Rick Eckert started the season strong when he captured the World of Outlaws Late Models’ season opener at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, GA, in February. Eckert started second and powered by Eric Wells for the lead before the field even completed a turn. Eckert held on to his lead through challenges by Chris Madden, Brandon Overton, and Tyler Erb Jr. to become the first Outlaw winner of the 2017 season.

From there, it got a little more challenging. Three of Eckert's next seven attempts landed outside the top 10, with an average finish of 11th. But when he ended his negative streak, he did so in style.

His next win came outside of the Outlaw circuit on April 23 at Port Royal (PA) Speedway in a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned race. Eckert found his speed late in the race to rocket past Gregg Satterlee — squeezing by on the bottom. Eckert held the lead through the final caution which set up a late race shootout for the win. On the restart, Eckert pulled in front of the field with ease for the upset.

His second World of Outlaws win came at Shawano (WI) Speedway, where he captured the pole and maintained his advantage to lead flag-to-flag. With this win, Eckert joined the group of seven drivers that won multiple World of Outlaws features in the 2017 season, and he was destined to make the Flo 50.

Eckert's two Outlaws wins, 16 top fives, and 28 top 10s propelled him to fifth in the 2017 points standings. Notably, this was the 12th year in which Eckert finished in the top five. The highlight of those seasons is his 2011 Outlaws Championship.

When the Outlaws took their late-season break before the World Finals, Eckert squeezed in a top 10 in the 29th running of the Pittsburgher 100 at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania’s Motor Speedway with Lucas Oil.

Eckert showed consistently all season, proving that the veterans still have what it takes to win big by taking 46th spot in the Flo 50.

Flo 50

*Percentage points utilize the baseline belief that a win is a win in the major series covered. One hundred points is awarded to first and the points decrement below that as a percentage of the field. For example, in a 25-car field, each position behind the winner is worth four fewer points. In races with incredibly large fields, the points decrement to a less extreme degree. A 50-car field decrements two points per position, and drivers earn points even if they fail to make the A-main.

Introducing The Flo 50