Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: English joins Pierce-ruled poll
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Tanner English (joshjamesartwork.com)
Bobby Pierce's torrid pace was momentarily cooled by Mother Nature over the Independence Day weekend, but a pre-holiday victory on Tuesday at Norman County Speedway in Ada, Minn., that ran his World of Outlaws Late Model Series win streak to six kept him solidly atop DirtonDirt's power rankings.
The 29-year-old superstar from Oakwood, Ill., who tied the consecutive victory record on the WoO tour, received all 10 first-place votes in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll. It was his fifth straight unanimous selection and his sixth week in a row in the No. 1 spot.
A winner 21 times overall this season, Pierce will shoot for a record seventh straight WoO triumph on Wednesday at Stateline Speedway in Busti, N.Y. He lost his opportunity at the milestone over the holiday weekend when the national tour's three-day NAPA Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., was canceled early in the week by a rainy forecast.
The rest of the top five stayed virtually status quo. Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., stuck at No. 2 following a seventh-place finish in Saturday's Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Freedom 50 at Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio, driving the Rocket1 machine and a $7,500 Herald & Review 100 victory on the DIRTcar Summer Nationals Sunday in his family-owned No. B5. Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., maintained the No. 3 ranking after a runner-up finish at Norman County while Hudson O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who led the majority of Muskingum County's feature before slipping to third in the final rundown, pulled out of a tie for the No. 4 spot with Muskingum runner-up Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, who settled in at No. 5.
Amid a week that saw no drivers gain multiple positions in the poll, Tanner English of Benton, Ky., was the highlighted newcomer. He roared into the Top 25 at No. 20 on the strength of a spectacularly consistent six-race stretch with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals, winning features at Farmington (Mo.) Empire Speedway and Highland (Ill.) Speedway while also scoring three runner-up and one third-place finish to stake himself to a healthy points lead.
Returning to the rankings was Sam Seawright of Fort Payne, Ala., who landed at No. 24 after a week of Summer Nationals competition that included three podium finishes.
Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., and Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., 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.
Voting was completed before Monday's DIRTcar Summer Nationals event at Kankakee County Speedway in Kankakee, Ill.
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: Extends WoO win streak to sixth at Norman County before Deer Creek's NAPA Gopher 50 at Deer Creek falls to rain. Heads east with Outlaws to bid for record-setting seventh straight victory. Series points: 1st (WoO); 9th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Runs seventh in Rocket1 at Muskingum, then makes overnight drive to pilot family-owned No. B5 to Herald & Review 100 triumph at Macon. Ready for Lucas Oil Midwest swing. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Wet weather keeps him quiet after runner-up WoO finish at Norman County. Back at it with WoO at New York's Stateline and Ohio's Sharon. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Leads Muskingum County's Lucas Oil feature until succumbing to Max Blair's late charge and settles for third. Series action coming up at 34 Raceway and Wheatland. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: T4th (nc)
5. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Tallies runner-up finish in Lucas Oil visit to his family's Muskingum County. Points Double Down hauler toward Midwest next. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: T4th (-1)
6. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Caps stretch racing with WoO in Upper Midwest with fifth-place finish at Norman County and enters rain-doomed Lucas Oil stop at Mansfield before heading home. Returning to Midwest for Wheatland's Diamond Nationals. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: After 12th-place run at Norman County, joins Lucas Oil crowd at Mansfield but has night cut short by rain. WoO events at Stateline and Sharon coming up. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Finally ends pursuit of full-field Lucas Oil victory with spectacular 15th-to-first charge for $25,000 check at Muskingum County. Hopes to carry momentum to Iowa and Missouri. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 9th (+1)
9. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Finishes quiet 10th at Muskingum County. Seeking rebound with Lucas Oil in Midwest. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (-1)
10. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Records fifth-place finish at Muskingum County. Can he find his winning rhythm at 34 Raceway and Wheatland? Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Rings up fourth-place finish at Norman County to end WoO Upper Midwest swing. Ready to race closer to home at Stateline and Sharon. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Spends holiday weekend away from track with Schaeffer's Southern Nationals starts likely on horizon. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 12th (nc)
T13. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Lands on podium with third-place finish at Norman County. Needs to secure a hauler to transport him equipment east for WoO competition. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 14th (+1)
T13. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Forgettable night at Muskingum County yields 15th-place finish. Traveling to 34 Raceway and Wheatland, where he won a Show-Me 100 prelim in late May. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
15. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Finishes ninth at Muskingum. Iowa and Missouri starts come next. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Unspectacular week includes 17th-place WoO finish at Norman County and a 20th with DIRTcar Summer Nationals at Lincoln. Back with WoO in New York and Ohio. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 16th (nc)
17. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Summer Nationals schedule heats up with two wins and six top-10 finishes. Needs strong finish to Hell Tour to defend series title. Series points: 2nd (MARS); 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 17th (nc)
18. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Jumps into Colton Flinner's backup car and promptly wins ULMS shows at Mercer and Genesee. Next planned action is next month's North-South 100 to debut new Jerry Foster-owned ride. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T18th (nc)
19. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Takes a break from competition with Schaeffer's Southern Nationals events on tap. Series points: None. Previous ranking: T18th (-1)
20. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Extends Hell Tour points lead with superb six-race stretch that includes wins at Farmington and Highland, three runner-up finishes and a third. Eyeing first series championship. Series points: 1st (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: Unranked
21. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Sits out holiday action to prep for Hunt the Front doubleheader at Lavonia and Cherokee. Series points: 1st (HTF). Previous ranking: 20th (-1)
22. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Falls one spot shy of top-10 finish in lone start of week in WoO action at Norman County. Resumes national touring at Stateline and Sharon. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 22nd (nc)
23. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Watches fireworks rather than racetrack surfaces over holiday weekend. Next starts TBA. Series points: 1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: 21st (-2)
24. Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Comment: Strong week with Summer Nationals includes three podium runs, but it would've been even better if tangle with lapped car didn't knock him from lead at Highland. Continuing down road with Hell Tour. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
25. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Doesn't crack top 10 at Muskingum County. In search of turnaround at 34 Raceway and Wheatland. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 25th (nc)
Dropped out: Chris Ferguson, Shannon Babb
Others receiving votes: Mike Marlar, Zack Mitchell, Shannon Babb, Gregg Satterlee, Ryan Unzicker, Dan Ebert, Chris Ferguson, Clay Harris, Dennis Erb Jr., Eli Ross, Hayden Cardwell, Trever Feathers.
