Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Pierce on top as B-Shepp, O'Neal climb
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt.com senior writer
Sam Seawright. (Zackary Washington/Simple Moments Photography)
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., failed in his bid to capture a third consecutive Illini 100, but a pair of solid runs in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series-sanctioned weekend at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway kept him atop DirtonDirt’s power rankings for a third consecutive week.
With the poll returning after a one-week hiatus because of widespread rain, Pierce claimed all 10 first-place votes in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored balloting for his second straight unanimous No. 1 nod. His weekend on home turf included a sixth-place finish in Friday’s 40-lap opener after his involvement in an early tangle forced him to restart at the rear of the field and a runner-up finish in Saturday’s 60-lap finale.
Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., maintained the No. 2 spot in the rankings after recording finishes of second and sixth in Farmer City’s twinbill. The third and fourth positions in the poll flipped with Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., using second- and fourth-place finishes in the unsanctioned Spring Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., to jump up to No. 3 ahead of Dresden, Ohio’s Devin Moran, who ran up front both nights at Farmer City before experiencing trouble that led to him posting two DNFs.
Completing the top five in the poll is Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., whose pair of podium finishes at Lucas Oil Speedway moved up him two spots from the last voting on April 1.
The weekend’s two biggest winners — $20,000 Illini finale victor Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., and $27,000 Spring Nationals sweeper Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind. — both made jumps into the top 10.
Sheppard improved four spots to reach No. 7 thanks to his first win in his 2025 return to the Rocket1 team while O’Neal climbed five positions to No. 9 after earning his first victories with SSI Motorsports since last September.
Other upward movers included Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif., who moved two spots to a tied for 11th after his first-ever WoO victory in Friday’s Illini 100 opener, and Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill., who ascended three positions to No. 16 with a pair of top-five finishes at Farmer City.
New to the Top 25 is Sam Seawright of Rainsville, Ala., at No. 23 and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., at No. 25. Neither driver competed the second weekend in April but were victorious in the April 4-5 Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series doubleheader at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala.
Dropping out of the rankings: Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., and Tanner English of Benton, Ky.
Voting is done by a 10-member committee made up of staffers and contributors to determine the Top 25 power rankings: Richard Allen, Bryan Ault, Jeff Broeg, Kelley Carlton, Ryan Delph, Josh James, Kevin Kovac, Kyle McFadden, Mike Ruefer and Kyle Symons. Results are compiled and tabulated by Todd Turner, who serves as a voting alternate along with fellow staffer Aaron Clay.
Rankings appear Tuesdays through mid-November provided at least half of the drivers in the current rankings are in action in the previous week.
1. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Falls short of a third straight Illini 100 victory, but finishes of sixth (after tangle sends him to rear) and second aren’t bad. He’s eyeing Slocum 50 weekend at Iowa’s 34 Raceway to start getting a feel for newly-released Hoosier right-rear tire. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Farmer City brings finishes of second and sixth before he runs 12th in his USAC Silver Crown debut Sunday at Terre Haute. Taking East weekend off to save equipment for Lucas Oil’s upcoming Mid-Atlantic swing after hurting motor during Illini 100 practice night. Series points: T1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Racks up eighth runner-up finish of ’25 on Friday at Wheatland, then adds a fourth in Spring Nationals finale. No racing on his schedule for Easter weekend. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (+1)
4. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Hard luck weekend at Farmer City after turn-four trouble (tangle with lapped car while leading Friday, spin while third on Saturday) results in two DNFs. Schedule currently empty until Lucas Oil’s April 25-27 weekend in Mid-Atlantic. Series points: T1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 3rd (-1)
5. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Show-Me 100 tuneup trip to Wheatland for Spring Nationals produces two podium finishes, including a runner-up in Saturday’s finale after leading 42 laps. Headed to Tennessee for Spring Nationals doubleheader at I-75 and Tazewell. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 7th (+2)
6. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Quiet visit to Farmer City with finishes of 13th and ninth. He’ll tackle MARS tripleheader in Iowa starting Thursday at Cedar County. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 5th (-1)
7. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Regains winning form with Rocket1 team in marching from 11th to $20,000 Illini 100 triumph. Back in family-owned No. B5 for three nights of MARS competition in Iowa. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 11th (+4)
8. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Loses ground to Pierce in WoO points with 12th- and 14th-place finishes at Farmer City. Off WoO weekend means MARS action in his home state. Series points: T2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 6th (-2)
9. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Roars back into win column with SSI Motorsports for first time since September, sweeping Spring Nationals at Wheatland. He’ll chase a checkered flag in his grandfather Marvin’s NALMS-sanctioned memorial race April 19 at Paragon (Ind.) Speedway. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 14th (+5)
10. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Flirts with WoO glory again at Farmer City, leading first 36 laps of 60-lap finale before settling for third-place finish. He’s heading for MARS action in Iowa. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
T11. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Celebrates first-ever WoO victory in Farmer City’s Illini 100 opener, but electrical trouble in heat on Saturday leads to a provisional start and 22nd-place finish. Pointing hauler toward Oklahoma for Comp Cams twinbill at Arrowhead Speedway. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: T13th (+2)
T11. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Despite racing on familiar turf, manages just eighth- and 18th-place finishes at Farmer City. He’ll look to regroup before April 25-26 WoO weekend at Talladega Short Track. Series points: T2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 8th (-3)
13. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Runs top-five streak driving Infinity Race Car to five with fourth- and third-place finishes at Wheatland. Next action not confirmed publicly. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 15th (+2)
14. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Illini 100 weekend starts strong with fifth-place finish but ends with 15th-place run. Heading south for Spring Nationals stops at I-75 and Tazewell. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 9th (-5)
15. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Defends home turf at Florence Speedway with $5,000 Northern Allstars victory. Back at it with Northern Allstars on Saturday for Paragon. Series points: 1st (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: 16th (+1)
16. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Enjoys best WoO finishes of season with third- and fourth-place runs at Farmer City. He’ll try to keep momentum going at 34 Raceway’s Slocum 50. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (+3)
17. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Ninth in Illini 100 opener is highlight of Farmer City weekend. Looking to make home-state appearances Easter weekend with either Tri-City or Selinsgrove on Friday and Port Royal on Saturday. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 12th (-5)
18. Cody Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Rides out wild flip at Farmer City during Friday’s qualifying, but salvages 14th-place finish in backup and improves to seventh in Saturday’s finale. I-75 and Tazewell on his docket for Easter weekend. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 17th (-1)
19. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Dips into Crate Late Model action and earns career-high $50,000 victory in Saturday’s 602 Crate Nationals at his hometown’s Fayetteville Motor Speedway. Single start at I-75 planned for holiday weekend. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Doubleheader with Southern All Stars yields $7,000 victory at Penton (Ala.) Raceway and seventh at Winder-Barrow (Ga.) Speedway. He’ll stay in home state for Easter weekend with Spring Nationals stops at I-75 and Tazewell. Series points: 3rd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: T21st (+1)
21. Dalton Cook, Smiths Station, Ala.
Comment: Superb spring continues with $10,000 Jimmy Thomas Memorial triumph at East Alabama. Series points: 1st (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: T21st (nc)
22. Ricky Weiss, Headingley, Manitoba
Comment: Sits idle for weekend. Back at the track for doubleheader at I-75 and Tazewell. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 20th (-2)
23. Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Comment: Takes weekend off as he gears up for I-75 on Friday and then $50,000-to-win WoO show on April 25-26 at Tazewell, where he’s won twice this season. Series points: 5th (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: Unranked
24. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: In first Late Model action in a month, logs finishes of eighth and fifth at Wheatland’s Spring Nationals. He’ll jump right back into full-fender competition Easter weekend with Comp Cams at Arrowhead. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T25th (+1)
25. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: After planned visit to Volunteer Speedway is rained out, his motor stays silent. He’ll return to track for Spring Nationals shows at I-75 and Tazewell. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Zack Mitchell, Tim McCreadie, Tanner English
Others receiving votes: Zack Mitchell, Ashton Winger, Jason Feger, Tyler Bruening, Tim McCreadie, Rick Eckert, Tanner English, Dustin Sorensen, Carson Ferguson, Spencer Hughes, Dennis Erb Jr., Ben Watkins.
Editor's note: Updates Tyler Erb's weekend plans
