Tim McCreadie makes late charge to earn North-South 100 victory

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series capped a three-feature weekend at Florence Speedway with one of Dirt Late Model racing’s crown jewel events on Saturday night. In the end it was 20th starting Tim McCreadie who came away with the glory of one of the sport’s marquee races. The Watertown, NY driver took home the $50,000 first prize from the Union, KY track in a race shown live by Lucas Oil Racing TV.

Friday night heat races that employed a passing points format placed Chris Ferguson on the pole for the main event with Jimmy Owens, Josh Richards, Dale McDowell, Earl Pearson Jr., Brandon Overton, Shane Clanton, Kent Robinson, Tyler Erb, Ricky Thornton Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Shanon Buckingham, Tyler Bruening, Kyle Bronson, Billy Moyer Jr. and Ross Bailes making up the first eight rows on the starting grid.

Josh Rice topped Mike Marlar and Tyler Carpenter in the night’s first B-main while Jason Jameson was victorious in the second B-main over Tim McCreadie and Bobby Pierce.

At the start of the 100-lap feature Owens jumped out to the early lead ahead of Ferguson, Pearson, Richards and Overton. It was Overton who made the early move by making a three-wide move by Pearson and Richards to move up to third. The No. 76 then passed by Ferguson to gain the runner-up position behind Owens.

A lap 7 caution for Marlar slowed the pace briefly before Owens jumped back to the lead when green flag racing resumed. Further back, McDowell moved to fifth and began to do battle with Richards for fourth.

The top-5 of Owens, Overton, Ferguson, Richards and McDowell stabilized while O’Neal, Clanton and Thornton engaged in a furious battle just outside the top-5.

Following  a lap 14 caution drivers appeared content to log laps until Overton closed in on Owens as those two fought over the race lead until another yellow flag waved on lap 31 with Owens continuing to show the way.

Ferguson moved back to second on the lap 31 restart although Overton fought to regain the position. Eventually, Overton and Thornton shuffled Ferguson back to fourth just prior to the halfway mark.

Just past the halfway mark Owens continued to lead a fierce fight between the likes of Overton, Thornton, McCreadie and McDowell.

Owens, Thornton and Overton ran in tight formation in the top-3 as the race approached the 35 laps to go mark with Owens and Overton on the bottom and Thornton way out against the wall. Shortly afterward, McCreadie, McDowell and Ferguson joined the fray as the top-6 runners fought hard among themselves until another caution came out for Davenport on lap 73.

McCreadie moved to second on the ensuing restart and looked as if he was poised to challenge Owens for the top spot until another yellow flag waved one lap later.

A string of late-race cautions prevented the race from getting into a good rhythm as the track’s cushion took its toll on the machines.

With less than 20 laps to go McCreadie amped up the pressure on Owens for the lead but numerous cautions continued to spoil the action. Finally on lap 85, McCreadie used a slide job to take the lead but Owens fought back, using a slider of his own to retake the position. But following the Owens move McCreadie retaliated with a crossover and established himself as the leader on lap 87.

The No. 39 then began to pull away as Owens and Overton battled for second with Overton taking the spot on lap 98. But in the end it was McCreadie who would sail under the checkered flag for capture his second North-South 100 win.

Feature Finish: 1. Tim McCreadie, 2. Brandon Overton, 3. Jimmy Owens, 4. Chris Ferguson, 5. Dale McDowell, 6. Josh Richards, 7. Hudson O’Neal, 8. Earl Pearson Jr., 9. Shane Clanton, 10. Billy Moyer Jr., 11. Jonathan Davenport, 12. Devin Moran, 13. Tanner English, 14. Josh Rice, 15. Tyler Erb, 16. Kyle Bronson, 17. Ross Bailes, 18. Tyler Bruening, 19. Ricky Thornton Jr., 20. Shanon Buckingham, 21. Bobby Pierce, 22. Mike Marlar, 23. Jason Jameson, 24. Kent Robinson, 25. Stormy Scott, 26. Tyler Carpenter