MONROE CENTER, Ohio — Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point leader Tim McCreadie extended his lead in the quest for his first series championship as he swept Friday night’s program at Raceway 7.
McCreadie’s Paylor Motorsports No. 39 turned the fastest qualifying lap, won the first heat and claimed the feature lead when Shane Clanton had a flat tire while leading.
McCreadie and Clanton went back-and-forth for the race lead between laps 38 and 41, but Clanton suffered a left-rear flat tire while leading with 41 laps scored. Clanton slowed on the track and headed to the pit area after leading a race high 36 laps. After the caution for Clanton, McCreadie powered away for his sixth series win of 2021.
Josh Richards came from sixth to finish second with Earl Pearson Jr., Kyle Bronson and Jimmy Owens rounding out the top five.
McCreadie’s 28th career LOLMDS triumph was his first at Raceway 7.
“I could tell his (Clanton) left rear was wrinkling really bad. I mean normally when they wrinkle up like that, they still have air in them and it’s because it’s got a bunch of load in it, kind of like drag cars,” McCreadie said. “I noticed it was rolling outside the rim and I knew he was in trouble. I just didn’t want to ring that cushion. I just tried my best. I hated it for Shane. I know how hard they are working. I think he truly had it tonight.”
Richards came home in second, 1.8 seconds behind the winner.
“We’ll take second. We have had a pretty rough year,” he said. “Just to be in the hunt for the win was really cool. I didn’t want to see that caution, I was thinking I could sneak up on them. After that restart Timmy got out there and he was pretty good.”
Pearson rounded out the podium in the Jason Papich-owned car as he recorded another strong finish.
“We survived the race. We had a good battle with Josh for most of the race. McCreadie and them were pretty well checked out up front. To be up this far north I really enjoy it. We will head down to Pittsburgh tomorrow and see what happens there.”
The finish:
Tim McCreadie, Josh Richards, Earl Pearson Jr., Kyle Bronson, Jimmy Owens, Matthew Lux, Jonathan Davenport, Tyler Erb, Jared Miley, Hudson O’Neal, Spencer Hughes, Matt Cosner, Ricky Thornton Jr., Ryan Markham, Dan Stone, Stormy Scott, Charles Powell, Bump Hedman, Shane Clanton, Gregg Satterlee, Chub Frank, Dave Hess Jr., Darrell Bossard, Casey Noonan.