Always Race Day is stepping into the world of rankings. Connor Ferguson, Damon Helgevold and Josh Gerlach voted the best 25 Sprint Car drivers heading into the week of August 23rd.
The list will contain drivers from the World of Outlaws, All Star Circuit of Champions, High Limit Series, Knoxville Raceway, PA Posse and other Sprint Car series across the country.
For the first time in the Always Race Day Top 25, we have a new driver atop the charts. Kyle Larson uses his win in the 62nd Knoxville Nationals and powers to the top of the ARD Top 25. Larson led all 50 laps of the Nationals and fended off challengers all night long. He becomes the eighth driver in history to win two Nationals titles and only the second to win it from the first starting spot. Even though he doesn’t run every race, Larson either wins or competes for the win each time he takes to the track.
David Gravel slips one spot to number two in the polls. The driver of the No. 2 only fell because of the masterful drive Larson had in central Iowa. He still leads the Outlaws in wins, Top-fives and Top-tens. Also what Gravel was able to do coming from the 22nd starting spot in the A-Main of the Knoxville Nationals to finish second is still remarkable.
A prelim night win followed by a solid run Carson Macedo moves up one spot to the third position in the ARD Rankings. Macedo has been really consistent all year but here lately his performance has stepped up. Only behind Gravel, Macedo has the second most wins, top=fives and top-tens in the Outlaws season. He’s right in the thick of the World of Outlaws title chase because of that consistency.
With Macedo moving up that means Brad Sweet has to fall one spot. It wasn’t the Knoxville Nationals that the Napa No. 49 wanted. However, starting deep in the field he was able to march into the top ten with a sixth place run. Consistency will need to turn into wins if the ‘Big Cat’ wants another Outlaws title in 2023.
Staying put in the fifth spot is Rico Abreu. If not for a blown tire, Abreu would have been challenging Larson for the win at Knoxville. He has been lights out around the half mile track in Iowa every time he’s been there this year. We will never know what the night would have held if the tire doesn’t let go but one thing for sure, Abreu is still fast and will be for the rest of the year.
The biggest mover is none other than Tyler Courtney. Sunshine returns to the driver seat and wastes no time winning. he gets the win the All-Star race over the past weekend that helps propel him back into the top 15.
Tumbling down the list is Anthony Macri. The biggest faller in the polls comes from a lackluster run in a very strong car. Courtney stepped back into the ride and won right away, Macri struggled to get a grip in the No. 7BC ride. Now it’s going to be seat hopping season for Macri most likely for the remainder of the year.
Three new drivers make an appearance into the ARD Top 25. Chase Randall, Lance Dewease and Kerry Madsen all find themselves in the top 25 this week. Randall and Madsen had great runs in Knoxville. Randall will be most known for the challenge he gave Donny Schatz on Wednesday’s prelim at the Knoxville Nationals.
Speaking of Schatz he is on the move up and will be in the sixth spot this week. James McFadden moves up two spots as did Gio Scelzi.
Below is the list of the Always Race Day Top-25 rankings.
ARD Sprint Car Rankings 8/23 (LW)
- Kyle Larson (2)
- David Gravel (1)
- Carson Macedo (4)
- Brad Sweet (3)
- Rico Abreu (5)
- Donny Schatz (7)
- James McFadden (9)
- Logan Schuchart (6)
- Buddy Kofoid (10)
- Brent Marks (7)
- Gio Scelzi (13)
- Tyler Courtney (21)
- Brian Brown (11)
- Justin Peck (14)
- Cory Eliason (19)
- Corey Day (16)
- Zeb Wise (17)
- Aaron Reutzel (15)
- Spencer Bayston (18)
- Anthony Macri (12)
- Sheldon Haudenschild (20)
- Chase Randall (NR)
- Lance Dewease (NR)
- Justin Sanders (22)
- Kerry Madsen (NR)
Receiving Votes- Austin McCarl, Danny Dietrich, Freddie Rahmer
Rankings are based on a points system. 1st place=25 points, 2nd=24 points, 3rd=23 points, etc. Tiebreakers determined by driver listed higher on two ballots.
