Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Gauntlet-ruling J.D. up to No. 2
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Jonathan Davenport (joshjamesartwork.com)
An idle Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., remained atop DirtonDirt’s power rankings for a third consecutive week while Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., climbed closer after winning a big-money bonus during the inaugural Gauntlet event at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn.
Pierce, 29, received seven of 10 first-place votes in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll as he sat out a largely wet weekend with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series off until April 24-25’s doubleheader at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala. It marked Pierce’s 55th week as the No. 1-ranked driver, tying Josh Richards for third most on the all-time list.
The 42-year-old Davenport picked up two first-place votes to jump two spots to No. 2 in the poll. His pair of victories in the unsanctioned Vic Hill-promoted Gauntlet included a $7,500 opening-night win last Tuesday and a $30,000 triumph in Saturday’s 60-lap finale that also earned him a $100,000 bonus for capturing a preliminary and the week’s 60-lap main event.
Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who finished eighth in his grandfather Marvin’s memorial race sanctioned by the Northern Allstars Late Model Dirt Series at Paragon (Ind.) Speedway, claimed the remaining first-place vote but slipped one position to No. 3 in the rankings.
Filling out the top five is Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., and Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga. Hoffman fell one spot to No. 4 while not racing while Overton gained three positions to reach No. 5 following a successful week at Bulls Gap that included a $10,000 victory Wednesday and two additional top-five finishes.
Two South Carolina drivers vaulted five spots following solid Gauntlet runs: Gray Court’s Chris Madden and Enoree’s Zack Mitchell. Madden, who scored a $20,000 triumph at Volunteer, landed in a tie for No. 9 while Mitchell rose into a three-way tie for No. 18 on the strength of four top-10 finishes at Bulls Gap highlighted by a runner-up to Madden.
The deadlock for No. 18 among Mitchell, Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif., and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., was the first time in the history of the Top 25 poll that a position has had a three-way tie.
Joining the rankings was in a tie for No. 22 was Gregg Satterlee of Indiana, Pa., who won back-to-back features at Pennsylvania ovals in Selinsgrove and Port Royal. Kyle Beard of Trumann, Ark., dropped out of the Top 25.
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: Takes a break from competition before heading south for WoO doubleheader at Talladega. Series points: 2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Wins in opener and closer of Gauntlet at Bulls Gap good for a 100-grand bonus and $137,500 in total earnings for week. Next appearance not yet publicized. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 4th (+2)
3. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Rough night in grandfather Marvin’s Memorial race at Paragon ends with eighth-place finish. Back on Lucas Oil trail for three Mid-Atlantic shows. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Stays away from track in advance of WoO trip to Talladega. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 3rd (-1)
5. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Grabs $10,000 midweek victory among three top-five runs at Gauntlet. Georgia boy hauls north for Lucas Oil action to cap month of April. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 8th )(+3)
6. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Decision to enter family-owned No. B5 in Paragon’s Northern Allstars stop produces runner-up finish. Returns to Rocket1 seat for Lucas Oil weekend in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Misses top-10 in Gauntlet opener before ripping off finishes of third, fourth and second. Eyeing Lucas Oil’s Mid-Atlantic events. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Fifth-place finish on Night 2 is best outing at Bulls Gap. Looks for better fortunes at Lucas Oil schedule resumes. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 5th (-3)
T9. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Celebrates $20,000 Friday triumph during Bulls Gap visit that also includes third- and fifth-place runs. Hasn’t posted next start. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 14th (+5)
T9. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Rests up for WoO excursion to Talladega. Series points: 3rd (WoO). Previous ranking: 9th (nc)
11. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Logs first win of 2026 with $10,000 Northern Allstars success at Paragon. Carries momentum to Talladega, where he’s a past Ice Bowl champion. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: After spring break vacation cruise with family, he’ll enter Lucas Oil’s Mid-Atlantic weekend with top-five streak on tour sitting at six. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (-2)
13. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Lone start of wet weekend yields third-place finish at Paragon. Hauler pointed south for WoO at ‘Dega. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Quiet weekend for Big Frog-Viper team as Talladega looms. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 12th (-2)
15. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: MARS tour’s weekend washout in Iowa keeps Roberts Motorsports cars in the shop prior to resumption of Lucas Oil Series. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 16th (+1)
16. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Falls short of victory at Gauntlet but is steady all week with two podiums and a pair of ninths. Upcoming races TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 17th (+1)
17. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: No weekend activity before WoO twinbill at Talladega. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 15th (-2)
T18. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Joins Gauntlet field on Night 2 and tallies fifth-place finish but settles for 16th in final two features. Talledega up next. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 18th (nc)
T18. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Surprisingly quiet at Bulls Gap with fourth-place in opener his only top-five run. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 19th (+1)
T18. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Solid week at Volunteer finishing as high as second and no worse than seventh. He’ll sit idle this weekend. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 23rd (+5)
21. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Late Model remains in shop for weekend. Next full-fender event not yet revealed. Series points: T1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: 20th (-1)
T22. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Lands fourth-place finish at Paragon. First Mid-Atlantic trip with Lucas Oil coming up. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 22nd (nc)
T22. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Goes 2-for-2 in weekly events at Selinsgrove and Port Royal as he preps to challenge Lucas Oil invaders during Mid-Atlantic tripleheader. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
24. Clay Harris, Jupiter, Fla.
Comment: Comes north week before Lucas Oil action and turns laps at Selinsgrove (DNF) and Port Royal (finished third). Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 21st (-3)
25. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Struggles continue with 20th-place finish at Paragon. Hopeful that trip east with Lucas Oil will bring turnaround in fortunes. Series points: 11th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 24th (-1)
Dropped out: Kyle Beard
Others receiving votes: Carson Ferguson, Ashton Winger, Garrett Smith, Kyle Beard, Tucker Anderson, Trey Mills, Sam Seawright, Clay Stuckey, Dustin Sorensen, Wil Herrington, Kyle Bronson, Mark Whitener, Tanner English, Dennis Erb Jr., Ben Watkins, Hayden Cardwell, Tyler Carpenter.
