Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing

Top 25: World lifts Hoffman to No. 1 spot

September 15, 2026, 7:18 am

By Todd Turner

DirtonDirt managing editor

Nick Hoffman (joshjamesartwork.com)

Enjoying a hefty World 100 bump after his $100,000 victory, Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., edged Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., atop DirtonDirt’s power rankings to take the No. 1 spot for just the second time in his career.

The 34-year-old Hoffman, who led the final 12 laps at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, to win the sport’s most prestigious event, received five first-place votes in landing atop the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored poll for the first time since Feb. 17. The driver who ranked fifth entering the World 100 weekend announced Thursday he’s departing his Tye Twarog Racing ride to join neighboring Spire Motorsports next season.

Pierce, who has led the rankings most of the season including the last six weeks, failed to make the World 100 starting field after losing a motor in Saturday’s heat race and slipped to No. 2 with four first-place votes. Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., received the other first-place vote in falling one position to No. 3 after a fifth-place World 100 finish that followed an Eldora semifeature victory.

Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., posting his best-ever World 100 finish in fourth, remained fourth in the rankings while Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., slipped a spot to No. 5 after a seventh-place World 100 finish.

No other driver moved up more than two spots in the rankings, but drivers impressive at Eldora advanced, including third-place finisher Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, up one spot to No. 6 after rallying from 17th. Sixth-place finisher Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., gained two positions to No. 10 and Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., a Thursday World 100 semifeature winner, was up two clicks to No. 14.

Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., who swept the weekend’s Comp Cams Super Dirt Series action, rejoined the rankings along with first-time World 100 starters Dustin Sorensen of Rochester, Minn., and Zack Mitchell of Enoree, S.C. Daulton Wilson, Shannon Babb and Trey Mills fell out of the poll.

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. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C.

Comment: Hired by Spire Motorsports on Thursday, two nights later hits career peak with World 100 victory. WoO’s I-55 weekend next. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (+4)

2. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.

Comment: Under-the-hood woes strike twice, spoiling bid for third straight crown jewel victory at Eldora. Knoxville a maybe, but FloRacing event at Lincoln Park is penciled in. Series points: 1st (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (-1)

3. Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.

Comment: Solid World 100 weekend ends with fifth in 100-lapper after $12,000 semifeature victory. He’ll aim for second straight Knoxville Nationals victory. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (-1)

4. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.

Comment: Wins World 100 semifeature and makes 19th-to-fourth charge in 100-lapper for best career World 100 finish. Knoxville on tap. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (nc)

5. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.

Comment: Coming to Eldora without his track-specific car, fails to crack top five despite running second 73 laps of 100-lapper. Upcoming schedule TBA. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 3rd (-2)

6. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas

Comment: Matches best-ever World 100 finish with 17th-to-third charge. Taking weekend off? Series points: 3rd (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (+1)

7. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio

Comment: Disappointing World 100 weekend ends with engine woes in heat action. Knoxville up next. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (-1)

T8. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.

Comment: After capturing World 100 semifeature, beckoned home for birth of son. Knoxville’s $75,000 next goal. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 9th (+1)

T8. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.

Comment: Rough start to World 100 weekend gets better with 11th-to-second rally in finale. Short trip from Iowa residence to Knoxville this weekend. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (nc)

10. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.

Comment: Solid but unspectacular in World 100 weekend with early charge in 100-lapper ending in sixth. Off-weekend ahead of I-55 doubleheader with WoO. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 12th (+2)

11. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.

Comment: Under-the-radar World 100 weekend ends with steady eighth-place in finale. Knoxville trip upcoming. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: T10th (+1)

12. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa

Comment: Crushing end to World 100 in losing driveshaft after leading 88 laps. Knoxville likely next. Series points: 5th (WoO); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 14th (+2)

13. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.

Comment: Runner-up run in World 100 semifeature promising, but broken fuel line in heat spoils chance at 100-lap start. On to Knoxville. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: T10th (-3)

14. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.

Comment: Hits career highlight with $12,000 semifeature victory at Eldora, but punchless in World 100 finale. HTF weekend at Swainsboro listed as next stop. Series points: 1st (HTF); 1st (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 16th (+2)

15. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.

Comment: Caps World 100 weekend with 25th-to-ninth run in 100-lapper. WoO’s visit to I-55 next on schedule. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 15th (nc)

16. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.

Comment: After a pair of middling semifeature runs at Eldora, skips final night for niece’s wedding. Racing plans unrevealed. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 13th (-3)

17. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.

Comment: After sixth- and fourth-place finishes in semifeatures, misses World 100 for first time in 19 years because of heat race crash. Next action undecided. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 18th (+1)

18. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.

Comment: In middle of multiple weekend scrapes, manages to squeeze into World 100 but retires early. Back to MARS grind at Kankakee and Highland. Series points: 2nd (MARS); 2nd (Summer Nationals); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 17th (-1)

19. Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.

Comment: Never in the mix up front on World 100 weekend, his first career start in 100-lapper ends in 16th. Knoxville on the calendar. Series points: 13th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 20th (+1)

20. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.

Comment: Elects to skip World 100. He’s targeting MARS action at Kankakee and Highland, one of his best tracks. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 8th (MARS). Previous ranking: 19th (-1)

21. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.

Comment: Fourth in a World 100 semifeature, but Eldora futility continues with backstretch wreck in consolation race ahead of 100-lapper. Publicized schedule blank. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 21st (nc)

22. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.

Comment: Takes green three times at Eldora with best finish of 12th. He’s 24th in World 100. ULMS action next? Series points: None. Previous ranking: 23rd (+1)

23. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.

Comment: Sweeps Comp Cams weekend at Salina Highbanks and Arrowhead. Publicized schedule empty. Series points: 1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: Unranked

24. Dustin Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.

Comment: Lands on pole in World 100 debut. Fades to 11th but earns top rookie honors. Returns to WoO action at I-55. Series points: 10th (WoO). Previous ranking: Unranked

25. Zack Mitchell, Enoree, S.C.

Comment: Finishes 14th in first World 100 start for G.R. Smith Motorsports. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked

Dropped out: Daulton Wilson, Shannon Babb, Trey Mills

Others receiving votes: Chris Ferguson, Daulton Wilson, Brian Shirley, Joseph Joiner, Trey Mills, Mason Zeigler, Dillon McCowan, Garrett Alberson, Carson Ferguson, Ryan Unzicker, Sam Seawright, Adam Stricker, Jadon Frame.

Editor’s note: Upcoming plans for drivers based on publicized schedules and best known information.