Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Thornton climbs back up to No. 5
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Ricky Thornton Jr. (joshjamesartwork.com)
Two victories in four starts with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series kept Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., atop DirtonDirt’s power rankings for a fifth consecutive week.
The 29-year-old star from Oakwood, Ill., picked up seven first-place votes in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored poll after scoring back-to-back victories April 28 at Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway and in April 30’s Dairyland Showdown opener at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wis. He slipped to ninth in the finishing order of MTS’s second preliminary program but rebounded with a 15th-to-second run in the track’s $40,000-to-win finale.
Earning three first-place votes, Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., gained one spot to sit at No. 2 on the strength of a near-perfect weekend on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The 25-year-old finished second Friday at Circle City Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., and recorded a $25,000 triumph in Saturday’s Ralph Latham Memorial at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky.
Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., moved up one position to No. 3 with a successful WoO swing that saw him tally four top-five finishes in as many races, including a $10,000 prelim win at Mississippi Thunder. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., slipped two spots to No. 4 after a rough week on the WoO circuit — though he salvaged the trip with a third-place finish in Mississippi Thunder’s finale — and Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., vaulted three positions to No. 5 following a Circle City victory and a third-place finish at Florence.
Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, climbed one spot to No. 8 after registering three podium finishes at Mississippi Thunder, improving each night of the Dairyland Showdown with finishes of third and second proceeding his $40,000 triumph in the 50-lap headliner.
Another WoO regular, Drake Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., picked up three spots to land at No. 14 after a solid week. He logged four top-10 finishes on the WoO tour, including a runner-up in Mississippi Thunder’s opener, and after a 12-hour overnight haul scored his first victory of 2026 in Sunday’s Valvoline American Late Model Iron-Man Series feature at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells.
Returning to the poll was Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., at No. 24 while Clay Harris of Jupiter, Fla., dropped out.
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: Lands WoO wins at Independence and Mississippi Thunder’s Dairyland Showdown opener before capping Wisconsin weekend with a 15th-to-second run in MTS’s finale. All pumped up for Illinois Speedweek. Series points: 2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Only a late-race loss on Friday prevents him from sweeping Lucas Oil’s Circle City-Florence twinbill. Land of Lincoln calling his name this week. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 3rd (+1)
3. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Four top-fives in as many races — highlighted by Mississippi Thunder prelim victory — gives him WoO points lead. Tackling Illinois Speedweek next. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 4th (+1)
4. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Week on WoO trail in Midwest doesn’t go according to plan, but a third-place finish in Mississippi Thunder’s finale was good news. Headed to team’s home base of Batesville, Ark., for Comp Cams doubleheader. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 2nd (-2)
5. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Looks very RTJ-like on Lucas Oil tour with win at Circle City and third-place run at Florence. Ready to tackle Illinois Speedweek. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 8th (+3)
6. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: After fifth at Circle City and second at Florence, tries out West Virginia Motor Speedway’s 3/8-mile oval and places fourth in Sunday’s Iron-Man event. Primed for Illinois Speedweek. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Logs Lucas Oil finishes of eighth and fourth on eve of five consecutive FloRacing and Lucas Oil shows in his home state. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Transfers recent hot streak to WoO tour, following up Mississippi Thunder prelim finishes of third and second with a $40,000 triumph in Dairyland Showdown finale. Will he carry momentum to Illinois Speedweek? Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 9th (+1)
9. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Quiet Lucas Oil trip to Circle City (ninth) and Florence (12th). Looking for rebound during Illinois Speedweek. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 7th (-2)
10. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Extends top-five streak to nine in a row with a third at Circle City, but fails to reach double-figures after placing sixth at Florence. Illinois Speedweek ahead. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: WoO swing through Midwest tops out at Mississippi Thunder with fifth in opener and sixth in finale. Next action on schedule is Mid-Atlantic WoO races beginning May 13. Series points: 3rd (WoO). Previous ranking: 12th (+1)
12. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Two podiums (second at Independence, third on Night 2 at MTS) are among four top-10s in WoO competition. Illinois Speedweek on his agenda. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (+1)
13. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Lone start is an 11th-place finish at Florence. Upcoming schedule undetermined. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 11th (-2)
14. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Follows up four WoO top-10s — including runner-up finish in Mississippi Thunder’s opener — with 12-hour overnight haul that results in $10,000 Iron-Man victory at WVMS. Heading back to Midwest for Illinois Speedweek. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 17th (+3)
15. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Closes WoO week on high note with seventh- and fourth-place runs at Mississippi Thunder. Prepping for next WoO swing. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (-1)
16. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Runs sixth with WoO at Independence, then tallies 13th- and fifth-place runs in Lucas Oil doubleheader. Illinois Speedweek next up. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 15th (-1)
17. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Finishes fourth at Circle City but smoking car puts him out early at Florence. Upcoming action TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 16th (-1)
18. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Never outside top-10 in four WoO starts highlighted by fourth in second Dairyland Showdown prelim. Staying in Midwest for Illinois Speedweek. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (+1)
19. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Cancellation of Hunt the Front’s trip to Whynot keeps team in shop. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Sits idle for weekend with next action still to be determined. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Finishes seventh at Circle City, but bad luck on Florence home turf relegates him to 17th-place result. Illinois Speedweek on schedule. Series points: 12th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: T21st (nc)
22. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Hauls north for week with WoO but finishes no better than ninth. Series points: T1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: T21st (-1)
23. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Lone start of weekend is season-worst 13th-place finish at Port Royal. Eyeing Selinsgrove on Friday to tune up for next week’s WoO events in the Northeast. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 23rd (nc)
24. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: Circle City-Florence double brings 12th- and ninth-place finishes. Illinois Speedweek on deck. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: Unranked
25. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Runs 11th and eighth in Lucas Oil features with Illinois Speedweek ahead. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 24th (-1)
Dropped out: Clay Harris
Others receiving votes: Mason Zeigler, Clay Harris, Garrett Smith, Ashton Winger, Sam Seawright, Trey Mills, Eli Ross, Dustin Sorensen, Carson Ferguson, Ryan Unzicker, Tyler Carpenter, Jason Feger, Mark Whitener, Tucker Anderson, Michael Leach, Tanner English, Trever Feathers.
