Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Cedar Lake vaults Pierce back to No. 1
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Bobby Pierce (joshjamesartwork.com)
One week out of the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt’s weekly power rankings was enough for Bobby Pierce.
Making an emphatic statement after seeing his eight-week run at the top of the Keyser Manufacturing Top 25 poll come to an end, the 29-year-old superstar from Oakwood, Ill., won Saturday night’s 100-lap USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., to regain the No. 1 ranking.
Pierce was quiet in Thursday’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series prelim at Cedar Lake with a 12th-place finish, but he roared back with a powerful performance in Saturday’s finale. He marched forward form the 10th starting spot to earn $100,000 for his third USA Nationals victory in the last four years while also tying the WoO circuit’s single-season win record with his 18th triumph of 2026.
The third crown jewel victory of Pierce’s ’26 campaign earned him all 10 first-place votes in the poll, moving him up the one spot he lost the previous week to Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill.
Sheppard’s stint at the stop of the rankings last just one week as he slipped to No. 2, but he certainly didn’t falter much at Cedar Lake. He was the runner-up in both Thursday’s preliminary feature and the USA Nationals finale.
Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., remained at No. 3 after recording finishes of third and fourth at Cedar Lake.
Notably, the top three in the poll were unanimous selections with all voters listing them 1-2-3 on their ballots.
Remaining fourth and fifth after racing at Cedar Lake was Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., and Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio. Hoffman finished fourth in Thursday’s prelim but slipped to 18th with steering problems in the 100-lapper after leading laps 15-67 while Moran was fifth on Thursday but failed to qualify for the headliner after his effort was set back by a flat tire in a heat race.
The biggest mover of the week was Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., who shot up five spots to No. 20 after recording a runner-up finish and victory in a Comp Cams Super Dirt Series doubleheader at Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee, Okla. Gaining three spots was No. 15 Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga. ($15,000 Deep Fried 75 winner at Tennessee’s Duck River Raceway park) and No. 16 Ethan Dotson of Bakersfield, Calif. (career-best crown jewel finish of third at Cedar Lake).
Joining the Top 25 was Cody Overton of Evans, Ga., at No. 23 after a pair of top-10s at Cedar Lake and Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., at No. 24 after a triumph and runner-up finish in Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series action at Duck River. Droppoing out of the poll was Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., and Dillon McCowan of Urbana, Mo.
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: Car change after 12th-place run in Cedar Lake prelim pays off with rousing march from 10th to third USA Nationals triumph in four years for $100,000 prize. He’s set to chase fourth consecutive North-South 100 victory. Series points: 1st (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (+1)
2. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Collects pair of runner-up finishes at Cedar Lake, sending Rocket1 team to North-South 100 with momentum still blazing. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (-1)
3. Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Back in SSI Motorsports entry, finishes third in Cedar Lake third and fourth in USA Nationals 100-lapper after briefly challenging for lead in final laps. Heads to Florence next. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: Places fourth in Cedar Lake opener and leads middle stages of USA Nationals headliner before steering problems cause tumble to frustrating 18th-place finish. Taking two weeks off to reset for next burst of WoO action. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Cedar Lake trip starts well with fifth-place finish in prelim but ends with USA Nationals DNQ. Eyeing first-ever North-South 100 checkered flag. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Leads flag-to-flag for $10,000 WoO win in Cedar Lake prelim but has to rally from mid-race pit stop for 10th-place finish in USA Nationals finale. Tackling Florence next. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (+2)
7. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: After enjoying second straight non-racing weekend with son at a Junior Bassmaster tournament, he’s ready to return to action at Florence. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Flashes contending speed at Cedar Lake but settles for finishes of eighth and seventh. Schedule showing break until WoO resumes on Aug. 21. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 10th (+2)
9. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Koehler Motorsports team sits out USA Nationals to regroup before North-South 100. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 7th (-2)
10. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Hits Hunt the Front’s doubleheader at Duck River and runs front with finishes of second and third. He’ll bid for second career North-South 100 victory. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 9th (-1)
11. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Break from competition allows team to gear up for Florence. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Hopes for a USA Nationals repeat fizzle with 11th-place finish in 100-lapper. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 12th (nc)
13. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Visit to Cedar Lake produces ninth-place finish in USA Nationals. Now back to MARS action at Sycamore and Macon. Series points: 2nd (MARS); 2nd (Summer Nationals); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Solid weekend at Cedar Lake (10th in prelim, sixth in 100-lapper) amid controversy of Thursday heat run-in with Bobby Pierce. Eyeing MARS twinbill at Sycamore and Macon. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 5th (MARS). Previous ranking: 16th (+2)
15. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Hot summer continues with $15,000 victory in Hunt the Front’s Freeze Dried 75 finale at Duck River. Next scheduled start is HTF shows Aug. 21-22 at Tazewell and Smoky Mountain. Series points: 1st (HTF). Previous ranking: 18th (+3)
16. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Third-place USA Nationals finish is a career-best in a crown jewel feature. Planning a weekend off. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (+3)
17. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Takes time off with North-South 100 on upcoming agenda. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 14th (-3)
18. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: No racing over weekend as Florence standout and JRR Motorsports team shift to full North-South 100 preparation mode. Series points: 9th (Lucas Oil); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 15th (-3)
19. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Quiet weekend at Duck River with finishes of seventh and 15th. Next appearance TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 17th (-2)
20. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Enjoys strong Comp Cams weekend at Thunderbird, finishing second in opener and winning finale. Series action continues this weekend at Crowley’s Ridge and Riverside. Series points: 1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: 25th (+5)
21. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Forgettable Cedar Lake visit yields finishes of 23rd and 25th. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 20th (-1)
22. Trey Mills, St. Augustine, Fla.
Comment: Adds another top-10 WoO finish with sixth in Cedar Lake prelim but slips to 14th in USA Nationals finale. Schedule shows break before WoO schedule resumes in Iowa. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: T23rd (+1)
23. Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
Comment: Makes long haul to Wisconsin and knocks off pair of top-10s at Cedar Lake (ninth, eighth). Next race TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
24. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Home-state weekend on Hunt the Front tour at Duck River is successful with Friday victory and runner-up finish in Saturday’s finale. North-South 100 ahead. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
25. Sam Seawright, Rainsville, Ala.
Comment: Places sixth in Duck River’s opener but absorbs 18th-place finish in finale. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 22nd (-3)
Dropped out: Chris Madden, Dillon McCowan
Others receiving votes: Chris Madden, Zack Mitchell, Dustin Sorensen, Drake Troutman, Gregg Satterlee, Dillon McCowan, Ryan Unzicker, Clay Harris, Eli Ross, Donald McIntosh.
