Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings: May 20

Welcome to the Inside Track's Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings. Each week of the racing season, the Gazette's Jeremiah Davis will rank the area's top 10 drivers across all divisions.

Think the list should be different? Tweet him at @jeremiahdavis10, send him an email at jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com or leave a comment at The Inside Track by Jeremiah Davis Facebook page.

New this week: Damon Murty

Dropped out:  Tyler Soppe

Just missed the cut:  Nathan Wood, Kyle Brown, Norman Chesmore, Jarrett Franzen, Sam Weiben, Mark Schulte

RANK

+/-

NAME

CLASS

THOUGHTS

1

--

Justin Kay

Late Model

Kay had two top-five finishes this weekend, once again cementing his status atop these rankings. But it's telling that a fifth at Farley looked bad - comparative to how he usually runs everywhere else he goes. Fifth is the worst finish he's had this season when he's finished the race. Oh, and he won $2.000 at West Liberty on Saturday night.

2

+1

Tony Olson

Sport Mod

The bad luck that bit him last weekend only returned in the form of rain on Saturday and Sunday, which kept him at home. Otherwise, he got a win at Davenport Speedway on Friday night. He then went to Vinton for the special Tuesday, where he ran fourth. He and Jenae Gustin keep going back and forth for Sport Mod bragging rights.

3

+1

Nathan Ballard

Hobby Stock

Ballard very nearly had two wins over the extended racing weekend, but came up one spot short. He dominated for a second straight week at Hawkeye Downs Speedway on Friday night. He was racing for the win Tuesday in Vinton, but a hard-fought battle for the lead allowed Benji Irvine to sneak by and relegate Ballard to second.

4

+2

Benji Irvine

Hobby Stock

Speaking of bit by rain, Irvine didn't have a chance to run at Indpendence Speedway on Saturday night, but made up for it with some Johnny-on-the-spot driving on Tuesday night in Vinton. He was third while Ballard and Jeremiah Wilson fought for the lead, and drove around both after the final restart to take the victory.

5

-3

Jenae Gustin

Sport Mod

The story of this season for Jenae Gustin is either a top five (generally top three) or a DNF. That trend continued this weekend, where she failed to finish at Marshalltown Speedway, and didn't get a chance to race the rest of the race weekend. Consistency is important, but confidence is sure not to drop in the Gustin garage.

6

+1

Matt Ryan

Late Model

Remember last week when I wrote it remains to be seen if he'd get back on the run of wins and podiums? Well, he did this week. Ryan got his fourth win of the season with a victory at Davenport on Friday night, then ran second to Todd Malstrom on Sunday at Quad City Speedway. Six weeks into the race season, this is no fluke.

7

-2

Troy Cordes

Modified

Talk about a weekend to forget. Cordes was running around the top five on Friday night at Farley Speedway before breaking a rod and failing to finish. Then - after raining out like most everyone else Saturday and Sunday - was in the top 10 during the Hawkeye Dirt Tour feature in Vinton, sheared the brakes off the front of the car and took another DNF.

8

NR

Damon Murty

Stock Car

The "Chelsea Charger," as he's called, returns to the rankings via one of the most impressive comebacks seen in recent years. Murty was leading the Stock Car main event Tuesday in Vinton, was spun, and restarted at the tail. He drove from ninth with eight to go and passed three-wide for the win out off turn four on the last lap.

9

+1

Brody Willett

L/MicroMod

This 13-year-old is beginning to turn some heads. He backed up a strong Legends race a week ago at Hawkeye Downs with a fourth on Friday night, and was as high as second. Then, on Tuesday, he dominated the MicroMod main event for his first win in Vinton and third on dirt this season. His versatility at his age is impressive.

10

-2

Tyler Droste

LM/Mod

Here's yet another who had good runs thwarted by bad luck at some point in the evening both nights out. He was running top five in his Late Model at Farley on Friday, but overheated and fell out to preserve his engine. Then, Tuesday, had to work his way through a B-main, thanks to a heat race incident, and finished seventh in the Hawkeye Dirt Tour A-main.

Previous: April 29; May 6; May 13

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