Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Pierce edges O'Neal at No. 1
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt managing editor
Bobby Pierce (wellsracingphotos.com)
On the strength of Saturday’s victory at Senoia (Ga.) Raceway amid a stretch of 11 top-five finishes in 12 starts, World of Outlaws Late Model Series points leader Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., grabbed the No. 1 position in DirtonDirt’s weekly power rankings for the first time this season.
Knocking Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., out of the top spot, Pierce heads the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored polling for the 53rd time in his career and first since Oct. 21, 2025. Both drivers received five first-place votes with Pierce edging ahead as the second-ranked driver on the remaining five ballots.
O’Neal, who’d been atop the Top 25 for five consecutive weeks after overtaking Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., on Feb. 24, slipped to No. 2 after a pair of sixth-place finishes in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series action.
Hoffman, a WoO winner Friday at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, remained a steady No. 3 while new father Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, inched up to No. 4 after Saturday’s Lucas Oil Series victory at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway.
Joining the top five was Sunday’s Lucas Oil winner Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., up two positions after ending a 22-race skid by overtaking Brandon Sheppard in the final laps at Atomic Speedway near Chillicothe, Ohio.
Others making gains: Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., up to two spots to 10th after two more top-fives in Lucas Oil action, and Daulton Wilson of Fayetteville, N.C., jumping four positions to No. 15 after a near-miss in WoO competition at East Alabama.
Three drivers were new to the rankings for the week: Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., at No. 20, Josh Rice of Crittenden, Ky., at No. 22 and Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., at No. 25. Dillard scored a $20,000, two-race weekend sweep at Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, Okla., in action sanctioned by the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series and Nutrien Ag Solutions Revival Super Dirt Series.
Southern racers Cody Overton, Carson Ferguson and Sam Seawright dropped out of the Top 25.
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: Briefly slips out of WoO points lead after eighth at East Alabama, but right back on top with first Senoia victory. Plans weekend off before Illini 100. Series points: 1st (WoO). Previous ranking: 2nd (+1)
2. Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Posts a pair of sixth-place finishes with SSI team on Lucas Oil circuit at Brownstown and Atomic. He’ll be back in Rumley ride for Schaeffer's Spring Nationals starts at I-75, Wythe and Tazewell. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 1st (-1)
3. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Leads late at both East Alabama and Senoia, capturing EAMS feature and slipping to third at Senoia. Takes break ahead of WoO’s Farmer City action. Series points: 2nd (WoO). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Fatherhood suits him with Indiana Icebreaker threepeat for daughter Poppy Jane’s first race. Ninth-place Atomic finisher skipping Easter weekend with plans for WoO’s Illini 100 up next. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 5th (+1)
5. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Ends 22-race drought with Lucas Oil victory at Atomic, one night after a runner-up finish at Brownstown. Non-Lucas Oil starts coming up? Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 7th (+2)
6. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Fourth at East Alabama and an early retiree at Senoia after a scrape with Ashton Winger. He’ll be idle Easter weekend with plans for MLRA Spring Nationals up next. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 4th (-1)
7. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: After seventh- and third-place finishes at Brownstown and Atomic, public schedule says he’ll take a break until Lucas Oil resumes in late April. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Let’s one slip away at Atomic in final laps after fifth at Brownstown. He’ll head to MARS opener at Maquoketa in family equipment. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: He’s 11th at East Alabama and fifth at Senoia. He’ll take a break before WoO’s trip to Farmer City, Ill. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Up to six consecutive top-five finishes on Lucas Oil circuit. Next on schedule is April 12 practice at the reopening Mansfield Speedway. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (+2)
11. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Third at East Alabama and sixth at Senoia. Farmer City next on the docket. Series points: 3rd (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Midpack finishes at East Alabama and Senoia put behind him with strong run at Atomic, but rear-end woes end victory bid. Illini 100 up next. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 10th (-2)
13. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Posts pair of top-fives at East Alabama and Senoia with April schedule unpublicized for Infinity house car driver. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: After 10th at Brownstown, flirts with top five at Atomic before settling for seventh. Maquoketa on tap in season-opening MARS doubleheader. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 14th (nc)
15. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Late-race slip allows Hoffman past at East Alabama. Follows runner-up finish with 18th at Senoia. Farmer City up next. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (+4)
16. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Sixth at East Alabama is best run of three-race weekend. Illini 100 up next after Easter break. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 17th (+1)
17. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Skips Brownstown and Atomic with public schedule unrevealed. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 15th (-2)
18. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: He’s 10th at East Alabama and Senoia with weekend off for ASD Motorsports driver ahead of Illini 100. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Clay Harris, Jupiter, Fla.
Comment: Midpack runs at Brownstown and Atomic let some air out of balloon for Speedweeks standout; he’ll regroup during Lucas Oil break. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 16th (-3)
20. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Leads all 100 laps between two Arrowhead features for $20,000 Comp Cams-Revival sweep. He’ll take Easter off and return to Comp Cams circuit at Poplar Bluff. Series points: 1st (Comp Cams and Revival). Previous ranking: Unranked
21. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Shane McDowell Racing veteran takes weekend off ahead of Schaeffer's Spring Nationals tripleheader at I-75, Wythe and Tazewell. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (-1)
22. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Back in familiar territory after Speedweeks struggles, rallies for fourth-place finishes at Brownstown and Atomic. Idle until Lucas Oil Series resumes in late April? Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: Unranked
23. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Bob Cullen racing driver posts a pair of Lucas Oil top-10s at Brownstown and Atomic. Maquoketa doubleheader on tap. Series points: 11th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 23rd (nc)
24. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.
Comment: Not a factor at Brownstown and Atomic; plans break ahead of Lucas Oil’s late April action starting in Georgetown, Del. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 21st (-3)
25. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Seventh at East Alabama, he leads at Senoia but settles for second to Bobby Pierce. Targeting HTF action at North Georgia. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Cody Overton, Carson Ferguson, Sam Seawright.
Others receiving votes: Sam Seawright, Garrett Smith, Cody Overton, Clay Stuckey, Carson Ferguson, Chase Junghans, Mark Whitener, Tony Jackson Jr., Trey Mills, Timothy Culp, Dustin Sorensen, Ben Watkins, Tucker Anderson, Trever Feathers.
