DirtonDirt exclusive
Top national, regional and weekly drivers of '25
By Kyle McFadden
DirtonDirt staff reporter
(Credits clockwise from right: Tyler Carr; Josh James; Heath Lawson)
With the 2025 racing season mostly in the books, DirtonDirt.com takes a closer look at top five national drivers as well as regional and weekly Dirt Late Model competition. Check our video coverage for DirtonDirt.com’s Top Five Drivers overall, topped by Bobby Pierce. Here’s our Best of 2025 among national, regional and weekly racers (drivers listed alphabetically; Best of 2025 coverage index):
Top national drivers
Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.: The Double L Motorsports superstar racks up 21 victories in 2025 and surpasses $1 million in season earnings while finishing third in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points. Though playoff misfortune derailed his shot at a fourth series title, he stayed within striking distance of the series points lead most of the season. He claims a dozen victories paying $20,000 or more, highlighted by a third consecutive Dream triumph worth $100,000 for his 10th overall Eldora crown jewel. Davenport also scores three $50,000 victories, including his first-ever Firecracker 100 in his ninth start in the Lernerville Speedway event, the Topless 100 and the Pittsburgher 100. In Lucas Oil competition, he amasses nine wins with 35 top-fives and 43 top-10 finishes.
Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio: After finishing runner-up in Lucas Oil Series points the previous two seasons, Moran breaks through to capture his first career national title for car owner Roger Sellers and crew chief Chuck Kimble at Double Down Motorsports. The third-generation star shines in the tour’s five-race playoff, posting an average finish of 2.6 and never finishing worse than fourth over that decisive, title-winning stretch. Moran collects 13 victories overall, including $25,000 triumphs in February’s Winternationals finale at Ocala and March’s Lucas Oil stop at Brownstown. On the Lucas Oil tour, he racks up nine wins with 38 top-five and 42 top-10 finishes.
Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.: In his first full season with the SSI Motorsports and crew chief Jason Durham combination, O’Neal earns a Lucas Oil Series playoff berth while posting 11 total victories. Two are crown jewels at the rain-shortened $75,000 Silver Dollar Nationals at Huset’s Speedway and the Lucas Oil Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway, where he charged from 15th to capture the $75,000 triumph. O’Neal also scores three victories aboard Kevin Rumley’s No. 6, including a last-corner pass of Brandon Sheppard to win opening night of Charlotte’s World Finals. On the Lucas Oil tour, he tallies five wins with 23 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes.
Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.: Counting his Prairie Dirt Classic semifeature triumph, Pierce reels off his third consecutive 30-plus win season to claim Driver of the Year honors for the second consecutive season. He records 30 total victories, including 14 paychecks paying $20,000 or more, en route to titles on the World of Outlaws Real American Late Model Series and FloRacing Night in America tours. His biggest victory comes in his second straight $100,000 DTWC victory at Eldora, to go along with statement wins at the $75,000 North‑South 100 and Show-Me 100, where he outdueled Jonathan Davenport on both occasions. He also notches a $50,000 win at the Alabama Gang 100 at Talladega Short Track. On the WoO tour, he posts 11 wins, 27 top‑five, and 34 top‑10 finishes.
Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.: With a new Koehler Motorsports crew led by head wrench Zach Frields, Thornton races to 18 victories in 2025, including 10 on half-mile tracks, setting the stage for the biggest win of his career to date in the $72,000 World 100 at Eldora. He also claims $50,000 triumphs at Port Royal’s Rumble by the River, Brownstown’s Jackson 100, and the Eagle Nationals. Thornton controlled Lucas Oil Series points battle for much of the season but fell shy of a second straight title after playoff misfortune, particularly his flat tire while leading Friday's portion of the Pittsburgher 100, settling for second in points. On the Lucas Oil tour, he tallies a series-high 14 victories with 34 top-fives and 41 top-10 finishes.
Honorable mention (alphabetically): Las Cruces, N.M.‘s Garrett Alberson (seven victories overall, four with Lucas Oil and first with WoO; sixth in Lucas Oil points); Marshalltown, Iowa’s Ryan Gustin (seven victories overall including career-richest $100,000 at USA Nationals; third in WoO points); Mooresville, N.C.‘s Nick Hoffman (WoO runner-up; nine victories overall including $30,000 at Mississippi Thunder); Watertown, N.Y.’s Tim McCreadie (seven victories overall, six on WoO circuit en route to fourth in points); New Berlin, Ill.‘s Brandon Sheppard (six victories overall, two paying $25,000; fifth in Lucas Oil points).
Top regional drivers
Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas: DirtonDirt’s top performer across the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas region racks up 14 victories, the most lucrative a repeat win in East Alabama’s $30,000 National 100. He also scored a $21,000 Spring Nationals victory at Tazewell and a $25,000 World of Outlaws triumph at Mississippi Thunder while adding wins on the Iron-Man, MARS, MSCCS and Comp Cams tours amid a workhorse 122-race campaign. Led the DIRTcar Summer Nationals with six victories on his way to a runner-up points finish. His strongest crown-jewel showing comes in his 16th-to-fourth drive at Eldora’s World 100.
Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.: The Illinois veteran delivers another multititle season, going back-to-back on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals along with securing his third consecutive MARS championship. Thirteen of his 17 victories comes on those two tours, including five $10,000 paydays. Five of those victories are in wire-to-wire fashion with four decided in the final 10 laps. On the MARS circuit, he amasses eight victories along with 18 top-fives and 26 top-10s in 28 features. He also celebrates a major milestone in reaching his 200th career Late Model victory.
Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.: DirtonDirt’s top performer from South Carolina collects nine victories across five regional tours, including a career-high $35,000 in his first Blue-Gray 100 truimph at Cherokee. Takes Coltman Farms Racing to victory lane on the Hunt the Front tour, Southern All Stars, Iron-Man, Southern Nationals and three times in five races in his DIRTcar Summer Nationals debut where he won for the first time in Indiana (Shady Hill), Michigan (Crystal) and Ohio (Oakshade). Four victories are five-figure paydays.
Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.: Capturing his third straight Northern Allstars title, DirtonDirt’s top Kentucky performer wins 10 features at eight tracks highlighted by the biggest victory of his career to date — his $30,000 Dream prelim triumph at Eldora where he outdueled Bobby Pierce. He adds five-figure paydays at Florence and Brownstown on the Northern Allstars tour, along with Iron-Man and Ultimate Heart of America victories at Richmond. He captures five of nine Northern Allstar events and finishes fifth or better in nearly half of his 41 starts.
Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.: The former Lucas Oil regular earns ULMS and Fall Clash championships while scoring nine Super Late Model victories at six tracks in just 35 starts. He tallies four wins on the ULMS tour, three on the Fall Clash circuit and two during Appalachian Mountain Speedweek. Four of his triumphs are five-figure paydays, highlighted by his third consecutive Labor Day 55 victory at Bedford worth $12,055. He also pockets a $20,000 Crate victory during Lernerville’s Firecracker 100 weekend.
Honorable mention (alphabetically): Aberdeen, S.D.’s Chad Becker (18 victories including WISSOTA 100 among multiple specials); Centerville, Pa.’s Max Blair (16 multidivision victories and four five-figure paydays); Parkersburg, W.Va.’s Tyler Carpenter (17 victories at seven tracks); Stephen City, Va.’s Kyle Hardy (24 multidivision victories, including four on RUSH circuit); Loudon, Tenn.’s Cory Hedgecock (12 victories among five tours; HTF tour runner-up); Waterford’s Dave Hess Jr. (13 victories among seven tracks); McClure, Ohio’s Rusty Schlenk (12 victories overall; Iron-Man runner-up); East Grand Forks, Minn.’s Dustin Strand (14 victories; NLRA and River Cities titles); Hickson, N.D.’s Tyler Peterson (16 victories and third straight WISSOTA title); Middleburg, Fla.’s Mark Whitener (13 multidivision victories; Southern Thunder, Ultimate and Summer Nationals wins).
Top weekly drivers
Dakota Ewing, Warrensburg, Ill.: Piles up 20 Crate victories en route to DIRTcar title repeat. Among victories at six tracks, he wins seven times at Lincoln, six times at Farmer City and notches three at Quincy. He also scores home-state triumphs at Tri-City, Brownstown and Spoon River. Season highlights include winning the undercard of FALS Frenzy weekend at Fairbury and pocketing $2,000 at Tri-City. In 32 starts overall, he posts 24 top-fives and 26 top-10s.
Kyle Moore, Mansfield, Ohio: Since returning to Super Late Models in 2023, he’s rattled off three straight seasons of 20-plus victories. Collects a pair of championships at Attica and Wayne County while finishing third in DIRTcar’s weekly points. Of his 20 victories, the biggest comes vs. Iron-Man foes at Attica worth $5,000. Finds victory lane at Attica (five times), Hilltop (five), Midway (once) and Wayne County (nine).
Lane Snook, Port Royal, Pa.: DirtonDirt’s Pennsylvania top performer rips off a career-high 20 Limited Late Model victories across seven tracks, including a career-high $6,000 payday at Port Royal. The 17-year-old captures titles at Selinsgrove and Port Royal champ while logging 34 top-five finishes in 43 starts. Season highlights include winning from the tail of a 27-car field May 31 at BAPS and winning three in a row at BAPS, Bedford and Selinsgrove. He plans jump to Super Late Models in 2026.
Joey Tanner, Portland, Ore.: Dominates for 15 victories in 23 starts while sweeping I-5 tour and Willamette titles. Scores series-high six victories on the I-5 circuit with 13 victories at Willamette. Also wins at Cottage Grove and Grays Harbor. Season highlights include paydays of $4,200 at Cottage Grove and $2,500 at Willamette from 15th. Average starting spot in victories is 7.6 as eight victories are from the fifth row or deeper.
Zach Zeitner, Omaha, Neb.: The Kansas-Nebraska-Oklahoma top performer wins career-best 17 features in 42 starts en route to the IMCA Sunoco Late Model weekly title. Zeitner captured titles at Park Jefferson, Crawford County and Shelby County and posted 34 top-five finishes. He’s the fourth Nebraska driver to claim an IMCA crown, dethroning six-time champ and fellow Nebraskan Cory Dumpert. Season highlights include a sweep of Shelby County’s Tiny Lund Memorial and $1,515 payday at U.S. 30.
Honorable mention (alphabetically): Hanceville, Ala.’s Brandon Brown (19 multidivision victories); Milton, Fla.’s Taylor Jarvis (12 604 Crate victories in 18 starts); Winchester, Va.’s Davin Kaiser (RUSH-high 13 Crate victories; hometown title); Hermantown, Minn.’s Cade Nelson (17 USRA victories en route to title; Cedar Lake champ); Princeton, Ky.’s Dustin Rollins (16 602 Crate victories at five tracks); Lynchburg, Va.’s Justin Williams (12 victories en route to Limited and Crate titles at Natural Bridge; $10,000 All-Stars tour win).
