Best Five-Year Stretches At The World 100
Best Five-Year Stretches At The World 100
DirtonDirt.com takes a look at the best five-year stretches in the history of the World 100 at Eldora Speedway.
Jonathan Davenport’s three World 100 victories in five seasons (2015-2019) prompted the DirtonDirt staff to look into the best five-year streaks in the history of Dirt Late Model racing’s most prestigious event. The Blairsville, Ga.’s success at Eldora Speedway going back to 2015 is no doubt impressive, but it falls shy of several other race winners.
The race’s best five-year stretch belongs to three-time race winner Jeff Purvis, who racked up three victories and two runner-up finishes from 1982-86 for a stellar average finish of 1.4. Purvis and Jimmy Owens, who had an average finish of 2.8 from 2007-11, are the only two drivers to have a stretch of five consecutive years of top-five finishes that included a victory.
Scott Bloomquist pulled off a stretch of five straight top-five finishes from 1993-97 but without winning. So we also broke down the list of the best five-year stretches when a driver didn’t grab a globe trophy.
Here’s a look at the lists that include drivers with an average finish of 10 or better:
Five-year stretch including victory
Avg. finish – Driver (years): Details
1.4 – Jeff Purvis (1982-86): Three victories and two runner-up finishes.
2.8 – Jimmy Owens (2007-11): Two victories, runner-up and two fifth-place finishes.
3.8 – Scott Bloomquist (2000-04): One victory, three runner-up finishes and a ninth place.
4.2 – Brian Birkhofer (2002-06): One victory and finishes of third, fourth, fifth and eighth.
4.8 – Billy Moyer (1991-95): Three victories, a runner-up and 19th-place finish.
4.8 – Steve Francis (1997-2001): One victory, a fourth, two fifth-place finishes and a ninth.
5.2 – Dan Schlieper (2001-05): One victory and finishes of fourth, fifth, sixth and 10th.
5.6 – Ed Sanger (1973-77): One victory and finishes of second, fourth, fifth and 16th.
7.2 – Charlie Swartz (1979-83): One victory and finishes of third, fourth, 11th and 17th.
7.7 – Donnie Moran (1994-98): Two victories and finishes of fourth, seventh and 21st.
8.6 – Mike Duvall (1981-84): One victory and finishes of second, sixth, 16th and 18th.
9.0 – Jonathan Davenport (2015-19): Three victories with 18th- and 24th-place finishes.
9.0 – Floyd Gilbert (1973-77): One victory and finishes of fourth, sixth, 14th and 20th.
Five-year stretch not including victory
Avg. finish – Driver (years): Details
2.8 – Scott Bloomquist (1993-97): Three runner-up finishes with third- and fifth-place finishes.
4.6 – Dale McDowell (2014-18): Finishes of second, third, fourth, sixth and eighth.
6.6 – Darrell Lanigan (2010-14): Finishes of second, fourth (twice), seventh and 16th.
7.2 – Kevin Weaver (1994-98): Finishes of second, fifth, eighth, 10th and 11th.
7.6 – Freddy Smith (1991-95): Finishes of second, third, fourth, seventh and 22nd.
9.0 – Pat Patrick (1981-85): Finishes of second, fifth, eighth, 12th and 18th.
9.2 – Shannon Babb (1998-2002): Finishes of third, sixth, ninth (twice) and 19th.