USAC

Rankings: Top 10 Dirt Drivers In October

Rankings: Top 10 Dirt Drivers In October

FloRacing ranks the top 10 dirt drivers during the month of October.

Nov 2, 2021 by Brandon Paul
Rankings: Top 10 Dirt Drivers In October

From the Speed Showcase 200 at Port Royal to the Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth Raceway Park and Trophy Cup at Thunderbowl Raceway, October was a month filled with big-money races on dirt. 

With the month of racing concluded, we're taking on the difficult task of ranking the top 10 drivers who performed best during the month. 

1) Mat Williamson - During the month of October, Williamson lived up to the moniker of "Big Money Mat" by turning in one of the most impressive weeks in Dirt Modified history. Williamson collected five wins during a nine-day stretch, culminating with his second straight Super DIRT Week victory at Oswego Speedway. Along the way, he scored Big-Block Modified wins during the Outlaw 200 at Fulton Speedway and Demon 100 at Brewerton Speedway. He also added Small-Block Modified victories at Brewerton and Weedsport Speedway. In 11 starts during the month, he only missed the podium once after suffering a flat tire and finishing eighth in the Speed Showcase 200 at Port Royal Speedway. 

Williamson Red Hot Entering Speed Showcase

FloRacing caught up with Mat Williamson prior to the Speed Showcase 200. 

2) Jonathan Davenport - The driver known as "Superman" collected three wins and a championship during the month. Davenport swept a pair of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events in home state of Georgia at Dixie Speedway and Rome Speedway before finishing third in the Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth. Davenport ended his month with an exclamation point by winning the Castrol FloRacing Night in America finale at Volunteer Speedway and clinching the $20,000 championship. 

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Check out highlights from Castrol FloRacing Night in America at Volunteer.

3) Michael "Buddy" Kofoid - When it comes to open-wheel racing during the month, nobody did it better than Kofoid. The rising star from California collected a pair of POWRi National Midget Series wins at Port City Raceway and I-44 Riverside Speedway. While the victories are impressive on their own, they carry even more weight because he beat NASCAR Cup Series star Christopher Bell to win both races. Kofoid ended the month by winning the $27,000 Trophy Cup at Thunderbowl Raceway. 

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Prior to the season, FloRacing caught up with Buddy Kofoid.

4) Stewart Friesen - How does one match at $50,000 victory in September? How about another $50,000 victory in October? That's exactly what Friesen did. After an up-and-down weekend at Port Royal Speedway, Friesen broke through for his first victory at the track during the Short Track Super Series Speed Showcase 200. He added Small-Block Modified victories at a pair of major events, Super DIRT Week and Eastern States Weekend at Orange County Fair Speedway. 

Friesen Claims Another $50,000 At Port Royal
Stewart Friesen discusses his Speed Showcase 200 win at Port Royal.

5) Brandon Overton - The month of October was a slow month for Overton. Of course, we say that jokingly. This year's hottest Dirt Late Model driver missed out on the $100,000 Dirt Track World Championship victory by one position, but added a trio of victories during the month. Overton's wins included a World of Outlaws Late Model Series win at Cherokee Speedway, the Tennessee State Championships at 411 Motor Speedway and the $20,000-to-win National 100 at East Alabama Motor Speedway. In eight starts, he finished no worse than fourth during the month. 

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Watch highlights from the National 100 at East Alabama.

6) Jimmy Owens - "The Newport Nightmare" defended his home turf by winning Castrol FloRacing Night in America at 411 Motor Speedway. Owens didn't stop there. As a teammate to Kyle Bronson, Owens made a rare Crate Late Model start during the Powell Family Memorial at All-Tech Raceway. He didn't waste the opportunity, beating a deep field of drivers to win "Florida's Crown Jewel Race" and the $26,000 that went along with it. 

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View the highlights from All-Tech Raceway to see how Owens got the job done.

7) Carson Macedo - The month of October provided a good glimpse into the future of the open-wheel ranks. Macedo joins Kofoid on this month's top 10 after recording a pair of Sprint Car wins, including a $75,000 National Open victory at Williams Grove Speedway. Macedo followed up his win later in the month with his 11th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series win of the season at Lawton Speedway. 

29. Carson Macedo

Carson Macedo appeared on the Anderson 410 Podcast earlier this season. 

8) Ricky Thornton, Jr. - It may have only been one race, but RTJ's victory was the richest of the month in the dirt racing ranks. Thornton prevailed over the best Dirt Late Model racers in the country to win the $100,000 Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth Raceway Park. After adding the biggest win of his career to his resume, Thornton will look to make an even bigger splash during the 2022 season. 

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Inside the Hauler presented by Castrol gives you a look inside Thornton's hauler. 

9) Ashton Winger - With the $50,000-to-win Peach State Classic approaching at Senoia Raceway, Ashton Winger has established himself as the clear favorite to win. Winger collected a trio of big wins at Senoia this month. He began the month by winning the World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at the track and ended the month by sweeping a pair of Southern All Stars (SAS) Dirt Racing Series events. 

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Watch highlights from Ashton Winger's most recent SAS victory at Senoia.

10) Mike Mahaney - Prior to the month of October, Mike Mahaney had never won a Short Track Super Series (STSS) race or a Modified touring series championship. The New York racer checked both boxes during the month by winning his first STSS race at Port Royal Speedway and clinching the STSS South Region championship during the season finale at Georgetown Speedway. 

Mike Mahaney Stays Hot At Port Royal

Mike Mahaney chats with FloRacing about his first career STSS victory.