Poll Position presented by Bilstein
Top 25: B-Shepp back on top as Thornton surges
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt.com managing editor
Ricky Thornton Jr. (jacynorgaardphotography.com)
Brandon Sheppard made sure his time out of the No. 1 slot was as short as possible. The New Berlin, Ill., driver swept World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series weekend action at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway and edged back ahead of Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., in DirtonDirt.com’s power rankings presented by Bilstein Shocks.
Sheppard, the WoO points leader, collected six of 10 first-place votes to regain the top spot one week after losing it to Owens, who slipped back to the second spot. Owens received two first-place votes along with surging No. 3 Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., in a tight battle for the top spot while poll newcomer Ricky Thornton Jr. (pictured) of Chandler, Ariz., also made a big splash.
Owens and Overton dueled frequently during last week’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action at East Bay, with Overton capturing a pair of checkered flags, but both ended their Saturday runs in Schaeffer's Iron-Man Late Model Series and Schaeffer's Southern Nationals competition at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway with late-race flat tires (Overton limped home in fourth place while Owens was running second when he was forced to pit with five laps remaining).
Ricky Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba, and Lucas Oil points leader Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., swapped the fourth and fifth spots with Weiss moving up a position.
No previously ranked driver advanced more than three positions with Rick Eckert of York, Pa., the biggest mover after asteady East Bay performances and a $4,000 victory in the season opener at Selinsgrove (Pa.) Speedway.
A notable newcomer, however, was Thornton, a recent $20,000 WoO winner in Jackson, Minn., who nearly made it two in a row on the national tour before losing by inches to Sheppard in the weekend opener on Davenport’s quarter-mile. Thornton jumped up to the 16th spot while No. 23 Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., also joined the rankings after scoring his career-richest victory at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn.
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 to appear every Tuesday through mid-November, weather and conditions permitting.
1. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Size didn’t matter for Sheppard in sweeping World of Outlaws action on quarter- and half-mile ovals in Davenport, Iowa. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 2nd (+1)
2. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Records a pair of top-fives in Lucas Oil action at East Bay along with just his second finish worse than fourth since Feb. 13. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 1st (-1)
3. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: He leads at least one lap in three East Bay features, scoring a pair of Lucas Oil victories worth $7,000 apiece. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Ricky Weiss, Headingley, Manitoba
Comment: Posts third- and eighth-place finishes at Davenport and slips further behind Sheppard in WoO title chase. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 5th (+1)
5. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: He’s never worse than seventh in three Lucas Oil events at East Bay as he maintains lead in the tour’s title chase. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (-1)
6. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Gets back on track with opening East Bay victory, but gets tangled up in a wreck in finale of Lucas Oil’s midweek stint. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 8th (+2)
7. Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
Comment: Flat tire in opener, scramble in finale contribute to keeping him out of contention in East Bay tripleheader. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: His 18th-to-fifth charge in East Bay’s second of three events is the high point in return to his home track. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 9th (+1)
9. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: After a single top-five in three East Bay outings, Moran returns to home state for $2,000 Hilltop Speedway victory. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (+1)
10. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Fourteenth on the quarter-mile at Davenport, he rebounds with a third-place WoO finish on the bigger circuit. Series points: 4th (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 12th (+2)
11. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: On the cusp of his first Lucas Oil win of the year, he loses East Bay finale after clash with Mason Zeigler, Overton’s last-lap pass. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 13th (+2)
12. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: He’s not a factor in Tennessee events at 411 and Tazewell, but he’ll be among favorites for Eldora’s Stream. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 9th (-3)
13. Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.
Comment: Briefly takes lead in East Bay finale but a tangle with Tyler Erb leaves him with a third-place finish. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 14th (+1)
14. Shane Clanton, Zebulon, Ga.
Comment: Two top-five runs at East Bay are solid, but gets out of shape in finale and falls from contention. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 15th (+1)
15. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Fails to make feature lineup at 411 Scott Sexton Memorial, then opts to turn down invitation for Eldora’s Stream. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 11th (-4)
16. Ricky Thornton Jr., Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Loses to Brandon Sheppard by inches on Davenport’s quarter-mile, but is surprised with invite to Eldora’s Stream. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
17. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Can’t crack top 10 on either track at Davenport with a pair of 11th-place finishes; he’ll head to Eldora’s Stream. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 16th (-1)
18. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: After a rough couple of nights at East Bay, he elects to turn down Eldora invitation to patch up equipment. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 17th (-1)
T19. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Best of three East Bay runs is sixth in finale; scores $4,000 Selinsgrove victory and fans vote him in for Eldora’s Stream. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 22nd (+3)
T19. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Before heading to Eldora, Hall of Fame driver visits “mini-Eldora” with runner-up finish in weekly action at I-55. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 19th (nc)
21. Michael Page, Douglasville, Ga.
Comment: An Eldora Stream invitee, he’ll head there after a weekend that included a Crate victory in Senoia, Ga. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 18th (-3)
22. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Among Stream Invitational entrants, his Davenport weekend is lackluster with 16th- and seventh-place performances. Series points: 7th (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 20th (-2)
23. Cory Hedgecock, Loudon, Tenn.
Comment: The lone driver in the Top 25 not invited to Eldora, he’s coming off a career-richest $10,052 victory at his favored 411 oval. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
24. Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
Comment: He’s 12th and 10th in Davenport’s WoO events before heading for the $50,000-to-win Stream at Eldora. Series points: 5th (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 23rd (-1)
25. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: Davenport weekend includes scrape on half-mile that forces him to retire from the main event. Series points: 8th (World of Outlaws). Previous ranking: 21st (-4)
Dropped out: Donald McIntosh, Bobby Pierce
