DirtonDirt.com exclusive
Top spot tight; McDowell on rise to No. 11
By Andy Savary
DirtonDirt.com
Following a pair of top-six finishes in World of Outlaws Late Model Series action in Michigan, points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., once again tops DirtonDirt.com's Top 25 power rankings presented by JRi Shocks. Richards received nine first-place votes in the latest edition and has held the top spot in the weekly rankings for all but one week of the regular season.
Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., collected seven first-place votes and leapfrogged Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. — who notched four first-place votes — for second in the latest poll after a runner-up finish during the Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, Ark. With one first-place vote, Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., weighed in fourth, while Williamson, W.Va., driver John Blankenship completed the top five.
Team Dillon Racing pilot Dale McDowell (pictured) of Chickamauga, Ga., was the biggest mover in the weekly rankings. One week after scoring a third-place finish in the North-South 100 at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., McDowell matched the feat in Batesville's Topless 100 and ascended seven spots before settling at No. 11.
Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., was the lone new entrant to the rankings. Phillips makes his first poll appearance of 2013 at No. 22 following a $40,000 Topless 100 victory on Sunday at Batesville.
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-one submitted ballots this week. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: Records a pair of top-ten finishes during World of Outlaws action in Michigan to maintain his points lead. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Runner-up at Batesville after leading much of the way; beginning to widen the points gap atop the Lucas Oil standings. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 3rd (+1)
3. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Cools off a bit during the World of Outlaws Michigan stretch, but excited for a home-state event Thursday at Little Valley. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Defending World of Outlaws champion will need to rally soon if he hopes to overtake Richards for a second straight crown. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 4th (nc)
5. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: Bad Boy 98 winner can't rekindle the magic during the Topless 100 and has begun to lose touch with Owens in the points. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Rebounds for 7th during Sunday's Topless 100 finale following a heat race accident and time trial disqualification on Friday. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Defending race winner is a bit off the pace all weekend at Batesville, ultimately finishing 10th in Sunday's Topless 100 finale. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Shane Clanton, Zebulon, Ga.
Comment: Lurking in second in World of Outlaws points as he hopes to start a charge this weekend at Little Valley and Winchester. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Likely to return to the track this weekend at Paducah and I-55 after taking the previous two weekends off. Series points: 3rd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Hell Tour champ overtakes Jason Feger and Daren Friedman in the final laps to win Fairbury's Wednesday fair race. Series points: 1st (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Enjoying his return to national traveling as he notches yet another podium finish in a high-dollar event at Batesville. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 18th (+7)
12. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Up to eight wins on the season after finding victory lane in Sunday action at Quincy for the second straight week. Series points: 2nd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Four-time Topless 100 champ was on a mission at Batesville before cutting down a tire and calling it a Sunday. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Certainly hungry to win Saturday's Raye Vest Memorial at Winchester, in an event that honors his long-time car owner. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 14th (nc)
15. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: Reluctantly taking some more time away from the track to allow his broken right hand to heal. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 12th (-3)
16. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Starts off his Batesville weekend on a high-note with a heat race win, but never a factor in Sunday's 100-lapper. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 15th (-1)
17. Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon, Mo.
Comment: Readies for this weekend's MARS visits to Paducah and I-55 after motor gremlins prevent him from entering the Topless. Series points: 1st (MARS and MLRA). Last week’s ranking: 19th (+2)
18. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Not the weekend he was hoping for at Batesville; he'll look to right the ship at Volunteer and Lawrenceburg. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 16th (-2)
19. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Nabs an NDRA Crate Late Model victory Wednesday in Carolina's Shrine 100 before rains wash out his weekend plans. Series points: 1st (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 17th (-2)
20. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Steadily advances from his 9th starting spot to finish 4th at Batesville, but still searching for Topless 100 victory lane. Series points: 3rd (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Topless 100 polesitter paces the field for the first 30 laps before Owens, his long-time racing buddy, sweeps past. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 21st (nc)
22. Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
Comment: Breaks through for his first Topless 100 victory after starting all but one of the previously contested events. Series points: 3rd (MARS and MLRA). Last week's ranking: Unranked
23. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: Sneaks forward from 11th on the bottom to capture a top-five finish for Bobby Labonte Racing at Batesville. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 25th (+2)
24. Chris Simpson, Oxford, Iowa
Comment: Plans to hop out of the car for the next couple of weeks before entering Eldora's World 100 on Sept. 7-9. Series points: 3rd (Corn Belt Clash). Last week’s ranking: 22nd (-2)
25. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Will look to win his second consecutive USA World 50 Friday at Paducah after leading every lap of last year's race. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 23rd (-2)
Dropped out: Chad Simpson
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.
