 with $12,000 victory at Humboldt, Kan. Has another WoO weekend on tap in Louisiana. Series points: 6th (WoO); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 17th (+2)
16. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Sits out action for second straight weekend. Upcoming schedule TBA, but Eldora’s DTWC is a likely target. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 10th (-6)
17. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Enjoys superb weekend in home state, logging pair of podium finishes in Pittsburgher 100 (third on Friday, second on Saturday) and adds a $10,000 RUSH Crate Late Model victory. Eldora’s DTWC next on schedule. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T20th (+3)
18. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Tallies $7,500 triumph at Senoia, his third straight in Southern Thunder competition. Heads to Hunt the Front’s season-ender at Cherokee with shot at the title. Series points: 3rd (Hunt the Front); 9th (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: T20th (+2)
19. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Takes weekend off with championship-deciding weekend for Hunt the Front upcoming at Cherokee. Series points: 1st (Hunt the Front); T2nd (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Decision to bypass home-turf event at Senoia to race far-off MARS double at Fairbury pays off with exciting $12,000 victory in FALS Frenzy finale. Series points: 7th (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 24th (+4)
21. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Knocked from second place in Mudlick’s Iron-Man feature by mechanical failure. Taking break to prep for Eldora’s DTWC. Series points: 1st (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: 19th (-2)
22. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Absence from competition continues with next action planned for Eldora’s DTWC. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 16th (-6)
23. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Fourth-place finish at 81 Speedway is highlight of WoO trip to Kansas. Series takes him to Louisiana this weekend. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 22nd (-1)
24. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Following fifth-place Southern Thunder run at Senoia, he’ll battle for Hunt the Front championship at Cherokee. Series points: 3rd (Hunt the Front); 5th (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 23rd (-1)
25. Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Comment: Performs well at PPMS, logging pair of sixth-place finishes while also adding a Friday RUSH Crate Late Model victory in pickup ride. Schedule shows DWTC next. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Daulton Wilson
Others receiving votes: Ryan Unzicker, Daulton Wilson, Drake Troutman, Mason Zeigler, Gregg Satterlee, Colten Burdette, Dustin Sorensen, Trey Mills, Josh Richards.
