Poll Position presented by JRi Shocks
Top 25: Satterlee, Moyer Jr. among drivers rising
By Alli Collis
DirtonDirt.com staff writer
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Jimmy Owens enjoyed a weekend off the track for the first time in months, but the Newport, Tenn., driver still commands the No. 1 spot in DirtonDirt.com’s Top 25 power rankings for a second straight week.
Owens, who sits 25 points ahead of Don O’Neal in the Lucas Oil standings as the tour travels to Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway for the 35th annual Jackson 100, received 11 first-place votes in a poll presented by JRi Shocks.
Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., improved one spot to No. 2 in the rankings, receiving six first-place votes after picking up his record-setting 16th World of Outlaws victory of the season in the Down & Dirty 65 at a dirt-covered Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich.
World 100 winner Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., received five first-place votes, but slipped to No. 3 after a top-five finish at Berlin. Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., maintained the No. 4 spot, with Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., rounding out the top five; both were idle.
Gregg Satterlee (pictured) of Indiana, Pa., made one of the biggest jumps, improving four spots to No. 14 after his $10,000 Pittsburgher weekend sweep at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway’s. Billy Moyer Jr. of Batesville, Ark., rose five spots to No. 19 following his $10,000 victory in Tri-City’s St. Louis Showdown.
Mason Zeigler of Chalk Hill, Pa., fell four spots to No. 24 in this week’s poll after a disappointing weekend at PPMS. Despite his runner-up finish at Tri-City, Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, slipped two spots to No. 18. Kent Robinson of Bloomington, Ind., dropped out of the rankings.
Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., returned to this week’s poll. Among others receiving votes were Devin Moran of Dresden, Ohio, and Justin Kay of Wheatland, Iowa. Moran notched his 16th victory of the season over the weekend, while Kay was officially crowned IMCA’s weekly Late Model champion with a division-record 24 victories.
DirtonDirt.com invited more than 30 media members and drivers along with track and series representatives to vote in this season’s rankings. Twenty-two submitted ballots this week. Weekly polls continue through mid-November.
1. Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
Comment: Looking to maintain his Lucas Oil points lead as he heads into the Jackson 100 weekend at Brownstown. Series Points: 1st (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 1st (nc)
2. Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
Comment: Breaks his own single-season win record with his 16th World of Outlaws victory of 2014 at Berlin. Series points: 1st (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 3rd (+1)
3. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
Comment: World 100 winner joins World of Outlaws competitors at Berlin where he notches a top-five finish. Series points: 3rd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 2nd (-1)
4. Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
Comment: World 100 runner-up will travel to Brownstown this weekend for the Lucas Oil tour’s Jackson 100. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 4th (nc)
5. Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
Comment: Hoping to turn his bad luck around as he makes his way to Brownstown for the 35th annual Jackson 100. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 5th (nc)
6. Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
Comment: Last year’s Jackson 100 winner is hoping close in on Lucas Oil points this weekend at his home racetrack. Series points: 2nd (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 7th (+1)
7. Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Notches top-five finishes in UMP-sanctioned St. Louis Showdown events at Tri-City and I-55. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 6th (-1)
8. Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
Comment: A runner-up finish at Berlin puts him just 50 points off of second place in World of Outlaws points standings. Series points: 3rd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 8th (nc)
9. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.
Comment: Summernationals champion outduels Ryan Gustin for a $10,000 victory in I-55’s St. Louis Showdown. Series points: 1st (Summernationals). Last week's ranking: 9th (nc)
10. Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
Comment: A heat race incident sent him to the hospital in last year’s Jackson 100. He returns to Brownstown this weekend. Series points: 4th (Lucas Oil). Last week's ranking: 10th (nc)
11. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
Comment: Notched a third-place finish in Saturday’s action-packed St. Louis Showdown at Federated Raceway at I-55. Series points: 5th (Summernationals). Last week's ranking: 11th (nc)
12. Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
Comment: Rocket house car driver picked up a fourth-place finish at Berlin, but is still winless on the 2014 WoO tour. Series points: 2nd (World of Outlaws). Last week's ranking: 12th (nc)
13. Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
Comment: September schedule unclear after Ultimate series rainouts at North Georgia, Modoc and Lavonia. Series points: 1st (Southern Nationals). Last week's ranking: 14th (+1)
14. Gregg Satterlee, Indiana, Pa.
Comment: Up four spots in this week’s rankings after sweeping the Pittsburgher at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 18th (+4)
15. Mike Marlar, Winfield, Tenn.
Comment: Will likely join Lucas Oil Series competitors this weekend at Brownstown’s Jackson 100. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 13th (-2)
16. Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W.Va.
Comment: Looks to improve in Brownstown’s Jackson 100 after a disappointing World 100 weekend at Eldora. Series points: 5th (Lucas Oil). Last week’s ranking: 15th (-1)
17. Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
Comment: Will travel to Red Cedar Speedway this weekend, gearing up for next weekend’s Knoxville Nationals. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 17th (nc)
18. Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa.
Comment: Finishes runner-up to Billy Moyer Jr. at Tri-City and notches a top-10 finish Saturday at I-55. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 16th (-2)
19. Billy Moyer Jr., Batesville, Ark.
Comment: Up five spots in the poll after picking up his third $10,000 victory of the season in Tri-City’s St. Louis Showdown. Series points: None. Last week’s ranking: 24th (+5)
20. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill.
Comment: Coming off a fourth-place World 100 run, he finishes fourth in Tri-City’s St. Louis Showdown. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 19th (-1)
21. Randy Weaver, Crossville, Tenn.
Comment: Dominated the Fall Championships at Dixie Speedway for a $3,000 victory over Ray Cook. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 21st (nc)
22. John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
Comment: After a weekend off, he’ll travel to Brownstown Speedway for the Lucas Oil-sanctioned Jackson 100. Series points: 7th (Lucas Oil) Last week's ranking: 23rd (+1)
23. Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
Comment: Returns to USMTS action after flat tires, contact with Jeremy Payne, derailed run at Springfield’s Larry Phillips Memorial. Series points: 2nd (MLRA). Last week's ranking: 22nd (-1)
24. Mason Zeigler, Chalk Hill, Pa.
Comment: Hoping to improve this weekend after struggling over the Pittsburgher weekend at PPMS. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: 20th (-4)
25. Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
Comment: Currently fourth the UMP weekly standings after picking up an eighth-place run at I-55. Series points: None. Last week's ranking: Unranked
Dropped out: Kent Robinson
