VERNON, NY (July 28, 2011) – Tim McCreadie of Watertown, NY thrilled the crowd on hand Thursday Night at Utica-Rome Speedway by winning the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Coors Light 50. McCreadie took the lead from Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN on lap 28 and led the rest of the way to pocket the $10,000 first-place prize. Owens finished second followed by 10th place starter, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL; 19th starting Billy Decker of Unadilla, NY; and Vic Coffey of Caledonia, NY.

“It always feels great to come here and win in front of these fans, they have been so supportive of me since I started racing. They cheered my dad for many years and to come from eighth place to win here tonight, is just unbelievable, we wanted to come here and run with guys like Jimmy Owens and the other drivers on the Lucas Oil Series,” said the 37-year-old McCreadie who collected his second LOLMDS victory of 2011.

“The car we ran tonight, we haven’t been real happy with. We had a problem with the Victory Circle and didn’t get a chance to fix it after last night. Bill Schlieper of Pro Power Engines was here, he told us some things we were doing wrong and he straightened us out on the engine part of it. Man I thought Vic Coffey was going to win the race, he’s been so deserving of it this year, he’s been like a brother to me and to see him win tonight would have been just as exciting,” said the winner afterwards during his victory lane celebration.

Owens grabbed the lead at the start of the feature and for the second night in a row it looked like he had the car to beat. Owens built a huge lead over Scott Bloomquist with ten laps complete when the second caution of the race came out for a slowing Jim Bernheisel.

On the restart Owens pulled away again opening up a significant advantage over what was a tremendous battle for second among Bloomquist, Dan Stone, and Coffey. Stone passed Bloomquist for second on lap 11 and held the spot until Coffey stormed by him on lap 15.

But on lap 27 a caution would slow the field and wipe away Owens’ margin. The restart got quite exciting as McCreadie went to the outside and passed Owens on lap 28 to take over the lead as the crowd came to its feet. McCreadie and Owens then diced it out side-by-side for three laps until McCreadie pulled ahead for good.

McCreadie kept enough distance between himself and Owens the rest of the way as he went on to secure his seventh career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series triumph. Owens and Pearson battled to the finish with Owens edging out Pearson for the position.

“I have to thank everyone at Sweeteners Plus, Ann and Carl Myers for all they have done for me, my co-crew chiefs Barry Knapp and Craig McCrimmon. We have meshed well and we are looking forward to the rest of the season,” said the driver who piloted a Rocket Chassis to the win with sponsorship from Bulldog Rear Ends, VP Racing Fuels, Hoosier Tires, Integra Shocks, and Coffey McCreadie Enterprises.

Owens in the Reece Monuments, Cornett Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars, Ford expanded his points lead to 35-points over Bloomquist by placing second. Pearson in the Bobby Labonte Racing, Lucas Oil Products, Longhorn Dodge continued his recent resurgence with a third place finish ahead of two Empire State drivers, Decker in the Gypsum Express, Rocket, who earned the PBM Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race and Coffey in the Sweeteners Plus, Rocket.

Completing the top ten were Bloomquist; Jared Landers of Batesville, AR; Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN; Steve Francis of Ashland, KY; and Dan Stone of Thompson, PA.

In preliminary action Jimmy Owens was the Red Buck Cigars Fast Qualifier among the 29 entrants. Heat race winners were Owens, Tyler Reddick, Scott Bloomquist, and Ray Cook. The B-Mains went to Don O’Neal and John Blankenship.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will conclude its three-race swing on Saturday Night, July 30th at Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, MD for a $10,000 to win event.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series’ office at (951) 532-2503.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Thursday Night, July 28th, 2011
“Coors Light 50”
Utica-Rome Speedway – Vernon, NY

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time:
Jimmy Owens / 18.794 seconds (Group A and Overall)
Scott Bloomquist / 18.923 seconds (Group B)

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Jimmy Owens, Brad neat, Bub McCool, Clint Smith, Jared Landers, Billy Decker, Carey Terrance, DJ Myers

Wiles Driveshafts Second Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Tyler Reddick, Dan Stone, Vic Coffey, Steve Francis, Don O’Neal, Eric Wells, Dale Planck

Sweet Manufacturing Third Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Scott Bloomquist, Tim Fuller, Earl Pearson Jr., Larry Wight, David Zona, Aaron Jacobs, John Blankenship
HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps- Top 4 Advance): Ray Cook, Tim McCreadie, Frank Heckenast Jr., Jim Bernheisel, Dale Caswell, Brent Rhebergen, Alan Fink

JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Don O’Neal, Billy Decker, Jared Landers, Dale Planck, Carey Terrance, Eric Wells, DJ Myers

Wrisco Aluminum Second B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): John Blankenship, David Zona, Dale Caswell, Aaron Jacobs, Brent Rhebergen, Alan Fink

Feature Finish – 50 Laps

FINISH START CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN
1 8 39 Tim McCreadie Watertown, NY
2 1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN
3 10 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL
4 19 91 Billy Decker Unidilla, NY
5 11 32c Vic Coffey Caledonia, NY
6 2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
7 21 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
8 17 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN
9 15 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
10 7 2 Daniel Stone Thompson, PA
11 14 99L Larry Wight Phoenix, NY
12 4 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
13 3 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
14 5 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY
15 24 19 Dale Planck Cortland, NY
16 20 99z David Zona Montrose, PA
17 12 99jr Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL
18 9 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS
19 22 R1 Dale Caswell W. Monroe, NY
20 13 44c Clint Smith Senoia, GA
21 6 19t Tim Fuller Watertown, NY
22 23 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
23 16 119 Jim Bernheisel Lebanon, PA
24 18 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV

Race Statistics
Entrants: 29
Lap Leaders: Jimmy Owens (Laps 1 – 27); Tim McCreadie (Laps 28 – 50)
Caution Flags: John Blankenship (Lap 1); Jim Bernheisel (Lap 10); Tyler Reddick (Lap 27); Clint Smith (Lap 33);
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Eric Wells
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisionals: none
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Provisionals: Dale Planck
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: Billy Decker (Started 19th; Finished 4th; Advanced 15 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Tim McCreadie
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Earl Pearson Jr.
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jared Landers
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Pro Power Racing Engines
Janowski Insurance Feature Winner: Tim McCreadie
Outerwears Challenger of the Race: Billy Decker
Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award: John Blankenship
DirtonDirt.com Crew Chief of the Race: Barry Knapp and Craig McCrimmon (Tim McCreadie)
Time of Race: 30 minutes 27 seconds

Lucas Oil Championship Point Standings:

POS CAR # DRIVER NAME HOMETOWN POINTS
1 20 Jimmy Owens Newport, TN 4120
2 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN 4085
3 71 Don O’Neal Martinsville, IN 3720
4 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY 3390
5 44 Earl Pearson, Jr. Jacksonville, FL 3370
6 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR 3235
7 41n Brad Neat Dunnville, KY 3140
8 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 3115
9 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV 3055
10 57J Bub McCool Vicksburg, MS 3035
11 11t Tyler Reddick Corning, CA 2995
12 17m Dale McDowell Chickamauga, GA 2865
13 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY 2655
14 99jr Frank Heckenast, Jr. Frankfort, IL 2560

NETWORK AIR DATE AIR TIME VENUE EVENT NAME LOCATION EVENT DATE
SPEED 7/31/11 1:00 PM Magnolia Motor Speedway Clash at the Mag Columbus, MS 7/9/11
SPEED 8/7/11 1:00 PM Tri-City Speedway Budweiser Battle at the Beach Pontoon Beach, IL 7/15/11
VERSUS 8/27/11 2:30 PM Batesville Motor Speedway Bad Boy 98 Batesville, AR 5/21/11
SPEED 9/4/11 11:00 AM Florence Speedway 29th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Florence, KY 8/13/11
MavTV 9/8/11 9:00PM Batesville Motor Speedway Bad Boy 98 Batesville, AR 5/21/11
SPEED 9/17/11 2:00 PM Lawrenceburg Speedway Lawrenceburg, IN 8/26/11
SPEED 10/2/11 1:00 PM Portsmouth Raceway Park River Days Rumble Portsmouth, OH 9/3/11
SPEED 10/9/11 1:00 PM Virginia Motor Speedway ASi Racewear USA 100 Saluda, VA 9/17/11
SPEED 10/23/11 6:00 PM Brownstown Speedway 32nd Annual Jackson 100 Brownstown, IN 9/24/11
SPEED 10/30/11 3:00 PM Dixie Speedway Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Woodstock, GA 10/8/11
VERSUS 12/18/11 6:00 PM Florence Speedway 29th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Florence, KY 8/13/11
MavTV 12/29/11 9:00PM Florence Speedway 29th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels North/South 100 Presented by Lucas Oil Florence, KY 8/13/11
SPEED TBA TBA Lucas Oil Speedway Diamond Nationals Wheatland, MO 7/16/11
SPEED TBA TBA Knoxville Raceway 8th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Knoxville, IA 10/1/11
MavTV TBA TBA Dixie Speedway Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Woodstock, GA 10/8/11
VERSUS TBA TBA Dixie Speedway Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Woodstock, GA 10/8/11

2011 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Sponsors

ASI Racewear – “The Official Merchandise Vendor” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Canidae Pet Foods – “The Official Pet Foods” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

DART Machinery – “The Official Engine Components” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

E3 Spark Plugs – “The Official Spark Plug” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Geico Power Sports – “The Official Insurance” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

General Tire – “The Official Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Hoosier Tire – “The Official Race Tire” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

K&N Filters – “The Official Filter” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Lucas Oil Products – “The Official Oil” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Magnaflow Exhaust – “The Official Exhaust” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

MavTV – “The Official Men’s Network” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

R&L Carrier – “The Official Carrier” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Rockstar Energy Drink – “The Official Drink” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Speedco – “The Official Truck Lube and Tire Center” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Sunoco Race Fuels – “The Official Fuel” of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

2011 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Supporters Include:

Allstar Performance, American Racer, Banshee Graphics, Bloomquist Race Cars, COMP Cams, Cornett Racing Engines, Cruise with the Champions, CV Products, DirtonDirt.com, Dominator Race Products, Dyers Top Rods, ECR Race Engines, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Gaerte Engines, GRT Race Cars, Hawk Performance, Hypercoil, Janowski Insurance, Jay Dickens Racing Engines, JE Pistons, JRi Shocks, Keyser MFG, Longhorn Chassis, MasterSbilt Chassis, Öhlins, Outerwears, PBM/Erson Cams, Performance Bodies, Pierce Racecars, Pro Power Racing, Quarter Master, Race Engine Design, Red Buck Cigars, Rhyne Race Engines, Rick Schwallie Photography, Ringers Gloves, Rocket Chassis, Roush Yates Engines, Roush Yates Performance, Safety Solutions, Sweet Manufactuing, Vic Hill Race Engines, Warrior Race Cars, Weld Racing Wheels, Wiles Drive Shafts, Wrisco, 5150 Race Trailers.

James Essex, Public Relations Coordinator, jessex@lucasdirt.com