Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: O'Neal takes top spot from Pierce
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Hudson O'Neal (heathlawsonphotos.com)
A victory in Thursday’s opener of the rain-doomed Malvern Bank High Bank Heist weekend at Eagle (Neb.) Raceway vaulted Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., back to the top of DirtonDirt’s power rankings.
The 25-year-old star raced only once with the final two night’s of Eagle’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned tripleheader falling to rain, but his $10,000 triumph — his 13th overall of 2026 — earned him seven first-place votes to move up from the No. 3 spot. He regained top-ranked status for the first time since March 24 while ending Bobby Pierce’s six-week stranglehold on the position.
Pierce, 29, of Oakwood, Ill., dropped to No. 2 in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll following his four nights of action on the East Coast with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. A winner for the milestone 50th time in WoO competition last Wednesday at Georgetown (Del.) Speedway, Pierce picked up two first-place votes.
Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., received the remaining first-place vote but fell one spot to No. 3 despite a solid two-race week. He finished third in the Rocket Chassis house car at Eagle and drove his family-owned No. B5 to a $5,000 MARS Championship Late Model Series victory on Sunday at Coles County Speedway in Mattoon, Ill.
Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C. (three top-fives in as many WoO points races) remained at No. 4 while Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga. (fifth at Eagle) stayed in the No. 5 spot.
The big mover of the week was Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill, Pa., who gained five spots to land at No. 20 after pocketing $20,000 for his first WoO victory since 2019 in Sunday’s Billy Winn Classic at Bedford (Pa.) Speedway. He also recorded a third-place finish in Thursday’s WoO feature at Selinsgrove (Pa.) Speedway, which was won by No. 10-ranked Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y.
Only one other driver advanced multiple positions: Daulton Wilson of Fayetteville, N.C., who jumped two spots to No. 14 after a runner-up WoO finish at Bedford.
There were no newcomers to this week’s poll.
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: One start, one win in Eagle’s lone program to beat rain. Hoping for sunny skies to chase second Show-Me 100 victory. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (+2)
2. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Starts WoO Eastern Coast swing with 50th career tour triumph at Georgetown but finishes no better than fifth in remaining starts. Heads to Wheatland in bid for second straight and third career Show-Me 100 trophy. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (-1)
3. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: After continuing Rocket1 surge with third-place run at Eagle, drives family-owned No. B5 to MARS score at tiny Coles County. Eyeing Show-Me 100 breakthrough. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: WoO consistency rolls on with two thirds and a fifth in three points races. Schedule shows week off before four-race WoO burst to close month. Series points: 1st (WoO).; 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Runs fifth in Eagle’s opener before experiencing two rainouts. Staying in Midwest to battle at Wheatland, where he swept last month’s MLRA Spring Nationals. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Eagle trip yields seventh-place finish. Seeking second Show-Me 100 checkered flag. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Makes 15th-to-second charge in backup car at Eagle. Gets another shot at Show-Me 100 retribution after deck-height violation cost him 2023 victory. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 8th (+1)
8. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Leads Eagle’s feature before flat tire knocks him out of second place. Show-Me 100 next. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (-1)
9. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Runner-up finish is best of all-top-10s WoO week. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Returns to WoO victory lane for first time since January with $20,000 win at Selinsgrove. Schedule empty until next WoO swing. Series points: 3rd (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (+1)
11. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Back in top-five on Lucas Oil tour with fourth at Eagle. Moves on to Wheatland. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: WoO top-fives comes at Georgetown (fourth) and Marion Center (third in a semifeature). Series points: 5th (WoO); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Celebrates 21st birthday amid home-region WoO stretch highlighted by runner-up finish at Selinsgrove. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Saves best WoO run of week for last, finishing second at Bedford after leading much of distance. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 16th (+2)
15. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Takes weekend off. Next action to be determined. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Settles for ninth-place finish at Eagle. Goes back to shop before heading to Wheatland. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 17th (+1)
17. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Sits idle for second straight weekend. Hasn’t yet announced next start. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 14th (-3)
18. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Keeps hauler in shop while prepping for Hunt the Front holiday weekend excursion to West Virginia. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front); 7th (Spring Nationals). Previous ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Maxes out on WoO swing with sixth-place result at Bedford. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (nc)
20. Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.
Comment: A contender all week in WoO action, shines brightest in Sunday’s stop at Bedford for $20,000 victory. Upcoming races not yet published. Series points: 1st (ULMS). Previous ranking: 25th (+5)
21. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: First-ever Eagle start produces 13th-place finish. Another first-time appearance coming at Show-Me 100. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 20th (-1)
22. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Nabs a sixth at Eagle before washouts send him off to Show-Me 100. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 22nd (nc)
23. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Planning to end month-long absence from competition with trip to Wheatland. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 21st (-2)
24. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Skips action for the weekend. Upcoming schedule TBA. Series points: 1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: 23rd (-1)
25. Clay Harris, Jupiter, Fla.
Comment: Forgettable 20th-place finish at Eagle. Hoping for better results at Wheatland. Series points: 11th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 24th (-1)
Dropped out: None
Others receiving votes: Ashton Winger, Sam Seawright, Kyle Bronson, Trey Mills, Garrett Smith, Eli Ross, Mark Whitener, Kyle Beard, Carson Ferguson, Jason Feger, Gregg Satterlee, Rusty Schlenk, Tucker Anderson.
