McCREADIE SCORES STUNNING WIN; FLORIDA CROWN TO HEARN ..... AGAIN

BARBERVILLE, FL...Second-generation standout Tim McCreadie needed every lap to find a fast lane and when he reached the final turn he filled it just in time to sweep past Brett Hearn and score his first career victory Saturday night at Volusia Speedway Park.

For the second straight year Hearn settled for second-place in the final leg of the Winter Nationals, once again still good enough to claim his third consecutive points title.

The 2002 Florida Tour finale showcased DIRT Motorsports' premier big-block Modified division as the 50-lap main event ran off caution-free in front of a capacity crowd that arrived late to witness the most dramatic finish of the week.

Mirroring their talents exhibited during Thursday's thriller on the fast Barberville half-miler, with the help of Tim Fuller, McCreadie and Hearn put on another breath-taking performance in traffic but on this night 'Tenderfoot' Tim made the late-race pass to capture top honors.

"Using an extra-hard right rear (tire) probably made the difference tonight," said McCreadie, after posting his first feature win of the new year and 20th career victory in DIRT big-block competition. "I finally found a good line outside at the end so I gave it a shot. I figured what the hell, I'll either finish first or third so that thought really gave me only one option."

Afternoon showers in the Daytona area afforded the wettest track conditions of the week. Fans still turned out in droves by feature time despite the rain delaying the Grand National event for two hours at the nearby superspeedway.They were just in time as the 25-mile DIRT Modified main was run off in just 16 minutes.

The heads-up start put heat two winner McCreadie outside pole and as expected his no. 56 Finch's Trucking-Syracuse Frame Service/TEO machine out-dragged front row partner Ray Swinehart when the initial green flag waved. Non-stop action that kept scorers reeling over the next 49 laps was never anticipated.

Heat three victor Hearn slid his red no. 3 Budweiser mount under McCreadie on the third circuit and Fuller followed through aboard his black no. m1 B&F General Machine entry. McCreadie slipped as far back as fourth behind Swinehart with a handful of laps complete and Doug Hoffman moved into the top-five after starting seventh on the original 26-car grid.

Continuous green flag conditions put a premium on set-up and as the laps clicked off many of the experienced teams managed to carve their way to the front. McCreadie regained the show position when the lap counter displayed double digits and soonafter crossed the line in second to complete lap 21.

Fuller never backed off, taking advantage in traffic to pin McCreadie down low and return to the runner-up spot on lap 26. The trio of Hearn, Fuller and McCreadie maintained this order over the ensuing 20 laps while zig-zagging between lapped cars both high and low as the track began to blacken.

McCreadie finally found the high line to his liking in turns three and four, charging around Fuller with four laps remaining to start the fans buzzing in the stands. He shadowed Hearn over the next three laps before bringing the crowd to its feet one more time with a surprising move around the reigning Mr. DIRT points king.

"What a great win in front of such a big turnout of fans," said McCreadie, who earned $5,000 for the win yet still fell 40 points shy of two-time 2002 Florida Tour race winner Hearn in the final big-block standings. Tuesday night Volusia winner Fuller settled for third-place in the fifth and final feature to finish second on the points chart.

"It's got to be sweet revenge for Timmy after Thursday's race," said Sussex, N.J. speedster Hearn, who split two lapped cars to overtake McCreadie on lap 26 and cruise on to his second 30-lap win of the week, his first coming in the Putnam County Speedway opener. "I hoped to conserve tires tonight and at the end I was trying to block both lanes. I just fell one turn short but coming out on top in points lets us leave on a high note for another year."

Final top-ten finishers in the 31st Winter Nationals point standings are Hearn(268), Fuller(238), McCreadie(228), J.R. Heffner(224), Jamie Mills(204), Pat Ward(202), Danny Johnson(192, 1 win), Steve Paine(186), Swinehart(168) and Rick Laubach(159). Hearn was the only driver to place among the top-ten in each of the five feature races.

With Florida Tour 2002 in the recordbook, teams packed up and headed home to get ready for the start of DIRT Motorsports' 27th season at their favorite hometrack. The first event of the season in the Northeast is the Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series opener scheduled at Hagerstown(Md.) Speedway on Saturday, March 30.

FLORIDA TOUR 2002 PIT NOTES

Sat. Feb 16

For the fifth straight year DIRT Motorsports completed a successful trip to the 'Sunshine State' during wintertime. The 2002 Florida Tour marked the18th journey south for Northeastern Modified teams since 1978, with all but six of those years' events being sanctioned by the Weedsport, N.Y.-based organization. The most recent five-race mini-series resulted in four feature winners and 14 top-5 finishers, including a pair at Volusia by Winston Cup drivers Dave Blaney (2nd) and Tony Stewart (5th). The 'raised on dirt' duo closed out Speed Weeks '02 in the crash-marred Daytona 500 with Stewart's no. 20 Pontiac blowing a motor with just two laps scored to put him last (43rd) while Blaney's no. 77 Ford completed 186 laps to earn him 25th-place in the final race results. In his lone appearance aboard Vic Coffey's no. 32c Sweeteners Plus machine, 2001 UDTRA National Late Model Champion Rick Eckert was best in the pre-race draw before finishing 15th in the Thursday feature. Thirty-seven drivers representing seven states earned points during the DIRT Tour while reigning Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT points king Brett Hearn earned top ranking for the third consecutive year and fourth time in the past five Februarys. Compliments regarding the professionalism of the entire DIRT Motorsports operation were offered throughout the week by track officials, local sponsors and southern fans viewing the open-wheel action for the first time. Earl Baltes, owner of Eldora Speedway, was even on hand Monday night to check out Glenn Donnelly's headliners in preparation for the 'Eldora Fall DIRT Big-Block 100' scheduled on Sept. 28 at the famous Rossburg, Ohio facility.

DIRT Motorsports kicked off its 27th season in Florida with the 2002 Tour headlined by DIRT's 11th visit to Volusia. Since hosting its inaugural event in 1982 at Dick Murphy's popular half-mile clay oval in Barberville, Volusia has now staged 65 of the 82 Modified feature events run in February. The track was built in 1968 and it's most recent season-opener marked the 31st edition of the Winter Nationals exhibition. While rumors continue to flourish about the track either being sold or up for sale, VSP General Manager Al Clement wasted little time dispelling the idle chatter. "We've heard the rumors, too, but that's about all they are," said Clement, who has worked alongside Murphy for the past 20 years. "Some say the Palatka (Putnam County Speedway) owners are going to buy the track but the phone hasn't rung. If or when we do get a call, I think Dickie knows in his head what he wants to get for the track. Until something happens there's not much concern." From early spring through late autumn Volusia continues to run regular Saturday night programs consisting of Late Models, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and 4-Cylinder Pure Stocks. A new "Cruiser" claimer class has been introduced in 2002, one that involves the driver being able to use only the steering wheel and brake pedal while his/her partner sitting on the right inside the car has control of the throttle. The fans in attendance that night get to vote on whether the cars will race clockwise or counter-clockwise in the division's feature event.

Troyer, Inc. company head Billy Colton was active in the pits throughout the DIRT stint in Florida. When the shows were over he had recruited four drivers to steer the same experimental (leaf spring) no. 45 Cobra Trailers-Mohawk Northeast-New England Race Fuels/Troyer entry while car owner Chuck Hebing piloted the orange no. 45 four-link Troyer car in the finale. "It was good that we were able to get different points of view from four drivers but a couple times the car went out less than 100%," said Colton, whose most prolific driver, Danny Johnson, utilized an HRC (High Rod Coil) set-up in Jay James' no. 27 Planned Poultry Renovations ride. Among the more than half-dozen other Troyer owners in competition, Jim Rasey, Jamie Mills and Bob McCeadie, who totaled his car in a heat race flip on Thursday, used the SLR (Standard Low Rod) frame. "With a new car it usually takes a couple sessions out on the track to get comfortable. The only downfall with so many drivers is that there wasn't enough time available to satisfy all their styles." Todd Burley (3rd) placed highest in the Putnam opener with Keith Hoffman (18th) leading the initial 27 laps, Hebing (14th) finishing one lap down, McCreading (19th) suffering a bent shock and Hoffman (26th) posting another DNF in the four Volusia mains.

Butch Tittle returned Saturday with his trusted Troyer mount sporting $1,500 worth of repairs in the aftermath of a crash the previous night. Following contact with Pat Ward in Friday's feature go, the 'Z' car slammed the turn three outside wall with the back end hitting first. The list of replacement parts installed began ---but did not end--- with a rear spindle, axles and left rear tube. Among the damage goods in the front end were the kingpin, radius rods and sway bar arm. "Mechanically, the car is as good right now as when we arrived," figured the bearded Tittle, who opened the Florida swing with a pair of 9th-place tallies. "But I phoned my son and told him to start making up some new panels for Hagerstown. And we need our motors freshened up, too, as we've run with the same block since the end of last season."

Delaware driver Jamie Mills fell victim to an intake leak in the Putnam opener and failed to start the 30-lap main in his no. 30 I.G. Burton Car Dealership-L&W Insurance-Mills Bros. Markets/Troyer. He rebounded at Volusia with two 3rds, 6th and 7th-place finishes to end up fifth in the final point standings. "This has been a real funny track this year, it seems to change a lot even during the race," said Mills, 31, a Bridgeport(NJ) Speedway regular who finished second by just one point to Jimmy Horton in the 2001 track standings. "We just need to do a little better if we want to move up. There's a lot of good cars and talented drivers out here but we've been around long enough to know what has to be done." Mills has followed DIRT down south since its return in 1998, posting two 7th-place feature finishes to wind up fourth in points the first year. He recorded a pair of top-3s to secure third in the final 1999 standings and lost the 2000 tour title by just two points to Brett Hearn despite winning the opening round event. Last February he was a shoe-in to place among the top-5 in points but missed the final two feature races due to an unsportsmanlike infraction that dropped him to 14th on the final chart.

Originally reported to be heading home following his dramatic flip on Thursday that demolished his no. 9 Kinney Drugs modified, Bob McCreadie returned the following day bruised but able to steer Chuck Hebing's Troyer entry to a qualifying position in the feature. He again roamed the Volusia pits on Saturday but decided to sit this one out. "I'm just hanging around to watch my boy race then head home," said McCreadie, DIRT Motorsports' all-time leading big-block winner. The trip back to Watertown, N.Y. must have seemed a little shorter after son Tim's last lap pass of Brett Hearn brought the crowd to its feet in what was once typical 'Barefoot' fashion.

Statistical Review: Every feature race was aligned using a heads-up format based on the qualifying heats. Led by two-time winner Brett Hearn, who led three times for 83 laps, six drivers paced the fields in five events. Hearn and Danny Johnson each posted flag-to-flag victories while Hearn also forged the sixth and final lead change among four drivers in his St. Valentine's Day triumph. In terms of the DIRT Modified pre-race draws, Pennsylvanians Ray Swinehart and Jimmy Reppert can be recognized for both the best and worst selections recorded among those drivers competing in every event. Swinehart averaged 16.4 and Reppert 36.4 out of the 50 numbers making up the draw while tour champion Hearn ranked third (35.6) from last. On the list Tim McCreadie recently expanded to 27 drivers reaching victory lane, Hearn remains the all-time big-block Modified leader in Florida with 12 feature wins registered at three of the five host tracks.

All big-block teams will now focus on the 2002 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series opener. The lucrative Series kicks off at Hagerstown(Md.) Speedway on March 30 and makes a return appearance at The DIRT Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway on April 5-6 when the Eckerd 100 takes center stage. Along with DIRT stars like the McCreadies and Johnsons, Paine, Horton, Hoffman, Tremont and reigning Mr. DIRT points king Brett Hearn, more than 80 open-wheel entries are expected in the second annual showdown that features time trials on Friday, qualifying races and twin 50s for the headline DIRT Modifieds on Saturday. DIRT Pro Stocks have been added to the weekend card this year.

FLORIDA TOUR 2002 RACE RESULTS @ Volusia Speedway Park - Sat., Feb. 16

DIRT Modified Feature (50L)

FIN

CAR#

DRIVER

TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)

1

56

Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY

Finch's Trucking-Syracuse Frame Service-F.X. Caprara/TEO/Finger Lakes

2

3

Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ

Budweiser Racing-WLR Construction-Cavallaro Produce/TEO/Enders

3

m1

Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY

B&F General Machine-Dixon Steel-Afco/TEO/Enders

4

33

Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA

J & L Speed Supplies/Bicknell/Reinford Racing Engines

5

60over

Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA

C.Harrell Trucking-Lincoln Auto Body/Troyer/Morrison

6

27

Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY

J & J Shop-Planned Poultry Renovations/Troyer/Morrison

7

30

Jamie Mills/Milford,DE

I.G.Burton Car Dealrshp-L&W Ins.-Mills Bros. Markets/Troyer/Myers

8

32c

Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY

Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld/TEO/C.C. Performance

9

42p

Pat Ward/Genoa,NY

Gypsum Express,Ltd./TEO/Enders

10

93L

Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA

Auger Manufacturing Specialists/TEO/Dave George

11

7x

Steve Paine/Waterloo,NY

Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld/TEO/C.C. Performance

12

87

Jason Barney/Constantia,NY

Gypsum Express,Ltd.-Stadium International-Pit Stop/TEO/Enders

13

4

Mike Hughes/Riegelsville,PA

Art's Radiator-K&D Contractors-B&M Body Supply/Speed Palace/Coffey

14

35

Mike Perrotte/Elizabethtown,NY

Adirondack Auto/Troyer/Enders

15

60

Tim Dwyer/Gloversville,NY

Zoom'N Groom-B&B Auto Sales/TEO/D.Williams

16

32

Jim Rasey/Southington,OH

Twin Oaks Services South-Victory 1 Performance/Troyer/Rasey

17

Z

Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA

Tittle & Sons Motorsports/Troyer/Fiehl

18

3h

Justin Haers/Phelps,NY

Sweeteners Plus-A&C Speedworld-Phelps Cement/TEO/C.C. Performance

19

7jr.

Jimmy Reppert/Hamburg,PA

Harmony Hill Assisted Living/Troyer/CMS

20

27m

Chic' Chandler/Charlton,MA

Diversified Sign-Atlantic Coast Trailer Sales/Bicknell/AC Performance

21

79

Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY

Len & Jo's Restaurant/Bicknell/Precision

22

29

A.J. Romano/Johnstown,NY

Advanced Lubrication Specialties/TEO/Finger Lakes

23

57

Pete Simpson/Hubbard,OH

Bulldog Graffix-Hine Racing Engines/Bicknell/Hine

24

396

Deron Rust/Georgetown,DE

Rust Motorsports-J&S Utility Trailers-B&K Woods/TEO/Beston Automotive

25

74

J.R. Heffner/Averill Park,NY

A.Colarusso & Son-T&T Body King/TEO/Enders

26

45k

Keith Hoffman/Whitehall,PA

Cobra Trailers-Mohawk Northeast-New Eng. Race Fuels/Troyer/Morrison

DNS

45

Chuck Hebing/Ontario,NY

Cobra Trailers-Mohawk Northeast-New Eng. Race Fuels/Troyer/Morrison

DNS

93

Ryan Bartlett/Adams,NY

D.P. Bartlett & Sons Plumbing, Heating & AC/TEO/Bow-Tie

EVENT SUMMARY:

LAP LEADERS: T.McCreadie (1-2), Hearn (3-49), T.McCreadie (50).

CAUTIONS: 0.

HEAT WINNERS: Swinehart, T.McCreadie, Hearn.

CONSI WINNER: Romano.

TOTAL PURSE: $16,650.

CARS ENTERED: 28.