Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Gustin among those inching higher
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Ryan Gustin (joshjamesartwork.com)
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., maintained his No. 1 position in DirtonDirt’s power rankings for a fourth consecutive week following a rain-hampered weekend that brought only a minimal amount of movement among drivers.
Racing to a sixth-place finish in Friday’s MARS-sanctioned season opener at the Brownstown (Ill.) Bullring after the weekend’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series doubleheader at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., was called off early, the 29-year-old Pierce received five first-place votes to remain atop the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll. It marked Pierce’s 56th week as the No. 1-ranked driver, pulling him out of a tie with Josh Richards for third most all-time.
The idle Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., stayed at No. 2 with three first-place votes. Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who recorded podium finishes in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events at Georgetown (Del.) Speedway and Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway, held steady at No. 3 while earning the remaining two first-place votes and Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., stuck at No. 4 after not racing in the wake of Talladega’s washout.
Rising into the top five was Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill. He moved up one spot after a solid Lucas Oil weekend that included a fourth-place finish at Georgetown and his first-ever triumph at Hagerstown.
The biggest movers in the poll were three drivers who each rose a modest two spots: Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, at No. 6, Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, at No. 9 and Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., at No. 10. Moran tallied a $21,049 victory at Georgetown, Gustin ran his winning streak to three by sweeping the MARS twinbill at the Brownstown Bullring and Peoria (Ill.) Speedway and Blair extended his Lucas Oil Series top-five streak to eight with strong finishes of third at Georgetown and fifth at Hagerstown.
No new drivers joined 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: After early WoO rainout in Alabama, hits up MARS opener at Brownstown Bullring and finishes sixth. Busy WoO week ahead with Tuesday in Iowa and then three nights at Wisconsin’s Mississippi Thunder. Series points: 2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Enjoys weekend off before trekking to Midwest for four nights of WoO action. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Two Mid-Atlantic starts, two Lucas Oil podiums. Home-state outing at Circle City leads off upcoming weekend. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Talladega’s WoO washout keeps him home before taking off for Midwest. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Strong Lucas Oil twinbill nets fourth place at Georgetown and first-ever victory at Hagerstown. Takes momentum to Circle City and Florence. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (+1)
6. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Makes epic rebound from early-night trouble at Georgetown to score dominant $21,049 triumph before running fourth at Hagerstown. Circle City-Florence weekend next. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 8th (+2)
7. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Bad-and-good trip north with 15th at Georgetown and second at Hagerstown. Friday’s stop at Circle City will bring back memories of his last Lucas Oil victory one year ago. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 5th (-2)
8. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: DNF at Georgetown with broken driveshaft, then places sixth at Hagerstown. Continues down Lucas Oil road in Indiana and Kentucky. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 7th (-1)
9. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Shifts plans after WoO cancellations to MARS shows at Brownstown Bullring and Peoria and wins both. Red-hot entering WoO stretch in Iowa and Wisconsin. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (+2)
10. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Top-five streak on Lucas Oil Series rises to eight straight with third at Georgetown and fifth at Hagerstown. Will it roll on? Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 12th (+2)
11. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Takes final weekend of April off. Next action not yet publicly announced. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T9th (-2)
12. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Briggs Transport team preps for WoO excursion to Midwest after Talladega’s rainout. Series points: 3rd (WoO). Previous ranking: T9th (-3)
13. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Skips competition following ‘Dega washout with WoO trip to Iowa and Wisconsin coming up. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: No racing after WoO action called off. Back at it with national tour’s week in Midwest. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (nc)
15. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Frustrating Mid-Atlantic trip with eighth at Georgetown and engine trouble at Hagerstown. Needs rebound at Circle City and Florence. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Keeps hauler in shop for weekend. Maybe Lucas Oil racing next? Series points: None. Previous ranking: 16th (nc)
17. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Visits Georgetown after Talladega’s rainout but doesn’t make it past hot laps due to engine woes. Regroups for WoO action in Midwest. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 17th (nc)
18. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Takes break before Hunt the Front tour leads him to Mississippi’s Whynot. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: T18th (nc)
19. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Starts WoO travels to Midwest early with Saturday MARS stop at Peoria where he finishes 14th. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: T18th (-1)
20. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Was eyeing Talladega before rainout. Next start TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T18th (-2)
T21. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Late Model remains in shop as he wins with modified. Hasn’t published upcoming Late Model schedule. Series points: T1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: 21st (nc)
T21. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Shines in first Georgetown appearance with 16th-to-fifth run and wins first Lucas Oil heat of season at Hagerstown, but 14th-place finish ends weekend on down note. He’s ready for Lucas Oil’s visit to his home track of Florence. Series points: 12th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 22nd (+1)
23. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Skips Georgetown and runs second at Bedford, then places 12th at Hagerstown. Selinsgrove-Port Royal double coming up. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T22nd (-1)
24. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Long haul to East Coast tops out with seventh at Hagerstown. Circle City and Florence on agenda. Series points: 11th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 25th (+1)
25. Clay Harris, Jupiter, Fla.
Comment: Cracks top-10 at Georgetown but rough night at Hagerstown ends with DNF. Rolls on to Midwest with Lucas Oil. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 24th (-1)
Dropped out: None
Others receiving votes: Carson Ferguson, Ashton Winger, Kyle Bronson, Ryan Unzicker, Clay Stuckey, Trey Mills, Sam Seawright, Tanner English, Mark Whitener, Kyle Beard, Tucker Anderson, Tyler Carpenter.
