Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Madden rises with O'Neal on top
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt managing editor
Chris Madden (Kevin Ritchie photo)
Hudson O’Neal’s eighth and ninth victories of the season cemented the Martinsville, Ind., driver's No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt’s weekly power rankings while the weekend’s most lucrative winner made gains.
O’Neal scored back-to-back victories in the K&L Rumley Enterprises No. 6 at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss., and Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., for World of Outlaws Late Model Series and Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series scores totaling more than $32,000. That kept him as a unanimous choice for the No. 1 spot in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored balloting.
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., captured the Magnolia opener and maintained a long streak of top-fives as a unanimous No. 2 pick while Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., remained at No. 3 after two top-fives at Magnolia. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who battled O’Neal in the Magnolia finale before settling for third, inched up to fourth ahead of idled new father Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio.
Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., was not only the weekend’s richest winner ($20,053 with a rain-shortened victory at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., on the Southern All Star and Schaeffer's Spring Nationals tours) but also the poll’s biggest climber, up five positions to No. 13.
Two weekend runners-up in touring action — Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., and Cody Overton of Thomson, Ga., at Modoc (S.C.) Speedway — also improved, Marlar up two spots to No. 15 and Overton up three positions to No. 22 after finishing second to his sixth-ranked brother Brandon.
The poll’s lone newcomer was Sam Seawright of Rainsville, Ala., the runner-up to O’Neal at Talladega after leading most of the HTF event. Dustin Sorenson of Winona, Minn., departed 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: Sizzling season continues with pair of victories in Rumley Engineering ride at Magnolia (World of Outlaws) and Talladega (Hunt the Front. Back in SSI car for Lucas Oil action. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Victory and runner-up finish in WoO action at Magnolia, then fourth at Talladega. East Alabama and Senoia up next. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Second- and fourth-place finishes at Magnolia but still loses ground in WoO chase to Pierce. EAMS-Senoia weekend on tap. Series points: 2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: In the mix all weekend, but without a victory at Magnolia or Talladega despite leading the most laps in Mag finale. Next race unpublicized. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 5th (+1)
5. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: First race as a dad coming up at Atomic, where he hasn’t won since 2022. Brownstown completes the Lucas Oil weekend. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (-1)
6. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Modoc homecoming successful in Southern All Star-Spring Nationals event. He’ll be back on Lucas Oil trail at Atomic and Brownstown. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Rare off weekend for Koehler Motorsports driver ahead of Atomic-Brownstown action on Lucas Oil circuit. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Another weekend off for Rocket1 team with Atomic and Brownstown up next. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Third-place run at Talladega best of three-race weekend. East Alabama debut comes up before Senoia’s WoO action. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: T9th (nc)
10. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Steady Southern weekend includes pair of fifth-place finishes. Two-time National 100 winner eager for East Alabama return. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (+1)
11. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Early retiree in Mag opener followed by ninth-place runs in Mag finale and Talladega. East Alabama-Senoia twinbill on tap. Series points: 3rd (WoO). Previous ranking: T9th (-2)
12. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Busy racer earns a weekend off with Atomic-Brownstown weekend up next. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 12th (nc)
13. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Another Cherokee special event, another victory. Fifth March Madness triumph pays $20,053 with SAS-Spring Nationals. Next stop unpublicized, but East Alabama and Senoia could tempt Infinity house car driver. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 18th (+5)
14. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Hauler woes prevent Southern trip, giving team more time to prepare for Atomic and Brownstown action. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 14th (nc)
15. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Up-and-down night at Florence with fast time, broken driveshaft in heat and rally in feature to second-place finish to Justin Rattliff in Northern Allstars Spring 50. Atomic-Brownstown trip unannounced but likely. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 17th (+2)
16. Clay Harris, Jupiter, Fla.
Comment: End to post-Speedweeks break coming up at Atomic and Brownstown for Lucas Oil racer. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 13th (-3)
17. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Engine woes spoil Magnolia finale after deflating tire drops him to sixth-place finish in opener he led. EAMS and Senoia on the docket. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 16th (-1)
18. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Eighth- and 15th-place finishes in WoO action at Magnolia with East Alabama and Senoia on horizon. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 15th (-3)
19. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Seventh- and eighth-place Mag finishes continue steady WoO runs. East Alabama-Senoia double on the calendar. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (nc)
20. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: After missing Mag opener, he briefly leads finale before retiring. Eighth at Talladega with upcoming plans unpublicized. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: Sits tight after Speedweeks with Atomic-Brownstown weekend calling his name. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 21st (nc)
22. Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
Comment: Finishes second to big bro at Modoc and wins Crate Late Model weekend race at Swainsboro. Hasn’t publicized next events. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 25th (+3)
23. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Post-Speedweeks break will end at Atomic and Brownstown, a pair of tracks where he’s won DIRTcar Summer Nationals races. Series points: 11th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: T23rd (nc)
T24. Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Comment: Fourth in Kale Green’s car at Modoc and 11th at Cherokee with regular Paylor Motorsports ride. Atomic-Brownstown weekend up next. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 23rd (-1)
T24. Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Comment: Mag disappoints, but finishes second at Talladega after leading most of Hunt the Front feature won by Hudson O’Neal. EAMS-Senoia likely next haunts. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Dustin Sorenson
Others receiving votes: Mark Whitener, Zack Mitchell, Dustin Sorensen, Cade Dillard, Dennis Erb Jr., Trey Mills, Ashton Winger, Tucker Anderson, Tony Jackson Jr., Clay Stuckey, Trever Feathers.
