DirtonDirt.com exclusive
Richards jumps back to No. 1 of Top 25
By Andy Savary
DirtonDirt.com
After a two-week hiatus, World of Outlaws Late Model Series points leader Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., has returned to the top spot in DirtonDirt.com's Top 25 power rankings presented by JRi Shocks.
Richards (pictured) held off last week's No. 1, Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., in the final laps for a victory Saturday at Federated Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo., and gathered 18 out of a possible 23 first-place votes to overtake Lanigan atop the weekly poll. Lanigan fell only 33 points behind Richards in the No. 2 position, while World 100 winner John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va., Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., and USA Nationals champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., rounded out the top five in the weekly rankings.
Among notable movers in this week's poll were Rick Eckert of York, Pa., and UMP DIRTcar Summernationals champion Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill. Eckert jumped four spots to No. 13 after notching a pair of top-six finishes in World of Outlaws action at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill., and I-55, while Sheppard visited victory lane following the World of Outlaws' visit to Belle-Clair's fifth-mile bullring for the second consecutive year and ascended two notches to No. 8.
Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., was the lone new entrant into the weekly rankings, appearing at No. 25. Cook has scored top-four finishes in all but one of his Super Late Model starts since May 1 and has collected eight victories over that timespan while racing only a part-time schedule.
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-three submitted ballots this week. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: WoO points leader rebounds from mechanical failure at Belle-Clair with his ninth WoO victory of the season at I-55. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 2nd (+1)
2. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Positioned himself to overtake Richards in the final laps of I-55's main event before a late-race caution slowed his momentum. Series points: Tie-2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 1st (-1)
3. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: World 100 champ enjoys a much-deserved week off before upcoming Lucas Oil stops at Florence and Brownstown. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 4th (+1)
4. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Surely excited for Lucas Oil's upcoming weekend at Florence and Brownstown, two tracks where he has found nothing but success. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 3rd (-1)
5. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Needs to recover at Berlin's Down & Dirty 100 following a miserable WoO weekend near St. Louis. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Running out of time and will have to make a charge soon if he hopes to catch Owens in the Lucas Oil standings. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Comes forward both nights at Belle-Clair and I-55, ultimately settling for eighth-place and third-place finishes. Series points: 1st (NDRL). Last week’s ranking: 8th (+1)
8. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Returns to tiny Belle-Clair, the site of his first World of Outlaws victory, and picks up right where he left off. Series points: 1st (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 10th (+2)
9. Shane Clanton, Zebulon, Ga.
Comment: Makes up substantial ground in the WoO points Friday at Belle-Clair, but forfeits it with mechanical failure on the first lap Saturday. Series points: Tie-2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 7th (-2)
10. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Needs a provisional to tag the tail of Friday's feature at Belle-Clair, but doesn't stay there for long, rallying to finish sixth. Series points: 2nd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 9th (-1)
11. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Plans to step out and travel more once again, with visits to Brownstown, Florence and Knoxville on his horizon. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 12th (+1)
12. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Leads the first 31 laps at I-55 before tagging the turn-one wall while running fourth and drawing a caution. Series points: 3rd (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Quietly and consistently continues to put together a solid season, with top-10 finishes in 80 percent of his starts. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Last week’s ranking: 17th (+4)
14. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Will return to the Lucas Oil tour this weekend after missing four events recovering from injuries sustained in a Volunteer rollover accident. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 13th (-1)
15. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Picks up his first victory in over two months Saturday at Lucky 7; likely headed for Florence and Brownstown this weekend. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 14th (-1)
16. Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
Comment: Parks his Bloomquist Race Cars in favor of a new Rocket Chassis for the MARS doubleheader at Muskogee and Springfield. Series points: 3rd (MARS and MLRA). Last week's ranking: 16th (nc)
17. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Bags his ninth victory of the season Saturday in the Ultimate portion of Lavonia's Georgia State Championship. Series points: 3rd (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 15th (-2)
18. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
Comment: Headed to Berlin and Knoxville to close out his September after taking a week away from the track. Series points: 5th (NDRL). Last week’s ranking: 19th (+1)
19. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Lucas Oil regular drops in for a pair of World of Outlaws events at Belle-Clair and I-55 on an off weekend. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Shows he has a fast car at Belle-Clair and I-55, but bad luck and unfortunate circumstances derail his chances each night. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Can't catch AES Racing teammate Dennis Franklin in Carolina Clash action, but collects a Crate Late Model victory at Wythe. Series points: 1st (Southern Nationals). Last week’s ranking: 23rd (+2)
22. Gregg Satterlee, Rochester Mills, Pa.
Comment: Hopes to parlay his Eldora momentum into a strong finish to 2013, starting this weekend at the Winchester 200. Series points: 1st (AMS). Last week's ranking: 22nd (nc)
23. Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon, Mo.
Comment: Boasts twenty top-five finishes and eight victories in his last 24 starts dating back to Memorial Day weekend. Series points: 1st (MARS and MLRA). Last week’s ranking: 21st (-2)
24. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: Former Ralph Latham Memorial and Jackson 100 winner will make his way to Florence and Brownstown this weekend. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 24th (nc)
25. Ray Cook, Brasstown, N.C.
Comment: A Saturday triumph at Dixie gives the now part-time racer eight victories at six tracks in his previous 11 starts. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Mike Marlar
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.
