5/11/2024
Tim McCreadie drives 24th-to-8th in FALS Spring Shootout
Tim McCreadie overcame weekend adversity to pilot the Rocket1 Racing / Valvoline / Seubert Calf Ranches No. 1 Rocket1 Racing / Ace Metal Works / XR1 Rocket Chassis / Durham Racing Engine Super Late Model to a pair of Top-10 finishes as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series invaded Illinois.
After a mid-race tire change on Friday night the New York racer rallied from the back of the pack to a 10th-place finish. More challenges faced the team on Saturday night after contact from another competitor while battling for second in his heat race, forced McCreadie to utilize a provisional to start 24th. He clawed his way to an eighth-place finish.
“It was a tough weekend for our team. From the two rainouts on Wednesday and Thursday to what we had to overcome on Friday and Saturday. Saturday was especially tough because we had a great car, but got KO’d in the heat race, so had to use a provisional to start at the back of the field. We all kept digging though and managed to come away with Top-10 finishes both nights,” McCreadie said. “Thanks to everyone with Rocket1 Racing for their hard work and all our great sponsors for all they do to support us.”
After seeing the fate of a pair of Castrol FloRacing Night in America events on Wednesday and Thursday determined by wet weather, Rocket1 Racing and Tim McCreadie returned to action on Friday with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) sanctioned Farmer City 74 at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway.
With a third-place finish in his heat race pinning him on the ninth row for the $25,000-to-win opener, McCreadie muscled the Seubert Calf Ranches No. 1 Super Late Model to a 10th-place finish in the 74-lapper after a pit stop during the second half of the feature.
For Saturday’s FALS Spring Shootout at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway Tim got squeezed into the wall while challenging for the second position in his heat race, which forced him into the infield pit area for a new left-rear tire.
Following a 12th-to-5th showing in his B-Main, which left him just short of earning a transfer spot to the main event, McCreadie was awarded a series provisional and started the $30,000-to-win FALS Spring Shootout in the 24th position and drove all the way up to eighth.
Despite the hurdles the team had to overcome throughout the weekend Tim climbed three positions in the latest LOLMDS standings and is currently tied for sixth with Garrett Alberson.
Full results from the weekend are available at www.LucasDirt.com.
The team now turns their focus to the 32nd annual Lucas Oil Show-Me 100, which will be held at Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, Mo.) on May 23 – 25. The tripleheader is co-sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA). Thursday and Friday’s programs each feature $10,000-to-win prelims with Saturday’s finale boasting a lofty $50,000 top prize.
Full details on the event are available at www.LucasOilSpeedway.com .
Article Credit: Heath Lawson image