Rank these late model careers

[Pennsboro23]

Interesting topic I was discussing the other day, I thought I would ask 4m their opinion. Kind of like professional sports, every sport has a greatest of all time or a top 10. Scott Bloomquist is the greatest of all time in our sport, I don't think there is much debate there. Rank the top 10 CURRENT late model drivers based on their legacy's. Don't include drivers who you think will be their in 10-15 years...rank the top 10 active drivers. List their accomplishments If you have to, give some reasoning. I think it gets interesting after the top 2-3. Let's keep it civil and have a good debate.

My list

1.) Scott Bloomquist - Not much needs to be said here, has won every major event.
2.) Billy Moyer - In my opinion, undoubtedly the second best driver of all time. Don't need to list any accomplishments here.
3.) Jimmy Owens - Maybe the best 5 year stretch in late model history.
4.) Jonathan Davenport - 2015, best year ever for a late model driver. 2 Time lucas oil champ, still young and has won plenty of crown jewels already.
5.) Rick Eckert - Here's where it gets tough, DTWC winner, Dream, USA Nats, WoO Champ
6.) Tim McCreadie - WoO champ, World 100, USA Nats, Knoxville
7.) Dale McDowell - World 100, Dream, USA Nats
8.) Brian Birkhofer - World 100 x 2, DTWC
9.) Don O'Neal - Lucas oil title, Dream, DTWC
10.) Darrell Lanigan - WoO champ, Dream, DTWC



5-10 is a tough call.

[Josh Bayko]

With the sheer numbers of wins and titles, I’d have to squeeze Richards in there somehow.

[lokwaidid]

I'd have to put donnie moran ahead of Davenport.

[Josh Bayko]

I'd have to put donnie moran ahead of Davenport.

It’s supposed to be current drivers, and Donnie Moran hasn’t raced a late model in like five years.

[Barbecueboy]

Shocked that your top 10 wouldn't include EPJ......doesn't make it wrong, just strange he wouldn't be in that conversation considering what he has won over the years.

[Barbecueboy]

Richards

Yes, should be there.....

[Pennsboro23]

It's tough, I wanted to include Richards but his lack of crown jewel wins has me on others ahead of him. Josh will def. be top 5-8 by time it's all done, maybe higher.

EPJ was considered, as well as Chub and Babb. Looking back at it, I may put EPJ ahead of Darrell.

Someone else rank em, lets see it.

[waaac77]

1) Scott Bloomquist - Has dang near double the major wins as Moyer does. No one will touch these numbers ever.

2) Billy Moyer - Has nearly double the major wins as Owens. Clear #2 of all time of current drivers

3) Jimmy Owens - The clear #3. Checked off Knoxville this year and has now won every major event out there at least once.

4) Jonathan Davenport - 2015 was amazing. This year was pretty good but he still has a long way to go to catch Owens let alone the other two.

5) Brian Birkhofer - Now that he’s back and looking into form, he can go on this list. Amazing career before the hiatus. You used to be able to go onto his website and I’d just watch the ticker of all his major race wins. Hopefully he’ll be back out next year. I don’t think I’m alone when I say I would love to see him back in the winner circle of a major event.

6) Don O’Neal - Seems to check off a few major events every couple years. One of the greats and definitely the most ballsy driver in DLM history. Seems there’s nothing he can’t do in a racecar.

7) Jimmy Mars - Has had a long successful career. 2009 was probably the greatest year in the history of DLMs until Davenport’s 2015 campaign. That year he won the Firecracker, PDC, USA Nationals, North/South and the DTWC. He’s scattered a couple other big wins along the way and still remains a bit relevant.

8) Dale McDowell - Macdaddy has a Dream, World and two USA Nationals wins. Always a threat wherever he goes even today. Don’t see him slowing down anytime soon.

9) Josh Richards - Has had a lot of success on major tours and was very impressive last year winning the DTWC and the Lucas title at the same race. Also has two USA Nationals victories. Still hasn’t won at the Big E. Should have about 17 Knoxville wins but is the Michael Andretti of that race. He will have a lot of big wins to come in the future.

10) Brandon Sheppard - A lot like Kid Rocket. Great on tours. Has two DTWCs and one USA Nationals. Will get a lot more throughout his career.

Major wins = Wins at one of the following events:
Show-Me
Dream
Firecracker
Silver Dollar
PDC
USA Nationals
North/South
Topless
Hillbilly
World
Knoxville
DTWC

[Pennsboro23]

Good deal Waaac77

[jb20]

1. Bloomquist (No question on this one)
2. Moyer (Also no doubt here)
3. Owens (That 5 year stretch is mind-boggling to look back on)
4. Davenport (Touring titles plus crown jewels puts him ahead of Richards)
5. Richards (Possibly the best points racer on this list)
6. McDowell (As I type this, I wonder what I'm doing listing him #6)
7. Pearson (His longevity and this year's resurrection are impressive)
8. Eckert (Very similar to Pearson minus the resurrection)
9. Mars (He's quietly won a ton of big races in his career)
10. O'Neal (Incredibly versatile and wins in whatever he drives)

Really good thread here, Penn. Very thought provoking.

[MI Dirt Fan]

I agree 100% with Bayko. Richards is definitely in there about where Tmac is. I don't know if Tmac would be in my top 10. Probably honorable mention. But Richards definitely is. He is still shy of a few major wins but he definitely has to be considered.

I think one of the only major events Bloomquist hasn't won is the PDC.

[Tireguy17]

Richards is a 4-time WoO Champion and has the most all-time WoO wins (76).

There are only 2 drivers who have won both the WoO and Lucas Oil titles. 1 is Bloomquist and the other is Richards.

Im not a fan of his but he belongs in the Top 10, if not the Top 5.

[MI Dirt Fan]

I always find it surprising certain drivers have won what events when I look at there website. Lanigan, Babb and Madden come to mind...

[#FALSuperman]

Interesting topic I was discussing the other day, I thought I would ask 4m their opinion. Kind of like professional sports, every sport has a greatest of all time or a top 10. Scott Bloomquist is the greatest of all time in our sport, I don't think there is much debate there. Rank the top 10 CURRENT late model drivers based on their legacy's. Don't include drivers who you think will be their in 10-15 years...rank the top 10 active drivers. List their accomplishments If you have to, give some reasoning. I think it gets interesting after the top 2-3. Let's keep it civil and have a good debate.

My list

1.) Scott Bloomquist - Not much needs to be said here, has won every major event.
2.) Billy Moyer - In my opinion, undoubtedly the second best driver of all time. Don't need to list any accomplishments here.
3.) Jimmy Owens - Maybe the best 5 year stretch in late model history.
4.) Jonathan Davenport - 2015, best year ever for a late model driver. 2 Time lucas oil champ, still young and has won plenty of crown jewels already.
5.) Rick Eckert - Here's where it gets tough, DTWC winner, Dream, USA Nats, WoO Champ
6.) Tim McCreadie - WoO champ, World 100, USA Nats, Knoxville
7.) Dale McDowell - World 100, Dream, USA Nats
8.) Brian Birkhofer - World 100 x 2, DTWC
9.) Don O'Neal - Lucas oil title, Dream, DTWC
10.) Darrell Lanigan - WoO champ, Dream, DTWC



5-10 is a tough call.

I would replace (drop) Eckert with Richards and perhaps Lanigan with EPJ although that is like splitting hairs.
Good list overall.

[Pennsboro23]

Maybe I'm weighing crown jewel wins too much...