Smithville, OH --- Billy Moyer of Batesville, Arkansas was named the 2002 “Driver of the Year” for the NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL DRIVERS POLL, officials announced recently. The “Driver of the Year” Poll is the accumulation of the points dirt Late Model drivers accrued in the Quarterly National Dirt Late Model Drivers Polls conducted throughout the 2002 season. Don O’Neal was named number one in the 1st Quarter Drivers Poll (January-March 2002) while Dale McDowell took the number one ranking in the 2nd Quarter Drivers Poll (April-June 2002). Brian Birkhofer rode in the first spot in the 3rd Quarter Drivers Poll (July-September 2002) while Chub Frank claimed top honors in the 4th Quarter Drivers Poll (October- December 2002).
In the four previous poll voting, voting board members were asked to submit their top fifteen drivers based on performance and competition for each designated quarter. Each position was awarded points to determine the rankings. For the “Driver of the Year” rankings, the total votes from each quarter (for each driver) were tabulated to determine the year-end final rankings. The voting board is made up of primarily Motorsports media members as well as representatives from the manufacturing, sanctioning and promoting branches of the industry.
During the 2002 season a total of 88 drivers received votes during quarterly voting.
While Moyer failed to claim the top ranking during the preceding four quarters of the season, he was consistently ranked near the top in each voting segment garnering rankings of 2nd (1st Quarter), 2nd (3rd Quarter), 3rd (2nd Quarter) and 6th (4th Quarter).
Moyer had a stellar season winning 19 features that included several independent events as well as three UDTRA Pro Dirt Car Racing Series races, two MARS races, eight UMP races, one Renegade race and one STARS race. Among Moyer’s highlights include victories in the ‘Topless 100’ at Batesville Speedway in Locust Grove, Arkansas, the ‘Hillbilly 100’ at Tyler Co. Speedway in Marietta, WV, the ‘Magnolia State 100’ at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS, and the ‘Commonwealth Cup’ at KY Lake Speedway in Calvert City, Kentucky.
Moyer, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary as a professional dirt Late Model racer, was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002. Moyer’s familiar #21 is sponsored by Petroff Towing, J&J Steel, Karl Chevrolet, Clements Automotive, Jay Dickens Engines, ProPower Engines, B Auto Parts, Red Line Oil and JFR Graphics, among others.
Moyer’s top ranking for the year comes with a 320 point advantage over second place Scott Bloomquist, who is followed by Rick Eckert, Don O’Neal, Brian Birkhofer, Chub Frank, Dale McDowell, Shannon Babb, Steve Francis, Jimmy Mars, Bill Frye, Duayne Hommel, Wendell Wallace, Rick Aukland and Earl Pearson, Jr. (See complete 2002 rankings below)
SEASON POLLING REVIEW: Don “The Real Deal” O’Neal, of Martinsville, Indiana, swept the top honors of the first quarter balloting of the newly formed National Dirt Late Model Drivers Poll, affiliated with the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, by taking a near unanimous sweep of number one votes by the voting board. Every voting member who submitted a first quarter ballot, except two members, inked O’Neal in as their number one choice of the top 15 dirt Late Model racers in the country competing from January 1, 2002 through March 31, 2002. 38 dirt Late Model racers received votes.
The National Dirt Late Model Driver Poll #1 of 2002 saw O’Neal trailed by Billy Moyer, Jr., of Batesville, Arkansas, who rode into the Poll in the second slot. Rounding out the top five were Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert and Jimmy Mars. All drivers in the top five of first quarter balloting have won features during the first three months of 2002.
Rounding out the remaining choices of the nation’s top fifteen dirt Late Model drivers were Chub Frank, Dale McDowell, Bill Frye, Wendell Wallace, Brian Birkhofer, Kenny Merchant, Jody Summerville, Duayne Hommel and Steve Russell.
Dale McDowell, of Rossville, GA, topped the NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL DRIVERS POLL, an off-shoot of the NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL HALL OF FAME, in the second quarter voting for the period April 1 – June 30, 2002. To illustrate how competitive the sport is, Scott Bloomquist came in second by a mere 50-point deficit behind McDowell. Both are former UDTRA Pro Dirt Car Racing Series champions. McDowell earned 2,050 votes to Bloomquist’s 2000 votes.
Following McDowell and Bloomquist in the national rankings for the Top 15 dirt Late Model drivers were Billy Moyer, Rick Eckert, Don O’Neal, Shannon Babb, Wendell Wallace, Steve Francis, Brian Birkhofer, Bill Frye, Duayne Hommel, Gary Stuhler, Chub Frank, Jimmy Mars and Earl Pearson, Jr. 49 drivers received votes in the latest poll based on performances from April 1, 2002 through June 30, 2002.
Brian Birkhofer, of Muscatine, IA, topped the NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL DRIVERS POLL, in the third quarter voting for the period July 1 – September 30, 2002. Birkhofer’s outstanding season, highlighted by his stunning WORLD 100 victory, vaulted him to the top of the third quarter poll with 2,960 points over runner-up Billy Moyer who scored 2,230 points.
Following Birkhofer and Moyer in voting of the top 15 dirt Late Model drivers in the United States were Chub Frank, Rick Eckert, Scott Bloomquist, Dale McDowell, Shannon Babb, Rick Aukland, Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Earl Pearson, Jr., Duayne Hommell, Bill Frye, Randy Korte and Jimmy Mars. 56 drivers received votes in the latest poll based on performances and competition from July 1, 2002 through September 30, 2002.
Chub Frank, of Sugar Grove, PA, finds himself on top of the voting for the NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL DRIVERS POLL for the 4th quarter of 2002 (October-December). Frank topped the national poll by 290 markers over second place finisher Brian Birkhofer.
Trailing Frank in the fourth quarter voting were Birkhofer, Shannon Babb, Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert, Billy Moyer, Dale McDowell & Don O’Neal (tied for seventh), Steve Francis, Duayne Hommel, Dick Barton, Bill Frye, Steve Shaver, Steve Lucas, Ray Cook. 54 drivers received votes in the fourth quarter balloting.
For additional information and details on procedures visit the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame website at: www.ndlmhof.com. The NATIONAL DRIVERS POLL is sanctioned by the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.
2002 NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL DRIVERS POLL
YEAR-END FINAL STANDINGS
1. BILLY MOYER 9360
2. Scott Bloomquist 9040
3. Rick Eckert 8100
4. Don O’Neal 7810
5. Brian Birkhofer 6950
6. Chub Frank 6840
7. Dale McDowell 6490
8. Shannon Babb 5250
9. Steve Francis 4250
10. Jimmy Mars 3210
11. Bill Frye 3060
12. Duayne Hommel 2510
13. Wendell Wallace 2220
14. Rick Aukland 1830
15. Earl Pearson, Jr 1790
16. Mike Boland 1250
17. Steve Shaver 1240
18. Freddy Smith 1190
19. Al Purkey 1060
20. Mike Balzano 1010
21. Donnie Moran 980
22. Kenny Merchant 950
23. Terry English 930
24. Kyle Berck 780
25. Gary Stuhler 770
26. Jody Summerville 730
27. Randy Korte 720
28. Davey Johnson 680
29. Ray Cook 660
30. Steve Russell 640
31. Terry Phillips 610
32. Dick Barton 600
33. Brian Ruhlman 590
34. Steve Lucas 570
35. Skip Arp 520
36. Rodney Wing 350
37. Randle Chupp 320
38. John Flinner 250
39. Darrell Lanigan 230
40. Pat Doar 220
Dan Schlieper 220
42. Todd Andrews 210
John Gill 210
44. Dan Armbruster 170
Greg Johnson 170
Bob Pierce 170
47. Nathan Durbaraw 150
Joey Izzo 150
John Mason 150
50. Ryan Markham 140
Paul Wilmoth 140
52. Jackie Boggs 120
53. Johnny Wheeler 110
54. Steve Barnett 100
55. Scott Haus 90
Ronnie Johnson 90
57. Mark Douglas 80
Dennis Erb Jr 80
Tim Hitt 80
Kris Patterson 80
Jeep Van Wormer 80
Shane Yoder 80
63. Denny Eckrich 70
Jesse Lay 70
Anthony Rushing 70
66. Corey Conley 60
Mike Duvall 60
David Gentry 60
Larry McDaniels 60
Billy Ogle Jr 60
Jason Smith 60
72. Eddie Carrier, Jr 50
Dave Lyon 50
Rodney Melvin 50
Dick Shepard 50
76. Charlie Duncan 40
Alan Vaughn 40
78. Robbie Blair 30
Audie McWilliams 30
Kevin Weaver 30
81. Allan Baker 20
Darren Miller 20
Jerry Rice 20
84. Dennis Franklin 10
Billy Hicks 10
Hillard Miller 10
Jack Pennington 10
Ken Schrader 10
In the four previous poll voting, voting board members were asked to submit their top fifteen drivers based on performance and competition for each designated quarter. Each position was awarded points to determine the rankings. For the “Driver of the Year” rankings, the total votes from each quarter (for each driver) were tabulated to determine the year-end final rankings. The voting board is made up of primarily Motorsports media members as well as representatives from the manufacturing, sanctioning and promoting branches of the industry.
During the 2002 season a total of 88 drivers received votes during quarterly voting.
While Moyer failed to claim the top ranking during the preceding four quarters of the season, he was consistently ranked near the top in each voting segment garnering rankings of 2nd (1st Quarter), 2nd (3rd Quarter), 3rd (2nd Quarter) and 6th (4th Quarter).
Moyer had a stellar season winning 19 features that included several independent events as well as three UDTRA Pro Dirt Car Racing Series races, two MARS races, eight UMP races, one Renegade race and one STARS race. Among Moyer’s highlights include victories in the ‘Topless 100’ at Batesville Speedway in Locust Grove, Arkansas, the ‘Hillbilly 100’ at Tyler Co. Speedway in Marietta, WV, the ‘Magnolia State 100’ at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS, and the ‘Commonwealth Cup’ at KY Lake Speedway in Calvert City, Kentucky.
Moyer, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary as a professional dirt Late Model racer, was inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in 2002. Moyer’s familiar #21 is sponsored by Petroff Towing, J&J Steel, Karl Chevrolet, Clements Automotive, Jay Dickens Engines, ProPower Engines, B Auto Parts, Red Line Oil and JFR Graphics, among others.
Moyer’s top ranking for the year comes with a 320 point advantage over second place Scott Bloomquist, who is followed by Rick Eckert, Don O’Neal, Brian Birkhofer, Chub Frank, Dale McDowell, Shannon Babb, Steve Francis, Jimmy Mars, Bill Frye, Duayne Hommel, Wendell Wallace, Rick Aukland and Earl Pearson, Jr. (See complete 2002 rankings below)
SEASON POLLING REVIEW: Don “The Real Deal” O’Neal, of Martinsville, Indiana, swept the top honors of the first quarter balloting of the newly formed National Dirt Late Model Drivers Poll, affiliated with the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, by taking a near unanimous sweep of number one votes by the voting board. Every voting member who submitted a first quarter ballot, except two members, inked O’Neal in as their number one choice of the top 15 dirt Late Model racers in the country competing from January 1, 2002 through March 31, 2002. 38 dirt Late Model racers received votes.
The National Dirt Late Model Driver Poll #1 of 2002 saw O’Neal trailed by Billy Moyer, Jr., of Batesville, Arkansas, who rode into the Poll in the second slot. Rounding out the top five were Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert and Jimmy Mars. All drivers in the top five of first quarter balloting have won features during the first three months of 2002.
Rounding out the remaining choices of the nation’s top fifteen dirt Late Model drivers were Chub Frank, Dale McDowell, Bill Frye, Wendell Wallace, Brian Birkhofer, Kenny Merchant, Jody Summerville, Duayne Hommel and Steve Russell.
Dale McDowell, of Rossville, GA, topped the NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL DRIVERS POLL, an off-shoot of the NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL HALL OF FAME, in the second quarter voting for the period April 1 – June 30, 2002. To illustrate how competitive the sport is, Scott Bloomquist came in second by a mere 50-point deficit behind McDowell. Both are former UDTRA Pro Dirt Car Racing Series champions. McDowell earned 2,050 votes to Bloomquist’s 2000 votes.
Following McDowell and Bloomquist in the national rankings for the Top 15 dirt Late Model drivers were Billy Moyer, Rick Eckert, Don O’Neal, Shannon Babb, Wendell Wallace, Steve Francis, Brian Birkhofer, Bill Frye, Duayne Hommel, Gary Stuhler, Chub Frank, Jimmy Mars and Earl Pearson, Jr. 49 drivers received votes in the latest poll based on performances from April 1, 2002 through June 30, 2002.
Brian Birkhofer, of Muscatine, IA, topped the NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL DRIVERS POLL, in the third quarter voting for the period July 1 – September 30, 2002. Birkhofer’s outstanding season, highlighted by his stunning WORLD 100 victory, vaulted him to the top of the third quarter poll with 2,960 points over runner-up Billy Moyer who scored 2,230 points.
Following Birkhofer and Moyer in voting of the top 15 dirt Late Model drivers in the United States were Chub Frank, Rick Eckert, Scott Bloomquist, Dale McDowell, Shannon Babb, Rick Aukland, Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Earl Pearson, Jr., Duayne Hommell, Bill Frye, Randy Korte and Jimmy Mars. 56 drivers received votes in the latest poll based on performances and competition from July 1, 2002 through September 30, 2002.
Chub Frank, of Sugar Grove, PA, finds himself on top of the voting for the NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL DRIVERS POLL for the 4th quarter of 2002 (October-December). Frank topped the national poll by 290 markers over second place finisher Brian Birkhofer.
Trailing Frank in the fourth quarter voting were Birkhofer, Shannon Babb, Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert, Billy Moyer, Dale McDowell & Don O’Neal (tied for seventh), Steve Francis, Duayne Hommel, Dick Barton, Bill Frye, Steve Shaver, Steve Lucas, Ray Cook. 54 drivers received votes in the fourth quarter balloting.
For additional information and details on procedures visit the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame website at: www.ndlmhof.com. The NATIONAL DRIVERS POLL is sanctioned by the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.
2002 NATIONAL DIRT LATE MODEL DRIVERS POLL
YEAR-END FINAL STANDINGS
1. BILLY MOYER 9360
2. Scott Bloomquist 9040
3. Rick Eckert 8100
4. Don O’Neal 7810
5. Brian Birkhofer 6950
6. Chub Frank 6840
7. Dale McDowell 6490
8. Shannon Babb 5250
9. Steve Francis 4250
10. Jimmy Mars 3210
11. Bill Frye 3060
12. Duayne Hommel 2510
13. Wendell Wallace 2220
14. Rick Aukland 1830
15. Earl Pearson, Jr 1790
16. Mike Boland 1250
17. Steve Shaver 1240
18. Freddy Smith 1190
19. Al Purkey 1060
20. Mike Balzano 1010
21. Donnie Moran 980
22. Kenny Merchant 950
23. Terry English 930
24. Kyle Berck 780
25. Gary Stuhler 770
26. Jody Summerville 730
27. Randy Korte 720
28. Davey Johnson 680
29. Ray Cook 660
30. Steve Russell 640
31. Terry Phillips 610
32. Dick Barton 600
33. Brian Ruhlman 590
34. Steve Lucas 570
35. Skip Arp 520
36. Rodney Wing 350
37. Randle Chupp 320
38. John Flinner 250
39. Darrell Lanigan 230
40. Pat Doar 220
Dan Schlieper 220
42. Todd Andrews 210
John Gill 210
44. Dan Armbruster 170
Greg Johnson 170
Bob Pierce 170
47. Nathan Durbaraw 150
Joey Izzo 150
John Mason 150
50. Ryan Markham 140
Paul Wilmoth 140
52. Jackie Boggs 120
53. Johnny Wheeler 110
54. Steve Barnett 100
55. Scott Haus 90
Ronnie Johnson 90
57. Mark Douglas 80
Dennis Erb Jr 80
Tim Hitt 80
Kris Patterson 80
Jeep Van Wormer 80
Shane Yoder 80
63. Denny Eckrich 70
Jesse Lay 70
Anthony Rushing 70
66. Corey Conley 60
Mike Duvall 60
David Gentry 60
Larry McDaniels 60
Billy Ogle Jr 60
Jason Smith 60
72. Eddie Carrier, Jr 50
Dave Lyon 50
Rodney Melvin 50
Dick Shepard 50
76. Charlie Duncan 40
Alan Vaughn 40
78. Robbie Blair 30
Audie McWilliams 30
Kevin Weaver 30
81. Allan Baker 20
Darren Miller 20
Jerry Rice 20
84. Dennis Franklin 10
Billy Hicks 10
Hillard Miller 10
Jack Pennington 10
Ken Schrader 10
