The Dirt Track at Charlotte
Notes: McCreadie hopes to rebound at Charlotte
By Joshua Joiner
DirtonDirt.com staff writer
Tim McCreadie prepares his helmet for Friday's World Finals action. (DirtonDirt.com)
CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 2) — With the World of Outlaws Late Model Series wrapping up its season during this weekend’s Peak Motor Oil World Finals presented by NAPA, plenty of series drivers are looking to close out the year strong with a solid performances during the high-profile doubleheader weekend at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
For Tim McCreadie, that statement couldn’t be truer. After a promising start to the year produced three WoO victories and eight wins overall before the end of July, McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., has gone winless through the second half of the year and hasn’t recorded a top-five WoO finish since July 10.
“I guess that’s good about this race, because if you run good hear you’ve beat some good cars,” McCreadie said as he prepared for Friday’s $10,000-to-win WoO event. “It’s good to end the year strong, and this is a good place to do it.”
McCreadie got a good start to the weekend with qualifying efforts of eighth and 15th during Thursday night’s two World Finals qualifying rounds. He’ll start alongside Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., in Friday’s second heat race as he looks to recapture that magic that made him one of the hottest drivers in the country earlier in the season.
“You can’t deny our success. It’s not like it was dumb luck,” said McCreadie, who switched to Warrior Race Cars over the offseason. “Rome wasn’t built in a day. We just gotta keep working and get back rolling.”
While he would love to wrap up the season with a victory or even two at Charlotte, McCreadie is more realistic in just hoping for solid finishes.
“I’m confident in our car, but I just feel like we’re not there with those top three or four guys right now,” McCreadie said. “But to come out of here with a couple good runs, top fives or top 10s, I guess that’d be pretty good for us.”
Davies enjoys return
Ron Davies of Warren, Pa., enjoys opportunities to race against the touring stars of the World of Outlaws. The former series regular enjoys it even more when he runs up front.
He has the chance to do that at Charlotte after turning in qualifying performances that were 20th and 18th quickest overall during Thursday’s time trials.
“I just really love coming back and running against these guys,” said Davies, who followed the entire WoO tour in 2011 before cutting back this season. “It’s even better when I’m competitive.”
Started third in his heat race Friday night, Davies is just aiming to maintain and make the 26-car feature lineup.
“We’re in a good spot,” said Davies, who’s considering a return to the WoO tour in 2013. “If we can just stay there and make the show I’ll be happy. I feel good about it, but we’ll see where we stack up.”
McCool looks forward
With the WoO Rookie of the Year title already wrapped up and at least a seventh-place finish in the series standings assured, Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., doesn’t have to worry about anyone catching him from behind in a points battle. Instead, he’s hoping to make his solid season even better by catching Clint Smith and Tim McCreadie for a top-five finish in the final series standings.
“Winning (Rookie of the Year) is great, but we’re not taking it easy,” McCool said. “Definitely getting fifth would be pretty cool.”
McCool starts sixth in both heat races Friday and Saturday.
“At least I was consistent,” McCool said of his qualifying effort Thursday night. “I guess that’s what this points racing stuff learns ya.”
