McCreadie Gives His Boy A Long-Distance Present With Victory In Friday’s ‘Wild West Tour’ Opener At Amsoil Speedway
New Yorker Scores Fourth World of Outlaws Late Model Series Win Of Season On Son’s Third Birthday
By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director
SUPERIOR, WI – July 5, 2013 – Tim McCreadie was one very happy race car driver – and father – after holding off Rick Eckert to capture Friday night’s 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Wild West Tour’ opener at Amsoil Speedway.
Not only did the 39-year-old star from Watertown, N.Y., score his fourth WoO LMS triumph of 2013, it came on his son Gavin’s third birthday. The toddler was home in the Empire State with his mother, Karen, but McCreadie made sure he dedicated his 24th career win on the national circuit to the curly-haired boy.
“This one’s for you, Gavin,” McCreadie said after the checkered flag. “It’s cool to win on his birthday. I wish they could be here with me, but when I get home we’ll have (Gavin’s birthday) party next weekend.”
McCreadie, who started from the pole position but was outgunned for the lead at the initial green flag by his front-row mate Tim Fuller, kept up the pressure on his fellow New Yorker until gaining command on lap 15. T-Mac never looked back en route to a memorable victory that brought him $10,650 to buy presents for his kid.
York, Pa.’s Eckert, who started sixth, passed Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., for second on lap 43 and drew close to McCreadie during the final circuits but settled for second place, 0.669 of a second behind the victor. It was the fourth runner-up finish of the season for Eckert, who is still searching for his first WoO LMS win of 2013.
Lanigan finished third, Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., placed fourth and home-state favorite Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., who lives 35 miles from Amsoil Speedway and raced regularly at the three-eighths-mile track early in his career, completed the top five. The 3-5 finishers ended the race in the same positions they started it, but each driver settled into their ultimate spots only late in the distance.
The race’s late stages were the most stressful for McCreadie, who scrapped to keep Lanigan, and then Eckert, at bay. McCreadie held firm control of the top spot for nearly 20 laps after sailing around the outside of Fuller off turn two to assume command on lap 15, but his edge shrunk as the finish neared.
After Eckert, 47, slipped underneath Lanigan to grab second, the 2011 WoO LMS champion appeared primed to make the final laps interesting. He pulled his Team Zero by Bloomquist car within a couple car lengths of McCreadie’s Sweeteners Plus Warrior but couldn’t summon quite enough speed to break into Victory Lane.
“You just gotta put a whole night together and we haven’t really done that yet,” Eckert matter-of-factly stated following the race when asked about falling just short of victory once again. “We’ve been close, but you gotta draw good too. You put five of these guys in front of you (for the start) like we did tonight and you’re in trouble.
“We got close there at the end, but we ran out of time. Maybe tomorrow night.”
McCreadie held on despite struggling with a car that was steadily becoming harder to drive.
“The more we ran the worse we got with fuel burn-off and stuff,” said McCreadie, who was victorious in the home state of his engine builder, Pro Power’s Bill Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis. “But I think a lot of it was just our tire was just dying, our right-rear was starting to give. I knew the tires (Eckert) had were gonna be better if we went a long green (flag) run. We were just a touch softer (on tire compound choice) than he was.
“I didn’t know (Eckert) was there,” he continued with his description of the final circuits. “I just tried to park (on the bottom groove) and not make a mistake. On the last lap the last thing I wanted to do was go up (off the bottom), slip across the middle and get in a push and have him drive under me (off turn four). These guys, (crewmen) Craig (McCrimmon) and Johnny Coco, they worked way too hard for me to make a mistake.
“They said he was close on the middle and the top, but it was just our night. We drew a good number and everything lined up for us tonight.”
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Experiencing the other end of the racing-fortune spectrum was WoO LMS points leader Josh Richards, who could only manage a 15th-place finish after a nightmarish turn of events just before and after the start of the race.
First, Richards, who was scheduled to start 12th, was forced to take the green flag from the rear of the field because his team violated WoO LMS rules by changing a tire on their car after presenting it in the staging area. He then was swept up in an eight-car homestretch crash that brought out the red flag at the initial start – an incident that included local Late Model racers Todd Gehl, Roger Paolo, Aaron Lillo, Travis Budisalovich, Terry Lillo, Trevor Wilson and Zachary Wohlers and left Richards’s Rocket Chassis house car with extensive front-end damage.
Richards’s machine was towed to the pit area with its nosepiece completely ripped off. His crew was able to patch up the car enough for Richards to return to the race on lap 15, allowing him to turn a potentially devastating last-place finish into a 15th-place run that only cut his points lead over Shane Clanton of Zebulon, Ga., who finished seventh, from 44 to 28 points.
Finishing in positions 6-10 was Fuller, who faded after leading laps 1-14; Clanton, who nearly overtook his Kennedy Motorsports teammate Fuller on the final circuit; Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., who fell from sixth to eighth on the last lap because a broken oil-pump belt caused him to slow; Jeff Provinzino of Hibbing, Minn., who earned the $500 WoO LMS Bonus Bucks cash for being the highest-finishing non-regular driver who hasn’t won a WoO LMS A-Main; and WoO LMS rookie Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky.
After the red flag on the opening lap, the A-Main was slowed by only a single caution period. That came on lap 19 when Wohlers slowed between turns three and four.
Eckert topped the 27-car field in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials with a lap of 16.543 seconds. It was his second WoO LMS fast-time honor of 2013 and the 35th of his career, moving him back into a tie with Richards for the most fast times on the tour since 2004.
Heat winners were Eckert, Fuller and Frank, and Wells captured the B-Main.
The WoO LMS Wild West Tour continues on Saturday night (July 6) with the 34th annual NAPA Auto Parts Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.
Results of World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Amsoil Speedway (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (1) Tim McCreadie/50 $10,650
2. (6) Rick Eckert/50 $5,700
3. (3) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,650
4. (4) Chub Frank/50 $3,050
5. (5) Brady Smith/50 $2,000
6. (2) Tim Fuller/50 $2,200
7. (10) Shane Clanton/50 $1,950
8. (8) Bub McCool/50 $1,950
9. (7) Jeff Provinzino/50 $1,750
10. (19) Eric Wells/50 $1,900
11. (14) Morgan Bagley/50 $1,600
12. (11) Clint Smith/50 $1,550
13. (9) Pat Doar/49 $1,000
14. (15) Harry Hanson/49 $900
15. (12) Josh Richards/34 $1,500***
16. (13) Tim McMann/26 $850
17. (20) Zachary Wohlers/19 $770
18. (21) Chris Olson/13 $800
19. (16) Trevor Wilson/0 $730
20. (17) Terry Lillo/0 $700
21. (18) Travis Budisalovich/0 $700
22. (22) Aaron Lillo/0 $700
23. (23) Roger Paolo/0 $725
24. (24) Todd Gehl/0 $700
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
***Richards was scheduled to start 12th, but he was penalized to the rear of the field for the initial green flag after breaking WoO LMS rules by changing a tire after presenting his car in the staging area
Time of Race: 26 Mins., 39.138 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.669 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 1 (lap 19); 1 Red Flag (original start)
Lap Leaders: Fuller (1-14); McCreadie (15-50)
Provisional Starters: Paolo, Gehl
Rookie of the Race: Wells ($250)
WoO LMS ‘Bonus Bucks’ Winner: Provinzino ($500)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 16.543
2. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 16.743
3. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 16.789
4. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 16.815
5. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 16.838
6. 11-Pat Doar/New Richmond, WI 16.842
7. 25-Shane Clanton/Zebulon, GA 16.867
8. 57J-Bub McCool/Vicksburg, MS 17.065
9. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 17.076
10. 18-Eric Wells/Hazard, KY 17.095
11. 19-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 17.277
12. 7-Harry Hanson/Evelith, MN 17.284
13. 11d-Tim McMann/Duluth, MN 17.291
14. 14M-Morgan Bagley/Longview, TX 17.328
15. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 17.343
16. 28-Jeff Provinzino/Hibbing, MN 17.372
17. 71-Zachary Wohlers/Kelly Lake, MN 17.460
18. 31-Travis Budisalovich/Minneapolis, MN 17.606
19. 87-Trevor Wilson/Superior, WI 17.632
20. UP1-Terry Lillo/Duluth, MN 17.669
21. 13-Roger Paolo/Hibbing, MN 17.881
22. 18c-Chris Olson/Hibbing, MN 17.906
23. 71T-Todd Gehl/Solon Springs, WI 18.063
24. 16-Cory Jorgensen/Hermantown, MN 18.071
25. 8-Gregg Hill/Evelith, MN 18.404
26. 42-Tim Lillo/Superior, WI 18.793
27. 24A-Aaron Lillo/Duluth, MN N/T
Heat No. 1 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Eckert, McCreadie, Provinzino, Clanton, McMann, Wilson, Wells, Olson (DNS) A. Lillo
Heat No. 2 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Fuller, B. Smith, McCool, C. Smith, Bagley, T. Lillo, Wohlers, Hill, Gehl
Heat No. 3 (10 laps – Top 6 Transfer): Frank, Lanigan, Doar, Richards, Hanson, Budisalovich, Jorgensen, Paolo, T. Lillo
B-Main (12 laps – Top 4 Transfer): Wells, Wohlers, Olson, A. Lillo, Gehl, Jorgensen, Paolo, Hill, T. Lillo
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Contingency Award Winners (awards presented to noted finisher/qualifier or next highest displaying decal:
Ohlins Shocks ($50 cash to fast qualifier): Rick Eckert
Eibach Springs (one free spring to each B-Main winner): Eric Wells
VP Race Fuels ‘Nice Jugs’ Award: (One VP 5-gallon container to fastest qualifier who misses A-Main): Cory Jorgensen
Wrisco Aluminum (3 sheets of aluminum to A-Main winner only): Tim McCreadie
Armor All (One case of product to highest-finishing non-WoO team in A-Main): Jeff Provinzino
Comp Cams ($50 certificate to A-Main winner): Tim McCreadie
QuarterMaster ($100 certificate to A-Main winner, $50 certificate to 5th-place finish): Tim McCreadie/Tim McMann
MSD Ignition ($50 cash to A-Main winner): Tim McCreadie
STP ($50 cash to 2nd-place finisher in A-Main): Rick Eckert
XS Power ($50 cash to 3rd-place finisher in A-Main): Darrell Lanigan
Roush Yates ($50 cash to 4th-place finisher in A-Main): Chub Frank
JE Pistons ($50 cash to 5th-place finisher in A-Main): Shane Clanton
Dominator ($50 cash to 6th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
American Race Wheels ($50 cash to 7th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
VP Race Fuels ($50 cash to 8th-place finisher in A-Main): Bub McCool
Edelbrock Manifolds ($50 cash to 9th-finisher in A-Main): Jeff Provinzino
Comp Cams ($50 cash to 10th-place finisher in A-Main): Eric Wells
XS Power ($60 product certificate to 11th-place finisher in A-Main): Morgan Bagley
Cometic Gasket ($50 cash to 12th-place finisher in A-Main): Pat Doar
JRI Shocks ($50 cash to 13th-place finisher in A-Main): Tim McMann
Super Flow Dynos ($50 cash to 14th-place finisher in A-Main): Josh Richards
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 16th-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Tim McMann
Klotz Lubricants ($50 cash to 17th-place finisher in A-Main): Chris Olson
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 18th-place finisher in A-Main): Terry Lillo
QuarterMaster ($50 certificate to 19th-place finisher in A-Main): Terry Lillo
Arizona Sport Shirts ($100 certificate to 20th-place finisher in A-Main): Terry Lillo
JE Pistons (one complete set of JE Pro Seal rings to 21st-place finisher in A-Main, redeemable w/next purchase of set): Aaron Lillo
Roush Yates ($50 gift card to 22nd-place finisher in A-Main): Aaron Lillo
MSD Ignition ($25 cash to 24th-place finisher in A-Main): Roger Paolo
XS Power ‘Power Move of the Race’ ($60 product certificate): Tim McCreadie
Roush Yates ($25 gift card to driver who leads most laps in the A-Main): Tim McCreadie
Reliable Painting Award (one free tire): Darrell Lanigan
2013 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of July 5 – 26 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Josh Richards 3660
2. Shane Clanton 3632 (-28)
3. Darrell Lanigan 3610 (-50)
4. Rick Eckert 3548 (-112)
5. Tim McCreadie 3366 (-294)
6. Tim Fuller 3364 (-296)
7. Eric Wells 3340 (-320)
8. Bub McCool 3302 (-358)
9. Morgan Bagley 3294 (-366)
10. Chub Frank 3272 (-388)
11. Clint Smith 3128 (-532)
12. Scott James 1958 (-1702)
13. Gregg Satterlee 1590 (-2070)
14. Dan Stone 1572 (-2088)
15. Dillon Wood 1426 (-2234)
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: American Racing Custom Wheels (Official Custom Wheel), Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), KMC (Official Custom Truck Wheel), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing Fuel (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award) and McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award); in addition to contingency sponsors: Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Dominator Race Products, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, QuarterMaster, Roush Yates Performance Parts, Superflow Dynos, Wrisco Aluminum and XS Power Racing Batteries; along with manufacturer sponsors Capital Race Cars, Integra Shocks, GRT Chassis, Jake’s Carts, Racing Electronics, Rocket Chassis, TNT Rescue, and Warrior Chassis.
LIVE UPDATES 7/5: World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Wild West Tour’ At Amsoil Speedway
SUPERIOR, WI – July 5, 2013 – The six-race World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Wild West Tour’ kicks off tonight with a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win A-Main at Amsoil Speedway.
A three-eighths-mile oval just outside Duluth and near the shores of Lake Superior, Amsoil is hosting the WoO LMS for the first time since 2010. Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., was the winner of that event.
For live blog-style updates including news, notes and results from tonight’s action, click the ‘Full Story’ button below. Be sure to refresh your browser throughout the night to read the latest information.
Birthday present for his boy
10:25 p.m. CT – Tim McCreadie is one very happy race car driver — and father — after holding off Rick Eckert to capture the 50-lap A-Main.
Not only did McCreadie score his fourth WoO LMS triumph of 2013, it came on his son Gavin’s third birthday.
McCreadie, who started from the pole position but was outgunned for the lead at the initial green flag by his front-row mate Tim Fuller, kept up the pressure on his fellow New Yorker until gaining command on lap 15. He never looked back en route to a memorable victory that brought him over $10,000 to buy presents for his toddler boy.
Eckert, who started sixth, passed Darrell Lanigan for second on lap 43 and drew close to McCreadie but settled for second, 0.669 of a second behind the victor. Lanigan finished third, Chub Frank placed fourth and home-state favorite Brady Smith completed the top five.
It was a rought night for WoO LMS points leader Josh Richards, who could only manage a 15th-place finish after a nightmarish turn of events. First, Richards, who was scheduled to start 12th, was forced to take the green flag from the rear of the field because his team broke WoO LMS rules by changing a tire on their car after presenting it in the staging area. He then was swept up in an eight-car homestretch crash at the initial start, damaging his machine enough that it took him until lap 15 to return to the race after making hasty repairs in the pit area.
A-Main Finish: 1. Tim McCreadie, 2. Rick Eckert, 3. Darrell Lanigan, 4. Chub Frank, 5. Brady Smith, 6. Tim Fuller, 7. Shane Clanton, 8. Bub McCool, 9. Jeff Provinzino, 10. Eric Wells, 11. Morgan Bagley, 12. Clint Smith, 13. Pat Doar, 14. Harry Hanson, 15. Josh Richards, 16. Tim McMan, 17. Zachary Wohlers, 18. Chris Olson, 19. Trevor Wilson, 20. Terry Lillo, 21. Travis Budisalovich, 22. Aaron Lillo, 23. Roger Paolo, 24. Todd Gehl
Pick up the pace
9:15 p.m. CT – With the completion of the 12-lap B-Main — won by Eric Wells over Zachary Wohlers, Chris Olson and Aaron Lillo — WoO LMS officials have already blown the eight-minute horn to line up the 50-lap A-Main. Radar has indicated the development of some storm cells to the west of the area, so the WoO LMS headliner has been moved up in the schedule in hopes of beating the weather.
The A-Main will head out on the track as soon as a Pure Stock consolation, which is running now, is completed.
Tim McCreadie picked the pole position for the A-Main. He’ll share the front row with fellow New Yorker and big-block Modified veteran Tim Fuller.
A-Main Lineup:
Row 1: Tim McCreadie/Tim Fuller
Row 2: Darrell Lanigan/Chub Frank
Row 3: Brady Smith/Rick Eckert
Row 4: Jeff Provinzino/Bub McCool
Row 5: Pat Doar/Shane Clanton
Row 6: Clint Smith/Josh Richards
Row 7: Tim McMan/Morgan Bagley
Row 8: Harry Hanson/Trevor Wilson
Row 9: Terry Lillo/Travis Budisalovich
Row 10: Eric Wells/Zachary Wohlers
Row 11: Chris Olson/Aaron Lillo
Row 12: Roger Paolo/Todd Gehl
Heat Race Notes
8:15 p.m. CT – Rick Eckert, Tim Fuller and Chub Frank were victorious in the three 10-lap heat races. They will be joined in the A-Main redraw by heat runners-up Tim McCreadie, Brady Smith and Darrell Lanigan…. Fuller’s heat triumph was his seventh of the season, ranking him fourth among all WoO LMS drivers. Eckert won his fifth heat and Frank his second…. Clint Smith started from the pole in the second heat but fell to a fourth-place finish…. The only WoO LMS regular who failed to qualify was Eric Wells, who finished seventh in the first heat….
Complete heat-race results can be seen here.
Quick Rick
7:25 p.m. CT – Rick Eckert was the fastest qualifier in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, turning a lap olf 16.543 seconds to earn his second fast-time honor of 2013. It was his 35th career WoO LMS fast time, pulling him back into a tie with Josh Richards for the most on the national tour since 2004.
Clint Smith, who had his car’s air cleaner fly off during hot laps, was second-fastest at 16.743 seconds. Chub Frank timed third-fastest (16.789), Tim McCreadie was fourth-fastest (16.815 seconds) and Brady Smith was fifth (16.838).
For full results from time trials, click here.
Back in action
6:35 p.m. CT – WoO LMS Rookie of the Year points leader Eric Wells is ready to race tonight, feeling no worse for the wear after experiencing the roughest ride of his career last Saturday night at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.
With just six laps remaining in the Firecracker 100 by GottaRace.com, Wells’s car slid into the thick cushion on the outside of turn three, lurched to the right and dug into the wet dirt. He then somersaulted through the air in spectacular fashion before coming to rest over the outside berm, just in front of the turn-four pit grandstand.
“I just closed my eyes and rode it out,” said the 25-year-old Wells, who had never flipped before during his decade-long racing career. “When I stopped I just opened my eyes and was like, ‘I think I’m O.K.'”
Wells escaped the accident with only a sore left arm and a bruise on the inside of his left thigh. He visited a doctor when he returned home to Hazard, Ky., to have his arm checked out, but x-rays were negative.
Wells’s Team Zero by Bloomquist car survived the crash with a minimum of damage as well. His team took it back to Scott Bloomquist’s shop on Monday for a once-over, but no frame damage was found. Most bolt-on parts needed to be replaced along with the front and rear bumpers and the hood pints, but the team took care of that and has the machine along as a backup for the Wild West Tour.
Race time nearing
6:05 p.m. CT – A total of 26 cars are signed in for tonight’s action, which will begin with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. CT. Ohlins Shocks Time Trials will follow, and then the first of three 10-lap heat races will get the green flag.
Spectacular show
5:05 p.m. CT – Tim Fuller and his Kennedy Motorsports team had to leave their shop in Edwards, N.Y., for the Wild West Tour well before seeing any Fourth of July fireworks, but they got an unexpected surprise en route to Amsoil Speedway.
While riding along Interstate 90 in Wisconsin late night, Fuller and Co. suddenly saw the sky begin to light up in front of him. As they continued rolling along they drove directly into a local town’s fireworks display.
“We thought we wouldn’t see any fireworks this year for the Fourth of July,” said Fuller’s chief mechanic Ross Robinson, “so it was kind of shocking to see fireworks happening right in front of us. We passed by right where they were shooting them — about 200 feet off the highway — when the grand finale was starting.”
Getting ready
4:50 p.m. CT – Following the arrival of Tim McCreadie a short time ago, all 11 WoO LMS regulars are now unloaded in the Amsoil Speedway pit area and ready to race.
Among the drivers on hand to challenge the Outlaws are 2011 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Pat Doar, who is making his first start on the tour since the Georgia/Florida swing in February; Brady Smith, who lives 35 miles from Amsoil Speedway and was a regular at the track early in his career; and Chris Olson of Hibbing, Minn.
