Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: First-place votes split among three racers
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Zack Mitchell (zskphotography.com)
Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., hold on the No. 1 position in DirtonDirt’s power rankings remains solid as he heads into this weekend’s Dirt Track World Championship with an eye on his second straight crown victory at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, and defending his Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series title.
The 35-year-old star spent the weekend idle as his Koehler Motorsports team preps for the Lucas Oil tour’s season-ending DTWC at Eldora, where Thornton won last month’s World 100. Thornton, who enters the $100,000-to-win event sitting second in the national circuit’s points standings, received seven of 10 first-place votes in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll to claim the top spot for the sixth consecutive week.
Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who also sat out weekend action to gear up for the DTWC, earned two first-place votes as he remained the No. 2 driver in the rankings. Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., picked up the other first-place nod and moved up one spot to No. 3 after recording a pair of runner-up finishes in the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series-sanctioned Bayou Classic at Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La.
Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, who didn’t enter a weekend event as he readied his Double Down Motorsports equipment to take his 15-point lead in the Lucas Oil Series standings into the DTWC, fell one spot to No. 4. Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., stayed at No. 5 following his WoO trip to Louisiana that was highlighted by a fourth-place finish in Friday’s preliminary feature.
The biggest mover in the poll was Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., who jumped four spots to No. 20 after earning a career-high $35,000 payday for his first-ever triumph in Saturday’s Blue-Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C. The 29-year-old Coltman Farms Racing driver captured the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series season finale just one day after being effectively eliminated from title contention with the announcement of his disqualification from a Sept. 27 win at Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla., because of a failed tire test.
Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, who won the weekend’s richest event with a $50,000 score in the WoO tour’s Bayou Classic finale, climbed one spot to No. 11. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., a $10,000 victor in Friday’s WoO preliminary feature at Boothill, also climbed one spot to land at No. 9.
No new drivers cracked the Top 25.
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: Takes weekend off to gear up for Lucas Oil Series championship bid in season-ending DTWC at Eldora. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Full focus on adding DTWC to crown jewel list and keeping outside shot at Lucas Oil title alive. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Still winless since late August, but on right track following back-to-back WoO runner-up finishes in Louisiana. Ready to defend last year’s DTWC triumph. Series points: 1st (WoO). 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (+1)
4. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Heads to Eldora for DTWC holding slim Lucas Oil points lead. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 3rd (-1)
5. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Quiet weekend in Louisiana (fourth, eighth) precedes highly anticipated third crown jewel trip of season to Eldora, where he finished third in Dream and World 100. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Trek to Louisiana with family-owned No. B5 produces finishes of eighth and 16th. Ready to chase record sixth DTWC trophy. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Finishes second in Blue-Gray 100 prelim, but fades after leading early laps of finale and ultimately drops out. DTWC’s $100,000 prize in his crosshairs with Lucas Oil title hopes already dashed. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Sits out weekend to prep for DTWC. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Starts Louisiana doubleheader with second straight WoO victory, but knocked from big-money finale by early tangle. He’ll battle for DTWC glory at Eldora. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 10th (+1)
10. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Boothill’s Bayou Classic doesn’t go well with finishes of 16th and 10th. Eldora’s DTWC keeps him close to Best Performance Motorsports shop. Series points: 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 9th (-1)
11. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Snaps out of two-month slump with $50,000 Bayou Classic victory at Boothill. Gunning for more big money at Eldora. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 12th (+1)
12. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: WoO top-five streak ends at eight with 11th-place finish in Boothill prelim, but starts another with fifth-place run in finale. Eldora will be his next-to-last weekend of action in 2025. Series points: 6th (WoO); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Solid weekend in Louisiana yields pair of top-five finishes (fifth, third). DTWC is next. Series points: 5th (WoO); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 15th (+2)
14. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Stays at shop for weekend to gear up for Eldora’s DTWC. Series points: Champion (MARS and Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 13th (-1)
15. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Falls just shy of first victory since early May, finishing second in Cherokee’s Blue-Gray 100 after losing lead late in distance. Takes some momentum into DTWC. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 14th (-1)
16. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Enjoys R&R with wife in Miami on beach and at Dolphins game. Back at it for DTWC. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 17th (+1)
17. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Relinquishes second in Georgia’s Dixie Shootout to fuel pressure trouble. Heads to Eldora hoping to improve upon runner-up finish in last month’s World 100. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 16th (-1)
18. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Clinches Hunt the Front title after fourth-place finish in Blue-Gray 100 prelim, but bid to go distance in century grind without changing tires backfires with flat right-rear while fifth in closing laps. Aiming for first DTWC victory since 2012. Series points: Champion (Hunt the Front); T2nd (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: 19th (+1)
19. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Closes out runner-up finish in Hunt the Front points standings with third-place run in Cherokee’s Blue-Gray 100. Points hauler north for Eldora and the DTWC. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front); 9th (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: After absorbing title-killing tire penalty, caps Hunt the Front season with first career Blue-Gray 100 victory at Cherokee for a $35,000 top prize. Series points: 4th (Hunt the Front); 5th (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 25th (+4)
21. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Makes unexpected appearance at Atomic in Rattliff Racing entry and wins Saturday’s feature. Has his familiar No. 11 ready for DTWC assault. Series points: Champion (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: 21st (nc)
22. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Idle for weekend. Next start to be determined. Series points: 7th (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 20th (-2)
23. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Plans to end extended absence from competition with trip to Eldora for DTWC. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 23rd (-1)
24. Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Comment: Breaks through for $8,022 victory in Hunt the Front’s Blue-Gray 100 prelim at Cherokee, but tangle knocks him from finale. Closes Lucas Oil season at Eldora. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 25th (+1)
25. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Logs sixth-place finish in Boothill’s Bayou Classic finale. Gunning for Eldora success. Series points: 9th (WoO). Previous ranking: 23rd (-2)
Dropped out: None
Others receiving votes: Cody Overton, Donald McIntosh, Ryan Unzicker, Ethan Dotson, Daulton Wilson, Tyler Carpenter, Mason Zeigler, Sam Seawright, Colten Burdette, Hayden Cardwell, Drake Troutman.
