Poll Position presented by Keyser Manufacturing

Top 25: Thornton rises to No. 2 behind Hoffman

October 13, 2026, 9:25 am

By Kevin Kovac

DirtonDirt senior writer

Ricky Thornton Jr. (heathlawsonphotos.com)

Ricky Thornton Jr.’s $65,000 sweep of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Clash on the Wabash at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, vaulted him up DirtonDirt’s power rankings, but not quite to the top.

Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., who recorded modest finishes of 10th and seventh in Eldora’s doubleheader, received six first-place votes to help him maintain the No. 1 spot in the Keyser Manufacturing-sponsored Top 25 poll for the fourth consecutive week. But Chandler, Ariz.’s Thornton earned the remaining four first-place nods and made a four-position jump in the rankings to land at No. 2.

Thornton, 36, was perfect at Eldora, winning Friday’s 40-lapper for a $10,000 payday and doubling up on Saturday with a 50-lap triumph worth $55,000. It marked his first back-to-back victories in more than a year and continued a strong stretch that included four runner-up finishes during the month of September.

Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, whose superb Eldora weekend included a third-place run on Friday and second-place finish in Saturday’s finale, gained one spot to sit in a tie at No. 3 with Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill. Pierce fell one spot after experiencing a disappointing visit to Eldora with a seventh-place finish in the opener and a DNQ on Saturday after a flat tire in a B-main.

Lucas Oil Series points leader Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., stayed at No. 5 after tallying finishes of second and sixth at Eldora. Falling from the top-five in the poll was Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., who plunged three spots to No. 6 after his Eldora trip started well with a fifth-place finish but ended with a DNF in Saturday’s feature that crushed his Lucas Oil title hopes.

Two drivers who enjoyed success at Eldora climbed multiple spots with Josh Rice of Crittenden, Ky. (23rd-to-third in Saturday’s feature) improving two positions to No. 9 and Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., advancing three rungs to No. 14 following a fourth-place result in the 50-lap finale.

Rejoining the Top 25 was Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla. (two Eldora top-fives) at No. 23 and Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C. (ninth on Friday at Eldora after leading early) at No. 25. Dropping out of the rankings was Dan Ebert of Lake Shore, Minn., and Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill, Pa.

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: Can’t duplicate World 100 heroics in return to Eldora, but contends in Saturday’s finale before slipping to seventh in finishing order. Skipping DTWC as focus turns to Oct. 22’s FloRacing show at Volunteer and ensuing WoO doubleheader at Modoc. Series points: 2nd (WoO); 5th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 1st (nc)

2. Ricky Thornton Jr., Chandler, Ariz.

Comment: Sweeps Clash on the Wabash for $65,000 in earnings and first back-to-back wins in 14 months. Chasing more big money at DTWC. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil); 7th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 6th (+4)

T3. Devin Moran, Dresden, Ohio

Comment: Late-season bid to repeat as Lucas Oil champion rolls on with pair of podium runs at Eldora, sending him to West Virginia with shot at title. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil); 3rd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 4th (+1)

T3. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.

Comment: Finishes quiet seventh in Eldora’s opener then fails to qualify for finale due to B-main flat tire. Can he win third straight DTWC with change of venue this year? Series points: 1st (WoO); 4th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 2nd (-1)

5. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.

Comment: Remains atop Lucas Oil standings after finishes of second and sixth at Eldora. Will shoot for first-ever Lucas Oil title and record sixth DTWC victory at WVMS. Series points: 1st (Lucas Oil); 1st (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 5th (nc)

6. Hudson O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.

Comment: Tallies fifth-place finish in Eldora opener but early retirement from Saturday’s finale mathematically eliminates him from Lucas Oil title contention heading to WVMS. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil); 2nd (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 3rd (-3)

7. Tyler Erb, New Waverly, Texas

Comment: After making engine change between heats and B-main, transfers into Eldora’s finale and finishes eighth. Heads to WVMS where he won a WoO feature in June. Series points: 3rd (WoO); 6th (FloRacing). Previous ranking: 7th (nc)

8. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.

Comment: Rare Eldora weekend with unspectacular results for master of the half-mile, who drops out of prelim and places ninth in finale. Hoping to finally add DTWC triumph to his long list of crown jewel successes. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 8th (nc)

9. Josh Rice, Crittenden, Ky.

Comment: Solid Eldora weekend with sixth-place run in opener and a 23rd-to-third charge in finale. DTWC will cap rookie national touring campaign. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 11th (+2)

10. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.

Comment: Spends weekend returning to big-block modified roots at Super DIRT Week in Oswego, N.Y., where he finishes 30th in 200-lap headliner. Next full-fender action listed as Oct. 23-24 with WoO at Modoc. Series points: 4th (WoO). Previous ranking: 9th (-1)

11. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.

Comment: Fails to crack top-10 in Eldora’s twinbill. WVMS on tap. Series points: 6th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 10th (-1)

12. Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.

Comment: Eldora trip is forgettable with 18th- and 11th-place finishes. DTWC represents last chance to avoid going through Lucas Oil Series without a full-field feature win. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 12th (nc)

13. Ryan Gustin, Marshalltown, Iowa

Comment: Unable to replicate World 100 speed in return to Eldora with DNQ and 23rd-place finish. He’ll enter DTWC. Series points: 5th (WoO). Previous ranking: 13th (nc)

14. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.

Comment: Rebounds well from 11th-place finish in Eldora opener, leading first half of Saturday’s 50-lapper before settling for fourth. Volunteer’s FloRacing event next on schedule. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 17th (+3)

15. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.

Comment: Falls just short of fourth straight MARS title after fifth- and seventh-place finishes in season-ending doubleheader at Wheatland. Gearing up for MLRA’s Oct. 23-24 visit to West Liberty, Iowa. Series points: 2nd (MARS); 2nd (Summer Nationals). Previous ranking: T14th (-1)

16. Ashton Winger, Hampton, Ga.

Comment: Rain from Hurricane Isaias wipes out weekend plans in Southeast. Series points: Champion (HTF); 2nd (Southern Thunder). Previous ranking: T14th (-2)

17. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill.

Comment: No joy at Eldora with finishes of 15th and 13th. Moves on to WVMS to conclude first season as Lucas Oil regular. Series points: 8th (Lucas Oil). Previous ranking: 16th (-1)

18. Drake Troutman, Hyndman, Pa.

Comment: Absorbs DNQs both nights at Eldora. Hoping for better fortune at WVMS. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 20th (+2)

19. Cody Overton, Thomson, Ga.

Comment: Cold water thrown on four-race win streak with pair of DNQs at Eldora. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 19th (nc)

20. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.

Comment: Eager to put Eldora trip behind after failing to make a feature. Series points: None. Previous ranking: 18th (-2)

21. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.

Comment: Makes Saturday’s Eldora finale but only manages 16th-place finish. Eager to tackle DTWC after finishing fifth twice in WoO action earlier this year at WVMS. Series points: 6th (WoO). Previous ranking: 21st (nc)

22. Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.

Comment: No racing with Comp Cams visit to Oklahoma’s Tri-State ahead this weekend. Series points: 1st (Comp Cams). Previous ranking: 22nd (nc)

23. Kyle Bronson, Brandon, Fla.

Comment: Flashes speed in second week with new crew chief Anthony Burroughs, scoring pair of top-five finishes at Eldora. Looking to extend run of success at WVMS. Series points: 10th (Lucas Oil); 8th (FloRacing). Previous ranking; Unranked

24. Tanner English, Benton, Ky.

Comment: Sits out weekend with plans for Lincoln, Ill.’s DIRTcar doubleheader ahead. Series points: Champion (Summer Nationals); 8th (MARS). Previous ranking: 23rd (-1)

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

Comment: Contends in Eldora’s opener before fading to ninth after contact with Ricky Thornton Jr. but finishes 21st in finale. Next action to be determined. Series points: None. Previous ranking: Unranked

Dropped out: Dan Ebert, Mason Zeigler

Others receiving votes: Carson Ferguson, Dan Ebert, Mason Zeigler, Terry Phillips, Gregg Satterlee, Shannon Babb, Kyle Beard, Ryan Unzicker, Dennis Erb Jr., Skip Arp.

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

Correction: Fixes Tyler Erb maintained the No. 7 spot instead of moved up a position.