Cedar Lake Speedway

T-Mac collects $50,000 for USA Nationals victory

August 3, 2013, 4:53 pm

By Todd Turner

DirtonDirt.com managing editor

Tim McCreadie celebrates in victory lane. (chrisburback.com)

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. (Aug. 3) — Action is under way at Cedar Lake Speedway for the final night of the 26th annual USA Nationals. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series event pays $50,000-to-win for the night’s 100-lap feature (updates and results are unofficial):

Main event

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. (Aug. 3) — Inheriting the lead when A.J. Diemel dropped to the infield on lap 54, polesitter Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., led the rest of 100-lap USA Nationals for a $50,000 World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory at Cedar Lake Speedway.

McCreadie kept eighth-starting Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., at bay late in the race in wrapping up the victory while last year’s winner Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., was third after he and O’Neal banged together on the backstretch late in the race.

Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., was fourth and 12th-starting Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., rounded out the top five.

The unsung Diemel appeared to have the race in hand through the first half of the race, taking the lead at the outset when McCreadie slipped high in turn two. But Diemel’s race came to an end when he dropped to the infield with an apparent broken crankshaft inside turn three, handing to the point to McCreadie.

Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., charged from his 17th starting spot to run as high as fourth, but he pulled his smoking machine to the infield in turn two with 20 laps remaining after burning a piston. He drove most of the race without rear brakes.

USA Nationals: (1) Tim McCreadie, (2) Don O’Neal, (3) Darrell Lanigan, (4) Josh Richards, (5) Brandon Sheppard, (6) Chad Simpson, (7) Rick Eckert, (8) Jimmy Owens, (9) Billy Moyer, (10) Bobby Pierce, (11) Eric Wells, (12) Brady Smith, (13) Donnie Moran, (14) Kent Robinson, (15) Shane Clanton, (16) Gregg Satterlee, (17) Jason Feger, (18) Dillon Wood, (19) Tim Fuller, (20) Shannon Babb, (21) Scott Bloomquist, (22) Chub Frank, (23) A.J. Diemel, (24) Chris Simpson, (25) Morgan Bagley, (26) Jonathan Davenport, (27) Dale McDowell, (28) Bub McCool. Fast qualifier (among 53 cars): Moran, 14.815. Heat race winners: McCreadie, Richards, Diemel, Eckert, Pierce, Chad Simpson. Dash winner: McCreadie. Consolation winners: Chris Simpson, Wells. Last-chance winner: McDowell. Provisional starters: Frank, McCool, Bloomquist, Davenport.

Provisionals

Chub Frank and Bub McCool received World of Outlaws Late Model Series provisionals. McCool broke in his own car and will field a Frank backup car, dropping to the tail for the start. Scott Bloomquist (past winner provisional) and Jonathan Davenport (Fan Fund provisional) are also in.

Last-chance race

Front-row starters Dale McDowell and Morgan Bagley transferred to the main-event through the last-chance race, holding those spots all the way.

Finish: Dale McDowell, Morgan Bagley, Jimmy Mars, Jake Redetzke, Jonathan Davenport, Scott Bloomquist, Devin Moran, Nick Anvelink, Brian Birkhofer, Tim Isenberg, Andrew McKay, Jeff Provinzino.

Second consolation

Polesitter Eric Wells got a great start, pulling away early and running unchallenged all 20 laps. Third-starting Brady Smith took second early and held the final transfer spot the whole way while Dale McDowell was third without contending for a transfer spot. Outside front-row starter was back to fifth after the first set of corners and back to eighth after five laps as he struggled with the handling of his No. 3s.. Jeff Provinzino ran third the first half of the race, but he got squeezed on a mid-race restart and fell from contention. Scott Bloomquist raced from 11th to fifth. The lone caution flew on lap 10 for a slowing Bub McCool.

Finish: Eric Wells, Brady Smith, Dale McDowell, Jonathan Davenport, Scott Bloomquist, Jeff Provinzino, Tim Isenberg, Andrew McKay, Brian Birkhofer, Lance Matthees, Timothy Culp, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Chad Williamson, Ricky Weiss, Bub McCool

First consolation

Polesitter Chris Simpson edged away from Jake Redetzke early and cruised to a 20-lap victory in the first consy. Simpson had a straightaway lead at halfway while Redetzke held the second spot most of the way. Morgan Bagley and then Tim Fuller challenge for second, with Fuller making an outside move on lap 17 to take the final transfer spot. Redetzke faded badly to fifth behind Morgan Bagley and Jimmy Mars. They'll all go to the last-chance race.

Finish: Chris Simpson, Tim Fuller, Morgan Bagley, Jimmy Mars, Jake Redetzke, Kevin Weaver, Kyle Bronson, Devin Moran, Chub Frank, Nick Anvelink, Jared Hawkins, Clint Smith, Dan Stone Charlie McKenna, Brett Swedberg.

Friday reset

The top 18 drivers — three drivers transferring from each of Friday’s six heat races — are locked into the main event with Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., on the pole after capturing Friday’s heat-winner’s dash.

Two consolation races will transfer two drivers apiece to the main event while a last-chance race will send two more drivers into the 28-car field. Two World of Outlaws provisionals will also join the field along with a former race winner provisional (the most recent) and a provisional for the Fans Fund driver who came closest to transferring through the last-chance race.

Pre-race notes

Each of Friday’s six heat winners piloted different chassis. ... The driver intros are always popular at Cedar Lake with the feature starters entering the track on the backstretch under a spotlight after the track’s lights go dark. ... After a misunderstanding left Cedar Lake without an event T-shirt, Arizona Sport Shirts scrambled to design a shirt Friday afternoon that was printed overnight and delivered early Saturday afternoon. ... Long-time Rick Eckert crew member Bob Miller missed Friday’s action after a lingering gallbladder infection sent him to a New Richmond hospital. He’s feeling better Saturday but plans to have his gallbladder at home between WoO trips. ... Cedar Lake’s NASCAR-sanctioned Late Models will run a complete program; A.J. Diemel of Navarino, Wis., won Friday’s feature.