Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Dream winner tightens grip on No. 1
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Bobby Pierce (joshjamesartwork.com)
A sweep of the Dream XXXII program at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, was more than enough to earn Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., unanimous recognition as the No. 1 driver in DirtonDirt’s power rankings.
The 29-year-old star received all 10 first-place votes in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll after backing up a $30,000 victory in a 50-lap Dream preliminary feature with his first-ever triumph in Saturday’s 100-lap crown jewel event that carried a $100,000 prize. He failed to qualify for Wednesday’s FloRacing Night in America feature at Eldora with a shredded oil pump belt, but that was his only blemish in a visit to Eldora that kept him atop the rankings for a third consecutive week.
After a weekend that saw 23 drivers in last week’s Top 25 competing at Eldora, the remainder of the poll’s top five remained status quo. That included Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., who remained at No. 2 following a $20,000 triumph in the FloRacing headliner before adding a fifth-place Dream prelim finish and placing third in the 100-lap finale.
Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., stayed at No. 3 despite being knocked from third place late in the Dream finale when he was collected in an accident involving No. 4-ranked driver Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who was challenging Pierce for the lead when a blown right-front tire sent him into the turn-three wall on lap 79. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., remained at No. 5 after an Eldora weekend during which he won Thursday’s 50-lap Dream prelim but finished sixth in the finale to end his bid for an unprecedented fourth straight victory in the event.
Eldora’s big weekend produced results that triggered substantial gains in the rankings by several drivers, including Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., who returned to the poll at No. 17 after scoring two third-place finishes before going from 16th to fourth in the 100-lap finale. Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., jumped five positions to a tie for No. 18 after a strong fourth-place finish in a Dream preliminary and 15th-place run in the century grind while Dream runner-up Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., rose four spots to No. 9.
Joining McDowell as new drivers to the Top 25 were No. 23 Chris Ferguson of Mt. Holly, N.C. (three top-10s at Eldora) and No. 25 Trey Mills of St. Augustine, Fla., an 18-year-old whose superb weekend at Big E included two top-10s finishes and a pole position start in the 100-lapper. Mills led the first 24 laps of the Dream before settling for a 17th-place finish in his first-ever appearance in the crown jewel event’s starting lineup.
Dropping out of the rankings was Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill, Pa., and Joseph Joiner of Milton, Fla.
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: Adds another major to his already glorious resume with first-ever $100,000 Dream triumph following a $30,000 prelim checkered flag at Eldora. Running Muskingum County’s Lucas Oil-WoO shootout before heading to big WoO weekend at West Virginia Motor Speedway. Series points: 1st (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Three more top-fives at Eldora included $20,000 FloRacing Night in America victory and third-place finish in Dream. Muskingum and WVMS keep him in car owner Tye Twarog’s neck of the woods. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Runs third in Dream prelim and appears headed toward podium finish in 100-lap finale until being collected in Brandon Sheppard’s late accident. He’ll roll on to Muskingum County and WVMS. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Suffers heartbreak late in Dream when blown right-front tire sends him into wall while pressuring Pierce for lead. He’ll look to bounce back at Muskingum and WVMS. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Late restart pass earns him $30,000 Dream prelim victory but doesn’t seriously contend in finale en route to sixth-place finish. Taking weekend off after long stay at Eldora. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Finishes second in Dream prelim after ceding lead to Davenport but can’t continue momentum in finale, finishing 13th. Smoky Mountain’s June 19-20 Lucas Oil doubleheader next on schedule. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)
7. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Turns around recent struggles with three top-fives at Eldora highlighted by fifth in Dream finale. Has midweek date on tap at his family’s Muskingum County followed by trip to WVMS. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 9th (+2)
8. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Fifth Dream prelim is only bright spot during Eldora visit dulled by DNQ in FloRacing show and DNF in 100-lapper. He’ll pursue a turnaround at Muskingum and perhaps WVMS as well. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (-2)
9. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Enjoys best weekend ever at Eldora with three top-10s capped by runner-up finish in Dream finale. Muskingum County and a couple close-to-home shows at Lernerville and Stateline on tap. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 13th (+4)
10. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Finishes second in Dream prelim and contends in finale until late-race trouble forces him to pits running third. Moves on to Muskingum County and WMVS. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (-2)
11. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Wins a Saturday heat but fades in headliner and finishes 22nd. He’ll join Team Lucas Oil for Muskingum County’s Dirt Cup before taking weekend off. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Quiet visit to Eldora but makes the cut for Dream finale and finishes 12th. He’s on Team WoO for Muskingum County before heading to WVMS. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Rallies from pit stop to tally seventh-place Dream finish. Back at it Wednesday at Muskingum. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 15th (+2)
14. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Miserable Eldora week includes DNQs on FloRacing Night and Dream finale. Needs a rebound at Muskingum County and WVMS. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 12th (-2)
15. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Cracks Dream finale’s starting lineup for second straight year but is an early retiree. He moves on to Muskingum County and WVMS, where he won earlier this season. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (-1)
16. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Falls short of transferring to Dream finale. Leaves Eldora behind for Muskingum County and WVMS. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 16th (nc)
17. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Another superb visit to Eldora yields third-place finishes in FloRacing and Dream prelim features and a 16th-to-fourth march in 100-lap finale. Smoky Mountain’s twinbill next weekend in his plans. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
T18. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Leads Friday’s Dream prelim feature en route to fourth-place finish that’s his best in recent memory at Eldora. Makes the big show as well and finishes 15th. Now it’s DIRTcar Summer Nationals time. Series points: 2nd (MARS). Previous ranking: 23rd (+5)
T18. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: No joy at Eldora as his pursuit of crown jewel glory fizzles out with DNQs for Dream prelim and finale. Next action not yet listed publicly. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 17th (-1)
T20. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Places 13th and 14th to kick off Dream week but misses 100-lapper’s starting field. Schedule TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 18th (-2)
T20. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Heat scrape keeps him from Dream’s starting lineup. Resumption of Hunt the Front takes him to Mississippi’s Magnolia Motor Speedway. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front); 7th (Spring Nationals). Previous ranking: 20th (nc)
22. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Tallies a sixth-place finish in Dream prelim and a 14th in headliner. Muskingum County and WVMS on his docket. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (-3)
T23. Chris Ferguson, Mount Holly, N.C.
Comment: Flashes plenty of speed at Eldora with fifth in FloRacing feature followed by eighth (prelim) and ninth (finale) in Dream competition. Next start not yet posted. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
T23. Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, Ill.
Comment: Sits out weekend with Summer Nationals starts on the horizon. Series points: 1st (MARS). Previous ranking: 22nd (-1)
25. Trey Mills, St. Augustine, Fla.
Comment: Teenager shines at Eldora, finishing sixth (FloRacing feature) and seventh (Dream prelim) before winning Saturday heat, leading Dream field to the green flag and pacing first 24 laps before settling for 17th-place finish result. Series points: 10th (WoO). Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Cade Dillard, Mason Zeigler, Joseph Joiner.
Others receiving votes: Ashton Winger, Mason Zeigler, Cade Dillard, Brian Shirley, Sam Seawright, Kyle Bronson, Gregg Satterlee, Dan Ebert, Dustin Sorensen, Joseph Joiner, Clay Harris.
