TAMPA, Fla. - Tim McCreadie came from the 18th starting spot to win Thursday’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Winternationals main event at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Florida.
McCreadie drove to the lead around Don O’Neal on lap 24 using the top side of the race track, and led the rest of the way to earn the victory.
O’Neal came across the line in second, with Josh Richards third, Jimmy Owens fourth and David Breazeale fifth.
“I didn’t know where I was at before the yellow came out,” McCreadie said. “I ran as hard as I could and we got there. I didn’t think our chances were very good to win tonight from where we started (outside row nine). We have struggled to get this car to qualify. Low and behold, I am good in these conditions.”
McCreadie caught most the field by running the bottom lineof the racetrack, but after the last caution of the race with 22 laps to go, he changed his line to run high against the wall.
“My best chance was to pack in all the crumbs up top under caution,” he said. “I just kept packing them and packing them. I have lost a lot of races by not sticking in one lane or another. Thanks to everyone back at the Labonte shop for the great car.”
Richards started out the race strong by leading the first four laps of the race, until 15-year-old Michael Lake stormed to the lead. After a restart following a caution flag, Richards could not get traction and lost several spots. Lake then took O’Neal with him as the two ran first and second for several laps.
Lake held the lead until O’Neal passed him for the top spot on lap 17. Kyle Bronson made his way to the front to challenge O’Neal for the lead. McCreadie had climbed to third by lap 22 and then used a lap 24 restart to take the lead using the top groove on the race track.
O’Neal, a 15-time winner at East Bay, was making his first start of the week and came home in the runner-up position.
“That was a good race,” he said. “We had some problems on restarts, but overall, we have got a good hot-rod to finish out the week. The track was good down low and up high, but the middle was slicker there wasn’t as much traction. I am sure the fans got to see quite a race.”
Richards charged back to earn a podium finish and was glad to be back in the hunt at the end.
“That was a great race by all of the teams,” Richards said. “We got off to a great start and then things just went away. I don’t know how far we dropped back, but it was several spots. The car finally came around in the last ten laps or so and we were lucky to get back to third. Congrats to Timmy on the win.”
Kyle Bronson, Scott Bloomquist, Darrell Lanigan, Blairsville, Georgia’s Jonathan Davenport and Austin Hubbard rounded out the top ten finishers.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
East Bay Raceway Park – Tampa, FL
41st Annual Winternationals – Feb. 16, 2017
| FINISH | START | CAR # | DRIVER NAME | HOMETOWN | EARNINGS |
| 1 | 18 | 39 | Tim McCreadie | Watertown, NY | $7,000 |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | Don O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $3,500 |
| 3 | 1 | 1R | Josh Richards | Shinnston, WV | $2,000 |
| 4 | 2 | 20 | Jimmy Owens | Newport, TN | $1,500 |
| 5 | 19 | 54 | David Breazeale | Starkville, MS | $1,400 |
| 6 | 13 | 40B | Kyle Bronson | Brandon, FL | $1,300 |
| 7 | 22 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | Mooresburg, TN | $1,200 |
| 8 | 10 | 14 | Darrell Lanigan | Union, KY | $1,100 |
| 9 | 21 | 49 | Jonathan Davenport | Blairsville, GA | $1,000 |
| 10 | 12 | 11 | Austin Hubbard | Bridgeville, DE | $950 |
| 11 | 17 | 15 | Steve Francis | Bowling Green, KY | $900 |
| 12 | 16 | H1 | Jared Miley | South Park, PA | $850 |
| 13 | 7 | 28E | Dennis Erb, Jr. | Carpentersville, IL | $800 |
| 14 | 5 | 22* | GR Smith | Statesville, NC | $750 |
| 15 | 15 | 38 | Kenny PettyJohn | Millsboro, DE | $725 |
| 16 | 14 | 4G | Bob Gardner | Washington, IL | $700 |
| 17 | 24 | 7w | Ricky Weiss | Headingley, MB | $700 |
| 18 | 9 | 99B | Boom Briggs | Bear Lake, PA | $700 |
| 19 | 6 | 14c | Corey Conley | Wellsburg, WV | $650 |
| 20 | 11 | 71 | Hudson O’Neal | Martinsville, IN | $625 |
| 21 | 3 | 27 | Michael Lake | Uniontown, PA | $625 |
| 22 | 25 | 1 | Earl Pearson, Jr. | Jacksonville, FL | $600 |
| 23 | 23 | 92 | Nick Davis | Millsboro, DE | $600 |
| 24 | 26 | 75 | Colton Flinner | Allison Park, PA | $600 |
| 25 | 8 | 6T | Tim Dohm | Cross Lanes, WV | $600 |
| 26 | 20 | 1J | Davey Johnson | Greensburg, PA | $600 |
