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Top 25: Erb's big victory elevates him to No. 4
Catapulted by his victory at Brownstown Speedway’s Indiana Icebreaker, Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., broke into the top five of DirtonDirt.com’s Top 25 power rankings. The fourth-ranked Erb, who led 44 of 50 laps in capturing his third Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory of the season jumped up four positions in the rankings presented by JRi Shocks.
Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., remains in the poll’s top spot after a 10th-place run at Brownstown, but points tightened among the frontrunners with first-place votes spread among four drivers. Richards has 11 first-place votes followed by No. 2 Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., with six first-place votes after a sixth-place finish at Brownstown.
Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., the runner-up at Brownstown, received three first-place votes and Erb (pictured) had a pair of first-place votes in the fifth regular-season poll of the season. Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., last year’s DirtonDirt.com Driver of the Year, is fifth in the rankings.
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., moved up three spots to No. 22 after setting fast time and posting a fifth-place finish at Brownstown.
New to the rankings are Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., and Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark., former teammates with Clint Bowyer Racing. Davenport clicked off his second straight Southern All Star victory Saturday at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn., and enters the poll at No. 17, while Landers is ranked No. 24 following a fourth-place run at Brownstown.
After restricting poll voting to staffers the previous two seasons, DirtonDirt.com invited more than 30 media members and drivers along with track, series and manufacturer representatives to vote in 2013’s rankings. Twenty-two submitted ballots. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: After WoO postponement, struggles in Brownstown prelims before 10th-place Lucas Oil Series finish. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Reigning WoO champ starts ninth, finishes sixth in Brownstown Speedway’s Indiana Icebreaker. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Solid second-place finish at Brownstown keeps him in points lead on Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Scores first Lucas Oil Series victory outside Florida at Brownstown, his series-leading third win of 2013. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 8th (+4)
5. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Not a factor at Brownstown in finishing ninth, his third straight finish outside the top five. Series points: 6th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Lackluster 12th-place finish at Brownstown’s Indiana Icebreaker with NDRL races on schedule. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: He’s at Brownstown, but only as a supporter for his son as he plans Paducah-I-55 doubleheader with NDRL. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 4th (-3)
8. Shane Clanton, Fayetteville, Ga.
Comment: Idle after WoO postponements, he’ll aim for NDRL races for team owner and series founder John Kennedy. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 7th (-1)
9. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Confident team heading in “positive direction” after season’s slow start that has gotten better and better. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Grabs a heat victory at Brownstown, but fades from third to 11th during 50-lap main event. Series points: 6th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Fourth-place finisher in Southern All Star stop at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 12th (+1)
12. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Lucas Oil Series gives him a boost with generator loan as he salvages seventh-place finish at Brownstown. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 13th (+1)
13. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Idled by weather, he plans to tune up the last weekend in March on regional events at Winchester, Hagerstown. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 11th (-2)
14. Steve Casebolt, Richmond, Ind.
Comment: Continues string of solid finishes with D&R Motorsports with third-place run at Smoky Mountain. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 14th (nc)
15: Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: He’ll go back into action March 29-30 on first-year NDRL tour at Paducah and I-55. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 15th (nc)
16. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: Gains eight positions en route to eighth-place finish at Brownstown’s Indiana Icebreaker. Series points: 6th-tie (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 18th (+2)
17. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Jumps into the rankings on the strength of SAS victory at Smoky Mountain, his second straight on the tour. Series points: 1st (Southern All Stars). Last week’s ranking: Unranked.
18. Bub McCool, Vicksburg, Miss.
Comment: He’ll try to stretch his two-race win streak while tackling NDRL events at Paducah and I-55. Series points: 9th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 16th (-2)
19. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: Momentum stalls with a 14th-place run at Brownstown, but still among series points leaders. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 17th (-2)
20. Randy Weaver, Crossville, Tenn.
Comment: Mechanical woes prevent him from starting at Smoky Mountain in Southern All Star action. Series points: 7th (Southern All Star). Last week’s ranking: 19th (-1)
21. Tim Fuller, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Kennedy Motorsports driver heads for NDRL doubleheader at Paducah and I-55. Series points: 8th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 20th (-1)
22. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: After fast time and fifth-place run at Brownstown, he awaits word on $50,000 sponsorship from Champion Spark Plugs. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 25th (+3)
23. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: After schedule change in skipping Brownstown, he’ll open season with Paducah-I-55 doubleheader. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 21st (-2)
24. Jared Landers, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Rallies for fourth place finish at Brownstown’s Indiana Icebreaker for second top-five with Lucas Oil. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: Unranked.
25. Eric Wells, Hazard, Ky.
Comment: After WoO tripleheader was postponed, he plans home-state start in NDRL action at Paducah. Series points: 6th (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 23rd (-2)
Dropped out: Scott James, Donnie Moran.
Editor’s note: The top 25 drivers are determined by a points system with 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 points for a second-place vote and so on through a single point for a 25th-place vote. The voting panel is made up of media members, drivers, and track, series and manufacturer representatives.
