Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing
Top 25: Hoffman on top as Moran gains
By Kevin Kovac
DirtonDirt senior writer
Devin Moran (joshjamesartwork.com)
Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., maintained his hold on the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt’s weekly power rankings with a third-place finish in his debut run at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, where Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, captured Saturday’s $50,000 Pittsburgher prize in dominant fashion to make a big leap up the Top 25 ladder.
With the weekend’s scheduled World of Outlaws Late Model Series doubleheader in Louisiana canceled by a rainy forecast, the 34-year-old Hoffman invaded the half-mile PPMS oval in Imperial, Pa., for a single night of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition. He quickly got comfortable with a solid podium run earning him continued support in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored poll to the tune of nine first-place votes.
But Moran, 32, was the star of the Pittsburgher, running away with the 70-lap feature to join his Hall of Fame father Donnie as a winner of the event. Registering his first Lucas Oil Series win since June 27’s Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., he received one first-place vote and jumped three spots to reach No. 4.
Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., the WoO points leader, decided to enter the Pittsburgher but was never a factor as he went a lap down early and retired by the halfway point. He remained at No. 3 in the rankings while Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., stayed at No. 4 after a 10th-place finish at PPMS.
Lucas Oil Series points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., fell one spot to No. 5 after rallying to sixth in the Pittsburgher.
Amid a weekend that was hampered by rain in many areas — even the Pittsburgher was reduced to a single day of racing — there was little significant movement in the Top 25. The only newcomer to the rankings was Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill, Pa., who landed at No. 25 after a ninth-place finish at PPMS. Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., who didn’t finish the Pittsburgher, dropped 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: After WoO rainout, makes PPMS debut and shines with runner-up Pittsburgher finish. Eager for return to Eldora one month after World 100 victory. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Decides to enter Pittsburgher but retires early from feature after going lap down. Looks toward Eldora for get-right weekend. Series points: 1st (WoO); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (nc)
3. Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Misses opportunity to gain ground in Lucas Oil points, finishing quiet 10th in Pittsburgher. Heads to Eldora to continue title chase. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (nc)
4. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Comment: Drives new Longhorn to blowout $50,000 victory at PPMS. Can his continue Lucas Oil championship push at Eldora? Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (+3)
5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Goes lap down early in Pittsburgher but rallies to finish sixth after getting Lucky Dog break, keeping Rocket1 driver atop Lucas Oil standings. Pressure’s on with two nights at Eldora. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (-1)
6. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.
Comment: First start following Koehler Motorsports departure of crew chief Anthony Burroughs produces fifth-place finish at PPMS. Eldora up next. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (nc)
7. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas
Comment: Heads to Portsmouth, Ohio, with WoO weekend rained out and scores $10,000 win. Eldora doubleheader brings him close to Best Performance team’s shop. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 8th (+1)
8. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Bid for third straight Pittsburgher win fizzles out with DNQ after heat-race tangle dive-bombs night. Hopes Eldora will raise his spirits. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 5th (-3)
9. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: New Longhorn carries him to runner-up finish in Pittsburgher. Skipping Eldora to run big-block modified in Super DIRT Week activities at Oswego, N.Y. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 10th (+1)
10. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.
Comment: Strong, steady fourth-place finisher in home-state run at PPMS. Ready for Clash on the Wabash. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 11th (+1)
11. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.
Comment: Salvages 11th-place Pittsburgher finish after mid-race flat tire. Returns to Eldora hoping to erase memories of frustrating World 100 DNQ. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 9th (-2)
12. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
Comment: Seventh at Pittsburgher, he’ll return to an Eldora oval where he won a prelim before a paternity break sent him home preceding the World 100. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 12th (nc)
13. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa
Comment: Takes weekend off with WoO’s Louisiana twinbill cancelled. Back at Eldora after heartbreaking loss in World 100. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)
T14. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.
Comment: Clinches $50,000 Hunt the Front title away from the track after rain washes out I-75 weekend. Series points: Champion (HTF); 2nd (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: 14th (nc)
T14. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Benefits from Michael Leach’s last-lap trouble to grab $10,000 FALS Frenzy victory at Fairbury. Gets within striking distance of Ryan Unzicker for MARS title in tour’s season-ending doubleheader at Lucas Oil Speedway. Series points: 2nd (MARS); 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: 15th (+1)
16. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.
Comment: Comes down from Jackson 100 high with 18th-place finish at PPMS. Eldora on deck. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 16th (+1)
17. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: No racing as brother Shane preps equipment for Eldora. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 16th (-1)
18. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Stays away from track for weekend. Next start not publicly announced. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 18th (nc)
19. Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.
Comment: Rain in Southeast keeps streaking driver’s car in garage. He’ll take personal four-race winning streak to Southern All Stars action at North Georgia and Dixie. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (+1)
20. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.
Comment: Manages 13th-place finish after pit stop in Pittsburgher. Tackling Eldora’s Clash on the Wabash. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 21st (+1)
21. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.
Comment: Weekend trip to Louisiana nixed by WoO cancellation. He’ll trek north for Eldora action. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 19th (-2)
22. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
Comment: Disappointed by rainout of WoO doubleheader at his home state’s Boothill Speedway. Series points: 1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: 22nd (nc)
23. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.
Comment: Frustrating weekend at Fairbury with finishes of fifth and 17th. Traveling to Missouri for MARS season finale at Wheatland. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 8th (MARS). Previous ranking: 23rd (nc)
24. Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minn.
Comment: Falls short of top-10 finish in Pittsburgher. Moves on to Eldora. Series points: 13th (Lucas Oil); 10th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 24th (nc)
25. Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.
Comment: Runs strong at PPMS, winning heat and placing ninth in Pittsburgher feature and second in Crate headliner. Next start unannounced. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Chris Madden
Others receiving votes: Shannon Babb, Carson Ferguson, Chris Madden, Gregg Satterlee, Daulton Wilson, Joseph Joiner, Ryan Unzicker, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Editor’s note: Upcoming plans for drivers based on publicized schedules and best known information.
