Compiled by: Langley Austin ~ [email protected]
Copper Hill, VA(May 24, 2012) — Wow. That would be a good word to describe all of the goings on in Late Model Stock Car racing right now. From a surprise win by Josh Berry at Motor Mile to pure domination by Dustin Rumley at Ace to the controversial disqualification and subsequent reinstatement and his re-disqualification(not really a word is it) of one of CE Falk’s wins at Langley to Nate Monteith getting busted after a mistake by his engine builder, there has been a lot happening.
Yeah, that’s only the top of the iceberg, but here at RACE22.com we’ve got the job of trying to sort the whole mess out and one of my personal favorite things to do is the Power Rankings. That’s where I try to take a look at the Late Model Stock Car scene as a whole and figure out who the power players are and figure out who’s going to get left off the list, because there’s only ten spots.
I hope you enjoy these too and without further interruption, let me unveil the Power Drivers from the last two weeks.
Honorable Mentions ….
Frank Deiny, Jr.
OK, yeah I just listed ole’ FDJ on here and you might ask why? Well, I just thought I’d help my new found friend on Facebook be right about us being ‘biased’ and a ‘shill for drivers with money’. I mean we couldn’t have just listed Frank on here because Saturday night he was a few spots away from being fired from his ride(inside joke or I assume he hopes so) in qualifying to finishing second with a chance to win it in the closing laps at Motor Mile. Yeah, heck we actually ignore what goes on, on the track in favor of our ‘favorites’!
Adam Long
Putting it on the pole at Motor Mile Speedway with Lee Pulliam in attendance is darn near impossible, but Adam Long … yes, I said Adam Long. The young driver has been coming into his own this season after up and down performances over the past several seasons and if he had been able to hold it together for the 150-lap race this past weekend he would have easily vaulted into the top 10.
10 – Kenny Brooks
He retains his spot among the top 10 with two more wins at Concord Speedway, bringing his season total to 5, but Concord Speedway appears to be on the verge of shutting down. They’ve cut the purse already and plan to end the season early … way early … in July. Hopefully for Brooks, he can move somewhere else and pick up right where he’ll leave off at Concord.
9 – Josh Berry
Winning at Motor Mile Speedway is a pretty big deal and when you’re the only car out of the JR Motorsports stables that wins races, that’s an even bigger deal. Josh Berry is proving that he has the talent to move up the ranks as he has been one of the best cars in every race at Motor Mile this season and on a night when Lee Pulliam dominated he came away with the win. Was there a little luck involved? Sure, but I’d rather be lucky than good any day.
8 – Daniel Pope II
Winning because the apparent winner gets disqualified isn’t something you typically celebrate, but for Daniel Pope, who picked up his third win after protesting Nate Monteith, it was a big deal. Not only did they get the win, but the subsequent disqualification gave him the points lead, something he hopes to hold on to the rest of the season.
7 – Dustin Rumley
At Ace Speedway the racing seems to go in cycles and when you’re hot there, you’re on fire. Dustin Rumley is having a little surge as he heats up along with the temperatures and has taken command of the Late Model Stock Car division at Ace Speedway. Rumley has always been a wheelman and now he’s taking it to a new level beating some of the best competition at Ace Speedway and making it look pretty easy.
6 – Greg Edwards
He was ranked second last time on the heels of being best in class in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown and the top Late Model regular. This time even with a win two wins, albeit by disqualification, he slips a little as many other drivers throughout the region begin to flex their muscle. However, Edwards I believe is on the verge of being right back at the top, if he can find a way to out run CE Falk III.
5 – Deac McCaskill
Southern National Motorsports Parks reincarnation has been good to Deac McCaskill as he’s been able to win five races there this season, not to mention his single victory at South Boston. Though he had taken a season or so off to mentor, Darrell Gilchrist, he hasn’t skipped a beat in his return.
4 – Marty Ward
Marty Ward is another driver that despite his age, hasn’t missed a beat and probably won’t anytime soon. He got tired of Toby Porter dominating at Greenville Pickens Speedway, the track that Ward has called home for years and now he’s up front winning every race. He’s won the last four and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
3 – Lee Pulliam
Everyone knew that it was only a formality for Lee Pulliam to be allowed to race, before he’d start dominating. Well three races in and he’s won the first two and had the third one won until he got into the corner too hard and pushed up into Josh Berry. So far in his career he’s won at every track he’s ever raced, much like his nemesis, Philip Morris, who is set to return soon as well. He’s won at Motor Mile, South Boston, Caraway and Martinsville and if he has anything to do with it, I’m sure he’ll add Kingsport Speedway to that list this weekend.
2 – Nate Monteith
Lightning Monteith has been living up to expectations this season and despite a protest and subsequent disqualification this past weekend, he’s not slowing down. He’s already got three wins and after getting his car clipped by Performancenter Racing Warehouse with a new Marlowe/LTO merged clip, his program is stronger than ever. He’ll have to be on his toes with invaders like Mike Looney, Adam Long and Lee Pulliam coming to town and he’s got to keep an eye on Daniel Pope and Zeke Shell for sure, but he’s vowed to win the rest of the races at Kingsport this season, so I guess we’ll see.
1 – CE Falk III
He might have been disqualified from two one, I mean two races this past weekend, but the young driver is still the hottest driver in Late Model Stock Car racing right now. Having won at South Boston, Motor Mile and Langley Speedway, he’s on fire and he’s on par to have a shot at winning the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Championship. However, his disqualification might have shed a little light on his domination this season, but we’ll find out if it mattered at all in twin races at Langley Speedway this weekend.