Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: DTWC winner regains top ranking
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Bobby Pierce (heathlawsonphotos.com)
Snapping an uncharacteristically long winless stretch with a $100,000 victory in Saturday’s 45th Dirt Track World Championship was invigorating for Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., whose performance vaulted him back to the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt’s power rankings.
The 28-year-old superstar received nine of 10 first-place votes in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll after driving forward from the 13th starting spot to capture the 100-lap DTWC at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, for the second straight year. He advanced two spots from No. 3 to regain the top-driver status from Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., who earned the remaining first-place vote but fell to the third position after a rough DTWC weekend saw him lose 13 laps repairing damage and finish 18th.
Pierce ended the six-week run at the top of the poll for Thornton, who took the No. 1 spot on Sept. 9 after Pierce had led the rankings since March 25. The crown jewel checkered flag at Eldora was Pierce’s 30th overall win of 2025 but first since an Aug. 23 World of Outlaws victory at Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, Okla.
Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, who clinched his first-ever Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series championship with a fourth-place finish in the DTWC, rose two spots to No. 2. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., slipped two positions to No. 4 after he clipped Thornton’s crashing car late in the DTWC and then limped to a 14th-place finish and Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., remained at No. 5 following a fifth-place result at Eldora.
The week’s biggest riser was Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., who gained eight spots to land in a tie for No. 15 after ending his month-plus absence from competition with a runner-up finish in the DTWC.
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: Regains winning form on big stage, snapping nearly two-month victory drought with second consecutive DTWC triumph for a $100,000 payoff. Has two-week break before WoO season finale at Charlotte. Series points: 1st (WoO). 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (+2)
2. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Fourth-place finish in DTWC caps almost flawless five-race Chase performance to secure first-ever Lucas Oil Series championship. World Finals is last remaining outdoor race on 2025 schedule. Series points: Champion (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (+2)
3. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Unable to repeat as Lucas Oil champion after rough DTWC outing ends with moribund 18th-place finish. Heading to home state this weekend to run sprint car in Western World Championships at Central Arizona Raceway. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (-2)
4. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Rally from mid-race pit stop in DTWC fizzles out when he can’t avoid Ricky Thornton Jr.’s smack of Eldora’s turn-one wall, leaving him limping to 14th-place finish. Has two weeks off before entering World Finals. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (-2)
5. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Fifth-place DTWC finish gives him top-five in all three Eldora crown jewels this season. Time to gear up for World Finals. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Solid DTWC performance nets third-place finish. World Finals on his agenda. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Salvages seventh-place finish in DTWC after late-race pit stop to change tire. Closes out WoO campaign Nov. 5-8 at Charlotte. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 9th (+2)
8. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Nightmarish Lucas Oil Chase culminates with last-place finish in DTWC after encounter with backstretch wall. Next action currently listed on schedule is Nov. 14-15’s FloRacing Night in America doubleheader at Senoia. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (-1)
9. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: DTWC run short-circuited by smack of backstretch wall. Planning to run Iron-Man weekend at Ohio’s Atomic Speedway. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (-1)
10. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Misses DTWC feature field in forgettable trip to Eldora. Has time to gear up for World Finals. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 11th (-1)
11. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: DTWC weekend done after Friday heat-race tangle with Max Blair. Pointing hauler south for visit to Mississippi’s Whynot Motorsports Park. Series points: 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Cracks DTWC feature field for 13th time in career and marches to 11th-place finish. Whynot’s Fall Classic is calling his name. Series points: 5th (WoO); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 13th (+1)
13. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Makes cut for DTWC headliner but retires early for 25th-place finish. Prep begins for World Finals. Series points: 6th (WoO); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 12th (-1)
14. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Logs quiet 10th-place finish in DTWC. East Alabama’s National 100 likely coming up in a week. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 15th (+1)
T15. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Ends extended absence from competition with runner-up finish in DTWC. Back at it in a couple weeks at Charlotte. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 23rd (+8)
T15. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Shows flashes in DTWC but settles for ninth-place finish. Upcoming schedule TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 17th (+1)
17. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Stays close to home and captures Friday’s DIRTcar Fall Nationals opener at Lincoln, Ill, before Saturday’s finale falls to rain. Schedule empty until Nov. 14-15 Peach State Classic at Senoia. Series points: Champion (MARS and Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 14th (-3)
18. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Pockets $10,097 for victory in Southern Thunder tour’s Red Farmer Tribute at Talladega. Chasing Southern All Star cash this Saturday at Tennessee’s I-75. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front); 6th (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 19th (+1)
T19. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: DTWC hopes end quickly in heat-race tangle with Tyler Erb. Bedford’s $25,000-to-win Keystone Classic a possibility. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 16th (-3)
T19. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Scores $5,038 triumph in Talladega’s Jerry Goodwin Classic. Traveling to Mississippi for Whynot’s Fall Classic. Series points: 4th (Hunt the Front); 4th (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Second weekend back in Ronnie Delk-owned car produces strong sixth-place finish in DTWC. Next action to be determined. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
22. Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Comment: After earning DTWC fast-time honors, records steady eighth-place finish in 100-lapper. Determining next stop. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 24th (+2)
23. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Fails to qualify for DTWC. Next trip to be announced. Series points: Champion (Hunt the Front); T2nd (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: 18th (-5)
24. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: DTWC run goes awry after backstretch scrape — he retires early for 19th-place finish — but drives Bruce Kane’s Steel Block Late Model to supporting win worth $5,000. Entering Atomic’s Iron-Man twinbill for first official start as driver for JRR Motorsports. Series points: Champion (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: 21st (-3)
25. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Problems keep him from feature field in All-Tech Raceway’s Powell Memorial for Crates. Next race not yet listed. Series points: 10th (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 22nd (-3)
Dropped out: Tanner English
Others receiving votes: Tanner English (9), Chris Ferguson (7), Donald McIntosh (5), Cody Overton (4), Mason Zeigler (4), Hayden Cardwell (3), Ryan Unzicker (3), Dalton Cook (3), Colten Burdette (1), Daulton Wilson (1), Drake Troutman (1), Trever Feathers (1).
