Its time for a new edition of SPEED SPORT Power Rankings. Who will be on top this week?

1. Alex Palou

Three-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou won for the second time in two races to start the season Sunday afternoon at Californias Thermal Club. Last Week: 4

2. Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson won three races in four starts this week. Larson picked up a High Limit Racing sprint car win, won a Craftsman Truck Series race and ended the week by capturing his first NASCAR Cup Series triumph of the season Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Last Week: 10

3. David Gravel

Reigning World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion David Gravel swept a two-race weekend at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Texas. Gravel has won five features this season. Last Week: 7

4. Devin Moran

Devin Moran won the Indiana Icebreaker Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race for the second consecutive season. Moran earned $25,000 for what was his fourth series victory of the season. Last Week: 6

5. Lando Norris

After winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris finished second in Sundays Chinese Grand Prix. Last Week: 3

6. Shawn Langdon

Having been the runner-up at the season-opening Gatornationals, Shawn Langdon moved to the top of the ladder by winning Sundays Top Fuel title at Firebird Motorsports Park in Arizona. Last Week: Not Ranked

7. Ricky Thornton Jr.

Reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion claimed his seventh win of the season Friday night at Ohios Atomic Speedway. Last Week: Not Ranked

8. No. 7 Penske Porsche Motorsports

Nick Tandy, Felipe Nasr and Laurens Vanthoor drove the No. 7 Penske Porsche Motorsports machine to victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring Intl Raceway. The team also won Januarys Rolex 24 At Daytona. Last Week: 5

9. William Byron-8

Daytona 500 winner William Byron finished 12th in Sundays NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He leads the Cup Series standings through six races. Last Week: 8

10. Christopher Bell

Christopher Bells three-race winning streak in the NASCAR Cup Series seems like it was a lifetime ago after a 29th-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Last Week: 1

On The Move: Kyle Larson won three of the four races he ran and jumped to the top of the power rankings.

What To Watch For?: The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for its first short-track race of the season.

Dropped Out: Antron Brown and Ron Capps dropped out of the rankings this week, while Christopher Bell fell from first to 10th.

CONCORD, N.C. When the Super DIRTcar Series kicks off its 2025 season at New Egypt Speedway during the Power in the Pines, March 29, 19 drivers will begin their chase for the championship.

The roster includes two former champions, a MD3 Rookie of the Year contender and several Series veterans some looking to add to their win count and others still looking for their first.

Theyll battle for the title at more than 30 races across six states and two Canadian provinces.

Heres a look at the 2025 roster:

RETURNERS

Mat Williamson/2x Series Champion/St. Catharines, Ont. 

Mat Williamson scored his second Super DIRTcar Series championship in 2024, outdueling Matt Sheppard by 33 points to become the eighth multi-time champion in Series history. The championship run was highlighted by eight victories, including a win during the World of Outlaws World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Williamson enters the 2025 season tied with Jack Johnson for ninth on the Series all-time wins list with 31 Feature wins.

Matt Sheppard/10x Series Champion/Waterloo, N.Y. 

Matt Sheppard narrowly missed out on an 11th series title in 2024 after engine woes on the opening night of World Finals pushed Williamson ahead.

The Waterloo, NY driver scored three wins, including two at Volusia Speedway Park. His other came in the King of the North finale at Autodrome Drummond.

After a win to kick off 2025 during Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, hes two wins away from joining Brett Hearn as the only two drivers to earn 100 Super DIRTcar Series victories.

Anthony Perrego/Montgomery, N.Y. 

Anthony Perrego is one of many drivers who had their best Super DIRTcar Series points finish in 2024. The Montgomery, N.Y. driver finished third in the overall standings after capturing two victories (New Egypt Speedway and The Dirt Track at Charlotte) in the Vinny Salerno-owned No. 4 car.

He also scored top fives at Weedsport Speedway, Big Diamond Speedway, Land of Legends Raceway, Brockville Ontario Speedway, Can-Am Speedway, and Albany-Saratoga Speedway, reaching the podium on six occasions.

The Ant-Man will look to open the championship season with a win for the second straight year when the Series returns to New Jersey for the Power in the Pines on Saturday, March 29.

Jimmy Phelps/Baldwinsville, N.Y. 

Jimmy Phelps enters his 20th full-time season with the Super DIRTcar Series in 2025 after returning to the win column in 2024.

 The Baldwinsville, NY driver found Victory Lane in the Natural 77 at Thunder Mountain Speedway, a race in honor of the late Dale Planck  his first Series win since 2022.

Phelps has 22 career series victories, tying him with four-time Series champion Will Cagle for 15th all-time.

Tim Sears Jr./Hastings, N.Y. 

Tim Sears Jr. returns to the Super DIRTcar Series for his fifth season in 2025 after finishing fifth in 2024s final standingsthe best season of his career. The Hastings, N.Y. driver earned nine top fives and 11 top 10s in 19 starts. Out of those nine top five finishes, five were on the podium.

While Timmer is still searching for his first Super DIRTcar Series victory, hes knocked on the door with top fives at Albany-Saratoga, Thunder Mountain, Weedsport, Drummond, Ransomville Speedway, Brockville and Can-Am.

Jack Lehner/Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Like Sears, Jack Lehner is coming off his best year with the Super DIRTcar Series. The Saratoga Springs, N.Y. competitor used a run of six top 10s in the last eight races to leap to sixth in the final standings.

Lehner ended 2024 with three top fives and eight top 10s, with his best finishes coming at Thunder Mountain Speedway (fourth) and Super DIRT Week (fifth).

Alex Payne/2024 Rookie of the Year/Hopewell, N.Y.

Alex Paynes Super DIRTcar Series career got off to a great start, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2024 and scoring his first career series victory at Brockville Ontario Speedway. That win, five top fives, and nine top 10s helped Payne finish seventh in the 2024 final standings.

The Hopewell, N.Y. driver has the chance to get off to a hot start for the second straight year after finishing sixth at New Egypt last season.

Darren Smith/Binghamton, N.Y.

Darren Smith continues his rise in the Super DIRTcar Series standings after finishing eighth in points in 2024. The Binghamton, N.Y. driver earned his best finish in the seasons opening race at New Egypt, leading 40 laps before being passed by Anthony Perrego for the win coming to the white flag.

Smith added six top 10s along with his runner-up finish, including a sixth at Super DIRT Week. His other five top 10s came at Weedsport, Drummond, Land of Legends, and Oswego Speedway during Super DIRT Week 53.

Felix Roy/Napierville, Q.C.

After a successful first season with the Super DIRTcar Series, Felix Roy was even better in 2024. Despite a slow start, Hollywood earned seven top 10s in the final 12 races to finish ninth in the final Series standings.

While he had a strong season in a Big Block, he also thrived in a 358 Modified last year, entering 2025 as the defending DIRTcar 358 Modified Series champion.

Mike Mahaney/Elizabethtown, N.Y.

Mike Mahaney finished in the top 10 in the Series standings for the second time in 2024. However, despite eight top 10s, Smooth Shoe went winless throughout the season. His best finishes were a pair of eighths at Weedsport Speedway and Oswego Speedway during Super DIRT Week.

The Elizabethtown, N.Y. driver currently has three career Super DIRTcar Series wins.

Larry Wight/Phoenix, N.Y.

Larry Wight returns for his 12th season of full-time Super DIRTcar Series competition after finishing 12th in the standings in 2024. The Phoenix, N.Y. driver hopes to rebound after only scoring six top 10s last season.

Wight is currently tied for 22nd on the series all-time wins list with Frank Cozze with 12 triumphs.

Peter Britten, Brisbane, QLD

After a hot start to 2024 and being unable to travel to Canada, Peter Britten dropped to 13th in the standings at the end of the year. The Batman kicked off the year with two podium finishes at New Egypt and Can-Am and added two more top fives Land of Legends and Albany-Saratoga, and nine top 10s.

Hes off to a fast start again in 2025, earning a victory at DIRTcar Nationals.

Mike Trautschold, Roscoe, N.Y.

Mike Trautschold returns to the Super DIRTcar Series for his second season in 2025. The Roscoe, N.Y. native finished 14th in the final standings last year, with his best finish coming at Autodrome Drummond (13th).

He aims for a better 2025 after starting 17 of the 19 races.

Daniel Johnson, Middlesex, N.Y.

Daniel Johnson enters his sophomore season with the Super DIRTcar Series, aiming to improve off a 15th-place finish in the standings. The Middlesex, N.Y. driver has made 20 career Series starts, with his best finish coming at Ransomville Speedway during the Ron Martin Summer Nationals (11th).

C.G. Morey, Rutland, Vt.

C.G. Morey is ready for his fourth full-time year with the Super DIRTcar Series after finishing 17th in 2024. The Rutland, Vt. driver made 12 starts last season, with his best finish coming at Thunder Mountain during the Natural 77 (16th).

Justin Stone, Middlebury, N.Y.

Justin Stone enters his second season with the Super DIRTcar Series, fresh off a rookie season in which he finished 16th in points. The Vermont campaigner had one top 10 finish in 2024, crossing the line at Land of Legends Raceway ninth last July.

Stone has already found success this season, reaching Victory Lane in a DIRTcar UMP Modified during DIRTcar Nationals in February.

Marcus Dinkins, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Marcus Dinkins returns to full-time competition with the Super DIRTcar Series for the sixth time in his career. The Watkins Glen, NY driver has made 58 career Series starts and aims to climb the standings in 2025.

Dinkins had his best run Brockville Ontario Speedway in September, where he crossed the line 19th.

NEWCOMERS: 

Erick Rudolph/Ransomville, N.Y.

After a three-year break, Erick Rudolph returns to the Super DIRTcar Series in search of his first championship. The Ransomville, NY driver has come close to earning the prestigious title in the past, finishing second to Matt Sheppard in 2018.

Rudolph has already reached Victory Lane in 2025, grabbing his first Volusia Speedway Park victory during the finale of Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals in February. He enters the championship season with 11 Series victories, tied with Dave Lape for 11th all-time.

Matt Stangle/Neshanic Station, N.J. 

Matt Stangle has thrown his hat into the ring for MD3 Rookie of the Year honors in 2025. The Neshanic Station, N.J. driver has already been close to scoring a Super DIRTcar Series win, finishing second to Mat Williamson on the opening night of the 2023 championship season at Bridgeport Motorsports Park.

Stangle has a top five and two top 10s in three Super DIRTcar Series starts.

The Super DIRTcar Series kicks off its 2025 championship season on Saturday, March 29, for Power in the Pines at New Egypt Speedway in New Egypt, N.J.

WHEATLAND, Mo. Just a few days after earning a career-defining financial haul in the Dirt Modified world, Jim Chisholm knows its time to turn the page and focus on the King of America XIV at Lucas Oil Speedway.

The three-night United States Modified Touring Series show opens on Thursday with a $3,000-to-win feature and picks up momentum with a $5,000 prize to Fridays winner. Of course, all eyes will be on the $20,000-to-win prize in Saturdays grand finale.

For the 22-year-old Chisholm, who broke through in 2024 to win the USMTS National Championship, confidence is running high. The Osage, Iowa, native took command with a couple of laps remaining to capture $100,000 at last Saturdays XR Dominator at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Pryor, Okla.

Monetary-wise, the biggest for sure, Chisholm said of where the win ranks on his career list. Definitely one of the biggest races of my career going forward and might ever be. Just a really cool thing to have them put on shows like this and race for that kind of money.

The confidence is definitely there. Its a short turnaround, but we have short turnarounds a lot. You always come back to the shop and regroup. What happened last week is last week and you really cant take that into consideration this week. You just go at this next race like its another big one and try your best to win it.

Dan Ebert of Lake Shore, Minn., is reigning champion of the USMTS portion of the King of America with a win in 2023 as last years event was rained out at Humboldt Speedway. There have been 11 different winners over the years as the best of Modified racing gather for the early season showdown.

The event will include USRA Stock Cars paying $1,000-to-win Thursday, $2,000-to-win Friday and $3,000 to win Saturday. USRA B-Mods will be paying $1,000 to win Thursday, $2,000 to win Friday and $3,000 to win Saturday.

For Chisholm, the move of the King of America to Lucas Oil Speedway for the first time seems particularly timely. The south-central Missouri oval is a place that Chisholm never cared for until last summer when he swept USMTS features on back-to-back nights at Wheatland. The opener saw him prevail over veteran Terry Phillips in a back-and-forth duel over the last half of the race. That one was named Lucas Oil Speedways 2024 Race of the Year.

Chisholm said he doesnt have a good answer for why his fortunes suddenly took a positive turn at Wheatland, though a new dirt surface for the 2024 season could have played a factor.

It definitely drove like it was new dirt and reminded a lot of what we run at home, Chisholm said. Its stuff you cant push your stuff that hard. If you push, you go slower. It kind of fits into my driving style. Just finding the limit of the car you can run it at and not overstepping that boundary.

It raced super good last year. We were luckily able to start up front some of those shows and have good runs. Thats kind of the goal were setting for ourselves this time as well. Im super-excited to come back there.

Chisholm returns as the defending USMTS champion after edging out Jake Timm for his first championship. The title meant a ton for a youngster who grew up watching the USMTS stars visit nearby Deer Creek Speedway in family outings to the track.

It was one of those deals you watch them do the four-wide salute and youre like one of these days I want to be able to do that. To be able to go out and win a couple of shows and be a contender in the points was huge, but to win the championship Im still pretty speechless about that, Chisholm said.

There are a bunch of guys that are super fast and really tough to beat week in and week out. Its always a lot of fun to run with a group of guys who run so well together. You kind of know what to expect from them. They run you really hard and you run them really hard. At the end of the day, you go over and talk to them and go on to the next win.

Which is exactly what he will try to do, putting that six-figure pay day behind him.

As marquee events go this King of America kind of ranks with the Fall Jamboree, Chisholm said. Its the two original big Modified races. Its one of our biggest races of the year with the USMTS Series. Were gonna come out trying to win it, just like everyone else.

With only three events in the books so far on the USMTS schedule, Chisholm is a mere nine points behind five-time series champ Rodney Sanders. Not only is it way too early to talk points, Chisholm said he despises points racing any time of the year. Winning is the sole focus in his mind.

To be honest, I think points racing is dumb and to act like youre racing for points will only end up hurting you, Chisholm said. Every time youre at the race track your goal is to win. If you keep that in mind, the other stuff just kind of works out. Our goal every time is to try and win the race. If we come up short, we come up short and well try again next week.

Alex Bowman has been the most consistent driver through six NASCAR Cup Series races this season.

No driver has more top-10 finishes than Bowman and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team as he sits solidly third in the standings, behind teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson.

Consistency often leads to victories and that almost came to fruition during Sundays Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

After starting on the pole, Bowman led 43 laps and was in prime position to secure a playoff berth after taking the lead away from Bubba Wallace with 33 circuits remaining.

However, Larson quickly closed in on Bowmans No. 48 Chevrolet.

A mistake by Bowman with seven laps to go opened the door for Larson to pounce as he skated away to a win at the 1.5-mile oval.

Bowman was forced to settle for second in a race he feels he gave away.

The No. 5 (Kyle Larson) was way better than us on the long runs all day and he showed up there at the end, Bowman said. I just tried to push a little too hard and kind of hung it in the fence there, so thats on me.

I just didnt do a good enough job, but congratulations to Kyle Larson and the No. 5 team on getting the win.

While as disappointed as Bowman may have been, it was a major positive for a driver whos had his fair share of struggles at the track.

Over the last handful of years, Bowmans name has been brought up significantly in silly season headlines on whether hell remain with Hendrick Motorsports or if hell he replaced.

After all, he hasnt had a better points finish than ninth (last year) since 2020. However, a concussion (2022) and back injury (2023) in consecutive years hides within those tough seasons.

Following Sundays race, Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon fully backed Bowman and the No. 48 team, which is led by crew chief Blake Harris.

Listen, I think this performance all weekend, to have that solid of a weekend pole, pit stops were great. They were basically in the top five all day long, led a bunch of laps, Gordon said.

To be leading at the end, contending, that does a lot for a race team. I think we saw the momentum building with that team last year, at the end of last year. You just hope that they can build on that and carry that into the season, and I think they have. Youve got to get the results.

So I think today was an important day for them, and I think youll see that create quite a spark to hopefully get them on a run.

Through two races of the NTT IndyCar Series season and Meyer Shank Racing has sneakily had a massive uptick in performance compared to last season.

Last year, anchor driver Felix Rosenqvist kicked off the year strong with four straight top-10 finishes, however, fell to 12th in the standings by seasons end.

Now with a new teammate in 2023 rookie of the year Marcus Armstrong and the duo have racked up a solid amount of points through two races.

Both drivers reached the Firestone Fast Six at the season-opening event in St. Petersburg, Fla. as well as last weeks race at Californias Thermal Club, which is a sign of consistent speed.

Armstrong, in his first year with MSR after competing with Chip Ganassi Racing the last two seasons, endured issues and finished 24th in St. Pete but was able to rebound with a solid seventh-place effort at Thermal, his best with MSR to date.

It was a long race, so I really struggled on used alternates, Armstrong said of his race at Themral. I wasnt happy with the balance of the car, but we slowly made adjustments through the race and then put some new reds on at the end and we were pretty rapid.

Its a shame that the used tire runs were so tricky, but Im glad that we made up some ground at the end and finished where we started.

Rosenqvist continued his hot streak with a fifth-place finish at Thermal after what he described as a weird one after 65 laps around the lengthy circuit.

We really struggled on the blacks in the first stint, Rosenqvist said. Luckily we got off them pretty quick cause we struggled and then we just did the whole race on reds. We were the opposite on reds, we were really good, one of the strongest cars I think. We capitalized on that and picked up a few cars in the end and ended P5. I would say thats a pretty good day from P9.

It was a game of patience, kind of just going a little bit slower than you want to, to be quick at the end. It was a game of chess.

For a team thats been searching for consistency in recent years since its breakthrough victory at the Indianapolis 500 in 2021 with Helio Castroneves, the first two weeks of action may be a solid indication of whats to come.