Poll Position presented by Bilstein
Top 25: McDowell climbs after Cherokee triumph
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt.com managing editor
Hall of Fame driver Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., made the biggest jump in this week's DirtonDirt.com Top 25, improving six positions while moving into the top 10 of the power rankings presented by Bilstein Shocks.
The 53-year-old McDowell led all the way in Sunday's March Madness at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., to earn $12,000 and his first victory on the Southern All Star Series — where he was the tour champion 26 years ago — since 2007.
McDowell was among a handful of ranked drivers in competition during pre-spring action with top-ranked Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., still the unanimous pick for the No. 1 spot, leading an unchanged top five made up of Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., and Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga. Davenport scored a third-place finish at Cherokee while Overton finished seventh.
McDowell was the only competing driver to make a significant move in the rankings that saw little shuffling with national tours still on break after Georgia-Florida Speedweeks.
Thirteenth-ranked Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, was the highest-ranked driver that didn't appear on every ballot while No. 19 Scott Bloomquist was the lowest-ranked driver on every ballot.
Among drivers receiving votes but failing to crack the Top 25 were weekend winners Pearson Lee Williams of Dublin, Ga., whose first career Super Late Model victory came in the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar tour finale at Modoc (S.C.) Raceway, and Tanner English of Benton, Ky., who captured the opener of Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway's Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic.
Voting is done by a 10-member committee comprised of staffers and contributors to determine the Top 25 power rankings. Voters: Richard Allen, Kelley Carlton, Ryan Delph, Chris Ferguson, Robert Holman, Dustin Jarrett, Derek Kessinger, Kevin Kovac, Kyle Symons, Todd Turner and Jeff Broeg (alternate). Voting results are compiled and tabulated by Todd Turner.
Rankings are tentatively scheduled for every other week through March and every Tuesday through mid-November, weather permitting.
1. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Rocket Chassis house car driver in No. 1 spot for the a leading 90th time before heading to WoO's Tennessee two-step at Duck River and Smoky Mountain. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Still glowing after three straight victories to close Speedweeks, he'll likely take a run at WoO foes at Smoky Mountain. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: New driver of the Donald and Gena Bradsher-owned Longhorn Chassis house car plans to return to Lucas Oil action later this month. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Posts a third-place finish at Cherokee Speedway's March Madness after bowing out early at Modoc because of low visibility. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: After a seventh-place run at Cherokee, Overton likely to challenge WoO foes during busy weekend in Tennessee. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
T6. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Barry Wright house car driver is an early retiree at Cherokee's March Madness ahead of a return to WoO action in Tennessee. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)
T6. Ricky Weiss, Headingley, Manitoba
Comment: He'll return to Smoky Mountain, a track where he's had success, along with Duck River as the WoO tour heads back into action. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: T6th (nc)
8. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: Before Lucas Oil action resumes, Bronson plans to compete at All-Tech Raceway in Limiteds and Cochran, Ga., in Crate competition. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 11th (+3)
9. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Tennessean will likely make at least one appearance during WoO's Tennessee trip to Duck River and Smoky Mountain. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 8th (-1)
10. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: The poll's biggest riser scores a $12,000 Southern All Star victory (his first since 2007 on the tour) at Cherokee's March Madness. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T16th (+6)
11. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Competing at Clarksville's Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic, Shirley posts fifth- and second-place finishes in DIRTcar action. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Puts bow on $20,000 Drydene Xtreme title at Modoc and ends weekend with a fifth-place finish in SAS action at Cherokee. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 12th (nc)
13. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Tye Twarog Racing chauffeur regrouping after Speedweeks with plans for March 20-21 Lucas Oil action at Atomic and Brownstown. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 9th (-4)
14. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: The lone Clint Bowyer Racing driver expected to remain idle until Lucas Oil action at Atomic and Brownstown later in March. Series points: 12th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 13th (-1)
15. Shane Clanton, Zebulon, Ga.
Comment: Former WoO driver plans to return to Lucas Oil action later in March with events at Atomic and Brownstown. Series points: 11th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Before resuming Lucas Oil action, Erb plans to compete in opening Comp Cams Series weekend at Louisiana's Boothill Speedway. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 14th (-2)
17. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Returning to a track where he's had significant success, he posts a pair of seventh-place finishes in two Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway starts. Series points: 9th (WoO). Previous ranking: 18th (+2)
18. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: After a New Zealand trip and his annual racing party, Pierce is scheduled to return to stateside action at Florence Speedway's Spring 50. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T16th (-2)
19. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Completing his recovery from hip replacement surgery, he plans to run WoO events at Duck River and Smoky Mountain. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 18th (-1)
20. Ross Bailes, Clover, S.C.
Comment: Drives his No. 87 to eighth-place finishes at Modoc and Cherokee; adds third ride for 2020 with Lamm Autosports. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.
Comment: East Bay winner during Speedweeks hasn't scheduled his next start with home-state action firing up on the ULMS tour in a few weeks. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 21st (nc)
22. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Driving Allen Murray's second car so far this season, Hall of Famer is still looking for his first top-five finish. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 21st (nc)
23. Michael Page, Douglasville, Ga.
Comment: Three-time Ice Bowl winner enjoying a racing trip to South Africa, where he's piloting a MasterSbilt car for the track owner. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 24th (+1)
24. Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
Comment: After a shuffle of crew members, Junghans returning to WoO action this weekend at Duck River and Smoky Mountain. Series points: 7th (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 23rd (-1)
25. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Opening weekend on Comp Cams Series at Louisiana's Boothill Speedway up next before a return to Lucas Oil action. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: T25th (nc)
Dropped out: Cade Dillard.
