FloRacing Pavement Racing Driver Rankings

1. Matt Hirschman (Previous Rank: 1st)

The Northampton, Pennsylvania driver didn’t have a great showing at the second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Virginia’s Richmond Raceway last weekend, nor did he have a great showing later that night at the SMART Modified Tour event at South Boston Speedway.

But that’s okay because Hirschman’s sweep of the entire Tour-type Modified week at New Smyrna’s World Series of Asphalt in February is still the most powerful thing we’ve seen so far this season out of anybody. Oh, and he also added a SMART Modified tour win at Florence Motor Speedway at the start of March, so Hirschman is already up to six wins on the year.

Hirschman Opens Up About Legendary Performance At New Smyrna

2. William Byron (Previous Rank: 2nd)

William Byron has been the hottest thing in pavement racing in cars that have fenders. He won the only two Super Late Model races he entered at New Smyrna Speedway in February in dominating fashion. He’s also scored two NASCAR Cup Series victories already this season, and is the only driver so far with multiple wins on the season. He also has seven stage wins, the most of any driver at this point in the year. William Byron is on fire right now.

Byron Carried "Big Mo" Into Daytona 500 After Clyde Hart Memorial Victory

3. Carson Kvapil (Previous Rank: Unranked)

Carson Kvapil didn’t even make the top 10 in February due to a dismal showing at Florence Motor Speedway’s Icebreaker. Now he’s in the top three because he’s been far and away the strongest driver in the CARS Tour so far.

After two races, the defending champion is back leading the points on the backs of a second-place run in the season opener at Southern National Motorsports Park, and a win at Florence too. In two races Kvapil hasn’t finished worse than second in CARS Tour competition. We’d say that’s pretty strong.

Carson Kvapil Fights For First Win At Florence Motor Speedway

4. Casey Roderick (Previous Rank 3rd)

Casey Roderick scored two wins and the championship at New Smyrna’s World Series of Asphalt in February. He followed that up by leading 30 laps on his way to becoming the winner of the inaugural ASA STARS National Tour event at Pensacola, Florida’s Five Flags Speedway. He then scored a fourth-place result in the SRL National Tour race at Alabama’s Mobile International Speedway soon after.

Roderick Wins WSOA Super Late Model Title With No Brakes

5. Bubba Pollard (Previous Rank: Unranked)

Bubba Pollard struggled at New Smyrna Speedway back in February. It’s okay for us to say that because he’d tell you the same thing. But since then Pollard has been back to his usual ways, which is to say he’s back at the top of the leaderboard seemingly every race.

Pollard won the Rattler 250, as well as the Baby Rattler at Opp, Alabama’s South Alabama Speedway. Then he went to Mobile and won the SRL National Tour race there too. That’s three wins in the month of March, and he probably could have added a fourth if not for a crash at Five Flags Speedway after contact with Casey Roderick in the ASA STARS National Tour race.

6. Austin Beers (Previous Rank: Unranked)

One win doesn’t often take a driver from being off the list to on the list, but in this case it does for Austin Beers. The second-generation Modified driver had a perfect weekend at Virginia’s Richmond Raceway. He won practice, then he won the pole, then he led 102 of 150 laps on his way to scoring his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory by more than four seconds over J.B. Fortin.

7. Justin Bonsignore (Previous Rank: Unranked)

The three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion has had a much better start to his 2023 season than his 2022 season. Bonsignore finished second to Ron Silk at New Smyrna Speedway in Februry and fourth at Richmond Raceway. Bonsignore sits one point out of the championship lead and has an average finish of 3.0, the best of any driver so far.

8. William Sawalich (Previous Rank: 7th)

The 16-year-old driver scored two victories in Super Late Model competition at New Smyrna Speedway back in February, and then he scored his first ARCA Menards Series East victory at Five Flags Speedway to bring his win total to three in 2023 so far. Sawalich dominated that race at Five Flags, leading all 200 laps wire-to-wire to take the checkered flag.

Sawalich Drives By Pollard For Orange Blossom Victory

9. Mike Hopkins (Previous Rank: Unranked)

Maine’s Mike Hopkins made the long drive south to Southern National Motorsports Park for the CARS Tour Pro Late Model opener worth it by leading 57 laps on his way to a dominant win. He then led 33 laps on his way to a third-place run at Hickory Motor Speedway in the Easter Bunny 150.

10. Brian Loftin (Previous Rank: Unranked)

27 really strong cars showed up to run the SMART Modified Tour’s Flying VA Classic at South Boston Speedway, but it was Brian Loftin who stood above all of them in victory lane. While all eyes were on drivers like Hirschman, Bobby Labonte, and Brandon Ward, it was Loftin who took home the checkered flag for his first win of the season.