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Poll Position: McCreadie breaks up the Big Five
Welcome to one of the newest DirtonDirt.com features, Poll Position, as DirtonDirt.com staffers Michael Rigsby, Todd Turner and Joshua Joiner rank the nation's top 25 Dirt Late Model racers by consensus. Future rankings will appear every Tuesday at DirtonDirt.com.
1. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: A resurgent Tim McCreadie may be the only thing that stands between Lanigan and a record-setting number of WoO wins. Series points: First (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Gets back on track in Summernationals action with another victory at Tri-City Speedway. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 3rd (+1)
3. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Twice equals his worst Lucas Oil Series finish of the season with ninth-place finishes at both Cherokee and Wythe. Series points: First (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Wins WoO’s first visit to Autodrome Granby, picking up momentum for the upcoming Firecracker 100 at Lernerville. Series points: Fourth (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 6th (+2)
5. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Marginally capitalizes on Owen’s down weekend with finishes of fifth and eighth during the Lucas Oil doubleheader. Series points: Second (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Summernationals struggles carry over to Lucas Oil’s return to action where O’Neal finished 24th and 13th. Series points: Third (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 4th (-2)
7. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Uses a trip to Barry Wright’s home track to return to victory lane on the Lucas Oil tour. Series points: Fourth (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 9th (+2)
8. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Plans to head to Lernerville after a pair of solid Lucas Oil finishes. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W.Va.
Comment: Finds himself on the wrong end of the pill draw at Tyler County’s Earl Hill Memorial. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 7th (-2)
10. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Picks up some much-needed momentum with a pair of top-three Lucas Oil finishes. Series points: Fifth (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 14th (+4)
11. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Finishes 10th at Autodrome Granby after going to a backup car following qualifying. Series points: Second (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Mechanical woes force home-state driver to scratch from Cheorkee’s Lucas Oil program. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 12th (nc)
13. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Excited for another Summernationals points battle after winning the tour’s event at I-96 for the second straight year. Series points: Second (Summernationals). Last week's ranking: 18th (+5)
14. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Emerges as the early Summernationals favorite after nine top fives and two victories in the tour’s first 11 races. Series points: First (Summernationals). Last week's ranking: Not ranked
15. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
Comment: Last year’s Firecracker winner heads back to Lernerville hoping to rebound from a pair of disappointing Summernationals runs. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 10th (-5)
16. Shane Clanton, Fayetteville, Ga.
Comment: Records a seventh-place WoO finish in Canada. Series points: Fifth (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 13th (-3)
17. Steve Shaver, Vienna, W.Va.
Comment: Posts a runner-up effort in Cherokee’s Lucas Oil event. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 16th (-1)
18. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: Rallies from 14th at Wythe to grab his second-career Lucas Oil Series victory. Series points: Seventh (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 24th (+6)
19. Ray Cook, Brasstown, N.C.
Comment: After an early spin, Cook charges through the field at Wythe to finish fourth. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 20th (+1)
20. Vic Hill, Moshiem, Tenn.
Comment: Posts first weekend without a victory in more than a month, but a sixth-place Lucas Oil effort is nothing to complain about. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 21st (+1)
21. Bub McCool, Vicksburg, Miss.
Comment: Posts a13th-place WoO finish in first trip north of the border. Series points: Seventh (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 19th (-2)
22. Gregg Satterlee, Rochester Mills, Pa.
Comment: Uses a late high-side pass at Natural Bridge Speedway to claim his first Three State Flyers victory. Series points: Third (Appalachian Mountain Speedweek). Last week's ranking: Not ranked
23. Chub Frank, Bear Lake, Pa.
Comment: Finishes 11th in Granby’s WoO feature. Series points: Third (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 23rd (nc)
24. Tyler Reddick, Corning, Calif.
Comment: Wythe’s fast qualifier struggles during the main event. Series points: Eighth (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 22nd (-2)
25. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Sticks with Summernationals tour, where he’s still looking for his first series victory in nearly two years. Series points: ninth (Summernationals). Last week's ranking: 16th (-9)
Dropped out: Billy Moyer Jr., Jared Landers
Outside looking in: Randy Weaver, Matt Miller, Billy Moyer Jr., Jared Landers, Jesse Stovall
Michael Rigsby's comments: Can't ignore Brian Shirley's (my No. 14) last four Hell Tour finishes (1-2-1-2), as he cracks the top 15, and could move up even more with another good week ... Glad to see my counterparts respecting Gregg Satterlee (25), who should have been in their top 25 before now ... Jonathan Davenport (11) is getting hot at the right time ... Tim McCreadie (4) is officially in my top five. Do we now have a Big Six?
Todd Turner's comments: Lanigan still my No. 1 with Moyer up to second. ... McCreadie (my No. 6) is on the cusp of breaking up the Big Five. ... Davenport (14) regained his early season moxie; surely a Lucas Oil victory is in the offing. ... Hell Tour representatives are Shannon Babb (13) and a rising Brian Shirley (15), while Billy Moyer Jr. (last week's No. 15) drops out after catching lightning in a bottle. ... Gregg Satterlee (24) joins my poll.
Joshua Joiner's comments: Lanigan still leads the way in my poll while Moyer jumps Owens for the second spot. … McCreadie (my No. 4) breaks up the Big Five juggernaut with another WoO victory. … Summernationals success moves Shannon Babb up 13th in my poll while Brian Shirley lands at No. 14 from outside my poll last week. … Randy Weaver (22) should be among the top 25 with his recent Southern All Stars dominance.
