CONCORD, N.C. — Brad Sweet remained at the top of the National Sprint Car Rankings this week, but Donny Schatz and Danny Dietrich, who became the first driver to reach the 50-start plateau, each closed the gap.

Sweet, who won the $175,000 Kings Royal sprint car race at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway on July 20, has an average finish of 4.957 in 46 starts.

Schatz, who won Saturday’s Summer Nationals at Pennsylvania’s Williams Grove Speedway, is second in the standings with a 5.109 average finish in 46 starts.

With 53 starts, Dietrich was able to toss out his three worst finishes of the season and he jumped to third in the rankings with a 5.220 average finish.

Central Pennsylvania regulars Lance Dewease and Logan Wagner round out the top five.

Dietrich leads the Eastern region on the strength of 12 victories, while other regional leaders are Buddy Kofoid (Great Lakes), Billy Balog (Great Plains), Dominic Scelzi (West), Jacob Patton (Mid-America) and Carl Bowser. (Ohio-PA).

Ninety-eight drivers have combined to win 232 features run through July 28.

To see the National and Regional rankings, advance to the next page.