PORT ROYAL, Pa. — Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point leader Tim McCreadie took another big step in his quest for his first series title by winning Friday night’s event at Port Royal Speedway.
The 47-year-old New York native captured his fourth series win of 2021 as he crossed the line nearly a straightaway ahead of four-time series champion Jimmy Owens. Tyler Erb came from 10th to place third with Shane Clanton taking fourth and Hudson O’Neal finishing in fifth.
Jonathan Davenport and McCreadie started on the front row for the 40-lap main event as the two went side-by-side at the line to complete the first lap. McCreadie would take the lead from Davenport on the next lap, a lead he never relinquished.
A terrific four-car battle for the lead would ensue for several laps as the leaders raced through traffic. Davenport stayed close by, with O’Neal and Chris Ferguson in the hunt as well.
During a lap-25 caution flag period, both Davenport and Ferguson had issues with flat tires as they made their way to the hot pit area for new rubber.
With the second and fourth place running cars relegated to the back, that opened the door for Owens and Erb to move into the top three. Erb got to second on lap 27, but Owens would get back around Erb for second with 10 laps to go.
McCreadie, who has finished second in the standings three out of the last four years, extended his current lead after Friday’s victory.
Erb, who was looking for his fifth series win of the season rounded out the podium in third.
“We were just fortunate when the 49 [Davenport] and the 22 [Satterlee] had their misfortunes, when they had their flats. I definitely didn’t want to be on the bottom on the restart. I knew Jimmy probably did. I was able to get by him on the first one. I didn’t want to see that last caution. All-in-all it was good. I am historically not very good here, so we are just getting better.”
The finish: