Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Pierce firm No. 1 as B-Shepp rises
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Second-ranked Brandon Sheppard. (joshjamesartwork.com)
The beat rolled on for Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., whose lone feature start of the weekend — a $25,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory on Saturday at 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wis. — kept him firmly atop DirtonDirt's weekly power rankings.
During a stretch of competition that saw veteran Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., leap five spots to the cusp of the top-10 in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll with a milestone Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph, Pierce persevered through a mid-race rain delay to capture his 11th WoO checkered flag of the season in the opener of circuit's Upper Midwest swing. It marked the sixth straight week that the 29-year-old superstar has won at least one national touring series event.
Pierce received all 10 first-place votes for the third consecutive week while running his streak as the No. 1-ranked driver to five weeks in a row.
Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who won Friday's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Mountain Moonshine Classic opener at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn., and finished third in Saturday's 60-lap finale, gained two spots to sit at No. 3. Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., remained No. 3 after a third-place finish at 141 Speedway as Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., dropped two spots to No. 4 following a quiet visit to Smoky Mountain. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who swept the MLRA doubleheader at Salina (Okla.) Highbanks Speedway, stayed at No. 5.
McDowell's $30,000 triumph in the Mountain Moonshine Classic headliner made him the second driver to win a Lucas Oil Series feature after turning 60. He also finished second in Friday's opener, helping him vault five spots to No. 11 in the poll.
Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., joined McDowell in advancing five positions in the rankings, parlaying a pair of top-five finishes at Smoky Mountain into a No. 19 ranking.
Returning to the poll was Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., who appeared at No. 22 on the strength of a first-ever DIRTcar Summer Nationals triumph on Saturday at I-55 Federated Raceway Park in Pevely, Mo. Dropping out of the Top 25 was Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn.
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.
Voting was completed before Monday's WoO-sanctioned event at Ogilvie (Minn.) Raceway was contested.
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: Fulfills wishes of 141 Speedway's fans by taking a dive in infield pond after $25,000 WoO victory at Wisconsin track. On the road in Upper Midwest with the Outlaws through the Fourth of July. Series points: 1st (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Roars to victory in Friday's Mountain Moonshine Classic at Smoky Mountain before tallying third-place finish in finale. Looking for first Firecracker 100 victory. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (+2)
3. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Lands on podium at 141 with third-place finish but cedes a little more in WoO points battle to Pierce. Continues busy — and critical — stretch in Upper Midwest. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Rare weekend out of contention for win with eighth- and 12th-place finishes at Smoky Mountain. Eyeing rebound at Lernerville's Firecracker 100. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (-2)
5. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Makes surprise debut to Oklahoma's Salina Highbanks Speedway and sweeps $15,000 MLRA doubleheader. Staying on road with WoO to hit new territory in Upper Midwest. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Extends top-five streak to four with fifth-place run at 141. Hoping that Upper Midwest swing with WoO will be a Fun Tour. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Caps Lucas Oil weekend at track owned by team owner Roger Sellers with solid runner-up finish. Heads to Lernerville's Firecracker 100 looking to better career-best finish of second. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Smoky Mountain weekend is a write-off with finishes of 20th and 14th. Hopes to right ship with chase of third career Firecracker 100 victory. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Starts Smoky Mountain with seventh-place finish and ends it with DNF due to engine trouble. Lernerville is a promising site for a rebound with two wins and a runner-up finish in his last three Firecracker 100 starts. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Salvages Smoky Mountain trip with a seventh-place finish in finale before turning attention to his home state's biggest event at Lernerville where he finished third in last year's Firecracker 100. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Becomes second driver to win a Lucas Oil feature after turning 60 with $30,000 Mountain Moonshine Classic triumph — after a runner-up finish in opener. Next action TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 16th (+5)
12. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Returns to up-front WoO form with second-place finish at 141, gaining momentum for remainder of Upper Midwest swing. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (+2)
13. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Good vibes from third-place run in Smoky Mountain's opener evaporate with early retirement in finale. Hauler moves on to Lernerville. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 11th (-2)
14. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Contends for lead in 141's feature until powerplant goes up in smoke. Regroups on the fly during race-filled Upper Midwest trip. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (-1)
15. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Rights teetering effort a bit with eighth-place finish at 141. Guns for more improvement as Upper Midwest stretch continues. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Runs 10th in Smoky Mountain's opener but falls to 19th in Saturday's headliner. Ready for Lernerville after making his debut at western Pennsylvania track last year. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 12th (-4)
17. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Three-race Summer Nationals week highlighted by $10,000 victory at Farmer City. Hell Tour rolls on. Series points: 2nd (MARS); 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 17th (nc)
18. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Scores fourth-place finish at 141 to dive into WoO circuit's Upper Midwest excursion. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Enjoys solid weekend at Smoky Mountain with fourth- and fifth-place finishes. Has Lernerville's Firecracker 100 on docket. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 24th (+5)
20. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Rain keeps him off the track for the weekend. Back at it for Hunt the Front twinbill at Cochran and Senoia. Series points: T1st (HTF). Previous ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Misses top-10 run at 141 by a single spot. Plenty of racing ahead on WoO tour. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (-2)
22. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Links up with Summer Nationals for a stretch and secures first-ever Hell Tour victory at Pevely. Will head to Oklahoma's Thunderbird Speedway for Comp Cams circuit's two-day Hayden Ross Memorial. Series points: 1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: Unranked
T23. Chris Ferguson, Mount Holly, N.C.
Comment: Cracks top-10 with ninth in Smoky Mountain's opener but drops out of finale early. Next event not yet announced after a rare stretch of competing five straight weekends. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 2nd (-1)
T23. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Takes weekend off to gear up for Hunt the Front events at Cochran and Senoia and upcoming Southern Nationals. Series points: T1st (Hunt the Front); 7th (Spring Nationals). Previous ranking: 21st (-2)
25. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Two Summer Nationals starts topped by runner-up finish at Pevely. Off until July 2-4 Hell Tour tripleheader in Illinois. Series points: 7th (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 25th (nc)
Dropped out: Mike Marlar
Others receiving votes: Brian Shirley, Mike Marlar, Ryan Unzicker, Gregg Satterlee, Sam Seawright, Tanner English, Trey Mills, Trever Feathers.
