Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: World-bound Pierce secure in No. 1 spot
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Shannon Babb (joshjamesartwork.com)
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., will carry the mantle of the No. 1 driver in DirtonDirt’s weekly power as the Dirt Late Model division heads to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, for this weekend’s World 100, the most prestigious race in the sport.
The 29-year-old star from Oakwood, Ill., was inactive over the holiday weekend while taking time to prep for Eldora’s big event, but remained at the top of the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll for a sixth consecutive week. He received nine of the 10 first-place votes, missing out on a unanimous No. 1 selection only by the single first-place nod that went to Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., still ranked No. 2 after a runner-up finish in Saturday’s Northern Allstar Late Model Series-sanctioned John Gill Classic at Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway.
With both national tours idle over the Labor Day weekend, movement in the rankings was modest. The top five stayed status quo with the idle Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., at No. 3, Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., at No. 4 after recording four top-fives in as many MARS tour starts driving his family-owned No. B5 and Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., at No. 5 following a runner-up finish at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park and a $5,000 victory in a Baltes Classic semifeature at Eldora.
The largest advance in the Top 25 was just two spots by Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., who climbed into a tie for 10th following a $15,000 victory in last Tuesday’s unsanctioned Yinzer 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. Other weekend winners who gained a single spot were No. 6 Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio ($25,000 Hillbilly Hundred at West Virginia Motor Speedway) and No. 7 Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas ($25,000 sweep of Portsmouth’s doubleheader).
Joining the poll was Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., and Trey Mills of St. Augustine, Fla. Babb scored a $15,000 MARS triumph at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway while the 18-year-old Mills won the John Gill Classic in his first-ever start at Brownstown.
Dropping out the rankings was Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C., and Garrett Alberson of Las Cruces, N.M., who remains sidelined while recovering from facial injuries suffered Aug. 8 at Florence Speedway in Union, Ky.
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: Takes weekend off to gear up for pursuit of third World 100 victory and fifth win in last seven Eldora crown jewels. Series points: 1st (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Makes a single start on home turf at Brownstown, Ind., and finishes second in John Gill Classic. Ready to bid for second World 100 triumph. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Spends holiday weekend at a lakehouse to set mind right for chase of record-tying sixth World 100 checkered flag. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Hops in family-owned No. B5 and tallies four top-fives in as many MARS features while Rocket1 team preps for Eldora. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.
Comment: After a runner-up finish in Portsmouth’s Saturday special, tunes up for World 100 with Baltes Classic semifeature feature win at Eldora to snap three-month victory drought. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Runs fourth at Portsmouth and then joins father Donnie as a Hillbilly Hundred winner in masterful performance at West Virginia Motor Speedway. Can he now become a World 100 victor like his dear ol’ dad? Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)
7. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: He’s perfect at Portsmouth, sweeping doubleheader weekend for $25,000 bounty. Finishes fifth in Baltes Classic semifeature as World 100 tuneup. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (+1)
8. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: Busy — and diverse — holiday weekend includes runner-up finish in Baltes Classic semifeature before heading off to run 410 sprint car in Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway’s Labor Day Classic. He’ll shoot for second straight World 100 triumph. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (-2)
9. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Hopes solid runner-up finish in Baltes Classic semifeature has his primed for World 100. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 9th (nc)
T10. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: It’s a third-place holiday weekend for the Kentuckian, who logs show-position finishes in both Portsmouth A-mains and a Baltes Classic semifeature. Dreaming of a World 100 victory celebration to rival his North-South 100 party. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 10th (nc)
T10. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Starts holiday week with $15,000 Yinzer 100 triumph at Lernerville and ends it with third-place finish in Baltes Classic semifeature. Heads to World 100 looking to improve one spot from his second-place result in June’s Dream. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 12th (+2)
12. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: Briggs Transport team spends holiday weekend massaging T-Mac’s World 100 entry that carries a throwback scheme to his late father Bob’s famed Kinney Drugs big-block modified. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 11th (-1)
13. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Visits Brownstown, Ind., for John Gill Classic and logs third-place finish. On to Eldora to take another shot at crown jewel glory. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
14. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Up-and-down MLRA weekend at Wheatland (23rd on Friday, fifth on Saturday) leads into $10,000 Weiner Nationals victory at Moberly, providing shot of momentum before Eldora. Series points: 5th (WoO); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 14th (nc)
15. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Rests on WoO winning laurels from Iowa to gear up for World 100. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 15th (nc)
16. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Leads MARS feature at Fairbury before crossing finish line fifth and absorbing DQ for weighing in light. Eldora next. Series points: 1st (HTF); 1st (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 16th (nc)
17. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Falls short of victory lane in three MARS feature, but not far off at Farmer City (second) or Fairbury (third). World 100 on the agenda. Series points: 2nd (MARS); 2nd (Summer Nationals); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 18th (+1)
18. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: Primed for World 100 assault after second spending straight weekend away from track. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 17th (-1)
19. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Registers pair of podium finishes in La Salle’s MARS twin 25s and runs fourth at Farmer City, but engine trouble ends night early at Fairbury. No racing on schedule for weekend. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 8th (MARS). Previous ranking: 19th (nc)
20. Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
Comment: Rare weekend of inactivity offers chance to prep for Eldora. Series points: 13th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 20th (nc)
21. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: Takes holiday weekend off to enter Eldora with guns blazing in hopes of finally landing an Eldora crown jewel checkered flag. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 22nd (+1)
22. Daulton Wilson, Fayetteville, N.C.
Comment: Silent weekend for Big Frog team in advance of Eldora. Series points: 7th (WoO). Previous ranking: 21st (-1)
23. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Flat tires doom victory bids at Lernerville and WVMS, but he still rallies for a third-place finish in Hillbilly Hundred. Taking Jerry Foster-owned machine to Eldora. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 23rd (nc)
24. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Hall of Famer spins classic performance for $15,000 MARS win at Fairbury, sending him off to Eldora on a high. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
25. Trey Mills, St. Augustine, Fla.
Comment: Makes amazing debut at Brownstown, Ind., oval, winning John Gill Classic over established stars Hudson O’Neal and Mike Marlar. It’s on to Eldora, where the teenager led the first 24 laps of June’s Dream. Series points: 8th (WoO). Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Zack Mitchell, Garrett Alberson
Others receiving votes: Gregg Satterlee, Ryan Unzicker, Zack Mitchell, Mason Zeigler, Brian Shirley, Garrett Alberson, Tristan Chamberlain, Cody Overton, Zack Dohm, Rusty Schlenk, Cade Dillard.
Editor’s note: Upcoming plans for drivers based on publicized schedules and best known information.
