Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Babb, Birkhofer on the rise
By Alli Collis
DirtonDirt.com staff writer
Picking up his sixth Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series victory of 2014 Saturday at Lucas Oil (Mo.) Speedway, new Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., moved into the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt.com’s Top 25 power rankings for the second week in a row.
Owens, who has a career-leading 50 Lucas Oil Series victories following Saturday’s CMH Diamond Nationals victory at Lucas Oil Speedway, leads the way with 16 first-place votes in the poll presented by JRi Shocks.
Scoring his fourth career Gopher 50 victory on Sunday at Deer Creek (Minn.) Speedway, Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., received three first-place votes to maintain the No. 2 spot in the poll. Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., holds the third-place slot for another week after posting a pair of Lucas Oil runner-up finishes at Tri-City and Lucas Oil Speedways. O’Neal, of Martinsville, Ind., stayed in the No. 4 spot, with Summernationals dominator Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., maintaining his No. 5 ranking.
The biggest climb in this week’s rankings was Shannon Babb (pictured) of Moweaqua, Ill., who jumped five spots to No. 9 after a Summernationals victory at Vermilion (Ill.) County increased his series points lead.
Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, continues to advance in the rankings, moving up three spots to No. 13 after notching a runner-up finish at home state 34 Raceway. Billy Moyer Jr. of Batesville, Ark., rose four spots to No. 19 after collecting a $10,000 victory in Richmond (Ky.) Raceway’s 27th annual Butterball Wooldridge Memorial.
Salvaging a seventh-place finish at Richmond on Saturday, Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., fell three spots to No. 16. Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., also slipped three spots to No. 18 after disappointing weekend finishes at Tri-City and Lucas Oil Speedway.
DirtonDirt.com invited more than 30 media members and drivers along with track and series representatives to vote in this season’s rankings. Twenty-two submitted ballots this week. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Steals the Lucas Oil series points lead from Don O’Neal with a victory at Lucas Oil Speedway’s Diamond Nationals. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Continues his domination on the World of Outlaws circuit with his fourth career victory at Deer Park Speedway’s Gopher 50. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Maintains his third-place ranking with runner-up finishes at both Tri-City Speedway and Lucas Oil Speedway. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: A win Friday at Tri-City and top-five finish in Saturday’s Diamond Nationals isn’t enough to keep Jimmy Owens at bay. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: A Hell Tour victory at Iowa’s 34 Raceway is his sixth series victory of 2014 and his 88th career Summernationals triumph. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Returns to Super Late Model action this weekend with the Ultimate series I-77 stop and Carolina Clash at Cherokee Speedway. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Dream winner’s July schedule remains unclear after his fourth place finish at the Firecracker 100 back in June. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: His trip out West is off to good start with sixth-place finish at Hibbing and fourth-place run in Deer Creek’s Gopher 50. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: With Saturday’s Summernationals victory at Vermillion County, the Hell Tour championship title is his to lose. Series points: 1st (Summernationals). Last week's ranking: 14th (+5)
10. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: His run with the Summernationals series ends early, with his team electing to forgo the final four Hell Tour races in Ohio. Series points: 5th (Summernationals). Last week's ranking: 9th (-1)
11. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: Season continues to improve with top-five finish at Tri-City and sixth place run in Saturday’s Diamond Nationals. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Notches a sixth-place finish at the Hell Tour stop at Farmer City Speedway and a fourth-place run at 34 Raceway. Series points: 4th (Summernationals). Last week’s ranking: 12th (-1)
13. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa.
Comment: Continues his rise in the rankings with a runner-up finish to Billy Moyer at the Hell Tour’s stop at his home state’s 34 Raceway. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 16th (+3)
14. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Overheating issues force the former Gopher 50 winner to retire on lap 29 of Sunday’s event while running in eighth. Series points: 2nd (Summernationals). Last week's ranking: 12th (-2)
15. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: After break for surgical procedure, he’s set to return to action with Southern Nationals at Wythe Raceway. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 17th (+2)
16. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Charged from the tail to a seventh-place finish in Richmond’s Butterball Memorial after a first-lap tangle sent him pitside for a flat. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 13th (-3)
17. Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
Comment: MLRA contender posted top-10 finishes at Tri-City’s Battle at the Beach and Lucas Oil Speedway’s Diamond Nationals. Series points: 2nd (MLRA). Last week's ranking: 19th (+2)
18. Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W.Va.
Comment: Will look to turn things around as the Lucas Oil series travels Lakeside and I-80 after disappointing weekend finishes. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 15th (-3)
19. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Lowered the track record at Richmond Raceway on his way to a $10,000 victory in the 27th annual Butterball Wooldridge Memorial. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 23rd (+4)
20. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: July schedule remains uncertain after sweeping Fourth of July weekend events at Dog Hollow and Winchester Speedway. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 18th (-2)
21. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Comment: Puts together another strong finish with a third-place run in Lucas Oil Speedway’s Diamond Nationals. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 21st (nc)
22. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: Rallies to a seventh-place finish at Lucas Oil Speedway after a disappointing run at the Battle at the Beach. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 20th (-2)
23. Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, Ill.
Comment: Looks to end his 24-race winless streak in hopes of besting Shannon Babb for the Summernationals championship title. Series points: 2nd (Summernationals) Last week's ranking: 22nd (-1)
24. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Notches a seventh-place finish at Tri-City, but is never a serious contender at Lucas Oil Speedway on Saturday. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 24th (nc)
25. Kent Robinson, Bloomington, Ind.
Comment: Picked up a fourth-place finish in the Hell Tour stop at Florence and another top-10 in series action at Farmer City. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 25th (nc)
