Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Pierce regains his unanimous status
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Bobby Pierce (Josh Wilson photo)
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., regained unanimous possession of the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt’s power rankings, earning all 10 first-place votes after a week with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series that included a $25,053 victory last Tuesday at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, and a third-place finish in Saturday’s rain-shortened Silver Dollar Nationals at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.
The 28-year-old superstar also logged a third-place preliminary run at Huset’s among his four starts as he further strengthened his position atop the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll. A winner 21 times this season, Pierce has spent 15 consecutive weeks this year as the top-ranked driver and 45 weeks in the No. 1 spot in his career.
Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., remained No. 2 in the poll after a strong week on the Lucas Oil Series — highlighted by a $10,000 preliminary victory at Huset’s — but failed to earn a first-place vote after receiving one the previous week.
Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., remained at No. 3 following four top-five finishes in as many Lucas Oil starts and Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., stuck at No. 4 but drew closer to Thornton thanks to his $75,000 triumph in the Silver Dollar Nationals. O’Neal shortened his deficit to Thornton in the rankings to just five points from 25.
Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., cracked the top five in the poll, moving past the idle Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., after recording three runner-up finishes in four Lucas Oil starts.
No driver improved more than two spots in the week’s rankings, which saw Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill, Pa., become the lone newcomer as he returned to the Top 25 at No. 23 following a ULMS-sanctioned victory at Path Valley Speedway Park in Spring Run, Pa. Daulton Wilson of Fayetteville, N.C., dropped out.
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: Grabs $25,053 midweek Lucas Oil victory at Iowa’s Shelby County before visit to Huset’s for Silver Dollar Nationals produces third- and 11th-place prelim finishes and a third in rain-shortened finale. Ready to defend Prairie Dirt Classic crown at Fairbury. Series points: 1st (WoO). 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Scores $10,000 prelim win at Huset’s before placing fourth in SDN headliner. Buoyed by Lucas Oil victory at Fairbury in May, he’ll return to quarter-mile seeking first PDC triumph since 2015. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Fails to crack victory in four Lucas Oil starts but doesn’t finish outside of top five. Looks to Fairbury, where he captured PDC in 2023. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Four top-fives in as many Lucas Oil runs topped by $75,000 victory in rain-shortened Silver Dollar Nationals finale. He’ll chase more big money driving Kevin Rumley’s No. 6 at Fairbury. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Scores three runner-up finishes in four Lucas Oil shows, including Saturday’s SDN finale. Comes home to Illinois in search of fourth PDC trophy. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (+1)
T6. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Sits out weekend to prep for PDC, the race he lost last year on finale lap to Bobby Pierce. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (-1)
T6. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Snaps 18-race Lucas Oil victory slump with prelim win checkered flag at Huset’s, but finishes 10th in finale following pit stop to change a tire. Schedule currently empty until July 31-Aug. 2 USA Nationals at Cedar Lake. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)
8. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Contends in four straight Lucas Oil features but fourth-place finish in first Huset’s prelim is best of stretch. Eyeing PDC glory this weekend. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: First post-Summer Nationals action is unspectacular with ninth-place prelim run at Huset’s his only top-10 of Silver Dollar weekend. Hopes to reclaim Midwest mojo at Fairbury. Series points: 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: After his only start of week is a DNF in Shelby County’s Lucas Oil feature, he’ll hop back on WoO trail at Fairbury. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Steady but quiet four-race Lucas Oil swing yields successive finishes of sixth, 11th, 10th and eighth. FloRacing and WoO events at Fairbury on his agenda. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 12th (+1)
12. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Scores home-state victory worth $4,000 in Pete Loretto Memorial at Freedom Motorsports Park. Primed to pursue first PDC triumph since 2014. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Continues down Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals road with Big Frog Motorsports, recording three top-10s in four starts to keep him atop standings entering final four shows. Series points: 1st (Hunt the Front); 1st (Southern Nationals). Previous ranking: 14th (+1)
14. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Rain keeps him idle for weekend. Ready to pound Fairbury’s cushion next. Series points: 1st (Northern Allstars). Previous ranking: 13th (-1)
15. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Resumes MARS title chase with victory at Farmer City and third-place finish at Pevely. Dreaming of biggest win of career in Fairbury’s PDC. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 1st (MARS). Previous ranking: 17th (+2)
16. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.
Comment: Single start produces runner-up finish on Schaeffer's Southern Nationals at Screven. Following last week of Ray Cook’s tour. Series points: 3rd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 18th (+2)
17. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Keeps cars in shop for the weekend. Trip to PDC likely on the menu. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 19th (+2)
18. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Starts Silver Dollar Nationals with sixth-place prelim finish, but follows with runs of 22nd and 18th. PDC riches on his mind. Series points: 7th (WoO); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 15th (-3)
19. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Ninth in Friday’s prelim is only finish inside top-20 during trip to Huset’s. Seeks better results at Fairbury. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 16th (-3)
20. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Spends weekend gearing up for trip to Fairbury. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: Back-to-back Southern Nationals wins at I-75 and Swainsboro put him in spotlight. Back in action with Ray Cook’s circuit for North Georgia event. Series points: 2nd (Hunt the Front). Previous ranking: 23rd (+2)
22. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Steady on four-race swing with Lucas Oil, scoring three top-10 finishes. Back close to home for PDC. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 21st (-1)
23. Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.
Comment: Clicks for ULMS triumph at Path Valley. ULMS events at Selinsgrove and Marion Center first weekend in August are next on calendar. Series points: 1st (ULMS). Previous ranking: Unranked
24. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Hot streak cooled with 12th-place ULMS finish at Path Valley. Has Selinsgrove stop set for Saturday. Series points: Champion (Appalachian Mountain Speedweek). Previous ranking: 25th (+1)
25. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Quiet since fourth-place Southern Nationals finish on July 15 at I-75, he’s planning to enter final three nights of Ray Cook’s tour at Sugar Creek, North Georgia and Tazewell. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 22nd (-3)
Dropped out: Daulton Wilson
Others receiving votes: Daulton Wilson, Ashton Winger, Garrett Smith, Chris Madden, Ethan Dotson, Donald McIntosh, Dalton Cook, Ryan Unzicker, Dylan Thornton, Billy Moyer.
