McCreadie takes the high road for Spring Shootout $10,000
By: Betty Glynn
Photos by Dan SimpsonLA SALLE, IL (May 17) - Thirty nine of the toughest
competitors rolled into the Illinois Valley for the Lucas Oil Late Model
Dirt Series Spring Shootout. By lunch time on Saturday, the presence of
fancy car haulers and rigs could be seen throughout the area.
La Salle Speedway has played host to the traveling series seven times. At
the completion of the seventh visit a staggering seven different winners
have their names in the record books. It could be luck but for Saturday’s
$10,000 check holder, Tim McCreadie, it was talent and the drive to get the
job done.
McCreadie, a thirty six year old New York native, is no stranger to racing
but a newcomer to LaSalle’s victory circle.
Bart Hartman was the fourth qualifier to hit the clay, setting the bar high
with a quick lap of 12.842. His fast time wasn’t much of a help as he still
found himself on the “B” Main roster after not fairing so well in his heat
event.
Four heat races helped determine the twenty four car fifty lap main event.
All four winners came from the front row en route to their wins. The top
four finishers transferred into the “A” Main.
Bloomington’s Jason Feger carried the first heat race of ten drivers flag to
flag holding back a strong running Tim Fuller. The third place finisher,
John Blankenship, started last and worked his way up the pack before the
completion of the ten lap event. Matt Miller earned the last transfer
position in fourth.
McCreadie won the second heat without contest over Steve Casebolt, Dennis
Erb Jr., and Brian Shirley.
Brady Smith collected the third heat challenge in front of Kerry Hansen,
Rick Eckert and Darren Miller.
The fourth and final heat race winner Scott James was flying solo for much
of the race but a late race caution brought the competition back together
for a single restart with only one lap left un-scored. At the finish line,
Steve Francis crossed in second ahead of Jeep VanWormer and Wayne Chinn.
Both “B” Main winners started on the pole. Hartman took the first consi race
over local racer Ryan Dauber of Tonica. Shane Clanton beat Frank Heckanast
Jr. at the line for the third transfer position.
Brian Birkhofer outdistanced the field to earn the second “B” Main race with
Dan Schlieper, and John Mason taking the last transfer spots. Before a lap
could be scored, Justin Rattliff found himself upside down on the back
stretch. A far cry from his first big dollar victory in which he earned on
the same turf last season. A well earned accomplishment that netted the
young standout $10,000 for his efforts.
Earl Pearson Jr. and Rattliff each took a provisional to make their way into
the “A” Main.
Feger and McCreadie rolled up side by side at the helm over Brady Smith,
James, Fuller and Casebolt. As soon as the flag dropped Feger moved to the
inside line with Smith following but McCreadie found his rhythm on the high
road.
A pile up off the second turn during the ninth circuit collected Rattliff,
adding to his streak of bad luck, Schlieper, Mason and Clanton. Once the
action was back under way, it was tenth place starter Erb putting on a show.
He managed to move his way up the pack to fourth before billowing smoke and
oil from the rear of his ride sent him back to the pit area and out of
contention.
McCreadie was riding the rails throwing his tires over the cushion when he
brought his ride up to the door of Feger. His topside run opened up the
space needed to grab the lead just before the fourteenth lap. “I put it over
the cushion a little, that’s my deal,” McCreadie confessed post race. Smith
followed him moving into second.
A few laps later, an incredible battle was well underway between the high
flying McCreadie and Smith leaving Feger to fend off John Blankenship,
Eckert and Francis. The leader’s side by side showdown was a crowd pleasing
display of why they have become dirt track stars.
During Lap 23, Smith stole the lead but only temporarily as McCreadie
refused to go without a fight. McCreadie used lapped traffic and a smart
move three laps later to get command back. At times, three and four cars
separated the leaders as they were lapping the field like they were standing
still.
James was on the move and managed to make his way up to a third place
running position before fading back during the final laps.
The driver to keep an eye on was none other then former winner Pearson as he
charged his way from the last row on the grid through a stacked field into
eighth. His provisional paid off.
McCreadie ran a smart well planned race to capture his first Lucas Oil
victory since February 2005.
Just after collecting the checkers, McCreadie kicked it up another notch
when he flew down the front stretch spinning tires and doing “donuts” for
the fans.
“We’ve had a rough few months, glad you stuck with me,” McCreadie announced
over the loud speaker. Based on the crowd’s reaction it appeared he may not
only had fans sticking with him but he picked up quite a few more with his
fierce drive to the checkers.
With unrelenting rain drops a small delay in the action was unavoidable. In
addition the threat of inclement weather in the area was looming with
lightning in the distance but the Lucas Oil and LaSalle Speedway crews kept
their pace on the throttle. It took a great deal of effort by everyone to
get the dirt flying without delay. Fans and drivers alike were pretty
impressed that the show was constantly in a forward motion.
“They have turned this into a first class deal,” McCreadie told.
The “A” Main finish behind McCreadie was Smith, Blankenship, Eckert,
Francis, Feger, VanWormer, Pearson, Hartman, Matt Miller, Casebolt,
Schlieper, Chinn, James, Rattliff, Dauber, Fuller, and Darren Miller.
The UMP Modifieds and Street Stocks competed as well.
Fifteen drivers registered for the Modified division. To kick things off,
last place starter Nathan Balensiefen stole the lead during the final lap of
the exciting first heat race to beat AJ Dixon, Donovan Lodge and Mark
Vervynck.
Marty Thompson outran the competition to claim the second heat ahead of
Vince Cooper, Doug Curless and Ray Bollinger.
Pole sitter Curless held back two impressive challengers, Cooper and
Thompson, to capture the twenty lap main for their class.
When the checkers dropped it was Curless heading to victory lane over
Cooper, Thompson, Balensiefen, Lodge, Milo Veloz, Bollinger, Dixon, Vervynck,
Jason Pershy, Mark Novolorsky, Michael Marden, Jared Coppejeans, and #89.
Steve Lewis took command during lap seven of the Street Stock’s main race
from Jimmy Partipilo to claim his second win in a row. Lewis looks to be one
tough contender in the ulta racey division.
Partipilo took home second in front of Alex Clubb, Randy Lucas, Nick Sell,
Justin Rutledge, Roger Rickels, Gary Schmitt, Rick Koltveit, Jay Mesarchik,
Mike Stewart, Gabe Concor, and Mike Hughes.
Lucas and and Hughes each won the heat races.
La Salle Speedway Scoreboard Results 05/17/08
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series – 39 Cars
Fast Qualifier: 12.842
Heat 1: Jason Feger, Tim Fuller, John Blankenship, Matt Miller, Bart
Hartman, Frank Heckanast Jr., Billy Drake, Shane Clanton, Brian Claudnic,
Tony Izzo Jr.
Heat 2: Tim McCreadie, Steve Casebolt, Dennis Erb Jr, Brian Shirley, Ryan
Dauber, Scott Schmitt, Wes Steidinger, Justin Rattliff, Jeremy Grady, Rich
Bell
Heat 3: Brady Smith, Kerry Hansen, Rick Eckert, Darren Miller, Brian
Birkhofer, Freddy Smith, Earl Pearson Jr., Mike Mataragas, Vic Coffey, Ralph
Markham
Heat 4: Scott James, Steve Francis, Jeep VanWormer, Wayne Chinn, John Mason,
Dan Schlieper, Mark Burgtorf, Clint Smith, Terry Casey
“B” Main #1: Bart Hartman, Ryan Dauber, Shane Clanton, Frank Heckanast Jr.,
Wes Steidinger, Brian Claudnic, Billy Drake, Rich Bell, Scott Schmitt,
Justin Rattliff
“B” Main #2: Brian Birkhofer, Dan Schlieper, John Mason, Freddy Smith, Clint
Smith, Mark Burgtorf, Earl Pearson Jr., Mike Matargas, Vic Coffey, Ralph
Markham
Feature: 1. Tim McCreadie, 2. Brady Smith, 3. John Blankenship, 4. Rick
Eckert, 5. Steve Frnacis, 6. Jason Feger, 7. Jeep VanWormer, 8. Earl Pearson
Jr., 9. Bart Harman, 10. Matt Miller, 11. Steve Casebolt, 12. Dan Schlieper,
13. Wayne Chinn, 14. Scott James, 15. Justin Rattliff, 16. Ryan Dauber, 17.
Tim Fuller, 18. Darren Miller, 19. Dennis Erb Jr., 20. Kerry Hansen, 21.
Brian Shirley, 22. John Mason, 23. Brian Birkhofer, 24. Shane Clanton
UMP Modifieds 16 Cars
Heat One: Nathan Balensiefen, AJ Dixon, Donovan Lodge, Mark Vervynck
Heat Two: Marty Thompson, Vince Cooper, Doug Curless, Ray Bollinger
Feature: 1. Doug Curless, 2. Vince Cooper, 3. Marty Thompson, 4. Nathan
Balensiefen, 5. Donovan Lodge, 6. Milo Veloz, 7. Ray Bollinger, 8. AJ Dixon,
9. Mark Vervynck, 10. Jason Pershy, 11. Brad Pershy, 12. Mark Novorolsky,
13. Michael Marden, 14. Jared Copperjeans, 15. #89
UMP Street Stocks 13 Cars
Heat One: Randy Lucas, Nick Sell, Jay Mesarchick, Kory Peterson
Heat Two: Mike Hughes, Jimmy Partipilo, Alex Clubb, Schmitt
Feature: 1. Steve Lewis, 2. Jimmy Partipilo, 3. Alex Clubb, 4. Randy Lucas,
5. Nick Sell, 6. Justin Rutledge, 7. Roger Rickels, 8. Gary Schmitt, 9. Rick
Koltveit, 10. Jay Mesarchick, 11. Mike Stewart, 12. Gabe Concor, 13. Mike
Hughes
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