Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Topless winner jumps into rankings at No. 19
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt managing editor
Dan Ebert (heathlawsonphotos.com)
With DirtonDirt’s power rankings mostly static as an idle Bobby Pierce remained at No. 1, Ace Doran Topless 100 winner Dan Ebert entered the poll for the first time while two-time weekend winner Mike Marlar continued his climb toward the top 10.
Ebert’s first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory paid $50,000 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, Ark., for the 38-year-old Lake Shore, Minn., driver, who enters at No. 19 in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25.
Marlar, twice a five-figure payday Bluegrass State winner in Ultimate-sanctioned action at Mount Vernon’s Rockcastle Speedway and Richmond Raceway, improved three positions to No. 14 amid a stretch of four victories among his last seven features, the first time he’s accomplished that since 2009.
Also climbing significantly was Topless 100 runner-up Dale McDowell of Chickamauga., Ga., who overcame an early spin at Batesville. He’s up four positions to No. 16.
Oakwood, Ill.’s Pierce, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series points leader who is in the No. 1 spot for the 70th time in his career, and the rest of the top 13 drivers remained the same from last week’s rankings. Lucas Oil Series points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., fifth at the Topless 100, is second followed by Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind. (seventh at Batesville), an idle Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga. (third at Batesville).
Ebert was the poll’s lone newcomer while Clay Harris of Jupiter, Fla., Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., and Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., fell out (there was a three-way tie for 25th a week earlier).
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: Enjoys rare weekend off ahead of seven consecutive scheduled Iowa starts in FloRacing and World of Outlaws action. Series points: 1st (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Ninth and fifth at Batesville’s Topless weekend while battling through flat tires with Iowa Speedweek events coming up. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Tallies second- and seventh-place finishes at Batesville. He’ll try Tuesday for fourth straight FloRacing tour victory at Marshalltown. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: No doubt busy despite two weekends away from the track, Tye Twarog Racing pilot heads for Maquoketa’s Hawkeye 100. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Pair of third-place runs at Batesville, where he went perhaps too easy on tires in 100-lapper? Double L team remaining idle until Port Royal. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Flat tire in Topless prelim a preview of more to come in forgettable weekend. He’s all in for Iowa Speedweek at Marshalltown, Mason City and Maqoketa. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Weekend off as team gets road-ready for busy stretch in Iowa, starting at Maquoketa. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)
8. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Fourth in Topless prelim highlight of Batesville weekend. Team idle until Lucas Oil’s Port Royal action? Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Wins yet another Topless 100 prelim, but like most, flat tire ends hopes for $50,000 at Batesville. His Koehler Motorsports ride has sponsorship space for busy week in Iowa. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Final scoresheet doesn't show it, but Rocket returnee made serious bid for second straight crown jewel at Batesville before late-race blown tire. He’s planning FloRacing action in Iowa and Northern Allstars racing in Indiana during a busy week. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Big-block Hall of Famer returns to full-fender crowd in Iowa for FloRacing and WoO events. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Punctures radiator (instead of a tire) in Topless 100 after winning Batesville prelim. Pondering action before Lucas Oil’s trip to Port Royal. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 12th (nc)
13. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Home-state action on his dance card after a few weeks off. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Picks up a pair of Ultimate-sanctioned victories in Kentucky for $22,059 weekend. Will he be lured to Brownstown? Series points: None. Previous ranking: T17th (+3)
15. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: A winner of seven of his last nine feature starts, he’s set for Aug. 21-22 Hunt the Front action a Tazewell and Smoky Mountain. Series points: 1st (HTF); 1st (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 14th (-1)
16. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Falls one spot shy of third Topless 100 victory on a rare weekend when he was facing the wrong way on two occasions. Tazewell and Smoky Mountain on tap. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (+4)
17. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: With La Salle’s rain giving team a weekend off, he’ll head to Iowa for FloRacing and WoO action. Series points: 2nd (MARS); 2nd (Summer Nationals); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 15th (-2)
18. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Topless 100 flattens mood after solid runs in prelim. Maquoketa begins busy Iowa stretch for ASD Motorsports team. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 16th (-2)
19. Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
Comment: Topless 100 winner enters rankingd for first time and heads for four nights of Iowa racing on the Flo and WoO circuits. Series points: 13th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: Unranked
20. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Wreck in hot laps spoils trip to Kentucky. Tentatively plans a weekend off before three-race MARS weekend to wrap up August. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 8th (MARS). Previous ranking: 19th (-1)
21. Garrett Alberson, Las Cruces, N.M.
Comment: Still on the mend from serious facial injuries at Florence’s Sunoco North-South 100. Picks up hardship points at Batesville. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: T17th (-4)
22. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: After weekend off, upcoming events unpublicized. Series points: 1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: 21st (-1)
23. Trey Mills, St. Augustine, Fla.
Comment: Idle since Aug. 1, Maquoketa’s Hawkeye 100 next up. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 22nd (-1)
24. Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
Comment: Third-place in Butterball highlight of first career racing weekend in Kentucky. Upcoming races TBA but plenty of choices. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 23rd (-1)
25. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Time away from track gives Big Frog-Viper team time to prepare for busy Iowa stretch. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: 24th (-1)
Dropped out: Clay Harris, Zack Mitchell, Ryan Unzicker
Others receiving votes: Drake Troutman, Zack Mitchell, Clay Harris, Ryan Unzicker, Eli Ross, Sam Seawright, Chris Madden, Gregg Satterlee, Chris Ferguson, Clay Stuckey, Dustin Sorensen, Rusty Schlenk.
