Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: O'Neal tightens grip on No. 1 spot
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Hudson O'Neal (heathlawsonphotos.com)
Continuing his spectacular start to the 2026 season with a pair of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victories at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway, Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., gained full control of the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt’s power rankings.
The 25-year-old star from Martinsville, Ind., pushed his division-leading win total to seven with back-to-back triumphs to end Ocala’s Wieland Winternationals. His Thursday and Saturday checkered flags — worth $10,000 and $25,000, respectively — came after finishes of fifth and second earlier in the week, earning him unanimous support from voters as he received all 10 first-place nods in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25.
O’Neal, who leads all Speedweeks drivers with five wins, evenly split the first-place votes in the previous week’s poll with Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., who didn't compete at Ocala but maintained his hold on the No. 2 spot in the rankings. Hoffman was the top-ranked driver in DirtonDirt’s first 2026 poll Feb. 17.
Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, jumped three spots to No. 3 following a strong, all-podium week at Ocala. He recorded a $7,000 victory in Tuesday’s opener and added a third and pair of runner-up finishes.
The idle Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., dropped one position to No. 4 while Brandon Overton Overton of Evans, Ga., who logged two fourth-place finishes at Ocala before losing a potential win in Saturday’s finale to a flat tire, fell one spot to No. 5. Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., also lost one spot to land at No. 6 after an Ocala week that included a Wednesday victory but also two bad-luck runs to end the Winternationals.
Notable climbers in the rankings included Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., and Clay Harris of Jupiter, Fla. Ferguson rose four spots to No. 17 following a pair of top-10s at Ocala while Harris parlayed his two top-five runs at the 3/8-mile track into a three-spot leap to No. 14.
Newcomers to the poll were Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., who appeared at No. 18 after an Ocala effort highlighted by a third-place finish on Thursday, and Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., who had two top-10s runs at Ocala.
Michael Leach of Sun River, Mont., dropped out of the rankings.
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. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Torrid start to 2026 continues as back-to-back Ocala victories pushes win total to seven. Closing Speedweeks at Golden Isles, which he’ll try to make the fifth track he’s conquered this season. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: No racing for Tye Twarog’s driver until March 13-14’s Tennessee double-dip for WoO. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Opens Ocala week with $7,000 victory and never steps off podium over remainder of meet with a third and two runner-up finishes. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (+3)
4. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Back home in Illinois prepping for return to WoO action next weekend. Series points: 2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 3rd (-1)
5. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Flat tire knocks him from lead in Ocala’s finale, but it’s another good week otherwise with two fourths and a sixth prior to the misfortune. Golden Isles brings him home to Georgia, where he’s three-for-three in Speedweeks competition this year. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (-1)
6. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Starts Ocala miniseries with a runner-up finish and $7,000 triumph, but bad luck dooms Rocket1 racer in week’s two points races. Seeks to get back on track at Golden Isles. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 5th (-1)
7. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Drops in to Ocala at end of week and tallies pair of top-five runs, including 21st-to-fifth charge on Thursday and third-place finish in finale. Series points: 3rd (WoO). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Retooling in Iowa shop for upcoming WoO swing in East Tennessee. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 9th (+1)
9. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: First start of Speedweeks ends in opening-lap disaster Thursday at Ocala, but he rebounds with fourth-place finish in finale. Looks to Golden Isles with hopes of bagging first win of season. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 11th (+2)
10. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Eighth-place finish in opener in Texan’s lone top-10 during Ocala visit. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 8th (-2)
11. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Surprisingly quiet Speedweeks continues at Ocala with consecutive finishes of 10th, fourth and ninth. Golden Isles offers last chance to extend five-year winning streak at Speedweeks. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Adds to steady stretch with four top-10 runs at Ocala topped by fifth-place finish in finale. Long Speedweeks comes to end at Golden Isles. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (+2)
13. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Off from action as ASD Motorsports operation eyes next WoO events. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Clay Harris, Jupiter, Fla.
Comment: Carries All-Tech momentum into Ocala with third- and fifth-place finishes to start week but cools off in two points races (13th, 10th). Can his strong start continue when he leaves home state for action at Golden Isles? Series points: T5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 17th (+3)
15. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Frustrating Speedweeks rolls on at Ocala with eighth standing as his only top-10 performance. In need of a turnaround at Golden Isles. Series points: 14th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 12th (-3)
16. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Tallies pair of top-10 finished during Ocala’s Winternationals. Moves on to Georgia for four nights at Golden Isles. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 16th (nc)
17. Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Comment: Logs pair of top-10 finishes at Ocala before running into trouble in finale. Moves on to Golden Isles. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 21st (+4)
18. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: Survives opening-lap scrape with Jonathan Davenport on Thursday at Ocala to score Speedweeks-best third-place finish. Familiar Golden Isles turf is next. Series points: T5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: Unranked
19. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Infinity Race Cars house car driver remains idle with next start to be determined. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 15th (-4)
20. Dustin Sorensen, Winona, Minn.
Comment: Working in Minnesota shop to prep for upcoming WoO trips. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 18th (-2)
21. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Ocala begins well (seventh, eighth) but ends bad (25th, heat race crash). Series points: 10th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (-2)
22. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Makes first three features at Ocala with a top finish of 10th. Plans to stick around for Golden Isles before returning to WoO grind. Series points: 9th (WoO). Previous ranking: 22nd (nc)
T23. Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
Comment: Two unspectacular feature starts (20th, 21st) and two DNQs comprise Ocala week driving Bruce Kane’s car. Ready to bring self-owned No. 97 back for Golden Isles. Series points: 14th (WoO). Previous ranking: 20th (-3)
T23. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Finishes no better than 16th in four Ocala features. First full Speedweeks of career concludes at Golden Isles. Series points: 12th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 23rd (nc)
25. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Gains some confidence with pair of top-10 finishes at Ocala before pointing hauler to Golden Isles. Series points: 11th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Michael Leach, Sam Seawright
Others receiving votes: Sam Seawright, Michael Leach, Mike Marlar, Mark Whitener, Cade Dillard, Dallon Murty.
