Defending series champ dominates Firecracker 100 at Lernerville

Tim McCreadie passed the most cars during the two preliminary nights of the Firecracker weekend, so getting the outside pole for Saturday’s finale was a welcomed site.

And it was one he took full advantage of.

McCreadie got the jump on pole sitter Brandon Sheppard on the start and flexed his muscle from there, leading all 100 laps to a dominating win and a $50,000 payday at the 16th annual Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Buffalo Township.

The winner’s purse was the richest in the history of the speedway.

McCreadie, who’s the defending Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series champion, earned his second Firecracker 100 win, adding to his 2019 triumph.

The Watertown, N.Y. native celebrated by doing a couple of donuts with his car before heading to victory lane.

“This place is pretty close to home, so it is special to me,” McCreadie said. “I’ve probably hung out or drank booze with everyone in this place out at the band stage or in the campground after the races over the years. I absolutely love this place.”

McCreadie held off a late-race charge by defending Firecracker champion Brandon Overton to become the fourth multi-time champion of the race, joining Overton, Scott Blomquist and Jimmy Mars.

“I knew he was on my rear quarter panel,” McCreadie said. “But I knew as long as I didn’t fly out of my seat and do something stupid, he wasn’t going to get by me.”

Overton started fifth and worked his way around Sheppard for second on lap 60. He spent the last 40 laps trying to track down McCreadie but fell short of becoming the first driver to win back-to-back Firecracker 100s.

“I probably just needed a little clean racetrack to try and get by him,” Overton said. “It took forever for me to get around the lapped cars, but hell, if I can’t win, I’m glad Timmy won. He’s a really good guy and I enjoy racing him. It was another good night for us. We’ll take it.”

Mike Marlar finished third, falling short of a weekend sweep after winning the first two nights. He would have been the second driver to complete that feat, joining Josh Richards, but he was still satisfied with a successful weekend.

“We had a great weekend,” Marlar said. “With 56 cars here, it is a huge race with lots and lots of competition. To be on the podium all three days and win two of them is a result I’m really happy with.”

Sheppard settled for fourth and Earl Pearson, Jr. placed fifth. Gregg Satterlee finished ninth and was the top local finisher.

There were three cautions over the 100 lap race.

Sheppard, McCreadie, Pearson, Tyler Erb, Overton and Michael Norris won heat races.

Norris started sixth in the feature and was running in the top 10 early on, but a mechanical issue forced him pit side for a 29th-place finish.

Three-time Firecracker 100 champ Scott Bloomquist won the first B-Main and 2015 champion Rick Eckert finished second to transfer. Chub Frank took the second B-Main and Lernerville regular Matt Lux also transferred.

Kyle Strickler won the third B-Main followed by Lernerville regular Jared Miley.

Dan Stone won the Uncle Sam 30 non-qualifiers race after a spirited battle with defending Lernerville track champion Colton Flinner. In lieu of taking $2,000 for the win, Stone elected to start at the tail of the Firecracker 100. He finished 27th.

Prior to the races, it was announced that the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series will return for the Firecracker 100 next year and the weekend would have a slightly different format.

Thursday and Friday will have twin 25-lap features that pay $5,000 to win each. Saturday’s finale will again pay 50,000 to win.