Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: O'Neal reigns while J.D. climbs
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt managing editor
Jonathan Davenport (joshjamesartwork.com)
While Hudson O’Neal held onto the No. 1 sport, Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., rose five positions to No. 4 in DirtonDirt’s weekly power rankings following a stretch of three straight Georgia-Florida Speedweeks victories at Golden Isles Speedway near Brunswick, Ga.
Martinsville, Ind.’s O’Neal, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader leaving Georgia-Florida Speedweeks, topped the rankings with nine first-place votes following a pair of runner-up finishes at Golden Isles. The fourth-ranked Davenport topped a single ballot in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored poll.
An idle Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series points leader, remained No. 2 while Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, the $25,000 winner of the frantic Golden Isles finale, held onto No. 3. Slipping to fifth place was reigning WoO champ Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., who returns to WoO action in Tennessee with other series regulars this weekend.
Besides Davenport, Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., was the poll’s biggest mover, up four spots to No. 12 after being the lone driver at Golden Isles to finish fifth or better each night. Rising two positions in the pole was Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., who had a third-place run at Golden Isles but went winless in 19 Speedweeks starts.
Mark Whitener of Middleburg, Fla., entered the poll at No. 25 while Lucas Oil rookie Josh Rice of Crittenden, Ky., 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. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: In contention most of Speedweeks, damage ends a second-place run in the Golden Isles finale after a pair of runner-ups at the Georgia oval. Speedweeks top earner ($109,320) heads for WoO’s Tennessee doubleheader in SSI machine. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: After stint rubbing elbows with sprint car folks, he’ll go back to work on World of Outlaws circuit in Tennessee, gunning for his second straight victory. Average of $6,327 per start tops all Speedweeks drivers. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Salvaging a middling Golden Isles week, he rallies from 22nd for dramatic $25,000 victory in Lucas Oil Speedweeks finale. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: After dazzling with three victories at Golden Isles (and retiring from the finale), his independent schedule hasn’t been released for upcoming events. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 9th (+5)
5. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Resuming WoO competition after break, he’ll try to add to stretch of five straight podium finishes at Volunteer and Smoky Mountain, where he won last season. Series points: 2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 4th (-1)
6. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: His favored Golden Isles destination doesn’t turn out as well as he’d hoped, but tallies a pair of top-five finishes and tentatively plans two-week break until Lucas Oil action resumes at Atomic and Brownstown. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 5th (-1)
7. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Third in Golden Isles opener, he’s not a factor the rest of the week. Tentatively idle until Lucas Oil action at end of March. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Briggs Transport driver heads for Tennessee as WoO action resumes at Bulls Gap and Maryville. Series points: 3rd (WoO). Previous ranking: 7th (-1)
9. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: After winless Speedweeks, his 19-race stretch without a victory is longest since November 2022. Good ol’ Rocky Top up next in WoO action. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 11th (+2)
10. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Idle since Hendry County, Todd Cooney Racing pilot returns to WoO action in Tennessee. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 8th (-2)
11. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Up-and-down Golden Isles run at its best with runner-up finish. He resumes WoO chase at Volunteer and Smoky Mountain, tracks where he’s had a single top-five finish in 18 combined starts. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)
12. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Lone driver with four top-five finishes at Golden Isles nearly wins finale from tale before being overtaken by Devin Moran. Tentatively plans break after Speedweeks. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 16th (+4)
13. Clay Harris, Jupiter, Fla.
Comment: Career-best stretch continues with pair of fourth-place Lucas Oil finishes at Golden Isles. Two-week hiatus before Atomic-Brownstown weekend while he seeks a new mechanic. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 14th (+1)
14. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Best Speedweeks run comes with third-place finish at Golden Isles, where he rallies after midrace flat tire in finale. Atomic-Brownstown doubleheader up next in late March. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 15th (+1)
15. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Skips final week of Lucas Oil’s Speedweeks action with plans to return to WoO competition in Volunteer State. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 12th (-3)
16. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Picks up a fifth-place finish at Golden Isles in one of two starts ahead of his return to WoO circuit in Tennessee. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (-3)
17. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: Eighth is lone top-10 run in four Golden Isles starts as he plans break before Lucas Oil returns to action March 27. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 18th (+1)
18. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Idle since All-Tech, Infinity Race Cars house car driver plans WoO starts at Volunteer and Smoky Mountain. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 19th (+1)
19. Carson Ferguson, Lincolnton, N.C.
Comment: Stumbles to finish of Speedweeks without a finish better than 12th over the last five races. Paylor Motorsports will remain idle for a few weeks. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 17th (-2)
20. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: After skipping Golden Isles, Big Frog Motorsports will return to WoO action in Tennessee. Series points: 10th (WoO). Previous ranking: 21st (+2)
21. Dustin Sorensen, Winona, Minn.
Comment: Third-year WoO driver plans to end break as series action returns to Tennessee. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 20th (-1)
22. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Seventh-place in opener is high-water mark at Golden Isles. He’ll take break until Atomic-Brownstown weekend with Lucas Oil Series. Series points: 11th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 25th (+3)
23. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
Comment: Tallies a pair of top-10 finishes at Golden Isles before returning to WoO competition with the Volunteer-Smoky Mountain doubleheader. Series points: 9th (WoO). Previous ranking: 22nd (-1)
24. Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
Comment: Subbing in a guest appearance for Skyline Motorsports, contends before damage causes Golden Isles wreck, then logs seventh-place finish in finale. WoO action up next. Series points: 14th (WoO). Previous ranking: T23rd (-1)
25. Mark Whitener, Middleburg, Fla.
Comment: After skipping Ocala because of motor shortage, returns to action with three top-10s at Golden Isles, including leading 14 laps of finale. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Josh Rice
Others receiving votes: Cade Dillard, Trey Mills, Sam Seawright, Michael Leach, Dan Ebert, Mike Marlar, Josh Rice, Dalton Cook.
