Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Hoffman nabs No. 1 spot for first time
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Nick Hoffman (joshjamesartwork.com)
Propelled by a spectacular Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals performance, Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., received the first No. 1 nod of his career in DirtonDirt’s power rankings as the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll debuts for the 2026 season.
The 33-year-old standout’s three straight victories during the miniseries at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., included two on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and made him the lone driver to win multiple times over the six-night meet. Adding finishes of fourth, fifth and seventh to his pair of top-five runs last month’s three WoO-sanctioned Sunshine Nationals events at the same half-mile oval, Hoffman logged an average finish of 3.9 over his first nine starts of the season, helping him earn six of the 10 first-place votes in the Top 25 balloting.
Hoffman, who collected $31,000 in first-place payoffs at Volusia and won the $3,000 DIRTcar Nationals points title, outdistanced Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., by 12 points (245-233) to become the 18th driver to hold the No. 1 spot in the poll’s history. O’Neal, 25, received the other four first-place votes on the strength of a superb start to ’26 in which he’s won three times driving the K&L Rumley Enterprises No. 6 — twice during last month’s Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout at Central Arizona Raceway in Case Grande and once at Volusia’s Sunshine Nationals — and once in his usual SSI Motorsports ride (Tuesday’s DIRTcar-sanctioned 25-lapper at Volusia).
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., DirtonDirt’s Driver of the Year from 2025, sits third in the first balloting of the new season. His lone victory came in Jan. 18’s Wild West Shootout finale — a $51,500 triumph that’s currently the richest payoff of ’26 — but he also has seven podium performances in 15 starts, including three straight in WoO action to close the DIRTcar Nationals.
Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., slots in at No. 4 in the poll following a hot start that saw him win four straight features across Needmore Speedway in Norman Park, Ga., Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., and Volusia. Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., completes the top five with his Georgia-Florida Speedweeks highlight to date being a $20,000 victory in Saturday’s WoO-sanctioned DIRTcar Nationals finale.
Seven drivers in the initial Top 25 of 2026 didn't appear in last year’s final rankings, led by Cody Overton of Evans, Ga., at No. 13. Among those joining him in the group is Michael Leach of Sun River, Mont., who makes his first-ever appearance in the Top 25 at No. 21 — and becomes the first Montana driver to crack the poll — after recording his first career Super Late Model triumph in the first DIRTcar-sanctioned semifeature of Feb. 11’s triple 20s at Volusia.
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. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Claims top spot in rankings for first time in career after catching fire at Volusia with three straight DIRTcar Nationals victories. Looks to carry momentum farther south to WoO doubleheader at Florida’s Hendry County. Series points: 1st (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 6th (+5)
2. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Shines at both ends of the country and in two different rides to quickly tally four wins. Ready to dive into Lucas Oil Series action. Series points: 8th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 3rd (+1)
3. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Just one win in first 15 starts of ’26, but it’s a big one worth $51,500 in Wild West Shootout’s finale. Tackles Hendry County next with WoO. Series points: 3rd (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: With four wins by mid-February, he’s already matched his victory total for all of ’25. Hopes to keep rolling as Lucas Oil Series schedule kickoff. Series points: 10th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 13th (+9)
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Overtakes Hoffman in Volusia finale, scoring first win in Rocket Chassis house car at the half-mile oval since 2020. Pumped to go Lucas Oil racing starting Thursday at All-Tech. Series points: 2nd (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 7th (+1)
6. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Only victory so far comes in Jan. 10 cameo at Wild West Shootout with Adam Family Motorsports, but he’s primed for Lucas Oil competition with Koehler Motorsports after relatively uneventful week at Volusia. Series points: 5th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 4th (-1)
7. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Enters WoO win column with $20,000 Volusia score on Jan. 24 and impresses again at same track with 22nd-to-second outing in Thursday’s WoO A-main. Looking for success at Hendry County, the first-time WoO track that sits near owner Boom Briggs’s home-away-from-home in Florida. Series points: 4th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 10th (+3)
8. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Winless at Wild West Shootout but grabs elusive first-ever win at Volusia in a DIRTcar Nationals semifeature. Continues WoO trail at Hendry County. Series points: 6th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Scores four top-fives including a runner-up during January’s Wild West Shootout. No Speedweeks action planned until Feb. 26-28 at Ocala. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: 1st (-8)
10. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Two third-place runs at both Wild West Shootout and DIRTcar Nationals for WoO regular who plans to close his Speedweeks at Hendry County. Series points: 9th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 9th (-1)
11. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Early-season highlight is blowout victory on Jan. 17 at Central Arizona. Lucas Oil’s Speedweeks swing on agenda after winless Volusia stretch. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Captured Jan. 22’s WoO opener at Volusia in debut as Infinity Race Cars house car driver. Next action uncertain. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: 14th (+2)
13. Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
Comment: After engine trouble during Sunshine Nationals practice threatens his self-owned effort, help from backers keeps him going and leads to three runner-up finishes. Hendry County up next. Series points: 18th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: Unranked
14. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Steady but not spectacular start at Wild West Shootout and Speedweeks includes three top-five and eight top-10 finishes. Could Hendry County be his big breakthrough? Series points: 7th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 19th (+5)
15. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Trip to Arizona produces midweek victory, but unable to crack top-five at Volusia after two weekends away to race in super saloon division in New Zealand. Series points: 15th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: Unranked
16. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Starts season with third-place finish in DIRTcar Nationals opener, but that’s his lone bright spot during a Volusia week that includes back-to-back WoO DNQs. Sits out Volusia’s finale to regroup for Lucas Oil stretch. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: 5th (-11)
17. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Puts up three finishes among top six at DIRTcar Nationals before switching gears to Lucas Oil points chasing. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: 22nd (+5)
18. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Tallies pair of top-five finishes at Sunshine Nationals but experiences frustrating Volusia 2.0 results. Eager for turnaround at Hendry County. Series points: 11th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: 12th (-6)
19. Dustin Sorensen, Winona, Minn.
Comment: Shows some spunk with pair of top-fives in Arizona and four top-10s across two Volusia meets. Looking toward WoO debut at Hendry County. Series points: 13th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: Unranked
20. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Best Speedweeks run in Big Frog machine is a runner-up in Screven’s Winter Freeze finale. Continues WoO pursuit at Hendry County. Series points: 16th (WoO). November 2025 ranking: Unranked
21. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont.
Comment: Celebrates first-ever Super Late Model victory in DIRTcar Nationals semifeature for $5,000 payday. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: Unranked
22. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Collects two top-fives at Wild West Shootout but makes quiet three-race visit to DIRTcar Nationals. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: 17th (-5)
23. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Starts season with non-point Comp Cams win on Jan. 3 at Oklahoma’s Arrowhead and a top Wild West Shootout run of third, but DIRTcar Nationals is forgettable with four DNQs. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: Unranked
24. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Begins to find footing with JRR Motorsports at end of DIRTcar Nationals, raising spirits for Lucas Oil action. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: 25th (+1)
25. Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Comment: Jan. 3’s Ice Bowl winner runs DIRTcar Nationals after landing Coltman Farms Racing ride and plans trip to Hendry County. Series points: None. November 2025 ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Jason Feger, Dale McDowell, Brian Shirley, Jimmy Owens, Chris Ferguson, Zack Mitchell.
Others receiving votes: Dale McDowell, Tyler Bruening, Kyle Bronson, Brian Shirley, Jason Feger, Clay Stuckey, Carson Ferguson, Garrett Smith, Kyle Strickler, Cory Hedgecock, Chase Junghans, Zack Mitchell, Jake Timm, Payton Freeman.
