|
CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 26, 2007) - With a Richard Childress Racing
driver development contract in hand and a possible NASCAR career in his
future, 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion Tim
McCreadie
has April 20-21 circled on his hectic racing schedule.
McCreadie is anxiously awaiting those dates because, if all goes as
planned, it could be his final opportunity to win one of the nation's
premier dirt-track events-the Circle K Colossal 100 at The Dirt Track @
Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"The Colossal is one of the biggest races on my calendar," McCreadie
said about the two-day, $50,000-to-win spectacular. "We're looking to
knock
down some of the marquee late model events this year including the
Colossal
at The Dirt Track, the World 100 and the Knoxville Nationals.
"As far as RCR, I'm going to go out there and run as hard as I can
for Richard because I'm so excited that he's given me a chance," added
the
32-year-old racer from Watertown, N.Y. "I'm ready to do whatever he
wants me
to do, and give it everything I've got. I'm excited to be associated
with a
first-class race team like his. It's really pretty amazing."
In addition to wheeling Carl and Ann Myers' No. 39 Sweeteners Plus
late model in selected dirt-track events this season, McCreadie will
take
the first steps in his transition to a possible NASCAR career. He will
drive
the No. 29 Golden Gate Meat Co. Chevrolet fielded by Jim Offenbach's
Golden
Gate Racing in association with RCR in the NASCAR West Series. He may
also
make a few NASCAR Busch Series appearances for RCR later in the year.
Even though his father, "Barefoot" Bob McCreadie, is a DIRT modified
racing legend, the younger McCreadie literally had to work his way into
the
cockpit.
"We just didn't have the money to do an extra car to put me out
there when I was 18," McCreadie explained. "So, I got a job on a
military
base as a civilian working on helicopters and then I could afford to
race. I
grew up in racing, so I figured I wanted to give it a try. Low and
behold, I
had a bunch of success my first year and 10 years later I'm racing for
a
living."
For McCreadie, 2006 was the type of year most drivers only dream
about. He shocked the racing world in January by winning the
prestigious
Chili Bowl midget race and then settled into a late model campaign that
led
to the 360 OTC World of Outlaws Late Model Series championship. Taking
into
account his on-track success and his off-track professionalism, members
of
the Eastern Motorsports Press Association voted him their 2006 National
Driver of the Year.
"I've been very fortunate," McCreadie said. "I love what I'm doing.
I've been fortunate to be in some great equipment with some great
owners
throughout my career and we've won a lot of races.
"Winning is what drives me, but the people you meet and the crowds
are also very important. The fans are simply amazing," McCreadie added.
"No
matter where we are, I'm just so amazed at how the fans will come to
the pit
area after the races and they are happy for you whether you've run bad
or
whether you've won."
McCreadie started 34th in last year's Circle K Colossal 100 and
sliced through the field to finish 13th. Even though his charge was
spectacular, it wasn't his best performance at the four-tenths-mile
clay
oval. That came on April 6, 2002, when he won a Super DIRT Series
modified
race.
"The conditions at The Dirt Track always warrant passing and that's
what any driver likes to see," said McCreadie. "But also, you're going
into
an area that is one of the hottest places for racing. When we race in
Charlotte, I get to see a lot of friends who have moved down there from
New
York. And, for toppers, we get to race for some serious money."
The Friday night portion of the Circle K Colossal 100 will feature
group time trials and heat races. The top two finishers in each heat
will
secure a spot in the 100-lap finale and a draw will determine the
starting
lineup.
Saturday night's program begins with a driver autograph session and
on-track action includes at least four additional qualifying races
prior to
the main event. The race will be part of the 360 OTC World of Outlaws
Late
Model Series, but The Dirt Track's traditional format, including the
extremely popular double-file restarts, will be utilized.
If purchased in advance, reserved tickets for both Friday and
Saturday nights are $49 for adults and $19 for children ages 12 and
under.
Two-day pit passes are $60 in advance.
Tickets and pit passes for the April 20-21 Circle K Colossal 100 can
be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling
1-800-455-FANS.
|
|
