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By James
Baker
OHSWEKEN, ON, CANADA-June 20- Friday evening was a very
special night for Ohsweken Speedway owners Glenn and Tina
Styres and their 13-year old track.
The 3/8 mile dirt track which Styres built in his own
backyard on the Six Nations Reserve in 1996, made history as
it became the first Ontario speedway to host a "World
of Outlaws Late Model Series" event.
The evening turned out pretty special for Watertown, NY
driver Tim McCreadie too.
The 34-year old McCreadie welcomed his return to dirt racing
with a convincing victory in the $10,000 to win, "Six
Nations 50." The "World of Outlaws"
sanctioned event also featured the "Ontario Dirt Late
Models."
McCreadie, a star on the DIRT Motorsports Big-Block Modified
tour where he won 59 features before moving on to the late
models, appears to be returning to his dirt track roots.
After taking the 2006 "World of Outlaws Late Model
Series" by storm and winning the series' championship,
McCreadie joined the Richard Childress Racing driver
development program. The stint at RCR led to several NASCAR
"Nationwide Series" and ARCA "RE/MAX
Series" starts last season, but lack of sponsorship has
left his pavement career in limbo.
So for now McCreadie is back to the dirt track wars.
Friday's victory was McCreadie first "World of Outlaws
Late Model Series" win since August 4, 2006 at
Lernersville Speedway in Sarver, PA. The Ohsweken triumph
was his 11th career series win.
"I was fortunate enough to win a Lucas Oil Series race
earlier this year, but to beat these boys, man they're the
best on the planet," said an emotional McCreadie in
victory lane. "I have to put the pavement stuff in the
past. If I never get back there again, it's damn nice to
race in front of these people like this."
Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, GA started on the outside
pole and led the first 19 laps of the 50-lap "Six
Nations 50." But McCreadie dove underneath Clanton on
lap 20 for the lead and never looked back.
With McCreadie running the high-side of the track in his
classic, rim-riding style, the pair engaged in a heated
battle for several laps, but as the race wore on, Clanton
was clearly no match for his rival.
Meanwhile, Rick Eckert of York, PA had moved into third
place finding success on the track's bottom, and began to
challenge Clanton. Watertown, NY driver Tim Fuller also
joined the fray, but Clanton was able to hold on for the
runner-up position.
Eckert and Fuller finished third and fourth respectively
with new "World of Outlaws" point leader Darrell
Lanigan of Union, KY fifth.
Standing out with an impressive performance for the
"Ontario Dirt Late Models" was Wallaceburg, ON
driver Chris Ross.
Ross, who had previously won four limited late model
features at Ohsweken Speedway, qualified for the "Six
Nations 50" with a fourth place finish in his heat
race. Ross topped the "ODLM" contingent with a
12th place finish in the main event.
Also qualifying for the feature from the "ODLM"
were Adam Ferri of Port Colborne, ON 16th, Andrew Reaume of
Blenheim, ON 23rd and Chad Valone of Warren, PA 24th.
Following the top-five to the finish line were Clint Smith,
Ricky Elliott, Shannon Babb, Josh Richards, Danny Johnson,
John Blankenship, Ross, Dan Stone, Steve Francis, Chub
Frank, Ferri, Tony Knowles, Ed Carley, 17-year old Jeff
Isabell(in his first WOO
start), Jeremy Miller, Neil Baggett, Sean Beardsley, Andrew
Reaume and Valone.
McCreadie was also honoured by the Styres with a special
victory lane presentation of a stone carving of a turtle
which represents a part of the first nation's heritage.
After Thursday night's scheduled event was rained out, Glenn
and Tina Styres provided a meal in the pits to all of the
late model teams in appreciation of the racers long travels
to Ohsweken Speedway.
McCreadie was touched by the gratitude.
"What a phenomenal facility," McCreadie said of
the Ohsweken track. "You can't hold anybody back
here...If you're a little bit better, you just got to work
at it. These are the type of tracks we live for, and we
appreciate Glenn(Styres) having us up here."
In preliminary action, Smith, Elliott, Francis and Clanton
were heat race winners. Frank and Stone won the B-Mains.
Smith was also the fast qualifier among the 40 entries with
a time of 16.094.
The "Empire Super Sprints" were also featured on
Friday night's race card, and a familiar name emerged as the
victor. Taking honours was 2007 "ESS" champion
Steve Poirier of St. Mathieu de Becoeil, Quebec, also the
winner of the past two "Canadian Sprint Car
Nationals" held at Ohsweken.
Cody McPherson captured his fourth Thunder Stock feature
with Brent Hill prevailing in the Mini Stock division.
Steven Hils took the Fun Stock main.
The "Great Northern Tour" for the "World of
Outlaws Late Model Series" continues its Canadian swing
with a Saturday, June 21 appearance at the Autodrome
Drummond in Drummondville, Quebec. Cornwall(ON) Motor
Speedway hosts the series Sunday, June 22.
The "Ontario Dirt Late Models" get back into
action with a big, two-day affair, the "Civic Holiday
Challenge" at Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, ON on
Saturday, August 2 and at Humberstone Speedway in Port
Colborne, ON on Sunday, August 3.
WORLD OF
OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES
”SIX NATIONS 50” PRESENTED BY ARROW EXPRESS
THURSDAY, JUNE 19 (POSTPONED TO FRIDAY, JUNE 20)
TIME TRIAL RESULTS
Position. # Name (Hometown) Best Lap
1. 44 Clint Smith (Senoia, GA) 16.094
2. 41 Neil Baggett (Shannon, MS) 16.181
3. 19 Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) 16.326
4. 25 Shane Clanton (Locust Grove, GA) 16.342
5. 1 Josh Richards (Shinnston, WV) 16.489
6. 121 Ricky Elliott (Seaford, DE) 16.499
7. 39 Tim McCreadie (Watertown, NY) 16.504
8. 18 Shannon Babb (Moweaqua, IL) 16.556
9. 24m Jeremy Miller (Gettysburg, PA) 16.620
10. 27j Danny Johnson (Phelps, NY) 16.649
11. 24 Rick Eckert (York, PA) 16.706
12. 19t Tim Fuller (Watertown, NY) 16.713
13. 29 Darrell Lanigan (Union, KY) 16.745
14. 2v Chad Valone (Warren, PA) 16.787
15. 22 Greg Oakes (Franklinville, NY) 16.818
16. 23 John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) 16.828
17. 88 Andrew Reaume (Blenheim, ON) 16.839
18. 1f Adam Ferri (Port Colbourne, ON) 16.855
19. 21d Dan Stone (Thompson, PA) 16.883
20. 1m Peter Mantha Jr. (Gatineau, QC) 17.035
21. 1* Chub Frank (Bear Lake, PA) 17.181
22. 04 Bob Close (Eldred, PA) 17.181
23. 01 Doug Ricotta (Warsaw, NY) 17.364
24. 26 Tony Knowles (Tyrone, GA) 17.417
25. 18s Sean Beardsley (Central Square, NY) 17.490
26. 7 Ed Carley (Freedom, NY) 17.536
27. 18r Chris Ross (Wallaceburg, ON) 17.547
28. 6j Jeff Isabell Jr. (Pennellville, NY) 17.703
29. 60 Dale Glassford (Highgate, ON) 17.850
30. 1a Brad Authier (Chatham, ON) 17.966
31. 05 Mike Lewis (Wallaceburg, ON) 18.157
32. 33g Gerald Giroux (Chatham, ON) 18.179
33. rh94 Justin Coulter (Leamington, ON) 18.455
34. 77 Brett Reaume (Blenheim, ON) 18.559
35. 5 Jeff Dayman (Welland, ON) 18.739
36. 81 Tim MacKenzie (Chatham, ON) 18.821
37. 78 Rick Baker (Blenheim, ON) 18.861
38. rh21 Gregg Haskell (Chatham, ON) 19.303
39. 13x John Vanderlinden (Paincourt, ON) 19.307
40. 92 Adam West (Ridgetown, ON) N/T
WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES HEAT RACES
(10 laps, Top 4 Transfer to A-Main)
Heat Race #1:
1. 44 Clint Smith, 2. 1 Josh Richards, 3. 24m Jeremy Miller,
4. 29 Darrell Lanigan, 5. 1* Chub Frank, 6. 18s Sean
Beardsley, 7. 60 Dale Glassford, 8. 88 Andrew Reaume, 9. 78
Rick Baker, 10. rh94 Justin Coulter
Heat Race #2:
1. 121 Ricky Elliott, 2. 27j Danny Johnson, 3. 7 Ed Carley,
4. 41 Neil Baggett, 5. 2v Chad Valone, 6. 1a Brad Authier,
7. 77 Brett Reaume, 8. rh21 Gregg Haskell, 9. 1f Adam Ferri,
DNS. 04 Bob Close
Heat Race #3:
1. 19 Steve Francis, 2. 39 Tim McCreadie, 3. 24 Rick Eckert,
4. 18r Chris Ross, 5. 22 Greg Oakes, 6. 21d Dan Stone, 7. 5
Jeff Dayman, 8. 05 Mike Lewis, 9. 13x John Vanderlinden, 10.
01 Doug Ricotta
Heat Race #4:
1. 25 Shane Clanton, 2. 19t Tim Fuller, 3. 23 John
Blankenship, 4. 18 Shannon Babb, 5. 6j Jeff Isabell, Jr., 6.
26 Tony Knowles, 7. 33g Gerald Giroux, 8. 92 Adam West, 9.
1m Peter Mantha, Jr., 10. 81 Tim MacKenzie
WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES B-MAINS:
(12 laps, Top 3 Transfter to A-Main)
B-Main # 1:
1. 1* Chub Frank, 2. 1f Adam Ferri, 3. 2v Chad Valone, 4.
18s Sean Beardsley, 5. 88 Andrew Reaume, 6. rh94 Justin
Coulter, 7. 60 Dale Glassford, 8. 1a Brad Authier, 9. 77
Brett Reaume, 10. rh21 Gregg Haskell, 11. 78 Rick Baker ,
DNS. 04 Bob Close
B-Main #2:
1. 21d Dan Stone, 2. 26 Tony Knowles, 3. 6j Jeff Isabell,
Jr., 4. 22 Greg Oakes, 5. 5 Jeff Dayman, 6. 33g Gerald
Giroux, 7. 92 Adam West, 8. 13x John Vanderlinden, 9. 05
Mike Lewis, 10. 01 Doug Ricotta, DNS. 1m Peter Mantha, Jr.,
81 Tim MacKenzie
WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODEL SERIES “SIX NATIONS 50”
A-MAIN:
Position. # Name (Starting Position)
1. 39 Tim McCreadie (4)
2. 25 Shane Clanton (2)
3. 24 Rick Eckert (11)
4. 19 Tim Fuller (5)
5. 29 Darrell Lanigan (13)
6. 44 Clint Smith (7)
7. 121 Ricky Elliott (1)
8. 18 Shannon Babb (16)
9. 1 Josh Richards (6)
10. 27j Danny Johnson (3)
11. 23 John Blankenship (12)
12. (15) Chris Ross (15)
13. (18) Dan Stone (18)
14. (8) Steve Francis (8)
15. (17) Chub Frank (17)
16. (19) Adam Ferri (19)
17. (20) Tony Knowles (20)
18. (10) Ed Carley (10)
19. (22) Jeff Isabell Jr. (22)
20. (9) Jeremy Miller (9)
21. (14) Neil Baggett (14)
22. (23) Sean Beardsley (23)
23. (24) Andrew Reaume (24)
24. (21) Chad Valone (21) |
