Brandon Sheppard took the lead in the FloRacing Late Model Power Rankings a few weeks ago and continues to widen his advantage as the first half of 2017 draws to a close.
In an effort to compare the World of Outlaws, Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series, and key independent events, we devised a rating system of percentage points in which the winner receives 100. Drivers are rewarded for top five and 10 finishes to a high degree and are penalized for finishing in the bottom half of the field.
A simple glance at the past 60 days reveals just how incredible Sheppard has been with 11 top fives in 12 events, including five wins. The only time he's failed to finish that well came last week in the Firecracker 100, but no one could be upset with an eighth-place finish in a field of more than 50 drivers.
Tim McCreadie held onto his second-place standing in the rankings on the strength of a third-place finish in the Firecracker 100. Still, he lost a little ground to Sheppard because he finished 25th earlier the same day in a preliminary event that was scheduled as a full-blown race--and that was supposed to run two nights earlier. McCreadie also stumbled slightly in a Lucas Oil race at The Mag--Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS.
Don O'Neal remains third in the rankings but closed a little ground on McCreadie with a pair of top fives during the Firecracker 100 weekend plus an eighth in the Clash at The Mag. While he hasn't won in the past 60 days, he has been among the most consistent drivers in the sport with nine top fives.
Brandon Overton makes his way onto the list for the first time in a long while. He is ranked fourth this week largely because of his victory in the Firecracker 100. He splits his time between several series that are not tracked for the purposes of this list, but his results in them are notable nonetheless. He strung several runner-up finishes together in the Schaeffer Oil Spring Nationals in late May and is proving those races were no fluke.
Earl Pearson Jr. rounds out the top five this week--advancing four positions to grab the spot. He was not in the Firecracker 100, but his seventh-place finish in the Clash at The Mag was his eighth top 10 in his most recent nine races. Like O'Neal, he is showing that consistency pays off in better setups at the track.
2. Tim McCreadie, 86.17
3. Don O'Neal, 85.83
4. Brandon Overton, 83.57
5. Earl Pearson Jr., 82.90
6. Mike Marlar, 82.67
7. Josh Richards, 81.78
8. Bobby Pierce, 81.20
9. Scott Bloomquist, 80.83
10. Shane Clanton, 80.31
View Full Late Model Rankings
In an effort to compare the World of Outlaws, Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series, and key independent events, we devised a rating system of percentage points in which the winner receives 100. Drivers are rewarded for top five and 10 finishes to a high degree and are penalized for finishing in the bottom half of the field.
A simple glance at the past 60 days reveals just how incredible Sheppard has been with 11 top fives in 12 events, including five wins. The only time he's failed to finish that well came last week in the Firecracker 100, but no one could be upset with an eighth-place finish in a field of more than 50 drivers.
Tim McCreadie held onto his second-place standing in the rankings on the strength of a third-place finish in the Firecracker 100. Still, he lost a little ground to Sheppard because he finished 25th earlier the same day in a preliminary event that was scheduled as a full-blown race--and that was supposed to run two nights earlier. McCreadie also stumbled slightly in a Lucas Oil race at The Mag--Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, MS.
Don O'Neal remains third in the rankings but closed a little ground on McCreadie with a pair of top fives during the Firecracker 100 weekend plus an eighth in the Clash at The Mag. While he hasn't won in the past 60 days, he has been among the most consistent drivers in the sport with nine top fives.
Brandon Overton makes his way onto the list for the first time in a long while. He is ranked fourth this week largely because of his victory in the Firecracker 100. He splits his time between several series that are not tracked for the purposes of this list, but his results in them are notable nonetheless. He strung several runner-up finishes together in the Schaeffer Oil Spring Nationals in late May and is proving those races were no fluke.
Earl Pearson Jr. rounds out the top five this week--advancing four positions to grab the spot. He was not in the Firecracker 100, but his seventh-place finish in the Clash at The Mag was his eighth top 10 in his most recent nine races. Like O'Neal, he is showing that consistency pays off in better setups at the track.
Dirt Track Power Rankings
1. Brandon Sheppard, 95.15 percentage points2. Tim McCreadie, 86.17
3. Don O'Neal, 85.83
4. Brandon Overton, 83.57
5. Earl Pearson Jr., 82.90
6. Mike Marlar, 82.67
7. Josh Richards, 81.78
8. Bobby Pierce, 81.20
9. Scott Bloomquist, 80.83
10. Shane Clanton, 80.31
View Full Late Model Rankings