Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Pierce No. 1 as Ferguson joins fray
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt.com senior writer
Carson Ferguson (heathlawsonphotos.com)
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., solidified his hold on the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt’s power rankings, sweeping the MARS Late Model Championship Series-sanctioned Slocum 50 weekend at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, to grab all 10 first-place votes for the second consecutive week.
The 28-year-old superstar nearly pulled off a MARS hat trick — he finished second to Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., in Thursday’s weekend opener at Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa — but was more than satisfied with his back-to-back triumphs the ensuing nights. He pushed his 2025 win total to double figures with his domination of the action at 34 Raceway, where he earned $5,000 for capturing Friday’s 40-lap preliminary feature and $10,555 after turning back a last-lap challenge from Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., in Saturday’s Slocum 50 finale.
Pierce’s unanimous selection in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored poll marked his fourth straight week as the country’s top driver. The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series points leader head into the tour’s Alabama Gang 100 this weekend at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., with six wins and nine podium finishes in his 10 overall starts since experiencing a winless Georgia-Florida Speedweeks.
The remainder of the top-five remained status quo with Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., and Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, continued in positions 2-4 after sitting idle for the weekend and Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., sticking at No. 5 following finishes of sixth and third in Schaeffer’s Spring Nationals action at I-75 Raceway in Sweet-water, Tenn., and Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway.
Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, made the week’s biggest move, advancing three spots to No. 11 after scoring a $21,000 Spring Nationals victory in Saturday’s Lil' Bill Corum Memorial at Tazewell.
Ferguson was the lone newcomer to the Top 25, appearing at No. 21 after tallying three top-five finishes during his trip to Iowa with the MARS tour. Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., dropped out of the rankings.
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: Pushes 2025 victory total to double figures with sweep of MARS-sanctioned Slocum 50 weekend at 34 Raceway. Back to WoO action this weekend at Talladega’s $50,000-to-win Alabama Gang 100. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Takes weekend off from Dirt Late Model action, but scores a micro-sprint victory at North Carolina’s Millbridge Speedway. Geared up for return to Lucas Oil Series with Mid-Atlantic tripleheader. Series points: T1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Plan to run Friday’s Comp Cams show in Oklahoma foiled by bad weather, so focus shifts to big-track Lucas Oil Series weekend in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Sits idle for weekend with Lucas Oil Series headed to Mid-Atlantic region. Series points: T1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Finishes sixth and third in Schaeffer’s Spring Nationals stops at I-75 and Tazewell, but bad breaks hinder him, including a flat tire after leading more than half of Saturday’s 75-lapper. He’ll travel north for Lucas Oil’s Mid-Atlantic swing. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Starts MARS weekend in family-owned No. B5 with victory at Iowa’s Cedar County, but returns diminish in sixth- and 19th-place runs at Slocum 50. Jumps back into Rocket1 machine this weekend for Lucas Oil events. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)
T7. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Doesn’t hit setup at Slocum 50, finishing seventh and 11th in MARS action. Hauler pointed due east this weekend for Lucas Oil’s tripleheader. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (-1)
T7. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Falls short of coveted victory in race honoring his late grandfather Marvin at Paragon, finishing second after leading first 35 circuits of 50-lapper. Carrying momentum into Lucas Oil’s Mid-Atlantic weekend. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 9th (+2)
9. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: After a sixth at Cedar County, leaves home state for Indiana to tackle Paragon’s Northern Allstars special and contends before settling for fourth. Ready for WoO trip south to Talladega, where he won the Ice Bowl in 2024. Series points: T2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 8th (-1)
10. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Recent success dulled by three-race MARS weekend without a top-10 finish. Looks to rebound in WoO doubleheader at Talladega. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Tennessee weekend begins with DNQ at I-75 but ends in glory with $21,000 Lil' Bill Corum Memorial victory at Tazewell. Keeping options open to end April with either MARS shows in Illinois or Beckley USA 100 in West Virginia. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 14th (+3)
12. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Excursion to Oklahoma for Comp Cams weekend dive-bombed by inclement weather, leaving Talladega’s WoO weekend next on docket. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: T11th (-1)
13. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: No racing over weekend as team gears up for WoO shows at Talladega. Series points: T2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: T11th (-2)
14. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Solid weekend on MARS trail highlighted by a fifth at Cedar County and third in Slocum 50 opener. Hoping to continue recent uptick in results with WoO at Talladega. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 16th (+2)
15. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Top-five streak in Infinity Race Cars ends at five with unspectacular runs of 11th and 16th with Spring Nationals at I-75 and Tazewell, where he was running in the top-five before retiring before halfway. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 13rd (-2)
16. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Paragon hopes dashed by slide off track while running second and then struggles at Kentucky’s 191 Speedway. Schedule lists April-ending action with MARS at Brownstown (Ill.) Bullring and Ultimate HofA at Richmond, Ky. Series points: 2nd (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: 15th (-1)
17. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: WoO off weekend keeps him in Pennsylvania and yields victory at Tri-City Raceway Park and runner-up finish at Port Royal. Touring schedule resumes with WoO at Talladega. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 17th (nc)
18. Cody Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: No racing to regroup after Farmer City flip. Back in action with WoO at Talladega. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Slows running fourth late in Paragon’s Marvin O’Neal Memorial. Lucas Oil’s Mid-Atlantic weekend on agenda. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 19th (nc)
20. Ricky Weiss, Headingley, Manitoba
Comment: Nails $10,053 Spring Nationals triumph at I-75 but can’t repeat at Tazewell, where late-race trouble leaves him 11th in rundown. Next action listed is May 2-3’s Hunt the Front twinbill at Lavonia and Cherokee. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 22nd (+2)
21. Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Comment: Enjoys best stretch of season while racing with MARS tour, accenting three top-fives with runner-up finish in Slocum 50. Back to work on Lucas Oil Series this weekend. Series points: 12th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: Unranked
22. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Finishes second at I-75 before losing shot at another podium result due to suspension trouble while third at Tazewell. Currently no racing planned for weekend. Series points: 3rd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 20th (-2)
23. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Steady Spring Nationals doubleheader with finishes of third and fifth. He’ll chase $50,000 check at Talladega this weekend. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 25th (+2)
24. Dalton Cook, Smiths Station, Ala.
Comment: Strong spring continues with runner-up finish at Florida’s Southern Raceway. Series points: 1st (Hunt the Front); 1st (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 21st (-3)
25. Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Comment: After announcing family’s purchase of Category 5 Race Cars, finishes 16th at I-75 in newly-named Mach X Chassis. Geared up for Talladega’s WoO weekend. Series points: 5th (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 23rd (-2)
Dropped out: Cade Dillard
Others receiving votes: Cade Dillard, Zack Mitchell, Rick Eckert, Tanner English, Dennis Erb Jr., Jimmy Owens, Joseph Joiner, Tony Jackson Jr., Jason Jameson, Tim McCreadie, Gregg Satterlee.
