Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: O'Neal edges Hoffman for No. 1
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Hudson O'Neal (joshjamesartwork.com)
A strong season-opening weekend on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series at All-Tech Raceway in Ellisville, Fla., moved Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., to the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt’s power rankings — but not by much.
While O’Neal gained support from voters in the second week of the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll after capping All-Tech’s tripleheader with a $15,000 victory on Saturday, he split the ranking’s 10 first-place votes with Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., who was a $20,000 winner in Saturday’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series-sanctioned Swamp Cabbage 100 finale at Hendry County Motorsports Park in Clewiston, Fla. The overall voting had O’Neal ahead of Hoffman, last week’s No. 1 driver, by a mere two points (245-243), moving the 25-year-old star to the top of the poll.
O’Neal, who also tallied finishes of third and fifth at All-Tech, claimed the No. 1 ranking for the first time since May 23, 2023, and the ninth time in his career. The 33-year-old Hoffman, who finished fifth in Hendry County’s opener, slipped to a razor-close second in the poll after earning his first-ever No. 1 nod in the previous week’s 2026 debut of the Top 25.
The top two drivers came within a hair of the first tie for the No. 1 spot since 2022 when Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., and Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., were deadlocked atop the rankings for consecutive weeks in late June.
There was no change in the remainder of the poll’s top five with Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill. (first and second at Hendry County), Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga. (three top-fives at All-Tech) and Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill. (winner of All-Tech’s opener) maintaining positions 3-5.
The biggest mover was Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, who vaulted 10 spots to No. 6 thanks to a bounce-back weekend at All-Tech that included a victory in Friday’s 50-lap feature and runner-up finish in Thursday’s opener.
Newcomers to the poll were Clay Harris of Jupiter, Fla., whose pair of podium finishes at All-Tech put him at No. 17, and Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., who logged a pair of fifth-place outings at All-Tech to appear at No. 21.
Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., and Cade Dillard or Robeline, La., dropped out of the rankings. Both drivers were idle over the weekend.
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. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Three top-fives in as many nights at All-Tech highlighted by $15,000 victory in finale. Moves south to Ocala for five-race Winternationals. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 2nd (+1)
2. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Surprises himself with $20,000 triumph in WoO Swamp Cabbage 100 headliner at Hendry County. Now back at shop prepping for next month’s return to WoO action. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 1st (-1)
3. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Win and runner-up finish at Hendry County runs WoO podium streak to five straight. Resetting at home for March 13-14 weekend in Tennessee with Outlaws. Series points: 2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Unable to reach victory lane at All-Tech, but three top-fives gives him Lucas Oil points lead. Will he continue resurgence at Ocala? Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Kicks off All-Tech tripleheader with second straight Speedweeks win but but slips to fourth and eighth in ensuing features. Ocala on Rocket1 team’s agenda. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Returns to form at All-Tech with convincing Friday triumph. Momentum back for visit to Ocala. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 16th (+10)
7. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Quiet results (sixth, 17th) in Hendry County debut. Eyeing final three nights at Ocala to end team’s Speedweeks. Series points: 3rd (WoO). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Seventh is best he can do in Hendry County twinbill. Unloading Best Performance team cars in Ocala pit area this week. Continues WoO trail at Hendry County. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Nets season-best WoO finish of third in Hendry County finale. Shifting focus to next month’s WoO shows. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)
10. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Unusual All-Tech struggles (seventh is lone top 10 run) prompt return to Koehler Motorsports shop in North Carolina to regroup before Ocala. Series points: 16th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (-4)
11. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: First action of Speedweeks coming up starting Thursday at Ocala. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 9th (-2)
12. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Snaps out of Speedweeks doldrums with fourth solid fourth-place finish in All-Tech’s finale, boosting team’s morale for Ocala. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Strong WoO weekend at Hendry County includes second- and fifth-place finishes. Regrouping at shop for next trip. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 15th (+2)
14. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Continues steady Speedweeks with pair of fourth-place outings at Hendry County. Staying active with Lucas Oil racing at Ocala. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (nc)
15. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Doesn’t finish better than 15th at All-Tech. Next start with Infinity Race Cars house car team to be determined. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 12th (-3)
16. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Ninth is high-water mark at All-Tech. Hoping to get closer to the front at Ocala. Series points: 12th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 15th (+1)
17. Clay Harris, Jupiter, Fla.
Comment: Enjoys best Lucas Oil weekend of young career at All-Tech with finishes of second and third after smacking wall in opener while in position for another podium. Riding high to Ocala, where he was Lucas Oil runner-up in 2024. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: Unranked
18. Dustin Sorensen, Winona, Minn.
Comment: Still hunting first top-five of WoO season, but finishes of seventh and sixth at Hendry County extends top-10 streak on tour to four. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (+1)
19. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Matches career-best WoO finish of third Hendry County’s opener. Circuit’s mid-March weekend in Volunteer State listed as next race on schedule. Series points: 10th (WoO). Previous ranking: 20th (+1)
20. Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
Comment: Early season engine woes force his self-owned team to leave Hendry County after practice, but he drives Bruce Kane’s car to a 15th-place finish at All-Tech. Tackling Ocala with Kane. Series points: 14th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (-7)
21. Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Comment: Notches fifth-place finishes in All-Tech’s opener and closer. Feeling good for Ocala. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: Unranked
22. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Ends Hendry County visit with eighth-place finish. Staying in warm weather for Lucas Oil action at Ocala and Golden Isles. Series points: 9th (WoO). Previous ranking: 18th (-4)
23. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Sixth-place run in All-Tech’s opener is best of weekend for Lucas Oil rookie. Learning process continues with week at Ocala. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 24th (+1)
24. Michael Leach, Sun River, Mont.
Comment: Places 22nd in All-Tech finale after absorbing pair of DNQs. Making way to Ocala. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 21st (-3)
25. Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Comment: Successful trip to Hendry County yields pair of top-10 finishes plus fast-time honors in finale. Prepping for this weekend’s Schaeffer’s Spring Nationals twinbill in Georgia. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 25th (nc)
Dropped out: Mike Marlar, Cade Dillard.
Others receiving votes: Mike Marlar, Cade Dillard, Brian Shirley, Mark Whitener, Kyle Bronson, Tyler Bruening, Cory Hedgecock, Jake Timm, Garrett Smith.
